Memoir of the Chisholm

38 HIS LETTERS, &C
unworthy of interest, as exhibiting the un-
reserved friendship which subsisted between
Mr. Ollivant and himself, and the playful and
kindly, yet respectful, spirit which marked the
expression of it. It was written when he
was at home for the holidays, in the year
1825 ; and, after having described an illness
by which his brother Duncan had for some
days been confined to the house, he proceeds :
" I am sure I entirely concur with the sen-
timents in your last letter, and I think I do
with most of your opinions ; and I shall en-
deavour to comply, to the best of my power,
with your instructions. I am sure I still
continue to feel, as I told you I felt at Eton,
the most lively gratitude to you as being the
instrument in the hand of a superior power
of doing me a great deal of good, during the
period I have been under your care at Eton,
and of impressing more strongly on my mind
those great principles which my dearest
mamma at so early an age endeavoured to
instil into it.
" I have given your message to Duncan,
Eob, and Caesar. I have not yet seen Obe-