ostentation
unsuitable to persons of refinement.

"As your brother's stay in Paris will apparently be of longer
duration than yours, I will cause the letter of credit, which the
firm sends by this post, to be made out in his name; and whilst I am
on the subject of your younger brother, I will make a confidential
announcement to you.

"After my death, you will find no reference to Richard in my
accounts. His education has, for many reasons, been far more
expensive than yours. Nevertheless, it is my desire that, like good
brothers, you should share and share alike. I enjoin you, however, to
deal out to your brother by degrees the portion which may appertain
to him.

"For your brother Richard, with all his talents and excellent
qualities, has, I fear, but little aptitude for acquiring and
retaining this world's goods. You, my dear Christian Frederik, who
have been endowed with this facility, must, therefore, act as a
guardian to your brother. Remember me kindly to the dear boy, and ask
him to seek some musical friends who will assist you to purchase a
good piano of Erard's, which you will see carefully packed and sent
off, or, perhaps, you can bring it with you in the spring, when you
return home.

"Our old piano does not satisfy modern requirements, and, moreover,
ever since your mother's death it is painful to hear tones which too
sadly remind me of my great loss.

"For several weeks we have experienced severe and continuous storms,
and we have heard of many wrecks and disasters along the coast.
Happily none of our own vessels are in these waters; but people are
anxiously awaiting news of many ships belonging to this town, which
are on their way from the Baltic.

"You will be surprised to find how much the trade and shipping of the
good town has increased during these last few years, and I fancy that
much of what happens, or is attempted here, will seem as strange to
you as it does to me.

"That which especially excites my wonder and anxiety is the religious
enthusiasm which, in my youth, was confined to peasants and
uneducated people.

"So far from disappearing or being cured, as one would expect and
hope, it seems rather to expand, and to gain adherents amongst those
whose intelligence should protect them from such folly.

"I have also heard that some of the younger clergy have approved
of--nay, have actually joined--this absurd and hurtful revival. Every
true patriot must greatly deplore this; for just a