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ching Greek； and in this design I was heartened by my brother student； who threw out some hints that a fortune might be got by it。 'I set boldly forward the next morning。 Every day lessened the burthen of my moveables； like Aesop and his basket of bread； for I paid them for my lodgings to the Dutch as I travelled on。 When I came to Louvain； I was resolved not to go sneaking to the lower professors； but openly tendered my talents to the principal himself。 I went； had admittance； and offered him my service as a master of the Greek language； which I had been told was a desideratum in his university。 The principal seemed at first to doubt of my abilities； but of these I offered to convince him； by turning a part of any Greek author he should fix upon into Latin。 Finding me perfectly earnest in my proposal； he addressed me thus： You see me； young man； continued he； I never learned Greek； and I don't find that I have ever missed it。 I have had a doctor's cap and gown without Greek： I have ten thousand florins a year without Greek； I eat heartily without Greek； and in short； continued he； as I don't know Greek； I do not believe there is any good in it。
'I was now too far from home to think of returning； so I resolved to go forward。 I had some knowledge of music； with a tolerable voice； and now turned what was once my amusement into a present means of subsistence。 I passed among the harmless peasants of Flanders； and among such of the French as were poor enough to be very merry； for I ever found them sprightly in proportion to their wants。 Whenever I approached a peasant's house towards night… fall； I played one of my most merry tunes； and that procured me not only a lodging； but subsistence for the next day。 I once or twice attempted to play for people of fashion； but they always thought my performance odious； and never rewarded me even with a trifle。 This was to me the more extraordinary； as whenever I used in better days to play for company； when playing was my amusement； my music never failed to throw them into raptures； and the ladies especially； but as it was now my only means； it was received with contempt： a proof how ready the world is to under rate those talents by which a man is supported。
'In this manner I proceeded to Paris； with no design but just to look about me； and then to go forward。 The people of Paris are much fonder of strangers that have money； than of those that have wit。 As I could not boast much of either； I was no great favourite。 After walking about the town four or five days； and seeing the outsides of the best houses； I was preparing to leave this retreat of venal hospitality； when passing through one of the principal streets； whom should I meet but our cousin； to whom you first recommended me。 This meeting was very agreeable to me； and I believe not displeasing to him。 He enquired into the nature of my journey to Paris； and informed me of his own business there； which was to collect pictures； medals； intaglios； and antiques of all kinds； for a gentleman in London； who had just stept into taste and a large fortune。 I was the more surprised at seeing our cousin pitched upon for this office； as he himself had often assured me he knew nothing of the matter。 Upon my asking how he had been taught the art of a connoscento so very suddenly； he assured me that nothing was more easy。 The whole secret consisted in a strict adherence to two rules： the one always to observe； that the picture might have been better if the painter had taken more pains； and the other； to praise the works of Pietro Perugino。 But； says he； as I once taught you how to be an author in London； I'll now undertake to instruct you in the art of picture buying at Paris。
'With this proposal I very readily closed； as it was a living； and now all my ambition was to live。 I went therefore to his lodgings； improved my dress by his assistance； and after some time； accompanied him to auctions of pictures； where the English gentry were expected to be purchasers。 I was not a little surprised at his intimacy with people of the best fashion； who referred themselves to his judgment upon every picture or medal； as to an unerring standard of taste。 He made very good use of my assistance upon these occasions； for when asked his opinion； he would gravely take me aside； and ask mine； shrug； look wise； return； and assure the company； that he could give no opinion upon an affair of so much importance。 Yet there was sometimes an occasion for a more supported assurance。 I remember to have seen him； after giving his opinion that the colouring of a picture was not mellow enough； very deliberately take a brush with brown varnish； that was accidentally lying by； and rub it over the piece with great composure before all the company； and then ask if he had not improved the tints。
'When he had finished his commission in Paris； he left me strongly recommended to several men of distinction； as a person very proper for a travelling tutor； and after some time I was employed in that capacity by a gentleman who brought his ward to Paris； in order to set him forward on his tour through Europe。 I was to be the young gentleman's governor； but with a proviso that he should always be permitted to govern himself。 My pupil in fact understood the art of guiding in money concerns much better than I。 He was heir to a fortune of about two hundred thousand pounds； left him by an uncle in the West Indies； and his guardians； to qualify him for the management of it； had bound him apprentice to an attorney。 Thus avarice was his prevailing passion： all his questions on the road were how money might be saved； which was the least expensive course of travel； whether any thing could be bought that would turn to account when disposed of again in London。 Such curiosities on the way as could be seen for nothing he was ready enough to look at； but if the sight of them was to be paid for； he usually asserted that he had been told they were not worth seeing。 He never paid a bill； that he would not observe； how amazingly expensive travelling was； and all this though he was not yet twenty…one。 When arrived at Leghorn； as we took a walk to look at the port and shipping； he enquired the expence of the passage by sea home to England。 This he was informed was but a trifle； compared to his returning by land； he was therefore unable to withstand the temptation； so paying me the small part of my salary that was due； he took leave； and embarked with only one attendant for London。
'I now therefore was left once more upon the world at large； but then it was a thing I was used to。 However my skill in music could avail me nothing in a country where every peasant was a better musician than I； but by this time I had acquired another talent； which answered my purpose as well； and this was a skill in disputation。 In all the foreign universities and convents； there are upon certain days philosophical theses maintained against every adventitious disputant； for which； if the champion opposes with any dexterity； he can claim a gratuity in money； a dinner； and a bed； for one night。 In this manner therefore I fought my way towards England； walked along from city to city； examined mankind more nearly； and； if I may so