distance. But what is still more surprising, after the first transport
of sorrow had subsided, we did not find ourselves violently afflicted;
we planted a tree in another spot, and frequently recollected the
catastrophe of the former, repeating with a significant emphasis, an
aqueduct! an aqueduct! Till then, at intervals, I had fits of
ambition, and could fancy myself Brutus or Aristides, but this was the
first visible effect of my vanity. To have constructed an aqueduct
with our own hands, to have set a slip of willow in competition with a
flourishing tree, appeared to me a supreme degree of glory! I had a
juster conception of it at ten, than Caesar entertained at thirty.
The idea of this walnut tree, with the little anecdotes it gave rise
to, have so well continued, or returned to my memory, that the
design which conveyed the most pleasing sensations, during my
journey to Geneva, in the year 1754, was visiting Bossey, and
reviewing the monuments of my infantine amusement, above all, the
beloved walnut tree, whose age at that time must have been verging
on a third of a century, but I was so beset with company, that I could
not find a moment to accomplish my design. There is little
appearance now of the occasion being renewed; but should I ever return
to that charming spot, and find my favorite walnut tree still
existing, I am convinced I should water it with my tears.
On my return to Geneva, I passed two or three years at my uncle's,
expecting the determination of my friends respecting my future
establishment. His own son being devoted to engineering, was taught
drawing, and instructed by his father in the elements of Euclid: I
partook of these instructions, but was principally fond of drawing.
Meantime they were irresolute, whether to make me a watchmaker, a
lawyer, or a minister. I should have preferred being a minister, as
I thought it must be a charming thing to preach, but the trifling
income which had been my mother's, and was to be divided between my
brother and myself, was too inconsiderable to defray the expense
attending the prosecution of my studies. As my age did not render
the choice very pressing, I remained with my uncle, passing my time
with very little improvement, and paying pretty dear, though not
unreasonably, for my board.
My uncle, like my father, was a man of pleasure, but had not
learned, like him, to abridge his amusements for the sake of
instructing his family, consequently our education was neglected. My
aunt was a devotee, who loved singing psalms better than thinking of
our improvement, so that we were left entirely to ourselves, which
liberty we never abused.
Ever inseparable, we were all the world to each other; and,
feeling no inclination to frequent the company of a number of
disorderly lads of our own age, we learned none of those habits of
libertinism to which our idle life exposed us. Perhaps I am wrong in
charging myself and cousin with idleness at this time, for, in our
lives, we were never less so; and what was extremely fortunate, so
incessantly occupied with our amusements, that we found no
temptation to spend any part of our time in the streets. We made
cages, pipes, kites, drums, houses, ships, and bows; spoiled the tools
