Electronic Enlightenment Scholarly Edition of Correspondence

Wednesday Octr. 29th 1760

Dear Papa

I did not receive your letter with the parcel till yesterday night; and was surprised to see it dated as last Friday: for it was left I suppose at Mr. Bowles's2 by Mr. Malchair3: but I did not know of there being one, till Mr. Bowles told me of it yesterday evening. I begin now to live very comfortably having made several Acquaintance. one of them is Mr. Grisdale the Provost's Nephew4 who is a Scholar at this Colledge: and one Mr. Chambers5 who plays very well upon the fidle. Mr. Pritchard6 too, and I are pretty intimate. it was Mr. Cowper7 that introduced me to the acquaintance of Mr. Chambers; and Mr. Pritchard to that of Mr. Grisdale, tho' he new nothing of him himself: which perhaps may seem strange to you. Mr. Pritchard called on me (on the Evening of the day that you went from Oxford,) to take a walk, as a beginning of a future Acquaintance, and by chance met with this Mr. Grisdale in the Quadrangle, and desired him to shew him my Chambers, so they both came together to me, and carried me a walking. I have been in Mr. Cowper's room for a day or two, while My Grate was mending; for he and I are very intimate.

Last night Mr. Aldersey8 came to town, but did not lie in Colledge: but I was not so sorry at his coming, as I should have been at first: for that uneasiness soon wore off; and in two or three days time I did not care whether he came or no: he was very obliging (as I am told by the bedmaker) for I was not in the room when he came: and said he remember'd me very well, for he saw me when I was entered: so I am to go into another room till my own is finished. It has been painted and paper'd, tho' not with your paper as Mr. Jefferson9 I suppose has told you. here indeed I am quite ashamed of myself, nor do I endeavour to exculpate myself, but must rely upon your goodness for pardon. tho' indeed the occasion of ye Mistake was this: the Upholsterer asking me whether I would have my room Paper'd then, I told him yes I believed he might: for I thought you had mentioned the sending of Paper from town only as a thing that might be done, and I did not care to be upon such an uncertainty, as I thought it was. Mr. Jefferson lectures us upon Theoprastus's Characters and Grotius de veritate Christianæ Relligionis. this day the bells rang on account of Lord Leigh10 being entered at Oriel Colledge. I have here sent you enclosed a Letter to Mr. Skinner11 which if you approve of it, you may send to him, as you mentioned to me, in which if I have left out any particulars concerning myself that you would be glad to know, you may find them. I have wrote a letter to my Aunt Grove and have let her know I intend to write to my Cousin Mulford12 very soon. excuse me, if you think my letter too short; for you know my letter to Mr. Skinner if you look into it will be as good as another from

Your most dutiful
and affectionate Son
Jeremy Bentham

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