It is impoſſible to form a friendſhip without making truth the baſis; it is indeed the eſſence of devotion, the employment of the underſtanding, and the ſupport of every duty.
I govern my ſervants, and you, by attending ſtrictly to truth; and this obſervance keeping my head clear and my heart pure, I am ever ready to pray to the Author of good, the Fountain of truth.
While I am diſuſſing the ſubject, let me point out to you another branch of this virtue; Sincerity.—And remember that I every day ſet you an example; for I never, to pleaſe for the moment, pay unmeaning compliments, or permit any words to drop from my tongue, that my heart does not dictate. And when I relate any matter of fact, I carefully avoid embelliſhing it, in order to render it a more entertaining ſtory; not that I think ſuch a practice abſolutely criminal; but as it contributes inſenſibly to wear away reſpect for truth, I guard againſt the vain impulſe, leſt I ſhould loſe the chief ſtrength, and even ornament, of
