"Let not the levity of frothy wit--nor the absurdity of fools break in upon your happier principles--your dependence upon the Deity--address the Almighty with fervor--with love and simplicity--carry his laws in your heart--and command both worlds;--but I meant mere fatherly advice, and I have wrote a sermon."

— Sancho, Charles Ignatius (1729-1780)


Place of Publication
London
Publisher
Printed by J. Nichols
Date
1782
Metaphor
"Let not the levity of frothy wit--nor the absurdity of fools break in upon your happier principles--your dependence upon the Deity--address the Almighty with fervor--with love and simplicity--carry his laws in your heart--and command both worlds;--but I meant mere fatherly advice, and I have wrote a sermon."
Metaphor in Context
I AM truly sorry to address this letter to you at this season in the English channel--the time considered that you have left us, you ought in all good reason to have been a seasoned Creole of St. Kitt's;--but we must have patience--what cannot be cured--must be endured.--I dare believe you bear the cruel delay with resignation--and make the best and truest use of your time--by steady reflection and writing.--I would wish you to note down the occurrences of every day--to which add your own observation of men and things--the more you habituate yourself to minute investigation, the stronger you will make your mind--ever taking along with you in all your researches the word of God--and the operations of his divine providence.--Remember, young man--nothing happens by chance.--Let not the levity of frothy wit--nor the absurdity of fools break in upon your happier principles--your dependence upon the Deity--address the Almighty with fervor--with love and simplicity--carry his laws in your heart--and command both worlds;--but I meant mere fatherly advice, and I have wrote a sermon.--Dear boy, 'tis my love preaches; N--begged me to write a line for him, as he said you wanted news.--I have none but what you know as well as myself--such as the regard and best wishes of Mrs. Sancho--the girls and myself--such as wishing a happy end to your long-protracted voyage--and a joyful meeting with your worthy and respectable family;--and in order to leave room for friend N--, I here assure you I am your affectionate friend, [...]
(II.xxiii, pp. 56-7; pp. 158-9 in Carretta)
Categories
Provenance
Reading; text from Doc South
Citation
Five entries in ESTC (1782, 1783, 1784). [Second edition in 1783, third in 1784.]

See Letters of the Late Ignatius Sancho, An African. In Two Volumes. To Which Are Prefixed, Memoirs of His Life (London: Printed by J. Nichols, 1782). <Link to text from Documenting the American South at UNC>

Reading Letters of the Late Ignatius Sancho, ed. Vincent Carretta (New York: Penguin, 1998).
Date of Entry
07/11/2013

The Mind is a Metaphor is authored by Brad Pasanek, Assistant Professor of English, University of Virginia.