Letter 2

           ToMrs.Saville,England 

           Archangel,28thMarch,17— 

           Howslowlythetimepasseshere,encompassedasIambyfrostandsnow! Yetasecondstepistakentowardsmyenterprise. Ihavehiredavesselandamoccupiedincollectingmysailors; thosewhomIhavealreadyengagedappeartobemenonwhomIcandependandarecertainlypossessedofdauntlesscourage. 

           ButIhaveonewantwhichIhaveneveryetbeenabletosatisfy,andtheabsenceoftheobjectofwhichInowfeelasamostsevereevil. Ihavenofriend,Margaret: whenIamglowingwiththeenthusiasmofsuccess,therewillbenonetoparticipatemyjoy; ifIamassailedbydisappointment,noonewillendeavourtosustainmeindejection. Ishallcommitmythoughtstopaper,itistrue; butthatisapoormediumforthecommunicationoffeeling. Idesirethecompanyofamanwhocouldsympathizewithme,whoseeyeswouldreplytomine. Youmaydeemmeromantic,mydearsister,butIbitterlyfeelthewantofafriend. Ihavenoonenearme,gentleyetcourageous,possessedofacultivatedaswellasofacapaciousmind,whosetastesarelikemyown,toapproveoramendmyplans. Howwouldsuchafriendrepairthefaultsofyourpoorbrother! Iamtooardentinexecutionandtooimpatientofdifficulties. ButitisastillgreatereviltomethatIamself-educated: forthefirstfourteenyearsofmylifeIranwildonacommonandreadnothingbutourUncleThomas’booksofvoyages. AtthatageIbecameacquaintedwiththecelebratedpoetsofourowncountry; butitwasonlywhenithadceasedtobeinmypowertoderiveitsmostimportantbenefitsfromsuchaconvictionthatIperceivedthenecessityofbecomingacquaintedwithmorelanguagesthanthatofmynativecountry.