objection to a voyage to Europe? I answered in the negative. He
then said that he was preparing to depart in a fortnight and
advised me to make up my mind to accompany him.

This unexpected proposal gave me pleasure and surprize, but
the want of money occurred to me as an insuperable objection. On
this being mentioned, Oho! said he, carelessly, that objection is
easily removed, I will bear all expenses of your passage myself.

The extraordinary beneficence of this act as well as the air
of uncautiousness attending it, made me doubt the sincerity of his
offer, and when new declarations removed this doubt, I could not
forbear expressing at once my sense of his generosity and of my own
unworthiness.

He replied that generosity had been expunged from his
catalogue as having no meaning or a vicious one. It was the scope
of his exertions to be just. This was the sum of human duty, and
he that fell short, ran beside, or outstripped justice was a
criminal. What he gave me was my due or not my due. If it were my
due, I might reasonably demand it from him and it was wicked to
withhold it. Merit on one side or gratitude on the other, were
contradictory and unintelligible.

If I were fully convinced that this benefit was not my due and
yet received it, he should hold me in contempt. The rectitude of
my principles and conduct would be the measure of his approbation,
and no benefit should he ever bestow which the receiver was not
entitled to claim, and which it would not be criminal in him to
refuse.