Commenting on the death of Rose's father, and noting, "You have indeed, losing a father, lost a friend, but you have not lost his instructions, his example was not buried with him, but happily for you (happily because you are desirous to avail yourself of it) still lives in your remembrance and is cherish'd in your best affections"; quoting from Homer's Iliad; wishing that Homer "were living now, and within [his] reach"; thanking him for the offer of some books, but declining it because he is concerned that "by connecting the study of writers upon Homer and about him with the study of Homer himself, [he] should not live long enough to reach the end of [his] undertaking."