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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/3352.txt b/3352.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..7f800b2 --- /dev/null +++ b/3352.txt @@ -0,0 +1,4621 @@ +Project Gutenberg's Letters to His Son, 1748, by The Earl of Chesterfield + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Letters to His Son, 1748 + +Author: The Earl of Chesterfield + +Release Date: December 1, 2004 [EBook #3352] +[Last updated on February 14, 2007] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK LETTERS TO HIS SON, 1748 *** + + + + +Produced by David Widger + + + + + + LETTERS TO HIS SON + 1748 + + By the EARL OF CHESTERFIELD + + on the Fine Art of becoming a + + MAN OF THE WORLD + + and a + + GENTLEMAN + + + +LETTER XXIV + +January 2, O. S. 1748. + +DEAR BOY: I am edified with the allotment of your time at Leipsig; which +is so well employed from morning till night, that a fool would say you +had none left for yourself; whereas, I am sure you have sense enough to +know, that such a right use of your time is having it all to yourself; +nay, it is even more, for it is laying it out to immense interest, which, +in a very few years, will amount to a prodigious capital. + +Though twelve of your fourteen 'Commensaux' may not be the liveliest +people in the world, and may want (as I easily conceive that they do) 'le +ton de la bonne campagnie, et les graces', which I wish you, yet pray +take care not to express any contempt, or throw out any ridicule; which I +can assure you, is not more contrary to good manners than to good sense: +but endeavor rather to get all the good you can out of them; and +something or other is to be got out of everybody. They will, at least, +improve you in the German language; and, as they come from different +countries, you may put them upon subjects, concerning which they must +necessarily be able to give you some useful informations, let them be +ever so dull or disagreeable in general: they will know something, at +least, of the laws, customs, government, and considerable families of +their respective countries; all which are better known than not, and +consequently worth inquiring into. There is hardly any body good for +every thing, and there is scarcely any body who is absolutely good for +nothing. A good chemist will extract some spirit or other out of every +substance; and a man of parts will, by his dexterity and management, +elicit something worth knowing out of every being he converses with. + +As you have been introduced to the Duchess of Courland, pray go there as +often as ever your more necessary occupations will allow you. I am told +she is extremely well bred, and has parts. Now, though I would not +recommend to you, to go into women's company in search of solid +knowledge, or judgment, yet it has its use in other respects; for it +certainly polishes the manners, and gives 'une certaine tournure', which +is very necessary in the course of the world; and which Englishmen have +generally less of than any people in the world. + +I cannot say that your suppers are luxurious, but you must own they are +solid; and a quart of soup, and two pounds of potatoes, will enable you +to pass the night without great impatience for your breakfast next +morning. One part of your supper (the potatoes) is the constant diet of +my old friends and countrymen,--[Lord Chesterfield, from the time he was +appointed Lord-lieutenant of Ireland, 1775, used always to call the Irish +his countrymen.]--the Irish, who are the healthiest and the strongest +bodies of men that I know in Europe. + +As I believe that many of my letters to you and to Mr. Harte have +miscarried, as well as some of yours and his to me; particularly one of +his from Leipsig, to which he refers in a subsequent one, and which I +never received; I would have you, for the future, acknowledge the dates +of all the letters which either of you shall receive from me; and I will +do the same on my part. + +That which I received by the last mail, from you, was of the 25th +November, N. S.; the mail before that brought me yours, of which I have +forgot the date, but which inclosed one to Lady Chesterfield: she will +answer it soon, and, in the mean time, thanks you for it. + +My disorder was only a very great cold, of which I am entirely recovered. +You shall not complain for want of accounts from Mr. Grevenkop, who will +frequently write you whatever passes here, in the German language and +character; which will improve you in both. Adieu. + + + + +LETTER XXV + +LONDON, January 15, O. S. 1748. + +DEAR BOY: I willingly accept the new-year's gift which you promise me for +next year; and the more valuable you make it, the more thankful I shall +be. That depends entirely upon you; and therefore I hope to be presented, +every year, with a new edition of you, more correct than the former, and +considerably enlarged and amended. + +Since you do not care to be an assessor of the imperial chamber, and that +you desire an establishment in England; what do you think of being Greek +Professor at one of our universities? It is a very pretty sinecure, and +requires very little knowledge (much less than, I hope, you have already) +of that language. If you do not approve of this, I am at a loss to know +what else to propose to you; and therefore desire that you will inform me +what sort of destination you propose for yourself; for it is now time to +fix it, and to take our measures accordingly. Mr. Harte tells me that you +set up for a----------; if so, I presume it is in the view of succeeding +me in my office;--[A secretary of state.]--which I will very willingly +resign to you, whenever you shall call upon me for it. But, if you intend +to be the--------, or the-----------, there are some trifling +circumstances upon which you should previously take your resolution. The +first of which is, to be fit for it: and then, in order to be so, make +yourself master of ancient and, modern history, and languages. To know +perfectly the constitution, and form of government of every nation; the +growth and the decline of ancient and modern empires; and to trace out +and reflect upon the causes of both. To know the strength, the riches, +and the commerce of every country. These little things, trifling as they +may seem, are yet very necessary for a politician to know; and which +therefore, I presume, you will condescend to apply yourself to. There are +some additional qualifications necessary, in the practical part of +business, which may deserve some consideration in your leisure moments; +such as, an absolute command of your temper, so as not to be provoked to +passion, upon any account; patience, to hear frivolous, impertinent, and +unreasonable applications; with address enough to refuse, without +offending, or, by your manner of granting, to double the obligation; +dexterity enough to conceal a truth without telling a lie; sagacity +enough to read other people's countenances; and serenity enough not to +let them discover anything by yours; a seeming frankness with a real +reserve. These are the rudiments of a politician; the world must be your +grammar. + +Three mails are now due from Holland; so that I have no letters from you +to acknowledge. I therefore conclude with recommending myself to your +favor and protection when you succeed. Yours. + + + + +LETTER XXVI + +LONDON, January 29, O. S. 1748. + +DEAR BOY: I find, by Mr. Harte's last letter, that many of my letters to +you and him, have been frozen up on their way to Leipsig; the thaw has, I +suppose, by this time, set them at liberty to pursue their journey to +you, and you will receive a glut of them at once. Hudibras alludes, in +this verse, + + "Like words congealed in northern air," + +to a vulgar notion, that in Greenland words were frozen in their +utterance; and that upon a thaw, a very mixed conversation was heard in +the air, of all those words set at liberty. This conversation was, I +presume, too various and extensive to be much attended to: and may not +that be the case of half a dozen of my long letters, when you receive +them all at once? I think that I can, eventually, answer that question, +thus: If you consider my letters in their true light, as conveying to you +the advice of a friend, who sincerely wishes your happiness, and desires +to promote your pleasure, you will both read and attend to them; but, if +you consider them in their opposite, and very false light, as the +dictates of a morose and sermonizing father, I am sure they will be not +only unattended to, but unread. Which is the case, you can best tell me. +Advice is seldom welcome; and those who want it the most always like it +the least. I hope that your want of experience, of which you must be +conscious, will convince you, that you want advice; and that your good +sense will incline you to follow it. + +Tell me how you pass your leisure hours at Leipsig; I know you have not +many; and I have too good an opinion of you to think, that, at this age, +you would desire more. Have you assemblies, or public spectacles? and of +what kind are they? Whatever they are, see them all; seeing everything, +is the only way not to admire anything too much. + +If you ever take up little tale-books, to amuse you by snatches, I will +recommend two French books, which I have already mentioned; they will +entertain you, and not without some use to your mind and your manners. +One is, 'La Maniere de bien penser dans les Ouvrages d'Esprit', written +by Pere Bouhours; I believe you read it once in England, with Monsieur +Coderc; but I think that you will do well to read it again, as I know of +no book that will form your taste better. The other is, 'L'Art de plaire +dans la Conversation', by the Abbe de Bellegarde, and is by no means +useless, though I will not pretend to say, that the art of pleasing can +be reduced to a receipt; if it could, I am sure that receipt would be +worth purchasing at any price. Good sense, and good nature, are the +principal ingredients; and your own observation, and the good advice of +others, must give the right color and taste to it. Adieu! I shall always +love you as you shall deserve. + + + + +LETTER XXVII + +LONDON, February 9, O. S. 1748. + +DEAR BOY: You will receive this letter, not from a Secretary of State but +from a private man; for whom, at his time of life, quiet was as fit, and +as necessary, as labor and activity are for you at your age, and for many +years yet to come. I resigned the seals, last Saturday, to the King; who +parted with me most graciously, and (I may add, for he said so himself) +with regret. As I retire from hurry to quiet, and to enjoy, at my ease, +the comforts of private and social life, you will easily imagine that I +have no thoughts of opposition, or meddling with business. 'Otium cum +dignitate' is my object. The former I now enjoy; and I hope that my +conduct and character entitle me to some share of the latter. In short, I +am now happy: and I found that I could not be so in my former public +situation. + +As I like your correspondence better than that of all the kings, princes, +and ministers, in Europe, I shall now have leisure to carry it on more +regularly. My letters to you will be written, I am sure, by me, and, I +hope, read by you, with pleasure; which, I believe, seldom happens, +reciprocally, to letters written from and to a secretary's office. + +Do not apprehend that my retirement from business may be a hindrance to +your advancement in it, at a proper time: on the contrary, it will +promote it; for, having nothing to ask for myself, I shall have the +better title to ask for you. But you have still a surer way than this of +rising, and which is wholly in your own power. Make yourself necessary; +which, with your natural parts, you may, by application, do. We are in +general, in England, ignorant of foreign affairs: and of the interests, +views, pretensions, and policy of other courts. That part of knowledge +never enters into our thoughts, nor makes part of our education; for +which reason, we have fewer proper subjects for foreign commissions, than +any other country in Europe; and, when foreign affairs happen to be +debated in Parliament, it is incredible with how much ignorance. The +harvest of foreign affairs being then so great, and the laborers so few, +if you make yourself master of them, you will make yourself necessary; +first as a foreign, and then as a domestic minister for that department. + +I am extremely well pleased with the account which you give me of the +allotment of your time. Do but go on so, for two years longer, and I will +ask no more of you. Your labors will be their own reward; but if you +desire any other, that I can add, you may depend upon it. + +I am glad that you perceive the indecency and turpitude of those of your +'Commensaux', who disgrace and foul themselves with dirty w----s and +scoundrel gamesters. And the light in which, I am sure, you see all +reasonable and decent people consider them, will be a good warning to +you. Adieu. + + + + +LETTER XXVIII + +LONDON, February 13, O. S. 1748 + +DEAR BOY: your last letter gave me a very satisfactory account of your +manner of employing your time at Leipsig. Go on so but for two years +more, and, I promise you, that you will outgo all the people of your age +and time. I thank you for your explanation of the 'Schriftsassen', and +'Amptsassen'; and pray let me know the meaning of the 'Landsassen'. I am +very willing that you should take a Saxon servant, who speaks nothing but +German, which will be a sure way of keeping up your German, after you +leave Germany. But then, I would neither have that man, nor him whom you +have already, put out of livery; which makes them both impertinent and +useless. I am sure, that as soon as you shall have taken the other +servant, your present man will press extremely to be out of livery, and +valet de chambre; which is as much as to say, that he will curl your hair +and shave you, but not condescend to do anything else. I therefore advise +you, never to have a servant out of livery; and, though you may not +always think proper to carry the servant who dresses you abroad in the +rain and dirt, behind a coach or before a chair, yet keep it in your +power to do so, if you please, by keeping him in livery. + +I have seen Monsieur and Madame Flemming, who gave me a very good account +of you, and of your manners, which to tell you the plain truth, were what +I doubted of the most. She told me, that you were easy, and not ashamed: +which is a great deal for an Englishman at your age. + +I set out for Bath to-morrow, for a month; only to be better than well, +and enjoy, in, quiet, the liberty which I have acquired by the +resignation of the seals. You shall hear from me more at large from +thence; and now good night to you. + + + + +LETTER XXIX + +BATH, February 18, O. S. 1748. + +DEAR BOY: The first use that I made of my liberty was to come here, where +I arrived yesterday. My health, though not fundamentally bad yet, for +want of proper attention of late, wanted some repairs, which these waters +never fail giving it. I shall drink them a month, and return to London, +there to enjoy the comforts of social life, instead of groaning under the +load of business. I have given the description of the life that I propose +to lead for the future, in this motto, which I have put up in the frize +of my library in my new house:-- + + Nunc veterum libris, nunc somno, et inertibus horis + Ducere sollicitae jucunda oblivia vitas. + +I must observe to you upon this occasion, that the uninterrupted +satisfaction which I expect to find in that library, will be chiefly +owing to my having employed some part of my life well at your age. I wish +I had employed it better, and my satisfaction would now be complete; but, +however, I planted while young, that degree of knowledge which is now my +refuge and my shelter. Make your plantations still more extensive; they +will more than pay you for your trouble. I do not regret the time that I +passed in pleasures; they were seasonable; they were the pleasures of +youth, and I enjoyed them while young. If I had not, I should probably +have overvalued them now, as we are very apt to do what we do not know; +but, knowing them as I do, I know their real value, and how much they are +generally overrated. Nor do I regret the time that I have passed in +business, for the same reason; those who see only the outside of it, +imagine it has hidden charms, which they pant after; and nothing but +acquaintance can undeceive them. I, who have been behind the scenes, both +of pleasure and business, and have seen all the springs and pullies of +those decorations which astonish and dazzle the audience, retire, not +only without regret, but with contentment and satisfaction. But what I +do, and ever shall regret, is the time which, while young, I lost in mere +idleness, and in doing nothing. This is the common effect of the +inconsideracy of youth, against which I beg you will be most carefully +upon your guard. The value of moments, when cast up, is immense, if well +employed; if thrown away, their loss is irrecoverable. Every moment may +be put to some use, and that with much more pleasure, than if unemployed. +Do not imagine, that by the employment of time, I mean an uninterrupted +application to serious studies. No; pleasures are, at proper times, both +as necessary and as useful; they fashion and form you for the world; they +teach you characters, and show you the human heart in its unguarded +minutes. But then remember to make that use of them. I have known many +people, from laziness of mind, go through both pleasure and business with +equal inattention; neither enjoying the one, nor doing the other; +thinking themselves men of pleasure, because they were mingled with those +who were, and men of business, because they had business to do, though +they did not do it. Whatever you do, do it to the purpose; do it +thoroughly, not superficially. 'Approfondissez': go to the bottom of +things. Any thing half done or half known, is, in my mind, neither done +nor known at all. Nay worse, it often misleads. There is hardly any place +or any company, where you may not gain knowledge, if you please; almost +everybody knows some one thing, and is glad to talk upon that one thing. +Seek and you will find, in this world as well as in the next. See +everything; inquire into everything; and you may excuse your curiosity, +and the questions you ask which otherwise might be thought impertinent, +by your manner of asking them; for most things depend a great deal upon +the manner. As, for example, I AM AFRAID THAT I AM VERY TROUBLESOME WITH +MY QUESTIONS; BUT NOBODY CAN INFORM ME SO WELL AS YOU; or something of +that kind. + +Now that you are in a Lutheran country, go to their churches, and observe +the manner of their public worship; attend to their ceremonies, and +inquire the meaning and intention of everyone of them. And, as you will +soon understand German well enough, attend to their sermons, and observe +their manner of preaching. Inform yourself of their church government: +whether it resides in the sovereign, or in consistories and synods. +Whence arises the maintenance of their clergy; whether from tithes, as in +England, or from voluntary contributions, or from pensions from the +state. Do the same thing when you are in Roman Catholic countries; go to +their churches, see all their ceremonies: ask the meaning of them, get +the terms explained to you. As, for instance, Prime, Tierce, Sexte, +Nones, Matins, Angelus, High Mass, Vespers, Complines, etc. Inform +yourself of their several religious orders, their founders, their rules, +their vows, their habits, their revenues, etc. But, when you frequent +places of public worship, as I would have you go to all the different +ones you meet with, remember, that however erroneous, they are none of +them objects of laughter and ridicule. Honest error is to be pitied, not +ridiculed. The object of all the public worships in the world is the +same; it is that great eternal Being who created everything. The +different manners of worship are by no means subjects of ridicule. Each +sect thinks its own is the best; and I know no infallible judge in this +world, to decide which is the best. Make the same inquiries, wherever you +are, concerning the revenues, the military establishment, the trade, the +commerce, and the police of every country. And you would do well to keep +a blank paper book, which the Germans call an ALBUM; and there, instead +of desiring, as they do, every fool they meet with to scribble something, +write down all these things as soon as they come to your knowledge from +good authorities. + +I had almost forgotten one thing, which I would recommend as an object +for your curiosity and information, that is, the administration of +justice; which, as it is always carried on in open court, you may, and I +would have you, go and see it with attention and inquiry. + +I have now but one anxiety left, which is concerning you. I would have +you be, what I know nobody is--perfect. As that is impossible, I would +have you as near perfection as possible. I know nobody in a fairer way +toward it than yourself, if you please. Never were so much pains taken +for anybody's education as for yours; and never had anybody those +opportunities of knowledge and improvement which you, have had, and still +have, I hope, I wish, I doubt, and fear alternately. This only I am sure +of, that you will prove either the greatest pain or the greatest pleasure +of, Yours. + + + + +LETTER XXX + +BATH, February 22, O. S. 1748. + +DEAR Boy: Every excellency, and every virtue, has its kindred vice or +weakness; and if carried beyond certain bounds, sinks into one or the +other. Generosity often runs into profusion, economy into avarice, +courage into rashness, caution into timidity, and so on:--insomuch that, +I believe, there is more judgment required, for the proper conduct of our +virtues, than for avoiding their opposite vices. Vice, in its true light, +is so deformed, that it shocks us at first sight, and would hardly ever +seduce us, if it did not, at first, wear the mask of some virtue. But +virtue is, in itself, so beautiful, that it charms us at first sight; +engages us more and more upon further acquaintance; and, as with other +beauties, we think excess impossible; it is here that judgment is +necessary, to moderate and direct the effects of an excellent cause. I +shall apply this reasoning, at present, not to any particular virtue, but +to an excellency, which, for want of judgment, is often the cause of +ridiculous and blamable effects; I mean, great learning; which, if not +accompanied with sound judgment, frequently carries us into error, pride, +and pedantry. As, I hope, you will possess that excellency in its utmost +extent, and yet without its too common failings, the hints, which my +experience can suggest, may probably not be useless to you. + +Some learned men, proud of their knowledge, only speak to decide, and +give judgment without appeal; the consequence of which is, that mankind, +provoked by the insult, and injured by the oppression, revolt; and, in +order to shake off the tyranny, even call the lawful authority in +question. The more you know, the modester you should be: and (by the bye) +that modesty is the surest way of gratifying your vanity. Even where you +are sure, seem rather doubtful; represent, but do not pronounce, and, if +you would convince others, seem open to conviction yourself. + +Others, to show their learning, or often from the prejudices of a school +education, where they hear of nothing else, are always talking of the +ancients, as something more than men, and of the moderns, as something +less. They are never without a classic or two in their pockets; they +stick to the old good sense; they read none of the modern trash; and will +show you, plainly, that no improvement has been made, in any one art or +science, these last seventeen hundred years. I would by no means have you +disown your acquaintance with the ancients: but still less would I have +you brag of an exclusive intimacy with them. Speak of the moderns without +contempt, and of the ancients without idolatry; judge them all by their +merits, but not by their ages; and if you happen to have an Elzevir +classic in your pocket neither show it nor mention it. + +Some great scholars, most absurdly, draw all their maxims, both for +public and private life, from what they call parallel cases in the +ancient authors; without considering, that, in the first place, there +never were, since the creation of the world, two cases exactly parallel; +and, in the next place, that there never was a case stated, or even +known, by any historian, with every one of its circumstances; which, +however, ought to be known, in order to be reasoned from. Reason upon the +case itself, and the several circumstances that attend it, and act +accordingly; but not from the authority of ancient poets, or historians. +Take into your consideration, if you please, cases seemingly analogous; +but take them as helps only, not as guides. We are really so prejudiced +by our education, that, as the ancients deified their heroes, we deify +their madmen; of which, with all due regard for antiquity, I take +Leonidas and Curtius to have been two distinguished ones. And yet a solid +pedant would, in a speech in parliament, relative to a tax of two pence +in the pound upon some community or other, quote those two heroes, as +examples of what we ought to do and suffer for our country. I have known +these absurdities carried so far by people of injudicious learning, that +I should not be surprised, if some of them were to propose, while we are +at war with the Gauls, that a number of geese should be kept in the +Tower, upon account of the infinite advantage which Rome received IN A +PARALLEL CASE, from a certain number of geese in the Capitol. This way of +reasoning, and this way of speaking, will always form a poor politician, +and a puerile declaimer. + +There is another species of learned men, who, though less dogmatical and +supercilious, are not less impertinent. These are the communicative and +shining pedants, who adorn their conversation, even with women, by happy +quotations of Greek and Latin; and who have contracted such a familiarity +with the Greek and Roman authors, that they, call them by certain names +or epithets denoting intimacy. As OLD Homer; that SLY ROGUE Horace; MARO, +instead of Virgil; and Naso, Instead of Ovid. These are often imitated by +coxcombs, who have no learning at all; but who have got some names and +some scraps of ancient authors by heart, which they improperly and +impertinently retail in all companies, in hopes of passing for scholars. +If, therefore, you would avoid the accusation of pedantry on one hand, or +the suspicion of ignorance on the other, abstain from learned +ostentation. Speak the language of the company that you are in; speak it +purely, and unlarded with any other. Never seem wiser, nor more learned, +than the people you are with. Wear your learning, like your watch, in a +private pocket: and do not pull it out and strike it; merely to show that +you have one. If you are asked what o'clock it is, tell it; but do not +proclaim it hourly and unasked, like the watchman. + +Upon the whole, remember that learning (I mean Greek and Roman learning) +is a most useful and necessary ornament, which it is shameful not to be +master of; but, at the same time most carefully avoid those errors and +abuses which I have mentioned, and which too often attend it. Remember, +too, that great modern knowledge is still more necessary than ancient; +and that you had better know perfectly the present, than the old state of +Europe; though I would have you well acquainted with both. + +I have this moment received your letter of the 17th, N. S. Though, I +confess, there is no great variety in your present manner of life, yet +materials can never be wanting for a letter; you see, you hear, or you +read something new every day; a short account of which, with your own +reflections thereupon, will make out a letter very well. But, since you +desire a subject, pray send me an account of the Lutheran establishment +in Germany; their religious tenets, their church government, the +maintenance, authority, and titles of their clergy. + +'Vittorio Siri', complete, is a very scarce and very dear book here; but +I do not want it. If your own library grows too voluminous, you will not +know what to do with it, when you leave Leipsig. Your best way will be, +when you go away from thence, to send to England, by Hamburg, all the +books that you do not absolutely want. + + Yours. + + + + +LETTER XXXI + +BATH, March 1, O. S. 1748. + +DEAR BOY: By Mr. Harte's letter to Mr. Grevenkop, of the 21st February, +N. S., I find that you had been a great while without receiving any +letters from me; but by this time, I daresay you think you have received +enough, and possibly more than you have read; for I am not only a +frequent, but a prolix correspondent. + +Mr. Harte says, in that letter, that he looks upon Professor Mascow to be +one of the ablest men in Europe, in treaty and political knowledge. I am +extremely glad of it; for that is what I would have you particularly +apply to, and make yourself perfect master of. The treaty part you must +chiefly acquire by reading the treaties themselves, and the histories and +memoirs relative to them; not but that inquiries and conversations upon +those treaties will help you greatly, and imprint them better in your +mind. In this course of reading, do not perplex yourself, at first, by +the multitude of insignificant treaties which are to be found in the +Corps Diplomatique; but stick to the material ones, which altered the +state of Europe, and made a new arrangement among the great powers; such +as the treaties of Munster, Nimeguen, Ryswick, and Utrecht. + +But there is one part of political knowledge, which is only to be had by +inquiry and conversation; that is, the present state of every power in +Europe, with regard to the three important points, of strength, revenue, +and commerce. You will, therefore, do well, while you are in Germany, to +inform yourself carefully of the military force, the revenues, and the +commerce of every prince and state of the empire; and to write down those +informations in a little book, for that particular purpose. To give you a +specimen of what I mean:-- + + THE ELECTORATE OF HANOVER + + The revenue is about L500,000 a year. + + The military establishment, in time of war, may be about 25,000 men; + but that is the utmost. + + The trade is chiefly linens, exported from Stade. + + There are coarse woolen manufactures for home-consumption. + + The mines of Hartz produce about L100,000 in silver, annually. + +Such informations you may very easily get, by proper inquiries, of every +state in Germany if you will but prefer useful to frivolous +conversations. + +There are many princes in Germany, who keep very few or no troops, unless +upon the approach of danger, or for the sake of profit, by letting them +out for subsidies, to great powers: In that case, you will inform +yourself what number of troops they could raise, either for their own +defense, or furnish to other powers for subsidies. + +There is very little trouble, and an infinite use, in acquiring of this +knowledge. It seems to me even to be a more entertaining subject to talk +upon, than 'la pluie et le beau tens'. + +Though I am sensible that these things cannot be known with the utmost +exactness, at least by you yet, you may, however, get so near the truth, +that the difference will be very immaterial. + +Pray let me know if the Roman Catholic worship is tolerated in Saxony, +anywhere but at Court; and if public mass-houses are allowed anywhere +else in the electorate. Are the regular Romish clergy allowed; and have +they any convents? + +Are there any military orders in Saxony, and what? Is the White Eagle a +Saxon or a Polish order? Upon what occasion, and when was it founded? +What number of knights? + +Adieu! God bless you; and may you turn out what I wish! + + + + +LETTER XXXII + +BATH, March 9, O. S. 1748. + +DEAR BOY: I must from time to time, remind you of what I have often +recommended to you, and of what you cannot attend to too much; SACRIFICE +TO THE GRACES. The different effects of the same things, said or done, +when accompanied or abandoned by them, is almost inconceivable. They +prepare the way to the heart; and the heart has such an influence over +the understanding, that it is worth while to engage it in our interest. +It is the whole of women, who are guided by nothing else: and it has so +much to say, even with men, and the ablest men too, that it commonly +triumphs in every struggle with the understanding. Monsieur de +Rochefoucault, in his "Maxims," says, that 'l'esprit est souvent la dupe +du coeur.' If he had said, instead of 'souvent, tresque toujours', I fear +he would have been nearer the truth. This being the case, aim at the +heart. Intrinsic merit alone will not do; it will gain you the general +esteem of all; but not the particular affection, that is, the heart of +any. To engage the affections of any particular person, you must, over +and above your general merit, have some particular merit to that person +by services done, or offered; by expressions of regard and esteem; by +complaisance, attentions, etc., for him. And the graceful manner of doing +all these things opens the way to the heart, and facilitates, or rather +insures, their effects. From your own observation, reflect what a +disagreeable impression an awkward address, a slovenly figure, an +ungraceful manner of speaking, whether stuttering, muttering, monotony, +or drawling, an unattentive behavior, etc., make upon you, at first +sight, in a stranger, and how they prejudice you against him, though for +aught you know, he may have great intrinsic sense and merit. And reflect, +on the other hand, how much the opposites of all these things prepossess +you, at first sight, in favor of those who enjoy them. You wish to find +all good qualities in them, and are in some degree disappointed if you do +not. A thousand little things, not separately to be defined, conspire to +form these graces, this je ne sais quoi, that always please. A pretty +person, genteel motions, a proper degree of dress, an harmonious voice, +something open and cheerful in the countenance, but without laughing; a +distinct and properly varied manner of speaking: All these things, and +many others, are necessary ingredients in the composition of the pleasing +je ne sais quoi, which everybody feels, though nobody can describe. +Observe carefully, then, what displeases or pleases you in others, and be +persuaded, that in general; the same things will please or displease them +in you. Having mentioned laughing, I must particularly warn you against +it: and I could heartily wish, that you may often be seen to smile, but +never heard to laugh while you live. Frequent and loud laughter is the +characteristic of folly and in manners; it is the manner in which the mob +express their silly joy at silly things; and they call it being merry. In +my mind, there is nothing so illiberal, and so ill-bred, as audible +laughter. True wit, or sense, never yet made anybody laugh; they are +above it: They please the mind, and give a cheerfulness to the +countenance. But it is low buffoonery, or silly accidents, that always +excite laughter; and that is what people of sense and breeding should +show themselves above. A man's going to sit down, in the supposition that +he has a chair behind him, and falling down upon his breech for want of +one, sets a whole company a laughing, when all the wit in the world would +not do it; a plain proof, in my mind, how low and unbecoming a thing +laughter is: not to mention the disagreeable noise that it makes, and the +shocking distortion of the face that it occasions. Laughter is easily +restrained, by a very little reflection; but as it is generally connected +with the idea of gaiety, people do not enough attend to its absurdity. I +am neither of a melancholy nor a cynical disposition, and am as willing +and as apt to be pleased as anybody; but I am sure that, since I have had +the full use of my reason, nobody has ever heard me laugh. Many people, +at first, from awkwardness and 'mauvaise honte', have got a very +disagreeable and silly trick of laughing whenever they speak; and I know +a man of very good parts, Mr. Waller, who cannot say the commonest thing +without laughing; which makes those, who do not know him, take him at +first for a natural fool. This, and many other very disagreeable habits, +are owing to mauvaise honte at their first setting out in the world. They +are ashamed in company, and so disconcerted, that they do not know what +they do, and try a thousand tricks to keep themselves in countenance; +which tricks afterward grow habitual to them. Some put their fingers in +their nose, others scratch their heads, others twirl their hats; in +short, every awkward, ill-bred body has his trick. But the frequency does +not justify the thing, and all these vulgar habits and awkwardnesses, +though not criminal indeed, are most carefully to be guarded against, as +they are great bars in the way of the art of pleasing. Remember, that to +please is almost to prevail, or at least a necessary previous step to it. +You, who have your fortune to make, should more particularly study this +art. You had not, I must tell you, when you left England, 'les manieres +prevenantes'; and I must confess they are not very common in England; but +I hope that your good sense will make you acquire them abroad. If you +desire to make yourself considerable in the world (as, if you have any +spirit, you do), it must be entirely your own doing; for I may very +possibly be out of the world at the time you come into it. Your own rank +and fortune will not assist you; your merit and your manners can alone +raise you to figure and fortune. I have laid the foundations of them, by +the education which I have given you; but you must build the +superstructure yourself. + +I must now apply to you for some informations, which I dare say you can, +and which I desire you will give me. + +Can the Elector of Saxony put any of his subjects to death for high +treason, without bringing them first to their trial in some public court +of justice? + +Can he, by his own authority, confine any subject in prison as long as he +pleases, without trial? + +Can he banish any subject out of his dominions by his own authority? + +Can he lay any tax whatsoever upon his subjects, without the consent of +the states of Saxony? and what are those states? how are they elected? +what orders do they consist of? Do the clergy make part of them? and +when, and how often do they meet? + +If two subjects of the elector's are at law, for an estate situated in +the electorate, in what court must this suit be tried? and will the +decision of that court be final, or does there lie an appeal to the +imperial chamber at Wetzlaer? + +What do you call the two chief courts, or two chief magistrates, of civil +and criminal justice? + +What is the common revenue of the electorate, one year with another? + +What number of troops does the elector now maintain? and what is the +greatest number that the electorate is able to maintain? + +I do not expect to have all these questions answered at once; but you +will answer them, in proportion as you get the necessary and authentic +informations. + +You are, you see, my German oracle; and I consult you with so much faith, +that you need not, like the oracles of old, return ambiguous answers; +especially as you have this advantage over them, too, that I only consult +you about past end present, but not about what is to come. + +I wish you a good Easter-fair at Leipsig. See, with attention all the +shops, drolls, tumblers, rope-dancers, and 'hoc genus omne': but inform +yourself more particularly of the several parts of trade there. Adieu. + + + + +LETTER XXXIII + +LONDON, March 25, O. S. 1748. + +DEAR BOY: I am in great joy at the written and the verbal accounts which +I have received lately of you. + +The former, from Mr. Harte; the latter, from Mr. Trevanion, who is +arrived here: they conspire to convince me that you employ your time well +at Leipsig. I am glad to find you consult your own interest and your own +pleasure so much; for the knowledge which you will acquire in these two +years is equally necessary for both. I am likewise particularly pleased +to find that you turn yourself to that sort of knowledge which is more +peculiarly necessary for your destination: for Mr. Harte tells me you +have read, with attention, Caillieres, Pequet, and Richelieu's "Letters." +The "Memoirs" of the Cardinal de Retz will both entertain and instruct +you; they relate to a very interesting period of the French history, the +ministry of Cardinal Mazarin, during the minority of Lewis XIV. The +characters of all the considerable people of that time are drawn, in a +short, strong, and masterly manner; and the political reflections, which +are most of them printed in italics, are the justest that ever I met +with: they are not the labored reflections of a systematical closet +politician, who, without the least experience of business, sits at home +and writes maxims; but they are the reflections which a great and able +man formed from long experience and practice in great business. They are +true conclusions, drawn from facts, not from speculations. + +As modern history is particularly your business, I will give you some +rules to direct your study of it. It begins, properly with Charlemagne, +in the year 800. But as, in those times of ignorance, the priests and +monks were almost the only people that could or did write, we have +scarcely any histories of those times but such as they have been pleased +to give us, which are compounds of ignorance, superstition, and party +zeal. So that a general notion of what is rather supposed, than really +known to be, the history of the five or six following centuries, seems to +be sufficient; and much time would be but ill employed in a minute +attention to those legends. But reserve your utmost care, and most +diligent inquiries, from the fifteenth century, and downward. Then +learning began to revive, and credible histories to be written; Europe +began to take the form, which, to some degree, it still retains: at least +the foundations of the present great powers of Europe were then laid. +Lewis the Eleventh made France, in truth, a monarchy, or, as he used to +say himself, 'la mit hors de Page'. Before his time, there were +independent provinces in France, as the Duchy of Brittany, etc., whose +princes tore it to pieces, and kept it in constant domestic confusion. +Lewis the Eleventh reduced all these petty states, by fraud, force, or +marriage; for he scrupled no means to obtain his ends. + +About that time, Ferdinand King of Aragon, and Isabella his wife, Queen +of Castile, united the whole Spanish monarchy, and drove the Moors out of +Spain, who had till then kept position of Granada. About that time, too, +the house of Austria laid the great foundations of its subsequent power; +first, by the marriage of Maximilian with the heiress of Burgundy; and +then, by the marriage of his son Philip, Archduke of Austria, with Jane, +the daughter of Isabella, Queen of Spain, and heiress of that whole +kingdom, and of the West Indies. By the first of these marriages, the +house of Austria acquired the seventeen provinces, and by the latter, +Spain and America; all which centered in the person of Charles the Fifth, +son of the above-mentioned Archduke Philip, the son of Maximilian. It was +upon account of these two marriages, that the following Latin distich was +made: + + Bella gerant alii, Tu felix Austria nube; + Nam qua, Mars aliis; dat tibi regna Venus. + +This immense power, which the Emperor Charles the Fifth found himself +possessed of, gave him a desire for universal power (for people never +desire all till they have gotten a great deal), and alarmed France; this +sowed the seeds of that jealousy and enmity, which have flourished ever +since between those two great powers. Afterward the House of Austria was +weakened by the division made by Charles the Fifth of his dominions, +between his son, Philip the Second of Spain, and his brother Ferdinand; +and has ever since been dwindling to the weak condition in which it now +is. This is a most interesting part of the history of Europe, of which it +is absolutely necessary that you should be exactly and minutely informed. + +There are in the history of most countries, certain very remarkable eras, +which deserve more particular inquiry and attention than the common run +of history. Such is the revolt of the Seventeen Provinces, in the reign +of Philip the Second of Spain, which ended in forming the present +republic of the Seven United Provinces, whose independency was first +allowed by Spain at the treaty of Munster. Such was the extraordinary +revolution of Portugal, in the year 1640, in favor of the present House +of Braganza. Such is the famous revolution of Sweden, when Christian the +Second of Denmark, who was also king of Sweden, was driven out by +Gustavus Vasa. And such also is that memorable era in Denmark, of 1660; +when the states of that kingdom made a voluntary surrender of all their +rights and liberties to the Crown, and changed that free state into the +most absolute monarchy now in Europe. The Acta Regis, upon that occasion, +are worth your perusing. These remarkable periods of modern history +deserve your particular attention, and most of them have been treated +singly by good historians, which are worth your reading. The revolutions +of Sweden, and of Portugal, are most admirably well written by L'Abbe de +Vertot; they are short, and will not take twelve hours' reading. There is +another book which very well deserves your looking into, but not worth +your buying at present, because it is not portable; if you can borrow or +hire it, you should; and that is, 'L' Histoire des Traits de Paix, in two +volumes, folio, which make part of the 'Corps Diplomatique'. You will +there find a short and clear history, and the substance of every treaty +made in Europe, during the last century, from the treaty of Vervins. +Three parts in four of this book are not worth your reading, as they +relate to treaties of very little importance; but if you select the most +considerable ones, read them with attention, and take some notes, it will +be of great use to you. Attend chiefly to those in which the great powers +of Europe are the parties; such as the treaty of the Pyrenees, between +France and Spain; the treaties of Nimeguen and Ryswick; but, above all, +the treaty of Munster should be most circumstantially and minutely known +to you, as almost every treaty made since has some reference to it. For +this, Pere Bougeant is the best book you can read, as it takes in the +thirty years' war, which preceded that treaty. The treaty itself, which +is made a perpetual law of the empire, comes in the course of your +lectures upon the 'Jus Publicum Imperii'. + +In order to furnish you with materials for a letter, and at the same time +to inform both you and myself of what it is right that we should know, +pray answer me the following questions: + +How many companies are there in the Saxon regiments of foot? How many men +in each company? + +How many troops in the regiments of horse and dragoons; and how many men +in each? + +What number of commissioned and non-commissioned officers in a company of +foot, or in a troop of horse or dragoons? N. B. Noncommissioned officers +are all those below ensigns and cornets. + +What is the daily pay of a Saxon foot soldier, dragoon, and trooper? + +What are the several ranks of the 'Etat Major-general'? N. B. The Etat +Major-general is everything above colonel. The Austrians have no +brigadiers, and the French have no major-generals in their Etat Major. +What have the Saxons? Adieu! + + + + +LETTER XXXIV + +LONDON, March 27, O. S. 1748. + +DEAR BOY: This little packet will be delivered to you by one Monsieur +Duval, who is going to the fair at Leipsig. He is a jeweler, originally +of Geneva, but who has been settled here these eight or ten years, and a +very sensible fellow: pray do be very civil to him. + +As I advised you, some time ago, to inform yourself of the civil and +military establishments of as many of the kingdoms and states of Europe, +as you should either be in yourself, or be able to get authentic accounts +of, I send you here a little book, in which, upon the article of Hanover, +I have pointed out the short method of putting down these informations, +by way of helping your memory. The book being lettered, you can +immediately turn to whatever article you want; and, by adding interleaves +to each letter, may extend your minutes to what particulars you please. +You may get such books made anywhere; and appropriate each, if you +please, to a particular object. I have myself found great utility in this +method. If I had known what to have sent you by this opportunity I would +have done it. The French say, 'Que les petits presens entretiennent +l'amite et que les grande l'augmentent'; but I could not recollect that +you wanted anything, or at least anything that you cannot get as well at +Leipsig as here. Do but continue to deserve, and, I assure you, that you +shall never want anything I can give. + +Do not apprehend that my being out of employment may be any prejudice to +you. Many things will happen before you can be fit for business; and when +you are fit, whatever my situation may be, it will always be in my power +to help you in your first steps; afterward you must help yourself by your +own abilities. Make yourself necessary, and, instead of soliciting, you +will be solicited. The thorough knowledge of foreign affairs, the +interests, the views, and the manners of the several courts in Europe, +are not the common growth of this country. It is in your power to acquire +them; you have all the means. Adieu! Yours. + + + +LETTERS TO HIS SON + +LETTER XXXV + +LONDON, April 1, O. S. 1748. + +DEAR BOY: I have not received any letter, either from you or from Mr. +Harte, these three posts, which I impute wholly to accidents between this +place and Leipsig; and they are distant enough to admit of many. I always +take it for granted that you are well, when I do not hear to the +contrary; besides, as I have often told you, I am much more anxious about +your doing well, than about your being well; and, when you do not write, +I will suppose that you are doing something more useful. Your health will +continue, while your temperance continues; and at your age nature takes +sufficient care of the body, provided she is left to herself, and that +intemperance on one hand, or medicines on the other, do not break in upon +her. But it is by no means so with the mind, which, at your age +particularly, requires great and constant care, and some physic. Every +quarter of an hour, well or ill employed, will do it essential and +lasting good or harm. It requires also a great deal of exercise, to bring +it to a state of health and vigor. Observe the difference there is +between minds cultivated, and minds uncultivated, and you will, I am +sure, think that you cannot take too much pains, nor employ too much of +your time in the culture of your own. A drayman is probably born with as +good organs as Milton, Locke, or Newton; but, by culture, they are as +much more above him as he is above his horse. Sometimes, indeed, +extraordinary geniuses have broken out by the force of nature, without +the assistance of education; but those instances are too rare for anybody +to trust to; and even they would make a much greater figure, if they had +the advantage of education into the bargain. If Shakespeare's genius had +been cultivated, those beauties, which we so justly admire in him, would +have been undisgraced by those extravagancies, and that nonsense, with +which they are frequently accompanied. People are, in general, what they +are made, by education and company, from fifteen to five-and-twenty; +consider well, therefore, the importance of your next eight or nine +years; your whole depends upon them. I will tell you sincerely, my hopes +and my fears concerning you. I think you will be a good scholar; and that +you will acquire a considerable stock of knowledge of various kinds; but +I fear that you neglect what are called little, though, in truth, they +are very material things; I mean, a gentleness of manners, an engaging +address, and an insinuating behavior; they are real and solid advantages, +and none but those who do not know the world, treat them as trifles. I am +told that you speak very quick, and not distinctly; this is a most +ungraceful and disagreeable trick, which you know I have told you of a +thousand times; pray attend carefully to the correction of it. An +agreeable and, distinct manner of speaking adds greatly to the matter; +and I have known many a very good speech unregarded, upon account of the +disagreeable manner in which it has been delivered, and many an +indifferent one applauded, from the contrary reason. Adieu! + + + + +LETTER XXXVI + +LONDON, April 15, O. S. 1748 + +DEAR BOY: Though I have no letters from you to acknowledge since my last +to you, I will not let three posts go from hence without a letter from +me. My affection always prompts me to write to you; and I am encouraged +to do it, by the hopes that my letters are not quite useless. You will +probably receive this in the midst of the diversions of Leipsig fair; at +which, Mr. Harte tells me, that you are to shine in fine clothes, among +fine folks. I am very glad of it, as it is time that you should begin to +be formed to the manners of the world in higher life. Courts are the best +schools for that sort of learning. You are beginning now with the outside +of a court; and there is not a more gaudy one than that of Saxony. Attend +to it, and make your observations upon the turn and manners of it, that +you may hereafter compare it with other courts which you will see; And, +though you are not yet able to be informed, or to judge of the political +conduct and maxims of that court, yet you may remark the forms, the +ceremonies, and the exterior state of it. At least see everything that +you can see, and know everything that you can know of it, by asking +questions. See likewise everything at the fair, from operas and plays, +down to the Savoyard's raree-shows. + +Everything is worth seeing once; and the more one sees, the less one +either wonders or admires. + +Make my compliments to Mr. Harte, and tell him that I have just now +received his letter, for which I thank him. I am called away, and my +letter is therefore very much shortened. Adieu. + +I am impatient to receive your answers to the many questions that I have +asked you. + + + + +LETTER XXXVII + +LONDON, April 26, O. S. 1748. + +DEAR BOY: I am extremely pleased with your continuation of the history of +the Reformation; which is one of those important eras that deserves your +utmost attention, and of which you cannot be too minutely informed. You +have, doubtless, considered the causes of that great event, and observed +that disappointment and resentment had a much greater share in it, than a +religious zeal or an abhorrence of the errors and abuses of popery. + +Luther, an Augustine monk, enraged that his order, and consequently +himself, had not the exclusive privilege of selling indulgences, but that +the Dominicans were let into a share of that profitable but infamous +trade, turns reformer, and exclaims against the abuses, the corruption, +and the idolatry, of the church of Rome; which were certainly gross +enough for him to have seen long before, but which he had at least +acquiesced in, till what he called the rights, that is, the profit, of +his order came to be touched. It is true, the church of Rome furnished +him ample matter for complaint and reformation, and he laid hold of it +ably. + +This seems to me the true cause of that great and necessary, work; but +whatever the cause was, the effect was good; and the Reformation spread +itself by its own truth and fitness; was conscientiously received by +great numbers in Germany, and other countries; and was soon afterward +mixed up with the politics of princes; and, as it always happens in +religious disputes, became the specious covering of injustice and +ambition. + +Under the pretense of crushing heresy, as it was called, the House of +Austria meant to extend and establish its power in the empire; as, on the +other hand, many Protestant princes, under the pretense of extirpating +idolatry, or at least of securing toleration, meant only to enlarge their +own dominions or privileges. These views respectively, among the chiefs +on both sides, much more than true religious motives, continued what were +called the religious wars in Germany, almost uninterruptedly, till the +affairs of the two religions were finally settled by the treaty of +Munster. + +Were most historical events traced up to their true causes, I fear we +should not find them much more noble or disinterested than Luther's +disappointed avarice; and therefore I look with some contempt upon those +refining and sagacious historians, who ascribe all, even the most common +events, to some deep political cause; whereas mankind is made up of +inconsistencies, and no man acts invariably up to his predominant +character. The wisest man sometimes acts weakly, and the weakest +sometimes wisely. Our jarring passions, our variable humors, nay, our +greater or lesser degree of health and spirits, produce such +contradictions in our conduct, that, I believe, those are the oftenest +mistaken, who ascribe our actions to the most seemingly obvious motives; +and I am convinced, that a light supper, a good night's sleep, and a fine +morning, have sometimes made a hero of the same man, who, by an +indigestion, a restless night, and rainy morning, would, have proved a +coward. Our best conjectures, therefore, as to the true springs of +actions, are but very uncertain; and the actions themselves are all that +we must pretend to know from history. That Caesar was murdered by +twenty-three conspirators, I make no doubt: but I very much doubt that +their love of liberty, and of their country, was their sole, or even +principal motive; and I dare say that, if the truth were known, we should +find that many other motives at least concurred, even in the great Brutus +himself; such as pride, envy, personal pique, and disappointment. Nay, I +cannot help carrying my Pyrrhonism still further, and extending it often +to historical facts themselves, at least to most of the circumstances +with which they are related; and every day's experience confirms me in +this historical incredulity. Do we ever hear the most recent fact related +exactly in the same way, by the several people who were at the same time +eyewitnesses of it? No. One mistakes, another misrepresents, and others +warp it a little to their own, turn of mind, or private views. A man who +has been concerned in a transaction will not write it fairly; and a man +who has not, cannot. But notwithstanding all this uncertainty, history is +not the less necessary to be known, as the best histories are taken for +granted, and are the frequent subjects both of conversation and writing. +Though I am convinced that Caesar's ghost never appeared to Brutus, yet I +should be much ashamed to be ignorant of that fact, as related by the +historians of those times. Thus the Pagan theology is universally +received as matter for writing and conversation, though believed now by +nobody; and we talk of Jupiter, Mars, Apollo, etc., as gods, though we +know, that if they ever existed at all, it was only as mere mortal men. +This historical Pyrrhonism, then, proves nothing against the study and +knowledge of history; which, of all other studies, is the most necessary +for a man who is to live in the world. It only points out to us, not to +be too decisive and peremptory; and to be cautious how we draw inferences +for our own practice from remote facts, partially or ignorantly related; +of which we can, at best, but imperfectly guess, and certainly not know +the real motives. The testimonies of ancient history must necessarily be +weaker than those of modern, as all testimony grows weaker and weaker, as +it is more and more remote from us. I would therefore advise you to study +ancient history, in general, as other people, do; that is, not to be +ignorant of any or those facts which are universally received, upon the +faith of the best historians; and whether true or false, you have them as +other people have them. But modern history, I mean particularly that of +the last three centuries, is what I would have you apply to with the +greatest attention and exactness. There the probability of coming at the +truth is much greater, as the testimonies are much more recent; besides, +anecdotes, memoirs, and original letters, often come to the aid of modern +history. The best memoirs that I know of are those of Cardinal de Retz, +which I have once before recommended to you; and which I advise you to +read more than once, with attention. There are many political maxims in +these memoirs, most of which are printed in italics; pray attend to, and +remember them. I never read them but my own experience confirms the truth +of them. Many of them seem trifling to people who are not used to +business; but those who are, feel the truth of them. + +It is time to put an end to this long rambling letter; in which if any +one thing can be of use to you, it will more than pay the trouble I have +taken to write it. Adieu! Yours. + + + + +LETTER XXXVIII + +LONDON, May 10, O. S. 1748. + +DEAR BOY: I reckon that this letter will find you just returned from +Dresden, where you have made your first court caravanne. What inclination +for courts this taste of them may have given you, I cannot tell; but this +I think myself sure of, from your good sense, that in leaving Dresden, +you have left dissipation too; and have resumed at Leipsig that +application which, if you like courts, can alone enable you to make a +good figure at them. A mere courtier, without parts or knowledge, is the +most frivolous and contemptible of all beings; as, on the other hand, a +man of parts and knowledge, who acquires the easy and noble manners of a +court, is the most perfect. It is a trite, commonplace observation, that +courts are the seats of falsehood and dissimulation. That, like many, I +might say most, commonplace observations, is false. Falsehood and +dissimulation are certainly to be found at courts; but where are they not +to be found? Cottages have them, as well as courts; only with worse +manners. A couple of neighboring farmers in a village will contrive and +practice as many tricks, to over-reach each other at the next market, or +to supplant each other in the favor, of the squire, as any two courtiers +can do to supplant each other in the favor of their prince. + +Whatever poets may write, or fools believe, of rural innocence and truth, +and of the perfidy of courts, this is most undoubtedly true that +shepherds and ministers are both men; their nature and passions the same, +the modes of them only different. + +Having mentioned commonplace observations, I will particularly caution +you against either using, believing, or approving them. They are the +common topics of witlings and coxcombs; those, who really have wit, have +the utmost contempt for them, and scorn even to laugh at the pert things +that those would-be wits say upon such subjects. + +Religion is one of their favorite topics; it is all priest-craft; and an +invention contrived and carried on by priests of all religions, for their +own power and profit; from this absurd and false principle flow the +commonplace, insipid jokes, and insults upon the clergy. With these +people, every priest, of every religion, is either a public or a +concealed unbeliever, drunkard, and whoremaster; whereas, I conceive, +that priests are extremely like other men, and neither the better nor the +worse for wearing a gown or a surplice: but if they are different from +other people, probably it is rather on the side of religion and morality, +or, at least, decency, from their education and manner of life. + +Another common topic for false wit, and cool raillery, is matrimony. +Every man and his wife hate each other cordially, whatever they may +pretend, in public, to the contrary. The husband certainly wishes his +wife at the devil, and the wife certainly cuckolds her husband. Whereas, +I presume, that men and their wives neither love nor hate each other the +more, upon account of the form of matrimony which has been said over +them. The cohabitation, indeed, which is the consequence of matrimony, +makes them either love or hate more, accordingly as they respectively +deserve it; but that would be exactly the same between any man and woman +who lived together without being married. + +These and many other commonplace reflections upon nations or professions +in general (which are at least as often false as true), are the poor +refuge of people who have neither wit nor invention of their own, but +endeavor to shine in company by second-hand finery. I always put these +pert jackanapes out of countenance, by looking extremely grave, when they +expect that I should laugh at their pleasantries; and by saying WELL, AND +SO, as if they had not done, and that the sting were still to come. This +disconcerts them, as they have no resources in themselves, and have but +one set of jokes to live upon. Men of parts are not reduced to these +shifts, and have the utmost contempt for them, they find proper subjects +enough for either useful or lively conversations; they can be witty +without satire or commonplace, and serious without being dull. The +frequentation of courts checks this petulancy of manners; the +good-breeding and circumspection which are necessary, and only to be +learned there, correct those pertnesses. I do not doubt but that you are +improved in your manners by the short visit which you have made at +Dresden; and the other courts, which I intend that you shall be better +acquainted with, will gradually smooth you up to the highest polish. In +courts, a versatility of genius and softness of manners are absolutely +necessary; which some people mistake for abject flattery, and having no +opinion of one's own; whereas it is only the decent and genteel manner of +maintaining your own opinion, and possibly of bringing other people to +it. The manner of doing things is often more important than the things +themselves; and the very same thing may become either pleasing or +offensive, by the manner of saying or doing it. 'Materiam superabat +opus', is often said of works of sculpture; where though the materials +were valuable, as silver, gold, etc., the workmanship was still more so. +This holds true, applied to manners; which adorn whatever knowledge or +parts people may have; and even make a greater impression upon nine in +ten of mankind, than the intrinsic value of the materials. On the other +hand, remember, that what Horace says of good writing is justly +applicable to those who would make a good figure in courts, and +distinguish themselves in the shining parts of life; 'Sapere est +principium et fons'. A man who, without a good fund of knowledge and +parts, adopts a court life, makes the most ridiculous figure imaginable. +He is a machine, little superior to the court clock; and, as this points +out the hours, he points out the frivolous employment of them. He is, at +most, a comment upon the clock; and according to the hours that it +strikes, tells you now it is levee, now dinner, now supper time, etc. The +end which I propose by your education, and which (IF YOU PLEASE) I shall +certainly attain, is to unite in you all the knowledge of a scholar with +the manners of a courtier; and to join, what is seldom joined by any of +my countrymen, books and the world. They are commonly twenty years old +before they have spoken to anybody above their schoolmaster, and the +fellows of their college. If they happen to have learning, it is only +Greek and Latin, but not one word of modern history, or modern languages. +Thus prepared, they go abroad, as they call it; but, in truth, they stay +at home all that while; for being very awkward, confoundedly ashamed, and +not speaking the languages, they go into no foreign company, at least +none good; but dine and sup with one another only at the tavern. Such +examples, I am sure, you will not imitate, but even carefully avoid. You +will always take care to keep the best company in the place where you +are, which is the only use of traveling: and (by the way) the pleasures +of a gentleman are only to be found in the best company; for that not +which low company, most falsely and impudently, call pleasure, is only +the sensuality of a swine. + +I ask hard and uninterrupted study from you but one year more; after +that, you shall have every day more and more time for your amusements. A +few hours each day will then be sufficient for application, and the +others cannot be better employed than in the pleasures of good company. +Adieu. + + + + +LETTER XXXIX + +LONDON, May 31, O. S. 1748. + +DEAR BOY: I received yesterday your letter of the 16th, N. S., and have, +in consequence of it, written this day to Sir Charles Williams, to thank +him for all the civilities he has shown you. Your first setting out at +court has, I find, been very favorable; and his Polish Majesty has +distinguished you. I hope you received that mark of distinction with +respect and with steadiness, which is the proper behavior of a man of +fashion. People of a low, obscure education cannot stand the rays of +greatness; they are frightened out of their wits when kings and great men +speak to them; they are awkward, ashamed, and do not know what nor how to +answer; whereas, 'les honnetes gens' are not dazzled by superior rank: +they know, and pay all the respect that is due to it; but they do it +without being disconcerted; and can converse just as easily with a king +as with any one of his subjects. That is the great advantage of being +introduced young into good company, and being used early to converse with +one's superiors. How many men have I seen here, who, after having had the +full benefit of an English education, first at school, and then at the +university, when they have been presented to the king, did not know +whether they stood upon their heads or their heels! If the king spoke to +them, they were annihilated; they trembled, endeavored to put their hands +in their pockets, and missed them; let their hats fall, and were ashamed +to take them up; and in short, put themselves in every attitude but the +right, that is, the easy and natural one. The characteristic of a +well-bred man, is to converse with his inferiors without insolence, and +with his superiors with respect and ease. He talks to kings without +concern; he trifles with women of the first condition with familiarity, +gayety, but respect; and converses with his equals, whether he is +acquainted with them or not, upon general common topics, that are not, +however, quite frivolous, without the least concern of mind or +awkwardness of body: neither of which can appear to advantage, but when +they are perfectly easy. + +The tea-things, which Sir Charles Williams has given you, I would have +you make a present of to your Mamma, and send them to her by Duval when +he returns. You owe her not only duty, but likewise great obligations for +her care and tenderness; and, consequently, cannot take too many +opportunities of showing your gratitude. + +I am impatient to receive your account of Dresden, and likewise your +answers to the many questions that I asked you. + +Adieu for this time, and God bless you! + + + + +LETTER XL + +LONDON, May 27, O. S. 1748. + +DEAR BOY: This and the two next years make so important a period of your +life, that I cannot help repeating to you my exhortations, my commands, +and (what I hope will be still more prevailing with you than either) my +earnest entreaties, to employ them well. Every moment that you now lose, +is so much character and advantage lost; as, on the other hand, every +moment that you now employ usefully, is so much time wisely laid out, at +most prodigious interest. These two years must lay the foundations of all +the knowledge that you will ever have; you may build upon them afterward +as much as you please, but it will be too late to lay any new ones. Let +me beg of you, therefore, to grudge no labor nor pains to acquire, in +time, that stock of knowledge, without which you never can rise, but must +make a very insignificant figure in the world. Consider your own +situation; you have not the advantage of rank or fortune to bear you up; +I shall, very probably, be out of the world before you can properly be +said to be in it. What then will you have to rely on but your own merit? +That alone must raise you, and that alone will raise you, if you have but +enough of it. I have often heard and read of oppressed and unrewarded +merit, but I have oftener (I might say always) seen great merit make its +way, and meet with its reward, to a certain degree at least, in spite of +all difficulties. By merit, I mean the moral virtues, knowledge, and +manners; as to the moral virtues, I say nothing to you; they speak best +for themselves, nor can I suspect that they want any recommendation with +you; I will therefore only assure you, that without them you will be most +unhappy. + +As to knowledge, I have often told you, and I am persuaded you are +thoroughly convinced, how absolutely necessary it is to you, whatever +your destination may be. But as knowledge has a most extensive meaning, +and as the life of man is not long enough to acquire, nor his mind +capable of entertaining and digesting, all parts of knowledge, I will +point out those to which you should particularly apply, and which, by +application, you may make yourself perfect master of. Classical +knowledge, that is, Greek and Latin, is absolutely necessary for +everybody; because everybody has agreed to think and to call it so. And +the word ILLITERATE, in its common acceptation, means a man who is +ignorant of those two languages. You are by this time, I hope, pretty +near master of both, so that a small part of the day dedicated to them, +for two years more, will make you perfect in that study. Rhetoric, logic, +a little geometry, and a general notion of astronomy, must, in their +turns, have their hours too; not that I desire you should be deep in any +one of these; but it is fit you should know something of them all. The +knowledge more particularly useful and necessary for you, considering +your destination, consists of modern languages, modern history, +chronology, and geography, the laws of nations, and the 'jus publicum +Imperii'. You must absolutely speak all the modern Languages, as purely +and correctly as the natives of the respective countries: for whoever +does not speak a language perfectly and easily, will never appear to +advantage in conversation, nor treat with others in it upon equal terms. +As for French, you have it very well already; and must necessarily, from +the universal usage of that language, know it better and better every +day: so that I am in no pain about that: German, I suppose, you know +pretty well by this time, and will be quite master of it before you leave +Leipsig: at least, I am sure you may. Italian and Spanish will come in +their turns, and, indeed, they are both so easy, to one who knows Latin +and French, that neither of them will cost you much time or trouble. +Modern history, by which I mean particularly the history of the last +three centuries, should be the object of your greatest and constant +attention, especially those parts of it which relate more immediately to +the great powers of Europe. This study you will carefully connect with +chronology and geography; that is, you will remark and retain the dates +of every important event; and always read with the map by you, in which +you will constantly look for every place mentioned: this is the only way +of retaining geography; for, though it is soon learned by the lump, yet, +when only so learned, it is still sooner forgot. + +Manners, though the last, and it may be the least ingredient of real +merit, are, however, very far from being useless in its composition; they +adorn, and give an additional force and luster to both virtue and +knowledge. They prepare and smooth the way for the progress of both; and +are, I fear, with the bulk of mankind, more engaging than either. +Remember, then, the infinite advantage of manners; cultivate and improve +your own to the utmost good sense will suggest the great rules to you, +good company will do the rest. Thus you see how much you have to do; and +how little time to do it in: for when you are thrown out into the world, +as in a couple of years you must be, the unavoidable dissipation of +company, and the necessary avocations of some kind of business or other, +will leave you no time to undertake new branches of knowledge: you may, +indeed, by a prudent allotment of your time, reserve some to complete and +finish the building; but you will never find enough to lay new +foundations. I have such an opinion of your understanding, that I am +convinced you are sensible of these truths; and that, however hard and +laborious your present uninterrupted application may seem to you, you +will rather increase than lessen it. For God's sake, my dear boy, do not +squander away one moment of your time, for every moment may be now most +usefully employed. Your future fortune, character, and figure in the +world, entirely depend upon your use or abuse of the two next years. If +you do but employ them well, what may you not reasonably expect to be, in +time? And if you do not, what may I not reasonably fear you will be? You +are the only one I ever knew, of this country, whose education was, from +the beginning, calculated for the department of foreign affairs; in +consequence of which, if you will invariably pursue, and diligently +qualify yourself for that object, you may make yourself absolutely +necessary to the government, and, after having received orders as a +minister abroad, send orders, in your turn, as Secretary of State at +home. Most of our ministers abroad have taken up that department +occasionally, without having ever thought of foreign affairs before; many +of them, without speaking any one foreign language; and all of them +without manners which are absolutely necessary toward being well +received, and making a figure at foreign courts. They do the business +accordingly, that is, very ill: they never get into the secrets of these +courts, for want of insinuation and address: they do not guess at their +views, for want of knowing their interests: and, at last, finding +themselves very unfit for, soon grow weary of their commissions, and are +impatient to return home, where they are but too justly laid aside and +neglected. Every moment's conversation may, if you please, be of use to +you; in this view, every public event, which is the common topic of +conversation, gives you an opportunity of getting some information. For +example, the preliminaries of peace, lately concluded at Aix-la-Chapelle, +will be the common subject of most conversations; in which you will take +care to ask the proper questions: as, what is the meaning of the Assiento +contract for negroes, between England and Spain; what the annual ship; +when stipulated; upon what account suspended, etc. You will likewise +inform yourself about Guastalla, now given to Don Philip, together with +Parma and Placentia; who they belonged to before; what claim or +pretensions Don Philip had to them; what they are worth; in short, +everything concerning them. The cessions made by the Queen of Hungary to +the King of Sardinia, are, by these preliminaries, confirmed and secured +to him: you will inquire, therefore, what they are, and what they are +worth. This is the kind of knowledge which you should be most thoroughly +master of, and in which conversation will help you almost as much as +books: but both are best. There are histories of every considerable +treaty, from that of Westphalia to that of Utrecht, inclusively; all +which I would advise you to read. Pore Bougeant's, of the treaty of +Westphalia, is an excellent one; those of Nimeguen, Ryswick, and Utrecht, +are not so well written; but are, however, very useful. 'L'Histoire des +Traites de Paix', in two volumes, folio, which I recommended to you some +time ago, is a book that you should often consult, when you hear mention +made of any treaty concluded in the seventeenth century. + +Upon the whole, if you have a mind to be considerable, and to shine +hereafter, you must labor hard now. No quickness of parts, no vivacity, +will do long, or go far, without a solid fund of knowledge; and that fund +of knowledge will amply repay all the pains that you can take in +acquiring it. Reflect seriously, within yourself, upon all this, and ask +yourself whether I can have any view, but your interest, in all that I +recommend to you. It is the result of my experience, and flows from that +tenderness and affection with which, while you deserve them, I shall be, +Yours. + +Make my compliments to Mr. Harte, and tell him that I have received his +letter of the 24th, N. S. + + + + +LETTER XLI + +LONDON, May 31, O. S. 1748 + +DEAR BOY: I have received, with great satisfaction, your letter of the +28th N. S., from Dresden: it finishes your short but clear account of the +Reformation which is one of those interesting periods of modern history, +that can not be too much studied nor too minutely known by you. There are +many great events in history, which, when once they are over, leave +things in the situation in which they found them. As, for instance, the +late war; which, excepting the establishment in Italy for Don Philip, +leave things pretty much in state quo; a mutual restitution of all +acquisitions being stipulated by the preliminaries of the peace. Such +events undoubtedly deserve your notice, but yet not so minutely as those, +which are not only important in themselves, but equally (or it may be +more) important by their consequences too: of this latter sort were the +progress of the Christian religion in Europe; the Invasion of the Goths; +the division of the Roman empire into Western and Eastern; the +establishment and rapid progress of Mahometanism; and, lastly, the +Reformation; all which events produced the greatest changes in the +affairs of Europe, and to one or other of which, the present situation of +all the parts of it is to be traced up. + +Next to these, are those events which more immediately effect particular +states and kingdoms, and which are reckoned entirely local, though their +influence may, and indeed very often does, indirectly, extend itself +further, such as civil wars and revolutions, from which a total change in +the form of government frequently flows. The civil wars in England, in +the reign of King Charles I., produced an entire change of the government +here, from a limited monarchy to a commonwealth, at first, and afterward +to absolute power, usurped by Cromwell, under the pretense of protection, +and the title of Protector. + +The Revolution in 1688, instead of changing, preserved one form of +government; which King James II. intended to subvert, and establish +absolute power in the Crown. + +These are the two great epochs in our English history, which I recommend +to your particular attention. + +The league formed by the House of Guise, and fomented by the artifices of +Spain, is a most material part of the history of France. The foundation +of it was laid in the reign of Henry II., but the superstructure was +carried on through the successive reigns of Francis II., Charles IX. and +Henry III., till at last it was crushed, partly, by the arms, but more by +the apostasy of Henry IV. + +In Germany, great events have been frequent, by which the imperial +dignity has always either gotten or lost; and so it they have affected +the constitution of the empire. The House of Austria kept that dignity to +itself for near two hundred years, during which time it was always +attempting extend its power, by encroaching upon the rights and +privileges of the other states of the empire; till at the end of the +bellum tricennale, the treaty of Munster, of which France is guarantee, +fixed the respective claims. + +Italy has been constantly torn to pieces, from the time of the Goths, by +the Popes and the Anti-popes, severally supported by other great powers +of Europe, more as their interests than as their religion led them; by +the pretensions also of France, and the House of Austria, upon Naples, +Sicily, and the Milanese; not to mention the various lesser causes of +squabbles there, for the little states, such as Ferrara, Parma, +Montserrat, etc. + +The Popes, till lately, have always taken a considerable part, and had +great influence in the affairs of Europe; their excommunications, bulls, +and indulgences, stood instead of armies in the time of ignorance and +bigotry; but now that mankind is better informed, the spiritual authority +of the Pope is not only less regarded, but even despised by the Catholic +princes themselves; and his Holiness is actually little more than Bishop +of Rome, with large temporalities, which he is not likely to keep longer +than till the other greater powers in Italy shall find their conveniency +in taking them from him. Among the modern Popes, Leo the Tenth, Alexander +the Sixth, and Sextus Quintus, deserve your particular notice; the first, +among other things, for his own learning and taste, and for his +encouragement of the reviving arts and sciences in Italy. Under his +protection, the Greek and Latin classics were most excellently translated +into Italian; painting flourished and arrived at its perfection; and +sculpture came so near the ancients, that the works of his time, both in +marble and bronze, are now called Antico-Moderno. + +Alexander the Sixth, together with his natural son Caesar Borgia, was +famous for his wickedness, in which he, and his son too, surpassed all +imagination. Their lives are well worth your reading. They were poisoned +themselves by the poisoned wine which they had prepared for others; the +father died of it, but Caesar recovered. + +Sixtus the Fifth was the son of a swineherd, and raised himself to the +popedom by his abilities: he was a great knave, but an able and singular +one. + +Here is history enough for to-day: you shall have some more soon. Adieu. + + + + +LETTER XLII + +LONDON, June 21, O. S. 1748. + +DEAR BOY: Your very bad enunciation runs so much in my head, and gives me +such real concern, that it will be the subject of this, and, I believe, +of many more letters. I congratulate both you and myself, that, was +informed of it (as I hope) in time to prevent it: and shall ever think +myself, as hereafter you will, I am sure think yourself, infinitely +obliged to Sir Charles Williams for informing me of it. Good God! if this +ungraceful and disagreeable manner of speaking had, either by your +negligence or mine, become habitual to you, as in a couple of years more +it would have been, what a figure would you have made in company, or in a +public assembly? Who would have liked you in the one or attended you; in +the other? Read what Cicero and Quintilian say of enunciation, and see +what a stress they lay upon the gracefulness of it; nay, Cicero goes +further, and even maintains, that a good figure is necessary for an +orator; and particularly that he must not be vastus, that is, overgrown +and clumsy. He shows by it that he knew mankind well, and knew the powers +of an agreeable figure and a graceful, manner. Men, as well as women, are +much oftener led by their hearts than by their understandings. The way to +the heart is through the senses; please their eyes and their ears and the +work is half done. I have frequently known a man's fortune decided for +ever by his first address. If it is pleasing, people are hurried +involuntarily into a persuasion that he has a merit, which possibly he +has not; as, on the other hand, if it is ungraceful, they are immediately +prejudiced against him, and unwilling to allow him the merit which it may +be he has. Nor is this sentiment so unjust and unreasonable as at first +it may seem; for if a man has parts, he must know of what infinite +consequence it is to him to have a graceful manner of speaking, and a +genteel and pleasing address; he will cultivate and improve them to the +utmost. Your figure is a good one; you have no natural defect in the +organs of speech; your address may be engaging, and your manner of +speaking graceful, if you will; so that if you are not so, neither I nor +the world can ascribe it to anything but your want of parts. What is the +constant and just observation as to all actors upon the stage? Is it not, +that those who have the best sense, always speak the best, though they +may happen not to have the best voices? They will speak plainly, +distinctly, and with the proper emphasis, be their voices ever so bad. +Had Roscius spoken QUICK, THICK, and UNGRACEFULLY, I will answer for it, +that Cicero would not have thought him worth the oration which he made in +his favor. Words were given us to communicate our ideas by: and there +must be something inconceivably absurd in uttering them in such a manner +as that either people cannot understand them, or will not desire to +understand them. I tell you, truly and sincerely, that I shall judge of +your parts by your speaking gracefully or ungracefully. If you have +parts, you will never be at rest till you have brought yourself to a +habit of speaking most gracefully; for I aver, that it is in your power +--You will desire Mr. Harte, that you may read aloud to him every day; +and that he will interrupt and correct you every time that you read too +fast, do not observe the proper stops, or lay a wrong emphasis. You will +take care to open your teeth when you speak; to articulate every word +distinctly; and to beg of Mr. Harte, Mr. Eliot, or whomsoever you speak +to, to remind and stop you, if you ever fall into the rapid and +unintelligible mutter. You will even read aloud to yourself, and time +your utterance to your own ear; and read at first much slower than you +need to do, in order to correct yourself of that shameful trick of +speaking faster than you ought. In short, if you think right, you will +make it your business; your study, and your pleasure to speak well. +Therefore, what I have said in this, and in my last, is more than +sufficient, if you have sense; and ten times more would not be +sufficient, if you have not; so here I rest it. + +Next to graceful speaking, a genteel carriage, and a graceful manner of +presenting yourself, are extremely necessary, for they are extremely +engaging: and carelessness in these points is much more unpardonable in a +young fellow than affectation. It shows an offensive indifference about +pleasing. I am told by one here, who has seen you lately, that you are +awkward in your motions, and negligent of your person: I am sorry for +both; and so will you be, when it will be too late, if you continue so +some time longer. Awkwardness of carriage is very alienating; and a total +negligence of dress and air is an impertinent insult upon custom and +fashion. You remember Mr.------very well, I am sure, and you must +consequently remember his, extreme awkwardness: which, I can assure you, +has been a great clog to his parts and merit, that have, with much +difficulty, but barely counterbalanced it at last. Many, to whom I have +formerly commended him, have answered me, that they were sure he could +not have parts, because he was so awkward: so much are people, as I +observed to you before, taken by the eye. Women have great influence as +to a man's fashionable character; and an awkward man will never have +their votes; which, by the way, are very numerous, and much oftener +counted than weighed. You should therefore give some attention to your +dress, and the gracefulness of your motions. I believe, indeed, that you +have no perfect model for either at Leipsig, to form yourself upon; but, +however, do not get a habit of neglecting either; and attend properly to +both, when you go to courts, where they are very necessary, and where you +will have good masters and good models for both. Your exercises of +riding, fencing, and dancing, will civilize and fashion your body and +your limbs, and give you, if you will but take it, 'l'air d'un honnete +homme'. + +I will now conclude with suggesting one reflection to you; which is, that +you should be sensible of your good fortune, in having one who interests +himself enough in you, to inquire into your faults, in order to inform +you of them. Nobody but myself would be so solicitous, either to know or +correct them; so that you might consequently be ignorant of them +yourself; for our own self-love draws a thick veil between us and our +faults. But when you hear yours from me, you may be sure that you hear +them from one who for your sake only desires to correct them; from one +whom you cannot suspect of any, partiality but in your favor; and from +one who heartily wishes that his care of you, as a father, may, in a +little time, render every care unnecessary but that of a friend. Adieu. + +P. S. I condole with you for the untimely and violent death of the +tuneful Matzel. + + + + +LETTER XLIII + +LONDON, July 1, O. S. 1748. + +DEAR Boy: I am extremely well pleased with the course of studies which +Mr. Harte informs me you are now in, and with the degree of application +which he assures me you have to them. It is your interest to do so, as +the advantage will be all your own. My affection for you makes me both +wish and endeavor that you may turn out well; and, according as you do +turn out, I shall either be proud or ashamed of you. But as to mere +interest, in the common acceptation of that word, it would be mine that +you should turn out ill; for you may depend upon it, that whatever you +have from me shall be most exactly proportioned to your desert. Deserve a +great deal, and you shall have a great deal; deserve a little, and you +shall have but a little; and be good for nothing at all, and, I assure +you, you shall have nothing at all. + +Solid knowledge, as I have often told you, is the first and great +foundation of your future fortune and character; for I never mention to +you the two much greater points of Religion and Morality, because I +cannot possibly suspect you as to either of them. This solid knowledge +you are in a fair way of acquiring; you may, if you please; and I will +add, that nobody ever had the means of acquiring it more in their power +than you have. But remember, that manners must adorn knowledge, and +smooth its way through the world. Like a great rough diamond, it may do +very well in a closet by way of curiosity, and also for its intrinsic +value; but it will never be worn or shine if it is not polished. It is +upon this article, I confess, that I suspect you the most, which makes me +recur to it so often; for I fear that you are apt to show too little +attention to everybody, and too much contempt to many. Be convinced, that +there are no persons so insignificant and inconsiderable, but may, some +time or other, have it in their power to be of use to you; which they +certainly will not, if you have once shown them contempt. Wrongs are +often forgiven; but contempt never is. Our pride remembers it forever. It +implies a discovery of weaknesses, which we are much more careful to +conceal than crimes. Many a man will confess his crimes to a common +friend, but I never knew a man who would tell his silly weaknesses to his +most intimate one--as many a friend will tell us our faults without +reserve, who will not so much as hint at our follies; that discovery is +too mortifying to our self-love, either to tell another, or to be told of +one's self. You must, therefore, never expect to hear of your weaknesses, +or your follies, from anybody but me; those I will take pains to +discover, and whenever I do, shall tell you of them. + +Next to manners are exterior graces of person and address, which adorn +manners, as manners adorn knowledge. To say that they please, engage, and +charm, as they most indisputably do, is saying that one should do +everything possible to acquire them. The graceful manner of speaking is, +particularly, what I shall always holloa in your ears, as Hotspur +holloaed MORTIMER to Henry IV., and, like him too, I have aimed to have a +starling taught to say, SPEAK DISTINCTLY AND GRACEFULLY, and send him +you, to replace your loss of the unfortunate Matzel, who, by the way, I +am told, spoke his language very distinctly and gracefully. + +As by this time you must be able to write German tolerably well, I desire +that you will not fail to write a German letter, in the German character, +once every fortnight, to Mr. Grevenkop: which will make it more familiar +to you, and enable me to judge how you improve in it. + +Do not forget to answer me the questions, which I asked you a great while +ago, in relation to the constitution of Saxony; and also the meaning of +the words 'Landsassii and Amptsassii'. + +I hope you do not forget to inquire into the affairs of trade and +commerce, nor to get the best accounts you can of the commodities and +manufactures, exports and imports of the several countries where you may +be, and their gross value. + +I would likewise have you attend to the respective coins, gold, silver, +copper, etc., and their value, compared with our coin's; for which +purpose I would advise you to put up, in a separate piece of paper, one +piece of every kind, wherever you shall be, writing upon it the name and +the value. Such a collection will be curious enough in itself; and that +sort of knowledge will be very useful to you in your way of business, +where the different value of money often comes in question. + +I am doing to Cheltenham to-morrow, less for my health; which is pretty +good, than for the dissipation and amusement of the journey. I shall stay +about a fortnight. + +L'Abbe Mably's 'Droit de l'Europe', which Mr. Harte is so kind as to send +me, is worth your reading. Adieu. + + + + +LETTER XLIV. + +CHELTENHAM, July 6, O. S. 1748. + +DEAR BOY: Your school-fellow, Lord Pulteney,--[Only child of the Right +Hon. William Pulteney, Earl of Bath. He died before his father.]--set out +last week for Holland, and will, I believe, be at Leipsig soon after this +letter: you will take care to be extremely civil to him, and to do him +any service that you can while you stay there; let him know that I wrote +to you to do so. As being older, he should know more than you; in that +case, take pains to get up to him; but if he does not, take care not to +let him feel his inferiority. He will find it out of himself without your +endeavors; and that cannot be helped: but nothing is more insulting, more +mortifying and less forgiven, than avowedly to take pains to make a man +feel a mortifying inferiority in knowledge, rank, fortune, etc. In the +two last articles, it is unjust, they not being in his power: and in the +first it is both ill-bred and ill-natured. Good-breeding, and +good-nature, do incline us rather to raise and help people up to +ourselves, than to mortify and depress them, and, in truth, our own +private interest concurs in it, as it is making ourselves so many +friends, instead of so many enemies. The constant practice of what the +French call 'les Attentions', is a most necessary ingredient in the art +of pleasing; they flatter the self-love of those to whom they are shown; +they engage, they captivate, more than things of much greater importance. +The duties of social life every man is obliged to discharge; but these +attentions are voluntary acts, the free-will offerings of good-breeding +and good nature; they are received, remembered, and returned as such. +Women, particularly, have a right to them; and any omission in that +respect is downright ill-breeding. + +Do you employ your whole time in the most useful manner? I do not mean, +do you study all day long? nor do I require it. But I mean, do you make +the most of the respective allotments of your time? While you study, is +it with attention? When you divert yourself, is it with spirit? Your +diversions may, if you please, employ some part of your time very +usefully. It depends entirely upon the nature of them. If they are futile +and frivolous it is time worse than lost, for they will give you an habit +of futility. All gaming, field-sports, and such sort of amusements, where +neither the understanding nor the senses have the least share, I look +upon as frivolous, and as the resources of little minds, who either do +not think, or do not love to think. But the pleasures of a man of parts +either flatter the senses or improve the mind; I hope at least, that +there is not one minute of the day in which you do nothing at all. +Inaction at your age is unpardonable. + +Tell me what Greek and Latin books you can now read with ease. Can you +open Demosthenes at a venture, and understand him? Can you get through an +"Oration" of Cicero, or a "Satire" of Horace, without difficulty? What +German books do you read, to make yourself master of that language? And +what French books do you read for your amusement? Pray give me a +particular and true account of all this; for I am not indifferent as to +any one thing that relates to you. As, for example, I hope you take great +care to keep your whole person, particularly your mouth, very clean; +common decency requires it, besides that great cleanliness is very +conducive to health. But if you do not keep your mouth excessively clean, +by washing it carefully every morning, and after every meal, it will not +only be apt to smell, which is very disgusting and indecent, but your +teeth will decay and ache, which is both a great loss and a great pain. A +spruceness of dress is also very proper and becoming at your age; as the +negligence of it implies an indifference about pleasing, which does not +become a young fellow. To do whatever you do at all to the utmost +perfection, ought to be your aim at this time of your life; if you can +reach perfection, so much the better; but at least, by attempting it, you +will get much nearer than if you never attempted it at all. + +Adieu! SPEAK GRACEFULLY AND DISTINCTLY if you intend to converse ever +with, Yours. + +P. S. As I was making up my letter, I received yours of the 6th, O. S. I +like your dissertation upon Preliminary Articles and Truces. Your +definitions of both are true. Those are matters which I would have you be +master of; they belong to your future department, But remember too, that +they are matters upon which you will much oftener have occasion to speak +than to write; and that, consequently, it is full as necessary to speak +gracefully and distinctly upon them as to write clearly and elegantly. I +find no authority among the ancients, nor indeed among the moderns, for +indistinct and unintelligible utterance. The Oracles indeed meant to be +obscure; but then it was by the ambiguity of the expression, and not by +the inarticulation of the words. For if people had not thought, at least, +they understood them, they would neither have frequented nor presented +them as they did. There was likewise among the ancients, and is still +among the moderns, a sort of people called Ventriloqui, who speak from +their bellies, on make the voice seem to come from some other part of the +room than that where they are. But these Ventriloqui speak very +distinctly and intelligibly. The only thing, then, that I can find like a +precedent for your way of speaking (and I would willingly help you to one +if I could) is the modern art 'de persifler', practiced with great +success by the 'Petits maitres' at Paris. This noble art consists in +picking out some grave, serious man, who neither understands nor expects, +raillery, and talking to him very quick, and inarticulate sounds; while +the man, who thinks that he did not hear well; or attend sufficiently, +says, 'Monsieur? or 'Plait-il'? a hundred times; which affords matter of +much mirth to those ingenious gentlemen. Whether you would follow, this +precedent, I submit to you. + +Have you carried no English or French comedies of tragedies with you to +Leipsig? If you have, I insist upon your reciting some passages of them +every day to Mr. Harte in the most distinct and graceful manner, as if +you were acting them upon a stage. + +The first part of my letter is more than an answer to your questions +concerning Lord Pulteney. + + + + +LETTER XLV + +LONDON, July, 20, O. S. 1748 + +DEAR BOY: There are two sorts of understandings; one of which hinders a +man from ever being considerable, and the other commonly makes him +ridiculous; I mean the lazy mind, and the trifling, frivolous mind: +Yours, I hope, is neither. The lazy mind will not take the trouble of +going to the bottom of anything; but, discouraged by the first +difficulties (and everything worth knowing or having is attained with +some), stops short, contents, itself with easy, and consequently +superficial knowledge, and prefers a great degree of ignorance to a small +degree of trouble. These people either think, or represent most things as +impossible; whereas, few things are so to industry and activity. But +difficulties seem to them, impossibilities, or at least they pretend to +think them so--by way of excuse for their laziness. An hour's attention +to the same subject is too laborious for them; they take everything in +the light in which it first presents itself; never consider, it in all +its different views; and, in short, never think it through. The +consequence of this is that when they come to speak upon these subjects, +before people who have considered them with attention; they only discover +their own ignorance and laziness, and lay themselves open to answers that +put them in confusion. Do not then be discouraged by the first +difficulties, but 'contra audentior ito'; and resolve to go to the bottom +of all those things which every gentleman ought to know well. Those arts +or sciences which are peculiar to certain professions, need not be deeply +known by those who are not intended for those professions. As, for +instance; fortification and navigation; of both which, a superficial and +general knowledge, such as the common course of conversation, with a very +little inquiry on your part, will give you, is sufficient. Though, by the +way, a little more knowledge of fortification may be of some use to you; +as the events of war, in sieges, make many of the terms, of that science +occur frequently in common conversation; and one would be sorry to say, +like the Marquis de Mascarille in Moliere's 'Precieuses Ridicules', when +he hears of 'une demie lune, Ma foi! c'etoit bien une lune toute +entiere'. But those things which every gentleman, independently of +profession, should know, he ought to know well, and dive into all the +depth of them. Such are languages, history, and geography ancient and +modern, philosophy, rational logic; rhetoric; and, for you particularly, +the constitutions and the civil and military state of every country in +Europe: This, I confess; is a pretty large circle of knowledge, attended +with some difficulties, and requiring some trouble; which, however; an +active and industrious mind will overcome; and be amply repaid. The +trifling and frivolous mind is always busied, but to little purpose; it +takes little objects for great ones, and throws away upon trifles that +time and attention which only important things deserve. Knick-knacks; +butterflies; shells, insects, etc., are the subjects of their most +serious researches. They contemplate the dress, not the characters of the +company they keep. They attend more to the decorations of a play than the +sense of it; and to the ceremonies of a court more than to its politics. +Such an employment of time is an absolute loss of it. You have now, at +most, three years to employ either well or ill; for, as I have often told +you, you will be all your life what you shall be three years hence. For +God's sake then reflect. Will you throw this time away either in +laziness, or in trifles? Or will you not rather employ every moment of it +in a manner that must so soon reward you with so much pleasure, figure, +and character? I cannot, I will not doubt of your choice. Read only +useful books; and never quit a subject till you are thoroughly master of +it, but read and inquire on till then. When you are in company, bring the +conversation to some useful subject, but 'a portee' of that company. +Points of history, matters of literature, the customs of particular +countries, the several orders of knighthood, as Teutonic, Maltese, etc., +are surely better subjects of conversation, than the weather, dress, or +fiddle-faddle stories, that carry no information along with them. The +characters of kings and great men are only to be learned in conversation; +for they are never fairly written during their lives. This, therefore, is +an entertaining and instructive subject of conversation, and will +likewise give you an opportunity of observing how very differently +characters are given, from the different passions and views of those who +give them. Never be ashamed nor afraid of asking questions: for if they +lead to information, and if you accompany them with some excuse, you will +never be reckoned an impertinent or rude questioner. All those things, in +the common course of life, depend entirely upon the manner; and, in that +respect, the vulgar saying is true, 'That one man can better steal a +horse, than another look over the hedge.' There are few things that may +not be said, in some manner or other; either in a seeming confidence, or +a genteel irony, or introduced with wit; and one great part of the +knowledge of the world consists in knowing when and where to make use of +these different manners. The graces of the person, the countenance, and +the way of speaking, contribute so much to this, that I am convinced, the +very same thing, said by a genteel person in an engaging way, and +GRACEFULLY and distinctly spoken, would please, which would shock, if +MUTTERED out by an awkward figure, with a sullen, serious countenance. +The poets always represent Venus as attended by the three Graces, to +intimate that even beauty will not do without: I think they should have +given Minerva three also; for without them, I am sure learning is very +unattractive. Invoke them, then, DISTINCTLY, to accompany all your words +and motions. Adieu. + +P. S. Since I wrote what goes before, I have received your letter, OF NO +DATE, with the inclosed state of the Prussian forces: of which, I hope, +you have kept a copy; this you should lay in a 'portefeuille', and add to +it all the military establishments that you can get of other states and +kingdoms: the Saxon establishment you may, doubtless, easily find. By the +way, do not forget to send me answers to the questions which I sent you +some time ago, concerning both the civil and the ecclesiastical affairs +of Saxony. + +Do not mistake me, and think I only mean that you should speak elegantly +with regard to style, and the purity of language; but I mean, that you +should deliver and pronounce what you say gracefully and distinctly; for +which purpose I will have you frequently read very loud, to Mr. Harte, +recite parts of orations, and speak passages of plays; for, without a +graceful and pleasing enunciation, all your elegancy of style, in +speaking, is not worth one farthing. + +I am very glad that Mr. Lyttelton approves of my new house, and +particularly of my CANONICAL--[James Brydges, duke of Chandos, built a +most magnificent and elegant house at CANNONS, about eight miles from +London. It was superbly furnished with fine pictures, statues, etc., +which, after his death, were sold, by auction. Lord Chesterfield +purchased the hall-pillars, the floor; and staircase with double flights; +which are now in Chesterfield House, London.]--pillars. My bust of Cicero +is a very fine one, and well preserved; it will have the best place in my +library, unless at your return you bring me over as good a modern head of +your own, which I should like still better. I can tell you, that I shall +examine it as attentively as ever antiquary did an old one. + +Make my compliments to Mr. Harte, at whose recovery I rejoice. + + + + +LETTER XLVI + +LONDON, August 2, O. S. 1748. + +DEAR BOY: Duval the jeweler, is arrived, and was with me three or four +days ago. You will easily imagine that I asked him a few questions +concerning you; and I will give you the satisfaction of knowing that, +upon the whole, I was very well pleased with the account he gave me. But, +though he seemed to be much in your interest, yet he fairly owned to me +that your utterance was rapid, thick, and ungraceful. I can add nothing +to what I have already said upon this subject; but I can and do repeat +the absolute necessity of speaking distinctly and gracefully, or else of +not speaking at all, and having recourse to signs. He tells me that you +are pretty fat for one of your age: this you should attend to in a proper +way; for if, while very young; you should grow fat, it would be +troublesome, unwholesome, and ungraceful; you should therefore, when you +have time, take very strong exercise, and in your diet avoid fattening +things. All malt liquors fatten, or at least bloat; and I hope you do not +deal much in them. I look upon wine and water to be, in every respect; +much wholesomer. + +Duval says there is a great deal of very good company at Madame +Valentin's and at another lady's, I think one Madame Ponce's, at Leipsig. +Do you ever go to either of those houses, at leisure times? It would not, +in my mind, be amiss if you did, and would give you a habit of +ATTENTIONS; they are a tribute which all women expect; and which all men, +who would be well received by them; must pay. And, whatever the mind may +be, manners at least are certainly improved by the company of women of +fashion. + +I have formerly told you, that you should inform yourself of the several +orders, whether military or religious, of the respective countries where +you may be. The Teutonic Order is the great Order of Germany, of which I +send you inclosed a short account. It may serve to suggest questions to +you for more particular inquiries as to the present state of it, of which +you ought to be minutely informed. The knights, at present, make vows, of +which they observe none, except it be that of not marrying; and their +only object now is, to arrive, by seniority, at the Commanderies in their +respective provinces; which are, many of them, very lucrative. The Order +of Malta is, by a very few years, prior to the Teutonic, and owes its +foundation to the same causes. These' knights were first called Knights +Hospitaliers of St. John of Jerusalem, then Knights of Rhodes; and in +the year 1530, Knights of Malta, the Emperor Charles V. having granted +them that island, upon condition of their defending his island of Sicily +against the Turks, which they effectually did. L'Abbe de Vertot has +written the history of Malta, but it is the least valuable of all his +works; and moreover, too long for you to read. But there is a short +history, of all the military orders whatsoever, which I would advise you +to get, as there is also of all the religious orders; both which are +worth your having and consulting, whenever you meet with any of them in +your way; as, you will very frequently in Catholic countries. For my own +part, I find that I remember things much better, when I recur, to my +books for them, upon some particular occasion, than by reading them 'tout +de suite'. As, for example, if I were to read the history of all the +military or religious orders, regularly one after another, the latter +puts the former out of my head; but when I read the history of any one, +upon account, of its having been the object of conversation or dispute, I +remember it much better. It is the same in geography, where, looking for +any particular place in the map, upon some particular account, fixes it +in one's memory forever. I hope you have worn out your maps by frequent, +use of that sort. Adieu. + + A SHORT ACCOUNT OF THE TEUTONIC ORDER + +In the ages of ignorance, which is always the mother of superstition, it +was thought not only just, but meritorious, to propagate religion by fire +and sword, and to take away the lives and properties of unbelievers. +This enthusiasm produced the several crusades, in the 11th, 12th, and +following centuries, the object of which was, to recover the Holy Land +out of, the hands of the Infidels, who, by the way, were the lawful +possessors. Many honest enthusiasts engaged in those crusades, from a +mistaken principle of religion, and from the pardons granted by the Popes +for all the sins of those pious adventurers; but many more knaves adopted +these holy wars, in hopes of conquest and plunder. After Godfrey of +Bouillon, at the head of these knaves and fools, had taken Jerusalem, in +the year 1099, Christians of various nations remained in that city; among +the rest, one good honest German, that took particular care of his +countrymen who came thither in pilgrimages. He built a house for their +reception, and an hospital dedicated to the Virgin. This little +establishment soon became a great one, by the enthusiasm of many +considerable people who engaged in it, in order to drive the Saracens out +of the Holy Land. This society then began to take its first form; and its +members were called Marian Teutonic Knights. Marian, from their chapel +sacred to the Virgin Mary; Teutonic, from the German, or Teuton, who was +the author of it, and Knights from the wars which they were to carry on +against the Infidels. + +These knights behaved themselves so bravely, at first; that Duke +Frederick of Swabia, who was general of the German army in the Holy Land, +sent, in the year 1191, to the Emperor Henry VI. and Pope Celestine III. +to desire that this brave and charitable fraternity might be incorporated +into a regular order of knighthood; which was accordingly done, and rules +and a particular habit were given them. Forty knights, all of noble +families, were at first created by the King of Jerusalem and other +princes then in the army. The first grand master of this order was Henry +Wallpot, of a noble family upon the Rhine. This order soon began to +operate in Europe; drove all the Pagans out of Prussia, and took +possession of it. Soon after, they got Livonia and Courland, and invaded +even Russia, where they introduced the Christian religion. In 1510, they +elected Albert, Marquis of Bradenburg, for their grand master, who, +turning Protestant, soon afterward took Prussia from the order, and kept +it for himself, with the consent of Sigismund, King of Poland, of whom it +was to hold. He then quitted his grand mastership and made himself +hereditary Duke of that country, which is thence called Ducal Prussia. +This order now consists of twelve provinces; viz., Alsatia, Austria, +Coblentz, and Etsch, which are the four under the Prussian jurisdiction; +Franconia, Hesse, Biessen, Westphalia, Lorraine, Thuringia, Saxony, and +Utrecht, which eight are of the German jurisdiction. The Dutch now +possess all that the order had in Utrecht. Every one of the provinces +have their particular Commanderies; and the most ancient of these +Commandeurs is called the Commandeur Provincial. These twelve Commandeurs +are all subordinate to the Grand Master of Germany as their chief, and +have the right of electing the grand master. The elector of Cologne is at +present 'Grand Maitre'. + +This order, founded by mistaken Christian zeal, upon the anti-Christian +principles of violence and persecution, soon grew strong by the weakness +and ignorance of the time; acquired unjustly great possessions, of which +they justly lost the greatest part by their ambition and cruelty, which +made them feared and hated by all their neighbors. + +I have this moment received your letter of the 4th, N. S., and have only +time to tell you that I can by no means agree to your cutting off your +hair. I am very sure that your headaches cannot proceed from thence. And +as for the pimples upon your head, they are only owing to the heat of the +season, and consequently will not last long. But your own hair is, at +your age, such an ornament, and a wig, however well made, such a +disguise, that I will upon no account whatsoever have you cut off your +hair. Nature did not give it to you for nothing, still less to cause you +the headache. Mr. Eliot's hair grew so ill and bushy, that he was in the +right to cut it off. But you have not the same reason. + + + + +LETTER XLVII + +LONDON, August 23, O. S. 1748. + +DEAR BOY: Your friend, Mr. Eliot, has dined with me twice since I +returned here, and I can say with truth that while I had the seals, I +never examined or sifted a state prisoner with so much care and curiosity +as I did him. Nay, I did more; for, contrary to the laws of this country, +I gave him in some manner, the QUESTION ordinary and extraordinary; and I +have infinite pleasure in telling you that the rack which I put him to, +did not extort from him one single word that was not such as I wished to +hear of you. I heartily congratulate you upon such an advantageous +testimony, from so creditable a witness. 'Laudati a laudato viro', is one +of the greatest pleasures and honors a rational being can have; may you +long continue to deserve it! Your aversion to drinking and your dislike +to gaming, which Mr. Eliot assures me are both very strong, give me, the +greatest joy imaginable, for your sake: as the former would ruin both +your constitution and understanding, and the latter your fortune and +character. Mr. Harte wrote me word some time ago, and Mr. Eliot confirms +it now, that you employ your pin money in a very different manner, from +that in which pin money is commonly lavished: not in gew-gaws and +baubles, but in buying good and useful books. This is an excellent +symptom, and gives me very good hopes. Go on thus, my dear boy, but for +these next two years, and I ask no more. You must then make such a figure +and such a fortune in the world as I wish you, and as I have taken all +these pains to enable you to do. After that time I allow you to be as +idle as ever you please; because I am sure that you will not then please +to be so at all. The ignorant and the weak are only idle; but those who +have once acquired a good stock of knowledge, always desire to increase +it. Knowledge is like power in this respect, that those who have the +most, are most desirous of having more. It does not clog, by possession, +but increases desire; which is the case of very few pleasures. + +Upon receiving this congratulatory letter, and reading your own praises, +I am sure that it must naturally occur to you, how great a share of them +you owe to Mr. Harte's care and attention; and, consequently, that your +regard and affection for him must increase, if there be room for it, in +proportion as you reap, which you do daily, the fruits of his labors. + +I must not, however, conceal from you that there was one article in which +your own witness, Mr. Eliot, faltered; for, upon my questioning him home +as to your manner of speaking, he could not say that your utterance was +either distinct or graceful. I have already said so much to you upon this +point that I can add nothing. I will therefore only repeat this truth, +which is, that if you will not speak distinctly and graceful, nobody will +desire to hear you. I am glad to learn that Abbe Mably's 'Droit Public de +l'Europe' makes a part of your evening amusements. It is a very useful +book, and gives a clear deduction of the affairs of Europe, from the +treaty of Munster to this time. Pray read it with attention, and with +the proper maps; always recurring to them for the several countries or +towns yielded, taken, or restored. Pyre Bougeant's third volume will give +you the best idea of the treaty of Munster, and open to you the several +views of the belligerent' and contracting parties, and there never were +greater than at that time. The House of Austria, in the war immediately +preceding that treaty, intended to make itself absolute in the empire, +and to overthrow the rights of the respective states of it. The view of +France was to weaken and dismember the House of Austria to such a degree, +as that it should no longer be a counterbalance to that of Bourbon. +Sweden wanted possessions on the continent of Germany, not only to supply +the necessities of its own poor and barren country, but likewise to hold +the balance in the empire between the House of Austria and the States. +The House of Brandenburg wanted to aggrandize itself by pilfering in the +fire; changed sides occasionally, and made a good bargain at last; for I +think it got, at the peace, nine or ten bishoprics secularized. So that +we may date, from the treaty of Munster, the decline of the House of +Austria, the great power of the House of Bourbon, and the aggrandizement +of that of Bradenburg: which, I am much mistaken, if it stops where it is +now. + +Make my compliments to Lord Pulteney, to whom I would have you be not +only attentive, but useful, by setting him (in case he wants it) a good +example of application and temperance. I begin to believe that, as I +shall be proud of you, others will be proud too of imitating you: Those +expectations of mine seem now so well grounded, that my disappointment, +and consequently my anger, will be so much the greater if they fail; but +as things stand now, I am most affectionately and tenderly, Yours. + + + + +LETTER XLVIII + +LONDON, August 30, O. S. 1748 + +DEAR BOY: Your reflections upon the conduct of France, from the treaty of +Munster to this time, are very just; and I am very glad to find, by them, +that you not only read, but that you think and reflect upon what you +read. Many great readers load their memories, without exercising their +judgments; and make lumber-rooms of their heads instead of furnishing +them usefully; facts are heaped upon facts without order or distinction, +and may justly be said to compose that + + '-----Rudis indigestaque moles + Quem dixere chaos'. + +Go on, then, in the way of reading that you are in; take nothing for +granted, upon the bare authority of the author; but weigh and consider, +in your own mind, the probability of the facts and the justness of the +reflections. Consult different authors upon the same facts, and form your +opinion upon the greater or lesser degree of probability arising from the +whole, which, in my mind, is the utmost stretch of historical faith; +certainty (I fear) not being to be found. When a historian pretends to +give you the causes and motives of events, compare those causes and +motives with the characters and interests of the parties concerned, and +judge for yourself whether they correspond or not. Consider whether you +cannot assign others more probable; and in that examination, do not +despise some very mean and trifling causes of the actions of great men; +for so various and inconsistent is human nature, so strong and changeable +are our passions, so fluctuating are our wills, and so much are our minds +influenced by the accidents of our bodies that every man is more the man +of the day, than a regular consequential character. The best have +something bad, and something little; the worst have something good, and +sometimes something great; for I do not believe what Velleius Paterculus +(for the sake of saying a pretty thing) says of Scipio, 'Qui nihil non +laudandum aut fecit, aut dixit, aut sensit'. As for the reflections of +historians, with which they think it necessary to interlard their +histories, or at least to conclude their chapters (and which, in the +French histories, are always introduced with a 'tant il est vrai', and in +the English, SO TRUE IT IS), do not adopt them implicitly upon the credit +of the author, but analyze them yourself, and judge whether they are true +or not. + +But to return to the politics of France, from which I have digressed. You +have certainly made one further reflection, of an advantage which France +has, over and above its abilities in the cabinet and the skill of its +negotiators, which is (if I may use the expression) its SOLENESS, +continuity of riches and power within itself, and the nature of its +government. Near twenty millions of people, and the ordinary revenue of +above thirteen millions sterling a year, are at the absolute disposal of +the Crown. This is what no other power in Europe can say; so that +different powers must now unite to make a balance against France; which +union, though formed upon the principle of their common interest, can +never be so intimate as to compose a machine so compact and simple as +that of one great kingdom, directed by one will, and moved by one +interest. The Allied Powers (as we have constantly seen) have, besides +the common and declared object of their alliance, some separate and +concealed view to which they often sacrifice the general one; which makes +them, either directly or indirectly, pull different ways. Thus, the +design upon Toulon failed in the year 1706, only from the secret view of +the House of Austria upon Naples: which made the Court of Vienna, +notwithstanding the representations of the other allies to the contrary, +send to Naples the 12,000 men that would have done the business at +Toulon. In this last war too, the same causes had the same effects: the +Queen of Hungary in secret thought of nothing but recovering of Silesia, +and what she had lost in Italy; and, therefore, never sent half that +quota which she promised, and we paid for, into Flanders; but left that +country to the maritime powers to defend as they could. The King of +Sardinia's real object was Savona and all the Riviera di Ponente; for +which reason he concurred so lamely in the invasion of Provence, where +the Queen of Hungary, likewise, did not send one-third of the force +stipulated, engrossed as she was by her oblique views upon the plunder of +Genoa, and the recovery of Naples. Insomuch that the expedition into +Provence, which would have distressed France to the greatest degree, and +have caused a great detachment from their army in Flanders, failed +shamefully, for want of every one thing necessary for its success. +Suppose, therefore, any four or five powers who, all together, shall be +equal, or even a little superior, in riches and strength to that one +power against which they are united; the advantage will still be greatly +on the side of that single power, because it is but one. The power and +riches of Charles V. were, in themselves, certainly superior to those of +Frances I., and yet, upon the whole, he was not an overmatch for him. +Charles V.'s dominions, great as they were, were scattered and remote +from each other; their constitutions different; wherever he did not +reside, disturbances arose; whereas the compactness of France made up the +difference in the strength. This obvious reflection convinced me of the +absurdity of the treaty of Hanover, in 1725, between France and England, +to which the Dutch afterward acceded; for it was made upon the +apprehensions, either real or pretended, that the marriage of Don Carlos +with the eldest archduchess, now Queen of Hungary, was settled in the +treaty of Vienna, of the same year, between Spain and the late Emperor +Charles VI., which marriage, those consummate politicians said would +revive in Europe the exorbitant power of Charles V. I am sure, I heartily +wish it had; as, in that case, there had been, what there certainly is +not now, one power in Europe to counterbalance that of France; and then +the maritime powers would, in reality, have held the balance of Europe in +their hands. Even supposing that the Austrian power would then have been +an overmatch for that of France (which, by the way, is not clear), the +weight of the maritime powers, then thrown into the scale of France, +would infallibly have made the balance at least even. In which case too, +the moderate efforts of the maritime powers on the side of France would +have been sufficient; whereas now, they are obliged to exhaust and beggar +themselves; and that too ineffectually, in hopes to support the +shattered; beggared, and insufficient House of Austria. + +This has been a long political dissertation; but I am informed that +political subjects are your favorite ones; which I am glad of, +considering your destination. You do well to get your materials all +ready, before you begin your work. As you buy and (I am told) read books +of this kind, I will point out two or three for your purchase and +perusal; I am not sure that I have not mentioned them before, but that is +no matter, if you have not got them. 'Memoires pour servir a l'Histoire +du 17ieme Siecle', is a most useful book for you to recur to for all the +facts and chronology of that country: it is in four volumes octavo, and +very correct and exact. If I do not mistake, I have formerly recommended +to you, 'Les Memoires du Cardinal de Retz'; however, if you have not yet +read them, pray do, and with the attention which they deserve. You will +there find the best account of a very interesting period of the minority +of Lewis XIV. The characters are drawn short, but in a strong and +masterly manner; and the political reflections are the only just and +practical ones that I ever saw in print: they are well worth your +transcribing. 'Le Commerce des Anciens, par Monsieur Huet. Eveque +d'Avranche', in one little volume octavo, is worth your perusal, as +commerce is a very considerable part of political knowledge. I need not, +I am sure, suggest to you, when you read the course of commerce, either +of the ancients or of the moderns, to follow it upon your map; for there +is no other way of remembering geography correctly, but by looking +perpetually in the map for the places one reads of, even though one knows +before, pretty near, where they are. + +Adieu! As all the accounts which I receive of you grow better and better, +so I grow more and more affectionately, Yours. + + + + +LETTER XLIX + +LONDON, September 5, O. S. 1748. + +DEAR BOY: I have received yours, with the inclosed German letter to Mr. +Gravenkop, which he assures me is extremely well written, considering the +little time that you have applied yourself to that language. As you have +now got over the most difficult part, pray go on diligently, and make +yourself absolutely master of the rest. Whoever does not entirely possess +a language, will never appear to advantage, or even equal to himself, +either in speaking or writing it. His ideas are fettered, and seem +imperfect or confused, if he is not master of all the words and phrases +necessary to express them. I therefore desire, that you will not fail +writing a German letter once every fortnight to Mr. Gravenkop; which will +make the writing of that language familiar to you; and moreover, when you +shall have left Germany and be arrived at Turin, I shall require you to +write even to me in German; that you may not forget with ease what you +have with difficulty learned. I likewise desire, that while you are in +Germany, you will take all opportunities of conversing in German, which +is the only way of knowing that, or any other language, accurately. You +will also desire your German master to teach you the proper titles and +superscriptions to be used to people of all ranks; which is a point so +material, in Germany, that I have known many a letter returned unopened, +because one title in twenty has been omitted in the direction. + +St. Thomas's day now draws near, when you are to leave Saxony and go to +Berlin; and I take it for granted, that if anything is yet wanting to +complete your knowledge of the state of that electorate, you will not +fail to procure it before you go away. I do not mean, as you will easily +believe, the number of churches, parishes, or towns; but I mean the +constitution, the revenues, the troops, and the trade of that electorate. +A few questions, sensibly asked, of sensible people, will produce you the +necessary informations; which I desire you will enter in your little +book, Berlin will be entirely a new scene to you, and I look upon it, in +a manner, as your first step into the great world; take care that step be +not a false one, and that you do not stumble at the threshold. You will +there be in more company than you have yet been; manners and attentions +will therefore be more necessary. Pleasing in company is the only way of +being pleased in it yourself. Sense and knowledge are the first and +necessary foundations for pleasing in company; but they will by no means +do alone, and they will never be perfectly welcome if they are not +accompanied with manners and attentions. You will best acquire these by +frequenting the companies of people of fashion; but then you must resolve +to acquire them, in those companies, by proper care and observation; for +I have known people, who, though they have frequented good company all +their lifetime, have done it in so inattentive and unobserving a manner, +as to be never the better for it, and to remain as disagreeable, as +awkward, and as vulgar, as if they had never seen any person of fashion. +When you go into good company (by good company is meant the people of the +first fashion of the place) observe carefully their turn, their manners, +their address; and conform your own to them. But this is not all neither; +go deeper still; observe their characters, and pray, as far as you can, +into both their hearts and their heads. Seek for their particular merit, +their predominant passion, or their prevailing weakness; and you will +then know what to bait your hook with to catch them. Man is a composition +of so many, and such various ingredients, that it requires both time and +care to analyze him: for though we have all the same ingredients in our +general composition, as reason, will, passions, and appetites; yet the +different proportions and combinations of them in each individual, +produce that infinite variety of characters, which, in some particular or +other, distinguishes every individual from another. Reason ought to +direct the whole, but seldom does. And he who addresses himself singly to +another man's reason, without endeavoring to engage his heart in his +interest also, is no more likely to succeed, than a man who should apply +only to a king's nominal minister, and neglect his favorite. I will +recommend to your attentive perusal, now that you are going into the +world, two books, which will let you as much into the characters of men, +as books can do. I mean, 'Les Reflections Morales de Monsieur de la +Rochefoucault, and Les Caracteres de la Bruyere': but remember, at the +same time, that I only recommend them to you as the best general maps to +assist you in your journey, and not as marking out every particular +turning and winding that you will meet with. There your own sagacity and +observation must come to their aid. La Rochefoucault, is, I know, blamed, +but I think without reason, for deriving all our actions from the source +of self-love. For my own part, I see a great deal of truth, and no harm +at all, in that opinion. It is certain that we seek our own happiness in +everything we do; and it is as certain, that we can only find it in doing +well, and in conforming all our actions to the rule of right reason, +which is the great law of nature. It is only a mistaken self-love that is +a blamable motive, when we take the immediate and indiscriminate +gratification of a passion, or appetite, for real happiness. But am I +blamable if I do a good action, upon account of the happiness which that +honest consciousness will give me? Surely not. On the contrary, that +pleasing consciousness is a proof of my virtue. The reflection which is +the most censured in Monsieur de la Rochefoucault's book as a very +ill-natured one, is this, 'On trouve dans le malheur de son meilleur ami, +quelque chose qui ne des plait pas'. And why not? Why may I not feel a +very tender and real concern for the misfortune of my friend, and yet at +the same time feel a pleasing consciousness at having discharged my duty +to him, by comforting and assisting him to the utmost of my power in that +misfortune? Give me but virtuous actions, and I will not quibble and +chicane about the motives. And I will give anybody their choice of these +two truths, which amount to the same thing: He who loves himself best is +the honestest man; or, The honestest man loves himself best. + +The characters of La Bruyere are pictures from the life; most of them +finely drawn, and highly colored. Furnish your mind with them first, and +when you meet with their likeness, as you will every day, they will +strike you the more. You will compare every feature with the original; +and both will reciprocally help you to discover the beauties and the +blemishes. + +As women are a considerable, or, at least a pretty numerous part of +company; and as their suffrages go a great way toward establishing a +man's character in the fashionable part of the world (which is of great +importance to the fortune and figure he proposes to make in it), it is +necessary to please them. I will therefore, upon this subject, let you +into certain Arcana that will be very useful for you to know, but which +you must, with the utmost care, conceal and never seem to know. Women, +then, are only children of a larger growth; they have an entertaining +tattle, and sometimes wit; but for solid reasoning, good sense, I never +knew in my life one that had it, or who reasoned or acted consequentially +for four-and-twenty hours together. Some little passion or humor always +breaks upon their best resolutions. Their beauty neglected or +controverted, their age increased, or their supposed understandings +depreciated, instantly kindles their little passions, and overturns any +system of consequential conduct, that in their most reasonable moments +they might have been capable of forming. A man of sense only trifles with +them, plays with them, humors and flatters them, as he does with a +sprightly forward child; but he neither consults them about, nor trusts +them with serious matters; though he often makes them believe that he +does both; which is the thing in the world that they are proud of; for +they love mightily to be dabbling in business (which by the way they +always spoil); and being justly distrustful that men in general look upon +them in a trifling light, they almost adore that man who talks more +seriously to them, and who seems to consult and trust them; I say, who +seems; for weak men really do, but wise ones only seem to do it. No +flattery is either too high or too low for them. They will greedily +swallow the highest, and gratefully accept of the lowest; and you may +safely flatter any woman from her understanding down to the exquisite +taste of her fan. Women who are either indisputably beautiful, or +indisputably ugly, are best flattered, upon the score of their +understandings; but those who are in a state of mediocrity, are best +flattered upon their beauty, or at least their graces; for every woman +who is not absolutely ugly thinks herself handsome; but not hearing often +that she is so, is the more grateful and the more obliged to the few who +tell her so; whereas a decided and conscious beauty looks upon every +tribute paid to her beauty only as her due; but wants to shine, and to be +considered on the side of her understanding; and a woman who is ugly +enough to know that she is so, knows that she has nothing left for it but +her understanding, which is consequently and probably (in more senses +than one) her weak side. But these are secrets which you must keep +inviolably, if you would not, like Orpheus, be torn to pieces by the +whole sex; on the contrary, a man who thinks of living in the great +world, must be gallant, polite, and attentive to please the women. They +have, from the weakness of men, more or less influence in all courts; +they absolutely stamp every man's character in the beau monde, and make +it either current, or cry it down, and stop it in payments. It is, +therefore; absolutely necessary to manage, please, and flatter them and +never to discover the least marks of contempt, which is what they never +forgive; but in this they are not singular, for it is the same with men; +who will much sooner forgive an injustice than an insult. Every man is +not ambitious, or courteous, or passionate; but every man has pride +enough in his composition to feel and resent the least slight and +contempt. Remember, therefore, most carefully to conceal your contempt, +however just, wherever you would not make an implacable enemy. Men are +much more unwilling to have their weaknesses and their imperfections +known than their crimes; and if you hint to a man that you think him +silly, ignorant, or even ill-bred, or awkward, he will hate you more and +longer, than if you tell him plainly, that you think him a rogue. Never +yield to that temptation, which to most young men is very strong; of +exposing other people's weaknesses and infirmities, for the sake either +of diverting the company, or showing your own superiority. You may get +the laugh on your side by it for the present; but you will make enemies +by it forever; and even those who laugh with you then, will, upon +reflection, fear; and consequently hate you; besides that it is +ill-natured, and a good heart desires rather to conceal than expose other +people's weaknesses or misfortunes. If you have wit, use it to please, +and not to hurt: you may shine, like the sun in the temperate zones, +without scorching. Here it is wished for; under the Line it is dreaded. + +These are some of the hints which my long experience in the great world +enables me to give you; and which, if you attend to them, may prove +useful to you in your journey through it. I wish it may be a prosperous +one; at least, I am sure that it must be your own fault if it is not. + +Make my compliments to Mr. Harte, who, I am very sorry to hear, is not +well. I hope by this time he is recovered. Adieu! + + + + +LETTER L + +LONDON, September 13, O. S. 1748. + +DEAR BOY: I have more than once recommended to you the "Memoirs" of the +Cardinal de Retz, and to attend particularly to the political reflections +interspersed in that excellent work. I will now preach a little upon two +or three of those texts. + +In the disturbances at Paris, Monsieur de Beaufort, who was a very +popular, though a very weak man, was the Cardinal's tool with the +populace. + +Proud of his popularity, he was always for assembling the people of Paris +together, thinking that he made a great figure at the head of them. The +Cardinal, who was factious enough, was wise enough at the same time to +avoid gathering the people together, except when there was occasion, and +when he had something particular for them to do. However, he could not +always check Monsieur de Beaufort; who having assembled them once very +unnecessarily, and without any determined object, they ran riot, would +not be kept within bounds by their leaders, and did their cause a great +deal of harm: upon which the Cardinal observes most judiciously, 'Que +Monsieur de Beaufort me savoit pas, que qui assemble le peuple, l'emeut'. +It is certain, that great numbers of people met together, animate each +other, and will do something, either good or bad, but oftener bad; and +the respective individuals, who were separately very quiet, when met +together in numbers, grow tumultuous as a body, and ripe for any mischief +that may be pointed out to them by the leaders; and, if their leaders +have no business for them, they will find some for themselves. The +demagogues, or leaders of popular factions, should therefore be very +careful not to assemble the people unnecessarily, and without a settled +and well-considered object. Besides that, by making those popular +assemblies too frequent, they make them likewise too familiar, and +consequently less respected by their enemies. Observe any meetings of +people, and you will always find their eagerness and impetuosity rise or +fall in proportion to their numbers: when the numbers are very great, all +sense and reason seem to subside, and one sudden frenzy to seize on all, +even the coolest of them. + +Another very just observation of the Cardinal's is, That, the things +which happen in our own times, and which we see ourselves, do not +surprise us near so much as the things which we read of in times past, +though not in the least more extraordinary; and adds, that he is +persuaded that when Caligula made his horse a Consul, the people of Rome, +at that time, were not greatly surprised at it, having necessarily been +in some degree prepared for it, by an insensible gradation of +extravagances from the same quarter. This is so true that we read every +day, with astonishment, things which we see every day without surprise. +We wonder at the intrepidity of a Leonidas, a Codrus, and a Curtius; and +are not the least surprised to hear of a sea-captain, who has blown up +his ship, his crew, and himself, that they might not fall into the hands +of the enemies of his country. I cannot help reading of Porsenna and +Regulus, with surprise and reverence, and yet I remember that I saw, +without either, the execution of Shepherd,--[James Shepherd, a +coach-painter's apprentice, was executed at Tyburn for high treason, +March 17, 1718, in the reign of George I.]--a boy of eighteen years old, +who intended to shoot the late king, and who would have been pardoned, if +he would have expressed the least sorrow for his intended crime; but, on +the contrary, he declared that if he was pardoned he would attempt it +again; that he thought it a duty which he owed to his country, and that +he died with pleasure for having endeavored to perform it. Reason equals +Shepherd to Regulus; but prejudice, and the recency of the fact, make +Shepherd a common malefactor and Regulus a hero. + +Examine carefully, and reconsider all your notions of things; analyze +them, and discover their component parts, and see if habit and prejudice +are not the principal ones; weigh the matter upon which you are to form +your opinion, in the equal and impartial scales of reason. It is not to +be conceived how many people, capable of reasoning, if they would, live +and die in a thousand errors, from laziness; they will rather adopt the +prejudices of others, than give themselves the trouble of forming +opinions of their own. They say things, at first, because other people +have said them, and then they persist in them, because they have said +them themselves. + +The last observation that I shall now mention of the Cardinal's is, "That +a secret is more easily kept by a good many people, than one commonly +imagines." By this he means a secret of importance, among people +interested in the keeping of it. And it is certain that people of +business know the importance of secrecy, and will observe it, where they +are concerned in the event. To go and tell any friend, wife, or mistress, +any secret with which they have nothing to do, is discovering to them +such an unretentive weakness, as must convince them that you will tell it +to twenty others, and consequently that they may reveal it without the +risk of being discovered. But a secret properly communicated only to +those who are to be concerned in the thing in question, will probably be +kept by them though they should be a good many. Little secrets are +commonly told again, but great ones are generally kept. Adieu! + + + + +LETTER LI + +LONDON, September 20, O. S. 1748. + +DEAR BOY: I wait with impatience for your accurate history of the +'Chevaliers Forte Epees', which you promised me in your last, and which I +take to be the forerunner of a larger work that you intend to give the +public, containing a general account of all the religious and military +orders of Europe. Seriously, you will do well to have a general notion of +all those orders, ancient and modern; both as they are frequently the +subjects of conversation, and as they are more or less interwoven with +the histories of those times. Witness the Teutonic Order, which, as soon +as it gained strength, began its unjust depredations in Germany, and +acquired such considerable possessions there; and the Order of Malta +also, which continues to this day its piracies upon the Infidels. Besides +one can go into no company in Germany, without running against Monsieur +le Chevalier, or Monsieur le Commandeur de l' Ordre Teutonique. It is the +same in all the other parts of Europe with regard to the Order of Malta, +where you never go into company without meeting two or three Chevaliers +or Commandeurs, who talk of their 'Preuves', their 'Langues', their +'Caravanes', etc., of all which things I am sure you would not willingly +be ignorant. On the other hand, I do not mean that you should have a +profound and minute knowledge of these matters, which are of a nature +that a general knowledge of them is fully sufficient. I would not +recommend you to read Abbe Vertot's "History of the Order of Malta," in +four quarto volumes; that would be employing a great deal of good time +very ill. But I would have you know the foundations, the objects, the +INSIGNIA, and the short general history of them all. + +As for the ancient religious military orders, which were chiefly founded +in the eleventh and twelfth centuries, such as Malta, the Teutonic, the +Knights Templars, etc., the injustice and the wickedness of those +establishments cannot, I am sure, have escaped your observation. Their +pious object was, to take away by force other people's property, and to +massacre the proprietors themselves if they refused to give up that +property, and adopt the opinions of these invaders. What right or +pretense had these confederated Christians of Europe to the Holy Land? +Let them produce their grant of it in the Bible. Will they say, that the +Saracens had possessed themselves of it by force, and that, consequently, +they had the same right? Is it lawful then to steal goods because they +were stolen before? Surely not. The truth is, that the wickedness of +many, and the weakness of more, in those ages of ignorance and +superstition, concurred to form those flagitious conspiracies against the +lives and properties of unoffending people. The Pope sanctified the +villany, and annexed the pardon of sins to the perpetration of it. This +gave rise to the Crusaders, and carried such swarms of people from Europe +to the conquests of the Holy Land. Peter the Hermit, an active and +ambitious priest, by his indefatigable pains, was the immediate author of +the first crusade; kings, princes, all professions and characters united, +from different motives, in this great undertaking, as every sentiment, +except true religion and morality, invited to it. The ambitious hoped for +kingdoms; the greedy and the necessitous for plunder; and some were +enthusiasts enough to hope for salvation, by the destruction of a +considerable number of their fellow creatures, who had done them no +injury. I cannot omit, upon this occasion, telling you that the Eastern +emperors at Constantinople (who, as Christians, were obliged at least to +seem to favor these expeditions), seeing the immense numbers of the +'Croisez', and fearing that the Western Empire might have some mind to +the Eastern Empire too, if it succeeded against the Infidels, as +'l'appetit vient en mangeant'; these Eastern emperors, very honestly, +poisoned the waters where the 'Croisez' were to pass, and so destroyed +infinite numbers of them. + +The later orders of knighthood, such as the Garter in England; the +Elephant in Denmark; the Golden Fleece in Burgundy; the St. Esprit, St. +Michel, St. Louis, and St. Lazare, in France etc., are of a very +different nature and were either the invitations to, or the rewards of; +brave actions in fair war; and are now rather the decorations of the +favor of the prince, than the proofs of the merit of the subject. +However, they are worth your inquiries to a certain degree, and +conversation will give you frequent opportunities for them. Wherever you +are, I would advise you to inquire into the respective orders of that +country, and to write down a short account of them. For example, while +you are in Saxony, get an account of l'Aigle Blanc and of what other +orders there may be, either Polish or Saxon; and, when you shall be at +Berlin, inform yourself of three orders, l'Aigle Noir, la Generosite et +le Vrai Merite, which are the only ones that I know of there. But +whenever you meet with straggling ribands and stars, as you will with a +thousand in Germany, do not fail to inquire what they are, and to take a +minute of them in your memorandum book; for it is a sort of knowledge +that costs little to acquire, and yet it is of some use. Young people +have frequently an incuriousness about them, arising either from +laziness, or a contempt of the object, which deprives them of several +such little parts of knowledge, that they afterward wish they had +acquired. If you will put conversation to profit, great knowledge may be +gained by it; and is it not better (since it is full as easy) to turn it +upon useful than upon useless subjects? People always talk best upon what +they know most, and it is both pleasing them and improving one's self, to +put them upon that subject. With people of a particular profession, or of +a distinguished eminency in any branch of learning, one is not at a loss; +but with those, whether men or women, who properly constitute what is +called the beau monde, one must not choose deep subjects, nor hope to get +any knowledge above that of orders, ranks, families, and court anecdotes; +which are therefore the proper (and not altogether useless) subjects of +that kind of conversation. Women, especially, are to be talked to as +below men and above children. If you talk to them too deep, you only +confound them, and lose your own labor; if you talk to them too +frivolously, they perceive and resent the contempt. The proper tone for +them is, what the French call the 'Entregent', and is, in truth, the +polite jargon of good company. Thus, if you are a good chemist, you may +extract something out of everything. + +A propos of the beau monde, I must again and again recommend the Graces +to you: There is no doing without them in that world; and, to make a good +figure in that world, is a great step toward making one in the world of +business, particularly that part of it for which you are destined. An +ungraceful manner of speaking, awkward motions, and a disagreeable +address, are great clogs to the ablest man of business, as the opposite +qualifications are of infinite advantage to him. I am told there is a +very good dancing-master at Leipsig. I would have you dance a minuet very +well, not so much for the sake of the minuet itself (though that, if +danced at all, ought to be danced, well), as that it will give you a +habitual genteel carriage and manner of presenting yourself. + +Since I am upon little things, I must mention another, which, though +little enough in itself, yet as it occurs at, least once in every day, +deserves some attention; I mean Carving. Do you use yourself to carve +ADROITLY and genteelly, without hacking half an hour across a bone; +without bespattering the company with the sauce; and without overturning +the glasses into your neighbor's pockets? These awkwardnesses are +extremely disagreeable; and, if often repeated, bring ridicule. They are +very easily avoided by a little attention and use. + +How trifling soever these things may seem, or really be in themselves, +they are no longer so when above half the world thinks them otherwise. +And, as I would have you 'omnibus ornatum--excellere rebus', I think +nothing above or below my pointing out to you, or your excelling in. You +have the means of doing it, and time before you to make use of them. Take +my word for it, I ask nothing now but what you will, twenty years hence, +most heartily wish that you had done. Attention to all these things, for +the next two or three years, will save you infinite trouble and endless +regrets hereafter. May you, in the whole course of your life, have no +reason for any one just regret! Adieu. + +Your Dresden china is arrived, and I have sent it to your Mamma. + + + + +LETTER LII + +LONDON, September 27, O. S. 1748. + +DEAR BOY: I have received your Latin "Lecture upon War," which though it +is not exactly the same Latin that Caesar, Cicero, Horace, Virgil, and +Ovid spoke, is, however, as good Latin as the erudite Germans speak or +write. I have always observed that the most learned people, that is, +those who have read the most Latin, write the worst; and that +distinguishes the Latin of gentleman scholar from that of a pedant. A +gentleman has, probably, read no other Latin than that of the Augustan +age; and therefore can write no other, whereas the pedant has read much +more bad Latin than good, and consequently writes so too. He looks upon +the best classical books, as books for school-boys, and consequently +below him; but pores over fragments of obscure authors, treasures up the +obsolete words which he meets with there, and uses them upon all +occasions to show his reading at the expense of his judgment. Plautus is +his favorite author, not for the sake of the wit and the vis comica of +his comedies, but upon account of the many obsolete words, and the cant +of low characters, which are to be met with nowhere else. He will rather +use 'olli' than 'illi', 'optume' than 'optima', and any bad word rather +than any good one, provided he can but prove, that strictly speaking, it +is Latin; that is, that it was written by a Roman. By this rule, I might +now write to you in the language of Chaucer or Spenser, and assert that I +wrote English, because it was English in their days; but I should be a +most affected puppy if I did so, and you would not understand three words +of my letter. All these, and such like affected peculiarities, are the +characteristics of learned coxcombs and pedants, and are carefully +avoided by all men of sense. + +I dipped accidentally, the other day, into Pitiscus's preface to his +"Lexicon," where I found a word that puzzled me, and which I did not +remember ever to have met with before. It is the adverb 'praefiscine', +which means, IN A GOOD HOUR; an expression which, by the superstition of +it, appears to be low and vulgar. I looked for it: and at last I found +that it is once or twice made use of in Plautus, upon the strength of +which this learned pedant thrusts it into his preface. Whenever you write +Latin, remember that every word or phrase which you make use of, but +cannot find in Caesar, Cicero, Livy, Horace, Virgil; and Ovid, is bad, +illiberal Latin, though it may have been written by a Roman. + +I must now say something as to the matter of the "Lecture," in which I +confess there is one doctrine laid down that surprises me: It is this, +'Quum vero hostis sit lenta citave morte omnia dira nobis minitans +quocunque bellantibus negotium est; parum sane interfuerit quo modo eum +obruere et interficere satagamus, si ferociam exuere cunctetur. Ergo +veneno quoque uti fas est', etc., whereas I cannot conceive that the use +of poison can, upon any account, come within the lawful means of +self-defense. Force may, without doubt, be justly repelled by force, but +not by treachery and fraud; for I do not call the stratagems of war, such +as ambuscades, masked batteries, false attacks, etc., frauds or +treachery: They are mutually to be expected and guarded against; but +poisoned arrows, poisoned waters, or poison administered to your enemy +(which can only be done by treachery), I have always heard, read, and +thought, to be unlawful and infamous means of defense, be your danger +ever so great: But 'si ferociam exuere cunctetur'; must I rather die than +poison this enemy? Yes, certainly, much rather die than do a base or +criminal action; nor can I be sure, beforehand, that this enemy may not, +in the last moment, 'ferociam exuere'. But the public lawyers, now, seem +to me rather to warp the law, in order to authorize, than to check, those +unlawful proceedings of princes and states; which, by being become +common, appear less criminal, though custom can never alter the nature of +good and ill. + +Pray let no quibbles of lawyers, no refinements of casuists, break into +the plain notions of right and wrong, which every man's right reason and +plain common sense suggest to him. To do as you would be done by, is the +plain, sure, and undisputed rule of morality and justice. Stick to that; +and be convinced that whatever breaks into it, in any degree, however +speciously it may be turned, and however puzzling it may be to answer it, +is, notwithstanding, false in itself, unjust, and criminal. I do not know +a crime in the world, which is not by the casuists among the Jesuits +(especially the twenty-four collected, I think, by Escobar) allowed, in +some, or many cases, not to be criminal. The principles first laid down +by them are often specious, the reasonings plausible, but the conclusion +always a lie: for it is contrary, to that evident and undeniable rule of +justice which I have mentioned above, of not doing to anyone what you +would not have him do to you. But, however, these refined pieces of +casuistry and sophistry, being very convenient and welcome to people's +passions and appetites, they gladly accept the indulgence, without +desiring to detect the fallacy or the reasoning: and indeed many, I might +say most people, are not able to do it; which makes the publication of +such quibblings and refinements the more pernicious. I am no skillful +casuist nor subtle disputant; and yet I would undertake to justify and +qualify the profession of a highwayman, step by step, and so plausibly, +as to make many ignorant people embrace the profession, as an innocent, +if not even a laudable one; and puzzle people of some degree of +knowledge, to answer me point by point. I have seen a book, entitled +'Quidlibet ex Quolibet', or the art of making anything out of anything; +which is not so difficult as it would seem, if once one quits certain +plain truths, obvious in gross to every understanding, in order to run +after the ingenious refinements of warm imaginations and speculative +reasonings. Doctor Berkeley, Bishop of Cloyne, a very worthy, ingenious, +and learned man, has written a book, to prove that there is no such thing +as matter, and that nothing exists but in idea: that you and I only fancy +ourselves eating, drinking, and sleeping; you at Leipsig, and I at +London: that we think we have flesh and blood, legs, arms, etc., but that +we are only spirit. His arguments are, strictly speaking, unanswerable; +but yet I am so far from being convinced by them, that I am determined to +go on to eat and drink, and walk and ride, in order to keep that MATTER, +which I so mistakenly imagine my body at present to consist of, in as +good plight as possible. Common sense (which, in truth, very uncommon) is +the best sense I know of: abide by it, it will counsel you best. Read and +hear, for your amusement, ingenious systems, nice questions subtilly +agitated, with all the refinements that warm imaginations suggest; but +consider them only as exercitations for the mind, and turn always to +settle with common sense. + +I stumbled, the other day, at a bookseller's, upon "Comte Gabalis," in +two very little volumes, which I had formerly read. I read it over again, +and with fresh astonishment. Most of the extravagances are taken from the +Jewish Rabbins, who broached those wild notions, and delivered them in +the unintelligible jargon which the Caballists and Rosicrucians deal in +to this day. Their number is, I believe, much lessened, but there are +still some; and I myself have known two; who studied and firmly believed +in that mystical nonsense. What extravagancy is not man capable of +entertaining, when once his shackled reason is led in triumph by fancy +and prejudice! The ancient alchemists give very much into this stuff, by +which they thought they should discover the philosopher's stone; and some +of the most celebrated empirics employed it in the pursuit of the +universal medicine. Paracelsus, a bold empiric and wild Caballist, +asserted that he had discovered it, and called it his 'Alkahest'. Why or +wherefore, God knows; only that those madmen call nothing by an +intelligible name. You may easily get this book from The Hague: read it, +for it will both divert and astonish you, and at the same time teach you +'nil admirari'; a very necessary lesson. + +Your letters, except when upon a given subject, are exceedingly laconic, +and neither answer my desires nor the purpose of letters; which should be +familiar conversations, between absent friends. As I desire to live with +you upon the footing of an intimate friend, and not of a parent, I could +wish that your letters gave me more particular accounts of yourself, and +of your lesser transactions. When you write to me, suppose yourself +conversing freely with me by the fireside. In that case, you would +naturally mention the incidents of the day; as where you had been, who +you had seen, what you thought of them, etc. Do this in your letters: +acquaint me sometimes with your studies, sometimes with your diversions; +tell me of any new persons and characters that you meet with in company, +and add your own observations upon them: in short, let me see more of you +in your letters. How do you go on with Lord Pulteney, and how does he go +on at Leipsig? Has he learning, has he parts, has he application? Is he +good or ill-natured? In short, What is he? at least, what do you think +him? You may tell me without reserve, for I promise you secrecy. You are +now of an age that I am desirous to begin a confidential correspondence +with you; and as I shall, on my part, write you very freely my opinion +upon men and things, which I should often be very unwilling that anybody +but you and Mr. Harte should see, so, on your part, if you write me +without reserve, you may depend upon my inviolable secrecy. If you have +ever looked into the "Letters" of Madame de Sevigne to her daughter, +Madame de Grignan, you must have observed the ease, freedom, and +friendship of that correspondence; and yet, I hope and I believe, that +they did not love one another better than we do. Tell me what books you +are now reading, either by way of study or amusement; how you pass your +evenings when at home, and where you pass them when abroad. I know that +you go sometimes to Madame Valentin's assembly; What do you do there? Do +you play, or sup, or is it only 'la belle conversation?' Do you mind your +dancing while your dancing-master is with you? As you will be often under +the necessity of dancing a minuet, I would have you dance it very well. +Remember, that the graceful motion of the arms, the giving your hand, and +the putting on and pulling off your hat genteelly, are the material parts +of a gentleman's dancing. But the greatest advantage of dancing well is, +that it necessarily teaches you to present yourself, to sit, stand, and +walk, genteelly; all of which are of real importance to a man of fashion. + +I should wish that you were polished before you go to Berlin; where, as +you will be in a great deal of good company, I would have you have the +right manners for it. It is a very considerable article to have 'le ton +de la bonne compagnie', in your destination particularly. The principal +business of a foreign minister is, to get into the secrets, and to know +all 'les allures' of the courts at which he resides; this he can never +bring about but by such a pleasing address, such engaging manners, and +such an insinuating behavior, as may make him sought for, and in some +measure domestic, in the best company and the best families of the place. +He will then, indeed, be well informed of all that passes, either by the +confidences made him, or by the carelessness of people in his company, +who are accustomed to look upon him as one of them, and consequently are +not upon their guard before him. For a minister who only goes to the +court he resides at, in form, to ask an audience of the prince or the +minister upon his last instructions, puts them upon their guard, and will +never know anything more than what they have a mind that he should know. +Here women may be put to some use. A king's mistress, or a minister's +wife or mistress, may give great and useful informations; and are very +apt to do it, being proud to show that they have been trusted. But then, +in this case, the height of that sort of address, which, strikes women, +is requisite; I mean that easy politeness, genteel and graceful address, +and that 'exterieur brilliant' which they cannot withstand. There is a +sort of men so like women, that they are to be taken just in the same +way; I mean those who are commonly called FINE MEN; who swarm at all +courts; who have little reflection, and less knowledge; but, who by their +good breeding, and 'train-tran' of the world, are admitted into all +companies; and, by the imprudence or carelessness of their superiors, +pick up secrets worth knowing, which are easily got out of them by proper +address. Adieu. + + + + +LETTER LIII + +BATH, October 12, O. S. 1748. + +DEAR BOY: I came here three days ago upon account of a disorder in my +stomach, which affected my head and gave me vertigo. I already find +myself something better; and consequently do not doubt but that the +course of these waters will set me quite right. But however and wherever +I am, your welfare, your character, your knowledge, and your morals, +employ my thoughts more than anything that can happen to me, or that I +can fear or hope for myself. I am going off the stage, you are coming +upon it; with me what has been, has been, and reflection now would come +too late; with you everything is to come, even, in some manner, +reflection itself; so that this is the very time when my reflections, the +result of experience, may be of use to you, by supplying the want of +yours. As soon as you leave Leipsig, you will gradually be going into the +great world; where the first impressions that you shall give of yourself +will be of great importance to you; but those which you shall receive +will be decisive, for they always stick. To keep good company, especially +at your first setting out, is the way to receive good impressions. If you +ask me what I mean by good company, I will confess to you that it is +pretty difficult to define; but I will endeavor to make you understand it +as well as I can. + +Good company is not what respective sets of company are pleased either to +call or think themselves, but it is that company which all the people of +the place call, and acknowledge to be, good company, notwithstanding some +objections which they may form to some of the individuals who compose it. +It consists chiefly (but by no means without exception) of people of +considerable birth, rank, and character; for people of neither birth nor +rank are frequently, and very justly admitted into it, if distinguished +by any peculiar merit, or eminency in any liberal art or science. Nay, so +motly a thing is good company, that many people, without birth, rank, or +merit, intrude into it by their own forwardness, and others slide into it +by the protection of some considerable person; and some even of +indifferent characters and morals make part of it. But in the main, the +good part preponderates, and people of infamous and blasted characters +are never admitted. In this fashionable good company, the best manners +and the best language of the place are most unquestionably to be learned; +for they establish and give the tone to both, which are therefore called +the language and manners of good company: there being no legal tribunal +to ascertain either. + +A company, consisting wholly of people of the first quality, cannot, for +that reason, be called good company, in the common acceptation of the +phrase, unless they are, into the bargain, the fashionable and accredited +company of the place; for people of the very first quality can be as +silly, as ill-bred, and as worthless, as people of the meanest degree. On +the other hand, a company consisting entirely of people of very low +condition, whatever their merit or parts may be, can never be called good +company; and consequently should not be much frequented, though by no +means despised. + +A company wholly composed of men of learning, though greatly to be valued +and respected, is not meant by the words GOOD COMPANY; they cannot have +the easy manners and, 'tournure' of the world, as they do not live in it. +If you can bear your part well in such a company, it is extremely right +to be in it sometimes, and you will be but more esteemed in other +companies, for having a place in that. But then do not let it engross +you; for if you do, you will be only considered as one of the 'literati' +by profession; which is not the way either, to shine, or rise in the +world. + +The company of professed wits and pests is extremely inviting to most +young men; who if they have wit themselves, are pleased with it, and if +they have none, are sillily proud of being one of it: but it should be +frequented with moderation and judgment, and you should by no means give +yourself up to it. A wit is a very unpopular denomination, as it carries +terror along with it; and people in general are as much afraid of a live +wit, in company, as a woman is of a gun, which she thinks may go off of +itself, and do her a mischief. Their acquaintance is, however, worth +seeking, and their company worth frequenting; but not exclusively of +others, nor to such a degree as to be considered only as one of that +particular set. + +But the company, which of all others you should most carefully avoid, is +that low company, which, in every sense of the word, is low indeed; low +in rank, low in parts, low in manners, and low in merit. You will, +perhaps, be surprised that I should think it necessary to warn you +against such company, but yet I do not think it wholly, unnecessary, from +the many instances which I have seen of men of sense and rank, +discredited, verified, and undone, by keeping such company. + +Vanity, that source of many of our follies, and of some of our crimes, +has sunk many a man into company, in every light infinitely, below +himself, for the sake of being the first man in it. There he dictates, is +applauded, admired; and, for the sake of being the Coryphceus of that +wretched chorus, disgraces and disqualifies himself soon for any better +company. Depend upon it, you will sink or rise to the level of the +company which you commonly keep: people will judge of you, and not +unreasonably, by that. There is good sense in the Spanish saying, "Tell +me whom you live with, and I will tell you who you are." Make it +therefore your business, wherever you are, to get into that company which +everybody in the place allows to be the best company next to their own; +which is the best definition that I can give you of good company. But +here, too, one caution is very necessary, for want of which many young +men have been ruined, even in good company. + +Good company (as I have before observed) is composed of a great variety +of fashionable people, whose characters and morals are very different, +though their manners are pretty much the same. When a young man, new in +the world, first gets into that company, he very rightly determines to +conform to, and imitate it. But then he too often, and fatally, mistakes +the objects of his imitation. He has often heard that absurd term of +genteel and fashionable vices. He there sees some people who shine, and +who in general are admired and esteemed; and observes that these people +are whoremasters, drunkards, or gamesters, upon which he adopts their +vices, mistaking their defects for their perfections, and thinking that +they owe their fashions and their luster to those genteel vices. Whereas +it is exactly the reverse; for these people have acquired their +reputation by their parts, their learning, their good-breeding, and other +real accomplishments: and are only blemished and lowered, in the opinions +of all reasonable people, and of their own, in time, by these genteel and +fashionable vices. A whoremaster, in a flux, or without a nose, is a very +genteel person, indeed, and well worthy of imitation. A drunkard, +vomiting up at night the wine of the day, and stupefied by the headache +all the next, is, doubtless, a fine model to copy from. And a gamester, +tearing his hair, and blaspheming, for having lost more than he had in +the world, is surely a most amiable character. No; these are alloys, and +great ones too, which can never adorn any character, but will always +debase the best. To prove this, suppose any man, without parts and some +other good qualities, to be merely a whoremaster, a drunkard, or a +gamester; how will he be looked upon by all sorts of people? Why, as a +most contemptible and vicious animal. Therefore it is plain, that in +these mixed characters, the good part only makes people forgive, but not +approve, the bad. + +I will hope and believe that you will have no vices; but if, +unfortunately, you should have any, at least I beg of you to be content +with your own, and to adopt no other body's. + +The adoption of vice has, I am convinced, ruined ten times more young men +than natural inclinations. + +As I make no difficulty of confessing my past errors, where I think the +confession may be of use to you, I will own that when I first went to the +university, I drank and smoked, notwithstanding the aversion I had to +wine and tobacco, only because I thought it genteel, and that it made me +look like a man. When I went abroad, I first went to The Hague, where +gaming was much in fashion, and where I observed that many people of +shining rank and character gamed too. I was then young enough, and silly +enough, to believe that gaming was one of their accomplishments; and, as +I aimed at perfection, I adopted gaming as a necessary step to it. Thus I +acquired by error the habit of a vice which, far from adorning my +character, has, I am conscious, been a great blemish in it. + +Imitate then, with discernment and judgment, the real perfections of the +good company into which you may get; copy their politeness, their +carriage, their address, and the easy and well-bred turn of their +conversation; but remember that, let them shine ever so bright, their +vices, if they have any, are so many spots which you would no more +imitate, than you would make an artificial wart upon your face, because +some very handsome man had the misfortune to have a natural one upon his: +but, on the contrary, think how much handsomer he would have been without +it. + +Having thus confessed some of my 'egaremens', I will now show you a +little of my right side. I always endeavored to get into the best company +wherever I was, and commonly succeeded. There I pleased to some degree by +showing a desire to please. I took care never to be absent or 'distrait'; +but on the contrary, attended to everything that was said, done, or even +looked, in company; I never failed in the minutest attentions and was +never 'journalier'. These things, and not my 'egaremens', made me +fashionable. Adieu! This letter is full long enough. + + + + +LETTER LIV + +BATH, October 19, O. S. 1748. + +DEAR BOY: Having in my last pointed out what sort of company you should +keep, I will now give you some rules for your conduct in it; rules which +my own experience and observation enable me to lay down, and communicate +to you, with some degree of confidence. I have often given you hints of +this kind before, but then it has been by snatches; I will now be more +regular and methodical. I shall say nothing with regard to your bodily +carriage and address, but leave them to the care of your dancing-master, +and to your own attention to the best models; remember, however, that +they are of consequence. + +Talk often, but never long: in that case, if you do not please, at least +you are sure not to tire your hearers. Pay your own reckoning, but do not +treat the whole company; this being one of the very few cases in which +people do not care to be treated, everyone being fully convinced that he +has wherewithal to pay. + +Tell stories very seldom, and absolutely never but where they are very +apt and very short. Omit every circumstance that is not material, and +beware of digressions. To have frequent recourse to narrative betrays +great want of imagination. + +Never hold anybody by the button or the hand, in order to be heard out; +for, if people are not willing to hear you, you had much better hold your +tongue than them. + +Most long talkers single out some one unfortunate man in company +(commonly him whom they observe to be the most silent, or their next +neighbor) to whisper, or at least in a half voice, to convey a continuity +of words to. This is excessively ill-bred, and in some degree a fraud; +conversation-stock being a joint and common property. But, on the other +hand, if one of these unmerciful talkers lays hold of you, hear him with +patience (and at least seeming attention), if he is worth obliging; for +nothing will oblige him more than a patient hearing, as nothing would +hurt him more than either to leave him in the midst of his discourse, or +to discover your impatience under your affliction. + +Take, rather than give, the tone of the company you are in. If you have +parts, you will show them, more or less, upon every subject; and if you +have not, you had better talk sillily upon a subject of other people's +than of your own choosing. + +Avoid as much as you can, in mixed companies, argumentative, polemical +conversations; which, though they should not, yet certainly do, indispose +for a time the contending parties toward each other; and, if the +controversy grows warm and noisy, endeavor to put an end to it by some +genteel levity or joke. I quieted such a conversation-hubbub once, by +representing to them that, though I was persuaded none there present +would repeat, out of company, what passed in it, yet I could not answer +for the discretion of the passengers in the street, who must necessarily +hear all that was said. + +Above all things, and upon all occasions, avoid speaking of yourself, if +it be possible. Such is the natural pride and vanity of our hearts, that +it perpetually breaks out, even in people of the best parts, in all the +various modes and figures of the egotism. + +Some, abruptly, speak advantageously of themselves, without either +pretense or provocation. They are impudent. Others proceed more artfully, +as they imagine; and forge accusations against themselves, complain of +calumnies which they never heard, in order to justify themselves, by +exhibiting a catalogue of their many virtues. They acknowledge it may, +indeed, seem odd that they should talk in that manner of themselves; it +is what they do not like, and what they never would have done; no; no +tortures should ever have forced it from them, if they had, not been thus +unjustly and monstrously accused. But, in these cases; justice is surely +due to one's self, as well as to others; and when our character is +attacked, we may say in our own justification, what otherwise we never +would have said. This thin veil of Modesty drawn before Vanity, is much +too transparent to conceal it, even from very moderate discernment. + +Others go more modestly and more slyly still (as they think) to work; but +in my mind still more ridiculously. They confess themselves (not without +some degree of shame and confusion) into all the Cardinal Virtues, by +first degrading them into weaknesses and then owning their misfortune in +being made up of those weaknesses. They cannot see people suffer without +sympathizing with, and endeavoring to help them. They cannot see people +want, without relieving them, though truly their own circumstances cannot +very well afford it. They cannot help speaking truth, though they know +all the imprudence of it. In short, they know that, with all these +weaknesses, they are not fit to live in the world, much less to thrive in +it. But they are now too old to change, and must rub on as well as they +can. This sounds too ridiculous and 'outre', almost, for the stage; and +yet, take my word for it, you will frequently meet with it upon the +common stage of the world. And here I will observe, by the bye, that you +will often meet with characters in nature so extravagant, that a discreet +dramatist would not venture to set them upon the stage in their true and +high coloring. + +This principle of vanity and pride is so strong in human nature that it +descends even to the lowest objects; and one often sees people angling +for praise, where, admitting all they say to be true (which, by the way, +it seldom is), no just praise is to be caught. One man affirms that he +has rode post an hundred miles in six hours; probably it is a lie: but +supposing it to be true, what then? Why he is a very good post-boy, that +is all. Another asserts, and probably not without oaths, that he has +drunk six or eight bottles of wine at a sitting; out of charity, I will +believe him a liar; for, if I do not, I must think him a beast. + +Such, and a thousand more, are the follies and extravagances, which +vanity draws people into, and which always defeat their own purpose; and +as Waller says, upon another subject,-- + + "Make the wretch the most despised, + Where most he wishes to be prized." + +The only sure way of avoiding these evils, is never to speak of yourself +at all. But when, historically, you are obliged to mention yourself, take +care not to drop one single word that can directly or indirectly be +construed as fishing for applause. Be your character what it will, it +will be known; and nobody will take it upon your own word. Never imagine +that anything you can say yourself will varnish your defects, or add +lustre to your perfections! but, on the contrary, it may, and nine times +in ten, will, make the former more glaring and the latter obscure. If you +are silent upon your own subject, neither envy, indignation, nor +ridicule, will obstruct or allay the applause which you may really +deserve; but if you publish your own panegyric upon any occasion, or in +any shape whatsoever, and however artfully dressed or disguised, they +will all conspire against you, and you will be disappointed of the very +end you aim at. + +Take care never to seem dark and mysterious; which is not only a very +unamiable character, but a very suspicious one too; if you seem +mysterious with others, they will be really so with you, and you will +know nothing. The height of abilities is to have 'volto sciolto' and +'pensieri stretti'; that is, a frank, open, and ingenuous exterior, with +a prudent interior; to be upon your own guard, and yet, by a seeming +natural openness, to put people off theirs. Depend upon it nine in ten of +every company you are in will avail themselves of every indiscreet and +unguarded expression of yours, if they can turn it to their own +advantage. A prudent reserve is therefore as necessary as a seeming +openness is prudent. Always look people in the face when you speak to +them: the not doing it is thought to imply conscious guilt; besides that +you lose the advantage of serving by their countenances what impression +your discourse makes upon them. In order to know people's real +sentiments, I trust much more to my eyes than to my ears: for they can +say whatever they have a mind I should hear; but they can seldom help +looking, what they have no intention that I should know. + +Neither retail nor receive scandal willingly; defamation of others may +for the present gratify the malignity of the pride of our hearts; cool +reflection will draw very disadvantageous conclusions from such a +disposition; and in the case of scandal, as in that of robbery, the +receiver is always thought, as bad as the thief. + +Mimicry, which is the common and favorite amusement of little low minds, +is in the utmost contempt with great ones. It is the lowest and most +illiberal of all buffoonery. Pray, neither practice it yourself, nor +applaud it in others. Besides that the person mimicked is insulted; and, +as I have often observed to you before, an insult is never forgiven. + +I need not (I believe) advise you to adapt your conversation to the +people you are conversing with: for I suppose you would not, without this +caution, have talked upon the same subject, and in the same manner, to a +minister of state, a bishop, a philosopher, a captain, and a woman. A man +of the world must, like the chameleon, be able to take every different +hue; which is by no means a criminal or abject, but a necessary +complaisance; for it relates only to manners and not to morals. + +One word only as to swearing, and that, I hope and believe, is more than +is necessary. You may sometimes hear some people in good company +interlard their discourse with oaths, by way of embellishment, as they +think, but you must observe, too, that those who do so are never those +who contribute, in any degree, to give that company the denomination of +good company. They are always subalterns, or people of low education; for +that practice, besides that it has no one temptation to plead, is as +silly and as illiberal as it is wicked. + +Loud laughter is the mirth of the mob, who are only pleased with silly +things; for true wit or good sense never excited a laugh since the +creation of the world. A man of parts and fashion is therefore only seen +to smile; but never heard to laugh. + +But to conclude this long letter; all the above-mentioned rules, however +carefully you may observe them, will lose half their effect, if +unaccompanied by the Graces. Whatever you say, if you say it with a +supercilious, cynical face, or an embarrassed countenance, or a silly, +disconcerted grin, will be ill received. If, into the bargain, YOU MUTTER +IT, OR UTTER IT INDISTINCTLY AND UNGRACEFULLY, it will be still worse +received. If your air and address are vulgar, awkward, and gauche, you +may be esteemed indeed, if you have great intrinsic merit; but you will +never, please; and without pleasing you will rise but heavily. Venus, +among the ancients, was synonymous with the Graces, who were always +supposed to accompany her; and Horace tells us that even Youth and +Mercury, the god of Arts and Eloquence, would not do without her: + + 'Parum comis sine to Juventas Mercuriusque.' + +They are not inexorable Ladies, and may be had if properly, and +diligently pursued. Adieu. + + + + +LETTER LV + +BATH, October 29, O. S. 1748. + +DEAR BOY: My anxiety for your success increases in proportion as the time +approaches of your taking your part upon the great stage of the world. +The audience will form their opinion of you upon your first appearance +(making the proper allowance for your inexperience), and so far it will +be final, that, though it may vary as to the degrees, it will never +totally change. This consideration excites that restless attention with +which I am constantly examining how I can best contribute to the +perfection of that character, in which the least spot or blemish would +give me more real concern, than I am now capable of feeling upon any +other account whatsoever. + +I have long since done mentioning your great religious and moral duties, +because I could not make your understanding so bad a compliment as to +suppose that you wanted, or could receive, any new instructions upon +those two important points. Mr. Harte, I am sure, has not neglected them; +and, besides, they are so obvious to common sense and reason, that +commentators may (as they often do) perplex, but cannot make them +clearer. My province, therefore, is to supply by my experience your +hitherto inevitable inexperience in the ways of the world. People at your +age are in a state of natural ebriety; and want rails, and 'gardefous', +wherever they go, to hinder them from breaking their necks. This +drunkenness of youth is not only tolerated, but even pleases, if kept +within certain bounds of discretion and decency. These bounds are the +point which it is difficult for the drunken man himself to find out; and +there it is that the experience of a friend may not only serve, but save +him. + +Carry with you, and welcome, into company all the gaiety and spirits, but +as little of the giddiness, of youth as you can. The former will charm; +but the latter will often, though innocently, implacably offend. Inform +yourself of the characters and situations of the company, before you give +way to what your imagination may prompt you to say. There are, in all +companies, more wrong beads than right ones, and many more who deserve, +than who like censure. Should you therefore expatiate in the praise of +some virtue, which some in company notoriously want; or declaim against +any vice, which others are notoriously infected with, your reflections, +however general and unapplied, will, by being applicable, be thought +personal and leveled at those people. This consideration points out to +you, sufficiently, not to be suspicious and captious yourself, nor to +suppose that things, because they may be, are therefore meant at you. The +manners of well-bred people secure one from those indirect and mean +attacks; but if, by chance, a flippant woman or a pert coxcomb lets off +anything of that kind, it is much better not to seem to understand, than +to reply to it. + +Cautiously avoid talking of either your own or other people's domestic +affairs. Yours are nothing to them but tedious; theirs are nothing to +you. The subject is a tender one: and it is odds but that you touch +somebody or other's sore place: for, in this case, there is no trusting +to specious appearances; which may be, and often are, so contrary to the +real situations of things, between men and their wives, parents and their +children, seeming friends, etc., that, with the best intentions in the +world, one often blunders disagreeably. + +Remember that the wit, humor, and jokes, of most mixed companies are +local. They thrive in that particular soil, but will not often bear +transplanting. Every company is differently circumstanced, has its +particular cant and jargon; which may give occasion to wit and mirth +within that circle, but would seem flat and insipid in any other, and +therefore will not bear repeating. Nothing makes a man look sillier than +a pleasantry not relished or not understood; and if he meets with a +profound silence when he expected a general applause, or, what is worse, +if he is desired to explain the bon mot, his awkward and embarrassed +situation is easier imagined' than described. 'A propos' of repeating; +take great care never to repeat (I do not mean here the pleasantries) in +one company what you hear in another. Things, seemingly indifferent, may, +by circulation, have much graver consequences than you would imagine. +Besides, there is a general tacit trust in conversation, by which a man +is obliged not to report anything out of it, though he is not immediately +enjoined to secrecy. A retailer of this kind is sure to draw himself into +a thousand scrapes and discussions, and to be shyly and uncomfortably +received wherever he goes. + +You will find, in most good company, some people who only keep their +place there by a contemptible title enough; these are what we call VERY +GOOD-NATURED FELLOWS, and the French, 'bons diables'. The truth is, they +are people without any parts or fancy, and who, having no will of their +own, readily assent to, concur in, and applaud, whatever is said or done +in the company; and adopt, with the same alacrity, the most virtuous or +the most criminal, the wisest or the silliest scheme, that happens to be +entertained by the majority of the company. This foolish, and often +criminal complaisance flows from a foolish cause,--the want of any other +merit. I hope that you will hold your place in company by a nobler +tenure, and that you will hold it (you can bear a quibble, I believe, +yet) 'in capite'. Have a will and an opinion of your own, and adhere to +them steadily; but then do it with good humor, good-breeding, and (if you +have it) with urbanity; for you have not yet heard enough either to +preach or censure. + +All other kinds of complaisance are not only blameless, but necessary in +good company. Not to seem to perceive the little weaknesses, and the idle +but innocent affectations of the company, but even to flatter them, in a +certain manner, is not only very allowable, but, in truth, a sort of +polite duty. They will be pleased with you, if you do; and will certainly +not be reformed by you if you do not. + +For instance: you will find, in every group of company, two principal +figures, viz., the fine lady and the fine gentleman who absolutely give +the law of wit, language, fashion, and taste, to the rest of that +society. There is always a strict, and often for the time being, a tender +alliance between these two figures. The lady looks upon her empire as +founded upon the divine right of beauty (and full as good a divine right +it is as any king, emperor, or pope, can pretend to); she requires, and +commonly meets with, unlimited passive obedience. And why should she not +meet with it? Her demands go no higher than to have her unquestioned +preeminence in beauty, wit, and fashion, firmly established. Few +sovereigns (by the way) are so reasonable. The fine gentleman's claims of +right are, 'mutatis mutandis', the same; and though, indeed, he is not +always a wit 'de jure', yet, as he is the wit 'de facto' of that company, +he is entitled to a share of your allegiance, and everybody expects at +least as much as they are entitled to, if not something more. Prudence +bids you make your court to these joint sovereigns; and no duty, that I +know of, forbids it. Rebellion here is exceedingly dangerous, and +inevitably punished by banishment, and immediate forfeiture of all your +wit, manners, taste, and fashion; as, on the other hand, a cheerful +submission, not without some flattery, is sure to procure you a strong +recommendation and most effectual pass, throughout all their, and +probably the neighboring, dominions. With a moderate share of sagacity, +you will, before you have been half an hour in their company, easily +discover those two principal figures: both by the deference which you +will observe the whole company pay them, and by that easy, careless, and +serene air, which their consciousness of power gives them. As in this +case, so in all others, aim always at the highest; get always into the +highest company, and address yourself particularly to the highest in it. +The search after the unattainable philosopher's stone has occasioned a +thousand useful discoveries, which otherwise would never have been made. + +What the French justly call 'les manieres nobles' are only to be acquired +in the very best companies. They are the distinguishing characteristics +of men of fashion: people of low education never wear them so close, but +that some part or other of the original vulgarism appears. 'Les manieres +nobles' equally forbid insolent contempt, or low envy and jealousy. Low +people, in good circumstances, fine clothes, and equipages, will +insolently show contempt for all those who cannot afford as fine clothes, +as good an equipage, and who have not (as their term is) as much money in +their pockets: on the other hand, they are gnawed with envy, and cannot +help discovering it, of those who surpass them in any of these articles; +which are far from being sure criterions of merit. They are likewise +jealous of being slighted; and, consequently, suspicious and captious; +they are eager and hot about trifles because trifles were, at first, +their affairs of consequence. 'Les manieres nobles' imply exactly the +reverse of all this. Study them early; you cannot make them too habitual +and familiar to you. + +Just as I had written what goes before, I received your letter of the +24th, N. S., but I have not received that which you mention for Mr. +Harte. Yours is of the kind that I desire; for I want to see your private +picture, drawn by yourself, at different sittings; for though, as it is +drawn by yourself, I presume you will take the most advantageous +likeness, yet I think that I have skill enough in that kind of painting +to discover the true features, though ever so artfully colored, or thrown +into skillful lights and shades. + +By your account of the German play, which I do not know whether I should +call tragedy or comedy, the only shining part of it (since I am in a way +of quibbling) seems to have been the fox's tail. I presume, too, that the +play has had the same fate with the squib, and has gone off no more. I +remember a squib much better applied, when it was made the device of the +colors of a French regiment of grenadiers; it was represented bursting, +with this motto under it: 'Peream dum luceam'. + +I like the description of your PIC-NIC; where I take it for granted, that +your cards are only to break the formality of a circle, and your +SYMPOSION intended more to promote conversation than drinking. Such an +AMICABLE COLLISION, as Lord Shaftesbury very prettily calls it, rubs off +and smooths those rough corners which mere nature has given to the +smoothest of us. I hope some part, at least, of the conversation is in +German. 'A propos': tell me do you speak that language correctly, and do +you write it with ease? I have no doubt of your mastering the other +modern languages, which are much easier, and occur much oftener; for +which reason, I desire that you will apply most diligently to German, +while you are in Germany, that you may speak and write that language most +correctly. + +I expect to meet Mr. Eliot in London, in about three weeks, after which +you will soon see him at Leipsig. Adieu. + + + + +LETTER LVI + +LONDON, November 18, O. S. 1748. + +DEAR BOY: Whatever I see or whatever I hear, my first consideration is, +whether it can in any way be useful to you. As a proof of this, I went +accidentally the other day into a print-shop, where, among many others, I +found one print from a famous design of Carlo Maratti, who died about +thirty years ago, and was the last eminent painter in Europe: the subject +is 'il Studio del Disegno'; or "The School of Drawing." An old man, +supposed to be the master, points to his scholars, who are variously +employed in perspective, geometry, and the observation of the statues of +antiquity. With regard to perspective, of which there are some little +specimens, he has wrote, 'Tanto che basti', that is, "As much as is +sufficient"; with regard to geometry, 'Tanto che basti' again; with +regard to the contemplation of the ancient statues, there is written, +'Non mai a bastanza',--"There never can be enough." But in the clouds, at +the top of the piece, are represented the three Graces, with this just +sentence written over them, 'Senza di noi ogni fatica e vana', that is, +"Without us, all labor is vain." This everybody allows to be true in +painting; but all people do not seem to consider, as I hope you will, +that this truth is full as applicable to every other art or science; +indeed to everything that is to be said or done. I will send you the +print itself by Mr. Eliot, when he returns; and I will advise you to make +the same use of it that the Roman Catholics say they do of the pictures +and images of their saints, which is, only to remind them of those; for +the adoration they disclaim. Nay, I will go further, as the transition +from Popery to Paganism is short and easy, I will classically end +poetically advise you to invoke, and sacrifice to them every day, and all +the day. It must be owned, that the Graces do not seem to be natives of +Great Britain; and, I doubt, the best of us here have more of rough than +polished diamond. + +Since barbarism drove them out of Greece and Rome, they seem to have +taken refuge in France, where their temples are numerous, and their +worship the established one. Examine yourself seriously, why such and +such people please and engage you, more than such and such others, of +equal merit; and you will always find that it is because the former have +the Graces and the latter not. I have known many a woman with an exact +shape, and a symmetrical assemblage of beautiful features, please nobody; +while others, with very moderate shapes and features, have charmed +everybody. Why? because Venus will not charm so much, without her +attendant Graces, as they will without her. Among men, how often have I +seen the most solid merit and knowledge neglected, unwelcome, or even +rejected, for want of them! While flimsy parts, little knowledge, and +less merit, introduced by the Graces, have been received, cherished, and +admired. Even virtue, which is moral beauty, wants some of its charms if +unaccompanied by them. + +If you ask me how you shall acquire what neither you nor I can define or +ascertain, I can only answer, BY OBSERVATION. Form yourself, with regard +to others, upon what you feel pleases you in them. I can tell you the +importance, the advantage, of having the Graces; but I cannot give them +you: I heartily wish I could, and I certainly would; for I do not know a +better present that I could make you. To show you that a very wise, +philosophical, and retired man thinks upon that subject as I do, who have +always lived in the world, I send you, by Mr. Eliot, the famous Mr. +Locke's book upon education; in which you will end the stress that he +lays upon the Graces, which he calls (and very truly) good-breeding. I +have marked all the parts of that book that are worth your attention; for +as he begins with the child, almost from its birth, the parts relative to +its infancy would be useless to you. Germany is, still less than England, +the seat of the Graces; however, you had as good not say so while you are +there. But the place which you are going to, in a great degree, is; for I +have known as many well-bred, pretty men come from Turin, as from any +part of Europe. The late King Victor Amedee took great pains to form such +of his subjects as were of any consideration, both to business and +manners; the present king, I am told, follows his example: this, however, +is certain, that in all courts and congresses, where there are various +foreign ministers, those of the King of Sardinia are generally the +ablest, the politest, and 'les plus delies'. You will therefore, at +Turin, have very good models to form yourself upon: and remember, that +with regard to the best models, as well as to the antique Greek statues +in the print, 'non mai a bastanza'. Observe every word, look, and motion +of those who are allowed to be the most accomplished persons there. +Observe their natural and careless, but genteel air; their unembarrassed +good-breeding; their unassuming, but yet unprostituted dignity. Mind +their decent mirth, their discreet frankness, and that 'entregent' which, +as much above the frivolous as below the important and the secret, is the +proper medium for conversation in mixed companies. I will observe, by the +bye, that the talent of that light 'entregent' is often of great use to a +foreign minister; not only as it helps him to domesticate himself in many +families, but also as it enables him to put by and parry some subjects of +conversation, which might possibly lay him under difficulties both what +to say and how to look. + +Of all the men that ever I knew in my life (and I knew him extremely +well), the late Duke of Marlborough possessed the graces in the highest +degree, not to say engrossed them; and indeed he got the most by them; +for I will venture (contrary to the custom of profound historians, who +always assign deep causes for great events), to ascribe the better half +of the Duke of Marlborough's greatness and riches to those graces. He was +eminently illiterate; wrote bad English and spelled it still worse. He +had no share of what is commonly called PARTS: that is, he had no +brightness, nothing shining in his genius. He had most undoubtedly, an +excellent good plain understanding with sound judgment. But these alone, +would probably have raised him but something higher than they found him; +which was page to King James the Second's queen. There the Graces +protected and promoted him; for while he was an ensign of the Guards, the +Duchess of Cleveland, then favorite mistress to King Charles the Second, +struck by those very Graces, gave him five thousand pounds, with which he +immediately bought an annuity for his life of five hundred pounds a year, +of my grandfather Halifax; which was the foundation of his subsequent +fortune. His figure was beautiful; but his manner was irresistible, by +either man or woman. It was by this engaging, graceful manner, that he +was enabled, during all his war, to connect the various and jarring +powers of the Grand Alliance, and to carry them on to the main object of +the war, notwithstanding their private and separate views, jealousies, +and wrongheadednesses. Whatever court he went to (and he was often +obliged to go himself to some resty and refractory ones), he as +constantly prevailed, and brought them into his measures. The Pensionary +Heinsius, a venerable old minister, grown gray in business, and who had +governed the republic of the United Provinces for more than forty years, +was absolutely governed by the Duke of Marlborough, as that republic +feels to this day. He was always cool; and nobody ever observed the least +variation in his countenance; he could refuse more gracefully than other +people could grant; and those who went away from him the most +dissatisfied as to the substance of their business, were yet personally +charmed with him and, in some degree, comforted by his manner. With all +his gentleness and gracefulness, no man living was more conscious of his +situation, nor maintained his dignity better. + +With the share of knowledge which you have already gotten, and with the +much greater which I hope you will soon acquire, what may you not expect +to arrive at, if you join all these graces to it? In your destination +particularly, they are in truth half your business: for, if you once gain +the affections as well as the esteem of the prince or minister of the +court to which you are sent, I will answer for it, that will effectually +do the business of the court that sent you; otherwise it is up-hill work. +Do not mistake, and think that these graces which I so often and so +earnestly recommend to you, should only accompany important transactions, +and be worn only 'les jours de gala'; no, they should, if possible, +accompany every, the least thing you do or say; for, if you neglect them +in little things, they will leave you in great ones. I should, for +instance, be extremely concerned to see you even drink a cup of coffee +ungracefully, and slop yourself with it, by your awkward manner of +holding it; nor should I like to see your coat buttoned, or your shoes +buckled awry. But I should be outrageous, if I heard you mutter your +words unintelligibly, stammer, in your speech, or hesitate, misplace, and +mistake in your narrations; and I should run away from you with greater +rapidity, if possible, than I should now run to embrace you, if I found +you destitute of all those graces which I have set my heart upon their +making you one day, 'omnibus ornatum excellere rebus'. + +This subject is inexhaustible, as it extends to everything that is to be +said or done: but I will leave it for the present, as this letter is +already pretty long. Such is my desire, my anxiety for your perfection, +that I never think I have said enough, though you may possibly think that +I have said too much; and though, in truth, if your own good sense is not +sufficient to direct you, in many of these plain points, all that I or +anybody else can say will be insufficient. But where you are concerned, I +am the insatiable man in Horace, who covets still a little corner more to +complete the figure of his field. I dread every little corner that may +deform mine, in which I would have (if possible) no one defect. + +I this moment receive yours of the 17th, N. S., and cannot condole with +you upon the secession of your German 'Commensaux'; who both by your and +Mr. Harte's description, seem to be 'des gens d'une amiable absence'; +and, if you can replace them by any other German conversation, you will +be a gainer by the bargain. I cannot conceive, if you understand German +well enough to read any German book, how the writing of the German +character can be so difficult and tedious to you, the twenty-four letters +being very soon learned; and I do not expect that you should write yet +with the utmost purity and correctness, as to the language: what I meant +by your writing once a fortnight to Grevenkop, was only to make the +written character familiar to you. However, I will be content with one in +three weeks or so. + +I believe you are not likely to see Mr. Eliot again soon, he being still +in Cornwall with his father; who, I hear, is not likely to recover. +Adieu. + + + + +LETTER LVII + +LONDON, November 29, O. S. 1748. + +DEAR BOY: I delayed writing to you till I could give you some account of +the motions of your friend Mr. Eliot; for whom I know you have, and very +justly, the most friendly concern. His father and he came to town +together, in a post-chaise a fortnight ago, the rest of the family +remaining in Cornwall. His father, with difficulty, survived the journey, +and died last Saturday was seven-night. Both concern and decency confined +your friend, till two days ago, when I saw him; he has determined, and I +think very prudently, to go abroad again; but how soon, it is yet +impossible for him to know, as he must necessarily put his own private +affairs in some order first; but I conjecture that he may possibly join +you at Turin; sooner, to be sure, not. I am very sorry that you are +likely to be so long without the company and the example of so valuable a +friend; and therefore I hope that you will make it up to yourself, as +well as you can at this distance, by remembering and following his +example. Imitate that application of his, which has made him know all +thoroughly, and to the bottom. He does not content himself with the +surface of knowledge; but works in the mine for it, knowing that it lies +deep. Pope says, very truly, in his "Essay on Criticism":-- + + A little learning is a dangerous thing; + Drink deep, or taste not the Pierian spring. + +I shall send you by a ship that goes to Hamburg next week (and by which +Hawkins sends Mr. Harte some things that he wrote for) all those which I +propose sending you by Mr. Eliot, together with a very little box that I +am desired to forward to Mr. Harte. There will be, likewise, two letters +of recommendation for you to Monsieur Andrie and Comte Algarotti, at +Berlin, which you will take care to deliver to them, as soon as you shall +be rigged and fitted out to appear there. They will introduce you into +the best company, and I depend upon your own good sense for your avoiding +of bad. If you fall into bad and low company there, or anywhere else, you +will be irrecoverably lost; whereas, if you keep good company, and +company above yourself, your character and your fortune will be immovably +fixed. + +I have not time to-day, upon account of the meeting of the parliament, to +make this letter of the usual length; and indeed, after the volumes that +I have written to you, all I can add must be unnecessary. However, I +shall probably, 'ex abundanti', return soon to my former prolixity; and +you will receive more and more last words from, Yours. + + + + +LETTER LVIII + +LONDON, December 6, O. S. 1748. + +DEAR BOY: I am at present under very great concern for the loss of a most +affectionate brother, with whom I had always lived in the closest +friendship. My brother John died last Friday night, of a fit of the gout, +which he had had for about a month in his hands and feet, and which fell +at last upon his stomach and head. As he grew, toward the last, +lethargic, his end was not painful to himself. At the distance which you +are at from hence, you need not go into mourning upon this occasion, as +the time of your mourning would be near over, before you could put it on. + +By a ship which sails this week for Hamburg, I shall send you those +things which I proposed to have sent you by Mr. Eliot, viz., a little box +from your Mamma; a less box for Mr. Harte; Mr. Locke's book upon +education; the print of Carlo Maratti, which I mentioned to you some time +ago; and two letters of recommendation, one to Monsieur Andrie and the +other to Comte Algarotti, at Berlin. Both those gentlemen will, I am +sure, be as willing as they are able to introduce you into the best +company; and I hope you will not (as many of your countrymen are apt to +do) decline it. It is in the best companies only; that you can learn the +best manners and that 'tournure', and those graces, which I have so often +recommended to you, as the necessary means of making a figure in the +world. + +I am most extremely pleased with the account which Mr. Harte gives me of +your progress in Greek, and of your having read Hesiod almost critically. +Upon this subject I suggest but one thing to you, of many that I might +suggest; which is, that you have now got over the difficulties of that +language, and therefore it would be unpardonable not to persevere to your +journey's end, now that all the rest of your way is down hill. + +I am also very well pleased to hear that you have such a knowledge of, +and taste for curious books and scarce and valuable tracts. This is a +kind of knowledge which very well becomes a man of sound and solid +learning, but which only exposes a man of slight and superficial reading; +therefore, pray make the substance and matter of such books your first +object, and their title-pages, indexes, letter, and binding, but your +second. It is the characteristic of a man of parts and good judgment to +know, and give that degree of attention that each object deserves. +Whereas little minds mistake little objects for great ones, and lavish +away upon the former that time and attention which only the latter +deserve. To such mistakes we owe the numerous and frivolous tribes of +insect-mongers, shell-mongers, and pursuers and driers of butterflies, +etc. The strong mind distinguishes, not only between the useful and the +useless, but likewise between the useful and the curious. He applies +himself intensely to the former; he only amuses himself with the latter. +Of this little sort of knowledge, which I have just hinted at, you will +find at least as much as you need wish to know, in a superficial but +pretty French book, entitled, 'Spectacle de la Nature'; which will amuse +you while you read it, and give you a sufficient notion of the various +parts of nature. I would advise you to read it, at leisure hours. But +that part of nature, which Mr. Harte tells me you have begun to study +with the Rector magnificus, is of much greater importance, and deserves +much more attention; I mean astronomy. The vast and immense planetary +system, the astonishing order and regularity of those innumerable worlds, +will open a scene to you, which not only deserves your attention as a +matter of curiosity, or rather astonishment; but still more, as it will +give you greater, and consequently juster, ideas of that eternal and +omnipotent Being, who contrived, made, and still preserves that universe, +than all the contemplation of this, comparatively, very little orb, which +we at present inhabit, could possibly give you. Upon this subject, +Monsieur Fontenelle's 'Pluralite des Mondes', which you may read in two +hours' time, will both inform and please you. God bless you! Yours. + + + + +LETTER LIX + +LONDON, December 13, O. S. 1748. + +DEAR BOY: The last four posts have brought me no letters, either from you +or from Mr. Harte, at which I am uneasy; not as a mamma would be, but as +a father should be: for I do not want your letters as bills of health; +you are young, strong, and healthy, and I am, consequently, in no pain +about that: moreover, were either you or Mr. Harte ill, the other would +doubtless write me word of it. My impatience for yours or Mr. Harte's +letters arises from a very different cause, which is my desire to hear +frequently of the state and progress of your mind. You are now at that +critical period of life when every week ought to produce fruit or flowers +answerable to your culture, which I am sure has not been neglected; and +it is by your letters, and Mr. Harte's accounts of you, that, at this +distance, I can only judge at your gradations to maturity; I desire, +therefore, that one of you two will not fail to write to me once a week. +The sameness of your present way of life, I easily conceive, would not +make out a very interesting letter to an indifferent bystander; but so +deeply concerned as I am in the game you are playing, even the least move +is to me of importance, and helps me to judge of the final event. + +As you will be leaving Leipsig pretty soon after you shall have received +this letter, I here send you one inclosed to deliver to Mr. Mascow. It is +to thank him for his attention and civility to you, during your stay with +him: and I take it for granted, that you will not fail making him the +proper compliments at parting; for the good name that we leave behind at +one place often gets before us to another, and is of great use. As Mr. +Mascow is much known and esteemed in the republic of letters, I think it +would be of advantage to you, if you got letters of recommendation from +him to some of the learned men at Berlin. Those testimonials give a +lustre, which is not to be despised; for the most ignorant are forced to +seem, at least, to pay a regard to learning, as the most wicked are to +virtue. Such is their intrinsic worth. + +Your friend Duval dined with me the other day, and complained most +grievously that he had not heard from you above a year; I bid him abuse +you for it himself; and advised him to do it in verse, which, if he was +really angry, his indignation would enable him to do. He accordingly +brought me, yesterday, the inclosed reproaches and challenge, which he +desired me to transmit to you. As this is his first essay in English +poetry, the inaccuracies in the rhymes and the numbers are very +excusable. He insists, as you will find, upon being answered in verse; +which I should imagine that you and Mr. HARTE, together, could bring +about; as the late Lady Dorchester used to say, that she and Dr. +Radcliffe, together, could cure a fever. This is however sure, that it +now rests upon you; and no man can say what methods Duval may take, if +you decline his challenge. I am sensible that you are under some +disadvantages in this proffered combat. Your climate, at this time of the +year especially, delights more in the wood fire, than in the poetic fire; +and I conceive the Muses, if there are any at Leipsig, to be rather +shivering than singing; nay, I question whether Apollo is even known +there as god of Verse, or as god of Light: perhaps a little as god of +Physic. These will be fair excuses, if your performance should fall +something short; though I do not apprehend that it will. + +While you have been at Leipsig, which is a place of study more than of +pleasure or company, you have had all opportunities of pursuing your +studies uninterruptedly; and have had, I believe, very few temptations to +the contrary. But the case will be quite different at Berlin, where the +splendor and dissipation of a court and the 'beau monde', will present +themselves to you in gaudy shapes, attractive enough to all young people. +Do not think, now, that like an old fellow, I am going to advise you to +reject them, and shut yourself up in your closet: quite the contrary; I +advise you to take your share, and enter into them with spirit and +pleasure; but then I advise you, too, to allot your time so prudently, as +that learning may keep pace with pleasures; there is full time, in the +course of the day, for both, if you do but manage that time right and +like a good economist. The whole morning, if diligently and attentively +devoted to solid studies, will go a great way at the year's end; and the +evenings spent in the pleasures of good company, will go as far in +teaching you a knowledge, not much less necessary than the other, I mean +the knowledge of the world. Between these two necessary studies, that of +books in the morning, and that of the world in the evening, you see that +you will not have one minute to squander or slattern away. Nobody ever +lent themselves more than I did, when I was young, to the pleasures and +dissipation of good company. I even did it too much. But then, I can +assure you, that I always found time for serious studies; and, when I +could find it no other way, I took it out of my sleep, for I resolved +always to rise early in the morning, however late I went to bed at night; +and this resolution I have kept so sacred, that, unless when I have been +confined to my bed by illness, I have not, for more than forty years, +ever been in bed at nine o'clock in the morning but commonly up before +eight. + +When you are at Berlin, remember to speak German as often as you can, in +company; for everybody there will speak French to you, unless you let +them know that you can speak German, which then they will choose to +speak. Adieu. + + + + +LETTER LX + +LONDON, December 20, O. S. 1748. + +DEAR BOY: I received last Saturday by three mails, which came in at once, +two letters from Mr. Harte, and yours of the 8th, N. S. + +It was I who mistook your meaning, with regard to your German letters, +and not you who expressed it ill. I thought it was the writing of the +German character that took up so much of your time, and therefore I +advised you, by the frequent writing of that character, to make it easy +and familiar to you: But, since it is only the propriety and purity of +the German language which make your writing it so tedious and laborious, +I will tell you I shall not be nice upon that article; and did not expect +that you should yet be master of all the idioms, delicacies, and +peculiarities of that difficult language. That can only come by use, +especially frequent speaking; therefore, when you shall be at Berlin, and +afterward at Turin, where you will meet many Germans, pray take all +opportunities of conversing in German, in order not only to keep what you +have got of that language, but likewise to improve and perfect yourself +in it. As to the characters, you form them very well, and as you yourself +own, better than your English ones; but then let me ask you this +question: Why do you not form your Roman characters better? for I +maintain, that it is in every man's power to write what hand he pleases; +and, consequently, that he ought to write a good one. You form, +particularly, your 'ee' and your 'll' in zigzag, instead of making them +straight, as thus, 'ee', 'll'; a fault very easily mended. You will not, +I believe, be angry with this little criticism, when I tell you, that by +all the accounts I have had of late from Mr. Harte and others, this is +the only criticism that you give me occasion to make. Mr. Harte's last +letter, of the 14th, N. S., particularly, makes me extremely happy, by +assuring me that, in every respect, you do exceedingly well. I am not +afraid, by what I now say, of making you too vain; because I do not think +that a just consciousness and an honest pride of doing well, can be +called vanity; for vanity is either the silly affectation of good +qualities which one has not, or the sillier pride of what does not +deserve commendation in itself. By Mr. Harte's account, you are got very +near the goal of Greek and Latin; and therefore I cannot suppose that, as +your sense increases, your endeavors and your speed will slacken in +finishing the small remains of your course. Consider what lustre and +'eclat' it will give you, when you return here, to be allowed to be the +best scholar, for a gentleman, in England; not to mention the real +pleasure and solid comfort which such knowledge will give you throughout +your whole life. Mr. Harte tells me another thing, which, I own, I did +not expect: it is, that when you read aloud, or repeat parts of plays, +you speak very properly and distinctly. This relieves me from great +uneasiness, which I was under upon account of your former bad +enunciation. Go on, and attend most diligently to this important article. +It is, of all Graces (and they are all necessary), the most necessary +one. + +Comte Pertingue, who has been here about a fortnight, far from +disavowing, confirms all that Mr. Harte has said to your advantage. He +thinks that he shall be at Turin much about the time of your arrival +there, and pleases himself with the hopes of being useful to you. Though, +should you get there before him, he says that Comte du Perron, with whom +you are a favorite, will take that care. You see, by this one instance, +and in the course of your life you will see by a million of instances, of +what use a good reputation is, and how swift and advantageous a harbinger +it is, wherever one goes. Upon this point, too, Mr. Harte does you +justice, and tells me that you are desirous of praise from the +praiseworthy. This is a right and generous ambition; and without which, I +fear, few people would deserve praise. + +But here let me, as an old stager upon the theatre of the world, suggest +one consideration to you; which is, to extend your desire of praise a +little beyond the strictly praiseworthy; or else you may be apt to +discover too much contempt for at least three parts in five of the world, +who will never forgive it you. In the mass of mankind, I fear, there is +too great a majority of fools and, knaves; who, singly from their number, +must to a certain degree be respected, though they are by no means +respectable. And a man who will show every knave or fool that he thinks +him such, will engage in a most ruinous war, against numbers much +superior to those that he and his allies can bring into the field. Abhor +a knave, and pity a fool in your heart; but let neither of them, +unnecessarily, see that you do so. Some complaisance and attention to +fools is prudent, and not mean; as a silent abhorrence of individual +knaves is often necessary and not criminal. + +As you will now soon part with Lord Pulteney, with whom, during your stay +together at Leipsig, I suppose you have formed a connection, I imagine +that you will continue it by letters, which I would advise you to do. +They tell me that he is good-natured, and does not want parts; which are +of themselves two good reasons for keeping it up; but there is also a +third reason, which, in the course of the world, is not to be despised: +His father cannot live long, and will leave him an immense fortune; +which, in all events will make him of some consequence; and, if he has +parts into the bargain, of very great consequence; so that his +friendship, may be extremely well worth your cultivating, especially as +it will not cost you above one letter in one month. + +I do not know whether this letter will find you at Leipsig: at least, it +is the last that I shall direct there. My next to either you or Mr. +Harte will be directed to Berlin; but as I do not know to what house or +street there, I suppose it will remain at the posthouse till you send for +it. Upon your arrival at Berlin you will send me your particular +direction; and also, pray be minute in your accounts of your reception +there, by those whom I recommend you to, as well as by those to whom they +present you. Remember, too, that you are going to a polite and literate +court, where the Graces will best introduce you. + +Adieu. God bless you, and may you continue to deserve my love, as much as +you now enjoy it! + +P. S. Lady Chesterfield bids me tell you, that she decides entirely in +your favor against Mr. Grevenkop, and even against herself; for she does +not think that she could, at this time, write either so good a character +or so good German. Pray write her a German letter upon that subject, in +which you may tell her, that, like the rest of the world, you approve of +her judgment, because it is in your favor; and that you true Germans +cannot allow Danes to be competent judges of your language, etc. + + + + +LETTER LXI + +LONDON, December 30, O. S. 1748. + +DEAR BOY: I direct this letter to Berlin, where, I suppose, it will +either find you, or at least wait but a very little time for you. I +cannot help being anxious for your success, at this your first appearance +upon the great stage of the world; for, though the spectators are always +candid enough to give great allowances, and to show great indulgence to a +new actor; yet, from the first impressions which he makes upon them, they +are apt to decide, in their own minds, at least, whether he will ever be +a good one, or not. If he seems to understand what he says, by speaking +it properly; if he is attentive to his part, instead of staring +negligently about him; and if, upon the whole, he seems ambitious to +please, they willingly pass over little awkwardnesses and inaccuracies, +which they ascribe to a commendable modesty in a young and inexperienced +actor. They pronounce that he will be a good one in time; and, by the +encouragement which they give him, make him so the sooner. This, I hope, +will be your case: you have sense enough to understand your part; a +constant attention, and ambition to excel in it, with a careful +observation of the best actors, will inevitably qualify you, if not for +the first, at least for considerable parts. + +Your dress (as insignificant a thing as dress is in itself) is now become +an object worthy of some attention; for, I confess, I cannot help forming +some opinion of a man's sense and character from his dress; and I believe +most people do as well as myself. Any affectation whatsoever in dress +implies, in my mind, a flaw in the understanding. Most of our young +fellows here display some character or other by their dress; some affect +the tremendous, and wear a great and fiercely cocked hat, an enormous +sword, a short waistcoat and a black cravat; these I should be almost +tempted to swear the peace against, in my own defense, if I were not +convinced that they are but meek asses in lions' skins. Others go in +brown frocks, leather breeches, great oaken cudgels in their hands, their +hats uncocked, and their hair unpowdered; and imitate grooms, +stage-coachmen, and country bumpkins so well in their outsides, that I do +not make the least doubt of their resembling them equally in their +insides. A man of sense carefully avoids any particular character in his +dress; he is accurately clean for his own sake; but all the rest is for +other people's. He dresses as well, and in the same manner, as the people +of sense and fashion of the place where he is. If he dresses better, as +he thinks, that is, more than they, he is a fop; if he dresses worse, he +is unpardonably negligent. But, of the two, I would rather have a young +fellow too much than too little dressed; the excess on that side will +wear off, with a little age and reflection; but if he is negligent at +twenty, he will be a sloven at forty, and stink at fifty years old. Dress +yourself fine, where others are fine; and plain where others are plain; +but take care always that your clothes are well made, and fit you, for +otherwise they will give you a very awkward air. When you are once well +dressed for the day think no more of it afterward; and, without any +stiffness for fear of discomposing that dress, let all your motions be as +easy and natural as if you had no clothes on at all. So much for dress, +which I maintain to be a thing of consequence in the polite world. + +As to manners, good-breeding, and the Graces, I have so often entertained +you upon those important subjects, that I can add nothing to what I have +formerly said. Your own good sense will suggest to you the substance of +them; and observation, experience, and good company, the several modes of +them. Your great vivacity, which I hear of from many people, will be no +hindrance to your pleasing in good company: on the contrary, will be of +use to you, if tempered by good-breeding and accompanied by the Graces. +But then, I suppose your vivacity to be a vivacity of parts, and not a +constitutional restlessness; for the most disagreeable composition that I +know in the world, is that of strong animal spirits, with a cold genius. +Such a fellow is troublesomely active, frivolously busy, foolishly +lively; talks much with little meaning, and laughs more, with less reason +whereas, in my opinion, a warm and lively genius with a cool +constitution, is the perfection of human nature. + +Do what you will at Berlin, provided you do but do something all day +long. All that I desire of you is, that you will never slattern away one +minute in idleness and in doing of nothing. When you are (not) in company, +learn what either books, masters, or Mr. Harte, can teach you; and when +you are in company, learn (what company can only teach you) the +characters and manners of mankind. I really ask your pardon for giving +you this advice; because, if you are a rational creature and thinking +being, as I suppose, and verily believe you are, it must be unnecessary, +and to a certain degree injurious. If I did not know by experience, that +some men pass their whole time in doing nothing, I should not think it +possible for any being, superior to Monsieur Descartes' automatons, to +squander away, in absolute idleness, one single minute of that small +portion of time which is allotted us in this world. + +I have lately seen one Mr. Cranmer, a very sensible merchant, who told me +that he had dined with you, and seen you often at Leipsig. And yesterday +I saw an old footman of mine, whom I made a messenger, who told me that +he had seen you last August. You will easily imagine, that I was not the +less glad to see them because they had seen you; and I examined them both +narrowly, in their respective departments; the former as to your mind, +the latter, as to your body. Mr. Cranmer gave me great satisfaction, not +only by what he told me of himself concerning you, but by what he was +commissioned to tell me from Mr. Mascow. As he speaks German perfectly +himself, I asked him how you spoke it; and he assured me very well for +the time, and that a very little more practice would make you perfectly +master of it. The messenger told me that you were much grown, and, to the +best of his guess, within two inches as tall as I am; that you were +plump, and looked healthy and strong; which was all that I could expect, +or hope, from the sagacity of the person. + +I send you, my dear child (and you will not doubt it), very sincerely, +the wishes of the season. May you deserve a great number of happy +New-years; and, if you deserve, may you have them. Many New-years, +indeed, you may see, but happy ones you cannot see without deserving +them. These, virtue, honor, and knowledge, alone can merit, alone can +procure, 'Dii tibi dent annos, de te nam cetera sumes', was a pretty +piece of poetical flattery, where it was said: I hope that, in time, it +may be no flattery when said to you. But I assure you, that wherever I +cannot apply the latter part of the line to you with truth, I shall +neither say, think, or wish the former. Adieu! + + + + +ETEXT EDITOR'S BOOKMARKS: + +A little learning is a dangerous thing; +Above all things, avoid speaking of yourself +Above the frivolous as below the important and the secret +Abroad but they stay at home all that while +Absolute command of your temper +Abstain from learned ostentation +Absurd term of genteel and fashionable vices +Advice is seldom welcome +Affectation whatsoever in dress +Always look people in the face when you speak to them +Ancients and Moderns +Argumentative, polemical conversations +As willing and as apt to be pleased as anybody +Authority +Better not to seem to understand, than to reply +Bruyere +Cannot understand them, or will not desire to understand them +Cardinal de Retz +Cardinal Virtues, by first degrading them into weaknesses +Cautious how we draw inferences +Chameleon, be able to take every different hue +Cheerful in the countenance, but without laughing +Common sense (which, in truth, very uncommon) +Commonplace observations +Complaisance +Consciousness and an honest pride of doing well +Contempt +Conversation will help you almost as much as books +Conversation-stock being a joint and common property +Converse with his inferiors without insolence +Deriving all our actions from the source of self-love +Deserve a little, and you shall have but a little +Desirous of praise from the praiseworthy +Dexterity enough to conceal a truth without telling a lie +Difficulties seem to them, impossibilities +Distinguish between the useful and the curious +Do as you would be done by +Do what you will but do something all day long +Either do not think, or do not love to think +Equally forbid insolent contempt, or low envy and jealousy +Even where you are sure, seem rather doubtful +Every virtue, has its kindred vice or weakness +Fiddle-faddle stories, that carry no information along with the +Flattery of women +Forge accusations against themselves +Forgive, but not approve, the bad +Frank, open, and ingenuous exterior, with a prudent interior +Gain the affections as well as the esteem +Generosity often runs into profusion +Go to the bottom of things +Good company +Graces: Without us, all labor is vain +Great learning; which, if not accompanied with sound judgment +Great numbers of people met together, animate each other +Habit and prejudice +Half done or half known +Hardly any body good for every thing +Have a will and an opinion of your own, and adhere +Have but one set of jokes to live upon +He will find it out of himself without your endeavors +Heart has such an influence over the understanding +Helps only, not as guides +Historians +Honest error is to be pitied, not ridiculed +Honestest man loves himself best +How much you have to do; and how little time to do it in +I hope, I wish, I doubt, and fear alternately +I shall always love you as you shall deserve +If you would convince others, seem open to conviction yourself +Impertinent insult upon custom and fashion +Inaction at your age is unpardonable +Jealous of being slighted +Judge them all by their merits, but not by their ages +Keep good company, and company above yourself +Know their real value, and how much they are generally overrated +Knowledge is like power in this respect +Knowledge of a scholar with the manners of a courtier +Laughing, I must particularly warn you against it +Lazy mind, and the trifling, frivolous mind +Learning +Let me see more of you in your letters +Little minds mistake little objects for great ones +Livery +Loud laughter is the mirth of the mob +Low buffoonery, or silly accidents, that always excite laughter +Low company, most falsely and impudently, call pleasure +Luther's disappointed avarice +Make yourself necessary +Manner of doing things is often more important +Manners must adorn knowledge +May not forget with ease what you have with difficulty learned +Mimicry +More one sees, the less one either wonders or admires +More you know, the modester you should be +Mortifying inferiority in knowledge, rank, fortune +Most long talkers single out some one unfortunate man in compan +Much sooner forgive an injustice than an insult +Mystical nonsense +Name that we leave behind at one place often gets before us +Neglect them in little things, they will leave you in great +Negligence of it implies an indifference about pleasing +Neither retail nor receive scandal willingly +Never quit a subject till you are thoroughly master of it +Never seem wiser, nor more learned, than the people you are wit +Never slattern away one minute in idleness +Never to speak of yourself at all +Not one minute of the day in which you do nothing at all +Not to admire anything too much +Oftener led by their hearts than by their understandings +Out of livery; which makes them both impertinent and useless +Overvalue what we do not know +Pay your own reckoning, but do not treat the whole company +People angling for praise +People never desire all till they have gotten a great deal +Plain notions of right and wrong +Planted while young, that degree of knowledge now my refuge +Pleased to some degree by showing a desire to please +Pleasing in company is the only way of being pleased in yourself +Pleasure and business with equal inattention +Prefer useful to frivolous conversations +Pride remembers it forever +Prudent reserve +Pyrrhonism +Reason ought to direct the whole, but seldom does +Reformation +Refuge of people who have neither wit nor invention of their ow +Refuse more gracefully than other people could grant +Repeating +Represent, but do not pronounce +Rochefoucault +Rough corners which mere nature has given to the smoothest +Scandal: receiver is always thought, as bad as the thief +Scarcely any body who is absolutely good for nothing +Scrupled no means to obtain his ends +Secrets +Seeming frankness with a real reserve +Seeming openness is prudent +Self-love draws a thick veil between us and our faults +Serious without being dull +Shakespeare +Shepherds and ministers are both men +Some complaisance and attention to fools is prudent, and not me +Some men pass their whole time in doing nothing +Something or other is to be got out of everybody +Swearing +Take nothing for granted, upon the bare authority of the author +Take, rather than give, the tone of the company you are in +Talk often, but never long +Talk sillily upon a subject of other people's +Talking of either your own or other people's domestic affairs +Tell me whom you live with, and I will tell you who you are +Tell stories very seldom +Tenderness and affection with which, while you deserve them +The best have something bad, and something little +The worst have something good, and sometimes something great +Thin veil of Modesty drawn before Vanity +Thoroughly, not superficially +To know people's real sentiments, I trust much more to my eyes +Unopened, because one title in twenty has been omitted +Value of moments, when cast up, is immense +Vanity, that source of many of our follies +Weaknesses +What displeases or pleases you in others +What you feel pleases you in them +When well dressed for the day think no more of it afterward +Will not so much as hint at our follies +Witty without satire or commonplace +Women +Wrongs are often forgiven; 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FOR PUBLIC DOMAIN ETEXTS*Ver.12.12.00*END* + + + + + +This etext was produced by David Widger <widger@cecomet.net> + + + + + +Letters to His Son, 1748 + +by Lord Chesterfield + + + + + LETTERS TO HIS SON + By the EARL OF CHESTERFIELD + + on the Fine Art of becoming a + + MAN OF THE WORLD + + and a + + GENTLEMAN + + + + +LETTER XXIV + +January 2, O. S. 1748. + +DEAR BOY: I am edified with the allotment of your time at Leipsig; which +is so well employed from morning till night, that a fool would say you +had none left for yourself; whereas, I am sure you have sense enough to +know, that such a right use of your time is having it all to yourself; +nay, it is even more, for it is laying it out to immense interest, which, +in a very few years, will amount to a prodigious capital. + +Though twelve of your fourteen 'Commensaux' may not be the liveliest +people in the world, and may want (as I easily conceive that they do) 'le +ton de la bonne campagnie, et les graces', which I wish you, yet pray +take care not to express any contempt, or throw out any ridicule; which I +can assure you, is not more contrary to good manners than to good sense: +but endeavor rather to get all the good you can out of them; and +something or other is to be got out of everybody. They will, at least, +improve you in the German language; and, as they come from different +countries, you may put them upon subjects, concerning which they must +necessarily be able to give you some useful informations, let them be +ever so dull or disagreeable in general: they will know something, at +least, of the laws, customs, government, and considerable families of +their respective countries; all which are better known than not, and +consequently worth inquiring into. There is hardly any body good for +every thing, and there is scarcely any body who is absolutely good for +nothing. A good chemist will extract some spirit or other out of every +substance; and a man of parts will, by his dexterity and management, +elicit something worth knowing out of every being he converses with. + +As you have been introduced to the Duchess of Courland, pray go there as +often as ever your more necessary occupations will allow you. I am told +she is extremely well bred, and has parts. Now, though I would not +recommend to you, to go into women's company in search of solid +knowledge, or judgment, yet it has its use in other respects; for it +certainly polishes the manners, and gives 'une certaine tournure', which +is very necessary in the course of the world; and which Englishmen have +generally less of than any people in the world. + +I cannot say that your suppers are luxurious, but you must own they are +solid; and a quart of soup, and two pounds of potatoes, will enable you +to pass the night without great impatience for your breakfast next +morning. One part of your supper (the potatoes) is the constant diet of +my old friends and countrymen,--[Lord Chesterfield, from the time he was +appointed Lord-lieutenant of Ireland, 1775, used always to call the Irish +his countrymen.]-- the Irish, who are the healthiest and the strongest +bodies of men that I know in Europe. + +As I believe that many of my letters to you and to Mr. Harte have +miscarried, as well as some of yours and his to me; particularly one of +his from Leipsig, to which he refers in a subsequent one, and which I +never received; I would have you, for the future, acknowledge the dates +of all the letters which either of you shall receive from me; and I will +do the same on my part. + +That which I received by the last mail, from you, was of the 25th +November, N. S.; the mail before that brought me yours, of which I have +forgot the date, but which inclosed one to Lady Chesterfield: she will +answer it soon, and, in the mean time, thanks you for it. + +My disorder was only a very great cold, of which I am entirely recovered. +You shall not complain for want of accounts from Mr. Grevenkop, who will +frequently write you whatever passes here, in the German language and +character; which will improve you in both. Adieu. + + + + +LETTER XXV + +LONDON, January 15, O. S. 1748. + +DEAR BOY: I willingly accept the new-year's gift which you promise me for +next year; and the more valuable you make it, the more thankful I shall +be. That depends entirely upon you; and therefore I hope to be presented, +every year, with a new edition of you, more correct than the former, and +considerably enlarged and amended. + +Since you do not care to be an assessor of the imperial chamber, and that +you desire an establishment in England; what do you think of being Greek +Professor at one of our universities? It is a very pretty sinecure, and +requires very little knowledge (much less than, I hope, you have already) +of that language. If you do not approve of this, I am at a loss to know +what else to propose to you; and therefore desire that you will inform me +what sort of destination you propose for yourself; for it is now time to +fix it, and to take our measures accordingly. Mr. Harte tells me that +you set up for a ----------; if so, I presume it is in the view of +succeeding me in my office; --[A secretary of state.]--which I will very +willingly resign to you, whenever you shall call upon me for it. But, if +you intend to be the --------, or the ------- ----, there are some +trifling circumstances upon which you should previously take your +resolution. The first of which is, to be fit for it: and then, in order +to be so, make yourself master of ancient and, modern history, and +languages. To know perfectly the constitution, and form of government of +every nation; the growth and the decline of ancient and modern empires; +and to trace out and reflect upon the causes of both. To know the +strength, the riches, and the commerce of every country. These little +things, trifling as they may seem, are yet very necessary for a +politician to know; and which therefore, I presume, you will condescend +to apply yourself to. There are some additional qualifications +necessary, in the practical part of business, which may deserve some +consideration in your leisure moments; such as, an absolute command of +your temper, so as not to be provoked to passion, upon any account; +patience, to hear frivolous, impertinent, and unreasonable applications; +with address enough to refuse, without offending, or, by your manner of +granting, to double the obligation; dexterity enough to conceal a truth +without telling a lie; sagacity enough to read other people's +countenances; and serenity enough not to let them discover anything by +yours; a seeming frankness with a real reserve. These are the rudiments +of a politician; the world must be your grammar. + +Three mails are now due from Holland; so that I have no letters from you +to acknowledge. I therefore conclude with recommending myself to your +favor and protection when you succeed. Yours. + + + + +LETTER XXVI + +LONDON, January 29, O. S. 1748. + +DEAR BOY: I find, by Mr. Harte's last letter, that many of my letters to +you and him, have been frozen up on their way to Leipsig; the thaw has, I +suppose, by this time, set them at liberty to pursue their journey to +you, and you will receive a glut of them at once. Hudibras alludes, in +this verse, + + Like words congealed in northern air, + +to a vulgar notion, that in Greenland words were frozen in their +utterance; and that upon a thaw, a very mixed conversation was heard in +the air, of all those words set at liberty. This conversation was, I +presume, too various and extensive to be much attended to: and may not +that be the case of half a dozen of my long letters, when you receive +them all at once? I think that I can, eventually, answer that question, +thus: If you consider my letters in their true light, as conveying to you +the advice of a friend, who sincerely wishes your happiness, and desires +to promote your pleasure, you will both read and attend to them; but, if +you consider them in their opposite, and very false light, as the +dictates of a morose and sermonizing father, I am sure they will be not +only unattended to, but unread. Which is the case, you can best tell me. +Advice is seldom welcome; and those who want it the most always like it +the least. I hope that your want of experience, of which you must be +conscious, will convince you, that you want advice; and that your good +sense will incline you to follow it. + +Tell me how you pass your leisure hours at Leipsig; I know you have not +many; and I have too good an opinion of you to think, that, at this age, +you would desire more. Have you assemblies, or public spectacles? and of +what kind are they? Whatever they are, see them all; seeing everything, +is the only way not to admire anything too much. + +If you ever take up little tale-books, to amuse you by snatches, I will +recommend two French books, which I have already mentioned; they will +entertain you, and not without some use to your mind and your manners. +One is, 'La Maniere de bien penser dans les Ouvrages d'Esprit', written +by Pere Bouhours; I believe you read it once in England, with Monsieur +Coderc; but I think that you will do well to read it again, as I know of +no book that will form your taste better. The other is, 'L'Art de plaire +dans la Conversation', by the Abbe de Bellegarde, and is by no means +useless, though I will not pretend to say, that the art of pleasing can +be reduced to a receipt; if it could, I am sure that receipt would be +worth purchasing at any price. Good sense, and good nature, are the +principal ingredients; and your own observation, and the good advice of +others, must give the right color and taste to it. Adieu! I shall always +love you as you shall deserve. + + + + +LETTER XXVII + +LONDON, February 9, O. S. 1748. + +DEAR BOY: You will receive this letter, not from a Secretary of State but +from a private man; for whom, at his time of life, quiet was as fit, and +as necessary, as labor and activity are for you at your age, and for many +years yet to come. I resigned the seals, last Saturday, to the King; who +parted with me most graciously, and (I may add, for he said so himself) +with regret. As I retire from hurry to quiet, and to enjoy, at my ease, +the comforts of private and social life, you will easily imagine that I +have no thoughts of opposition, or meddling with business. 'Otium cum +dignitate' is my object. The former I now enjoy; and I hope that my +conduct and character entitle me to some share of the latter. In short, +I am now happy: and I found that I could not be so in my former public +situation. + +As I like your correspondence better than that of all the kings, princes, +and ministers, in Europe, I shall now have leisure to carry it on more +regularly. My letters to you will be written, I am sure, by me, and, I +hope, read by you, with pleasure; which, I believe, seldom happens, +reciprocally, to letters written from and to a secretary's office. + +Do not apprehend that my retirement from business may be a hindrance to +your advancement in it, at a proper time: on the contrary, it will +promote it; for, having nothing to ask for myself, I shall have the +better title to ask for you. But you have still a surer way than this of +rising, and which is wholly in your own power. Make yourself necessary; +which, with your natural parts, you may, by application, do. We are in +general, in England, ignorant of foreign affairs: and of the interests, +views, pretensions, and policy of other courts. That part of knowledge +never enters into our thoughts, nor makes part of our education; for +which reason, we have fewer proper subjects for foreign commissions, +than any other country in Europe; and, when foreign affairs happen to be +debated in Parliament, it is incredible with how much ignorance. The +harvest of foreign affairs being then so great, and the laborers so few, +if you make yourself master of them, you will make yourself necessary; +first as a foreign, and then as a domestic minister for that department. + +I am extremely well pleased with the account which you give me of the +allotment of your time. Do but go on so, for two years longer, and I +will ask no more of you. Your labors will be their own reward; but if +you desire any other, that I can add, you may depend upon it. + +I am glad that you perceive the indecency and turpitude of those of your +'Commensaux', who disgrace and foul themselves with dirty w----s and +scoundrel gamesters. And the light in which, I am sure, you see all +reasonable and decent people consider them, will be a good warning to +you. Adieu. + + + + +LETTER XXVIII + +LONDON, February 13, O. S. 1748 + +DEAR BOY: your last letter gave me a very satisfactory account of your +manner of employing your time at Leipsig. Go on so but for two years +more, and, I promise you, that you will outgo all the people of your age +and time. I thank you for your explanation of the 'Schriftsassen', and +'Amptsassen'; and pray let me know the meaning of the 'Landsassen'. I am +very willing that you should take a Saxon servant, who speaks nothing but +German, which will be a sure way of keeping up your German, after you +leave Germany. But then, I would neither have that man, nor him whom you +have already, put out of livery; which makes them both impertinent and +useless. I am sure, that as soon as you shall have taken the other +servant, your present man will press extremely to be out of livery, and +valet de chambre; which is as much as to say, that he will curl your hair +and shave you, but not condescend to do anything else. I therefore +advise you, never to have a servant out of livery; and, though you may +not always think proper to carry the servant who dresses you abroad in +the rain and dirt, behind a coach or before a chair, yet keep it in your +power to do so, if you please, by keeping him in livery. + +I have seen Monsieur and Madame Flemming, who gave me a very good account +of you, and of your manners, which to tell you the plain truth, were what +I doubted of the most. She told me, that you were easy, and not ashamed: +which is a great deal for an Englishman at your age. + +I set out for Bath to-morrow, for a month; only to be better than well, +and enjoy, in, quiet, the liberty which I have acquired by the +resignation of the seals. You shall hear from me more at large from +thence; and now good night to you. + + + + +LETTER XXIX + +BATH, February 18, O. S. 1748. + +DEAR BOY: The first use that I made of my liberty was to come here, where +I arrived yesterday. My health, though not fundamentally bad yet, for +want of proper attention of late, wanted some repairs, which these waters +never fail giving it. I shall drink them a month, and return to London, +there to enjoy the comforts of social life, instead of groaning under the +load of business. I have given the description of the life that I +propose to lead for the future, in this motto, which I have put up in the +frize of my library in my new house:-- + + Nunc veterum libris, nunc somno, et inertibus horis + Ducere sollicitae jucunda oblivia vitas. + +I must observe to you upon this occasion, that the uninterrupted +satisfaction which I expect to find in that library, will be chiefly +owing to my having employed some part of my life well at your age. I +wish I had employed it better, and my satisfaction would now be complete; +but, however, I planted while young, that degree of knowledge which is +now my refuge and my shelter. Make your plantations still more +extensive; they will more than pay you for your trouble. I do not regret +the time that I passed in pleasures; they were seasonable; they were the +pleasures of youth, and I enjoyed them while young. If I had not, +I should probably have overvalued them now, as we are very apt to do what +we do not know; but, knowing them as I do, I know their real value, and +how much they are generally overrated. Nor do I regret the time that +I have passed in business, for the same reason; those who see only the +outside of it, imagine it has hidden charms, which they pant after; and +nothing but acquaintance can undeceive them. I, who have been behind the +scenes, both of pleasure and business, and have seen all the springs and +pullies of those decorations which astonish and dazzle the audience, +retire, not only without regret, but with contentment and satisfaction. +But what I do, and ever shall regret, is the time which, while young, +I lost in mere idleness, and in doing nothing. This is the common effect +of the inconsideracy of youth, against which I beg you will be most +carefully upon your guard. The value of moments, when cast up, is +immense, if well employed; if thrown away, their loss is irrecoverable. +Every moment may be put to some use, and that with much more pleasure, +than if unemployed. Do not imagine, that by the employment of time, I +mean an uninterrupted application to serious studies. No; pleasures are, +at proper times, both as necessary and as useful; they fashion and form +you for the world; they teach you characters, and show you the human +heart in its unguarded minutes. But then remember to make that use of +them. I have known many people, from laziness of mind, go through both +pleasure and business with equal inattention; neither enjoying the one, +nor doing the other; thinking themselves men of pleasure, because they +were mingled with those who were, and men of business, because they had +business to do, though they did not do it. Whatever you do, do it to the +purpose; do it thoroughly, not superficially. 'Approfondissez': go to +the bottom of things. Any thing half done or half known, is, in my mind, +neither done nor known at all. Nay worse, it often misleads. There is +hardly any place or any company, where you may not gain knowledge, if you +please; almost everybody knows some one thing, and is glad to talk upon +that one thing. Seek and you will find, in this world as well as in the +next. See everything; inquire into everything; and you may excuse your +curiosity, and the questions you ask which otherwise might be thought +impertinent, by your manner of asking them; for most things depend a +great deal upon the manner. As, for example, I AM AFRAID THAT I AM VERY +TROUBLESOME WITH MY QUESTIONS; BUT NOBODY CAN INFORM ME SO WELL +AS YOU; +or something of that kind. + +Now that you are in a Lutheran country, go to their churches, and observe +the manner of their public worship; attend to their ceremonies, and +inquire the meaning and intention of everyone of them. And, as you will +soon understand German well enough, attend to their sermons, and observe +their manner of preaching. Inform yourself of their church government: +whether it resides in the sovereign, or in consistories and synods. +Whence arises the maintenance of their clergy; whether from tithes, as in +England, or from voluntary contributions, or from pensions from the +state. Do the same thing when you are in Roman Catholic countries; go to +their churches, see all their ceremonies: ask the meaning of them, get +the terms explained to you. As, for instance, Prime, Tierce, Sexte, +Nones, Matins, Angelus, High Mass, Vespers, Complines, etc. Inform +yourself of their several religious orders, their founders, their rules, +their vows, their habits, their revenues, etc. But, when you frequent +places of public worship, as I would have you go to all the different +ones you meet with, remember, that however erroneous, they are none of +them objects of laughter and ridicule. Honest error is to be pitied, not +ridiculed. The object of all the public worships in the world is the +same; it is that great eternal Being who created everything. The +different manners of worship are by no means subjects of ridicule. Each +sect thinks its own is the best; and I know no infallible judge in this +world, to decide which is the best. Make the same inquiries, wherever +you are, concerning the revenues, the military establishment, the trade, +the commerce, and the police of every country. And you would do well to +keep a blank paper book, which the Germans call an ALBUM; and there, +instead of desiring, as they do, every fool they meet with to scribble +something, write down all these things as soon as they come to your +knowledge from good authorities. + +I had almost forgotten one thing, which I would recommend as an object +for your curiosity and information, that is, the administration of +justice; which, as it is always carried on in open court, you may, and I +would have you, go and see it with attention and inquiry. + +I have now but one anxiety left, which is concerning you. I would have +you be, what I know nobody is--perfect. As that is impossible, I would +have you as near perfection as possible. I know nobody in a fairer way +toward it than yourself, if you please. Never were so much pains taken +for anybody's education as for yours; and never had anybody those +opportunities of knowledge and improvement which you, have had, and still +have, I hope, I wish, I doubt, and fear alternately. This only I am sure +of, that you will prove either the greatest pain or the greatest pleasure +of, Yours. + + + + +LETTER XXX + +BATH, February 22, O. S. 1748. + +DEAR Boy: Every excellency, and every virtue, has its kindred vice or +weakness; and if carried beyond certain bounds, sinks into one or the +other. Generosity often runs into profusion, economy into avarice, +courage into rashness, caution into timidity, and so on:--insomuch that, +I believe, there is more judgment required, for the proper conduct of our +virtues, than for avoiding their opposite vices. Vice, in its true +light, is so deformed, that it shocks us at first sight, and would hardly +ever seduce us, if it did not, at first, wear the mask of some virtue. +But virtue is, in itself, so beautiful, that it charms us at first sight; +engages us more and more upon further acquaintance; and, as with other +beauties, we think excess impossible; it is here that judgment is +necessary, to moderate and direct the effects of an excellent cause. +I shall apply this reasoning, at present, not to any particular virtue, +but to an excellency, which, for want of judgment, is often the cause of +ridiculous and blamable effects; I mean, great learning; which, if not +accompanied with sound judgment, frequently carries us into error, pride, +and pedantry. As, I hope, you will possess that excellency in its utmost +extent, and yet without its too common failings, the hints, which my +experience can suggest, may probably not be useless to you. + +Some learned men, proud of their knowledge, only speak to decide, and +give judgment without appeal; the consequence of which is, that mankind, +provoked by the insult, and injured by the oppression, revolt; and, in +order to shake off the tyranny, even call the lawful authority in +question. The more you know, the modester you should be: and (by the +bye) that modesty is the surest way of gratifying your vanity. Even +where you are sure, seem rather doubtful; represent, but do not +pronounce, and, if you would convince others, seem open to conviction +yourself. + +Others, to show their learning, or often from the prejudices of a school- +education, where they hear of nothing else, are always talking of the +ancients, as something more than men, and of the moderns, as something +less. They are never without a classic or two in their pockets; they +stick to the old good sense; they read none of the modern trash; and will +show you, plainly, that no improvement has been made, in any one art or +science, these last seventeen hundred years. I would by no means have +you disown your acquaintance with the ancients: but still less would I +have you brag of an exclusive intimacy with them. Speak of the moderns +without contempt, and of the ancients without idolatry; judge them all by +their merits, but not by their ages; and if you happen to have an Elzevir +classic in your pocket neither show it nor mention it. + +Some great scholars, most absurdly, draw all their maxims, both for +public and private life, from what they call parallel cases in the +ancient authors; without considering, that, in the first place, there +never were, since the creation of the world, two cases exactly parallel; +and, in the next place, that there never was a case stated, or even +known, by any historian, with every one of its circumstances; which, +however, ought to be known, in order to be reasoned from. Reason upon +the case itself, and the several circumstances that attend it, and act +accordingly; but not from the authority of ancient poets, or historians. +Take into your consideration, if you please, cases seemingly analogous; +but take them as helps only, not as guides. We are really so prejudiced +by our education, that, as the ancients deified their heroes, we deify +their madmen; of which, with all due regard for antiquity, I take +Leonidas and Curtius to have been two distinguished ones. And yet a +solid pedant would, in a speech in parliament, relative to a tax of two- +pence in the pound upon some community or other, quote those two heroes, +as examples of what we ought to do and suffer for our country. I have +known these absurdities carried so far by people of injudicious learning, +that I should not be surprised, if some of them were to propose, while we +are at war with the Gauls, that a number of geese should be kept in the +Tower, upon account of the infinite advantage which Rome received IN A +PARALLEL CASE, from a certain number of geese in the Capitol. This way +of reasoning, and this way of speaking, will always form a poor +politician, and a puerile declaimer. + +There is another species of learned men, who, though less dogmatical and +supercilious, are not less impertinent. These are the communicative and +shining pedants, who adorn their conversation, even with women, by happy +quotations of Greek and Latin; and who have contracted such a familiarity +with the Greek and Roman authors, that they, call them by certain names +or epithets denoting intimacy. As OLD Homer; that SLY ROGUE Horace; +MARO, instead of Virgil; and Naso, Instead of Ovid. These are often +imitated by coxcombs, who have no learning at all; but who have got some +names and some scraps of ancient authors by heart, which they improperly +and impertinently retail in all companies, in hopes of passing for +scholars. If, therefore, you would avoid the accusation of pedantry on +one hand, or the suspicion of ignorance on the other, abstain from +learned ostentation. Speak the language of the company that you are in; +speak it purely, and unlarded with any other. Never seem wiser, nor more +learned, than the people you are with. Wear your learning, like your +watch, in a private pocket: and do not pull it out and strike it; merely +to show that you have one. If you are asked what o'clock it is, tell it; +but do not proclaim it hourly and unasked, like the watchman. + +Upon the whole, remember that learning (I mean Greek and Roman learning) +is a most useful and necessary ornament, which it is shameful not to be +master of; but, at the same time most carefully avoid those errors and +abuses which I have mentioned, and which too often attend it. Remember, +too, that great modern knowledge is still more necessary than ancient; +and that you had better know perfectly the present, than the old state of +Europe; though I would have you well acquainted with both. + +I have this moment received your letter of the 17th, N. S. Though, I +confess, there is no great variety in your present manner of life, yet +materials can never be wanting for a letter; you see, you hear, or you +read something new every day; a short account of which, with your own +reflections thereupon, will make out a letter very well. But, since you +desire a subject, pray send me an account of the Lutheran establishment +in Germany; their religious tenets, their church government, the +maintenance, authority, and titles of their clergy. + +'Vittorio Siri', complete, is a very scarce and very dear book here; but +I do not want it. If your own library grows too voluminous, you will not +know what to do with it, when you leave Leipsig. Your best way will be, +when you go away from thence, to send to England, by Hamburg, all the +books that you do not absolutely want. + Yours. + + + + +LETTER XXXI + +BATH, March 1, O. S. 1748. + +DEAR BOY: By Mr. Harte's letter to Mr. Grevenkop, of the 21st February, +N. S., I find that you had been a great while without receiving any +letters from me; but by this time, I daresay you think you have received +enough, and possibly more than you have read; for I am not only a +frequent, but a prolix correspondent. + +Mr. Harte says, in that letter, that he looks upon Professor Mascow to be +one of the ablest men in Europe, in treaty and political knowledge. I am +extremely glad of it; for that is what I would have you particularly +apply to, and make yourself perfect master of. The treaty part you must +chiefly acquire by reading the treaties themselves, and the histories and +memoirs relative to them; not but that inquiries and conversations upon +those treaties will help you greatly, and imprint them better in your +mind. In this course of reading, do not perplex yourself, at first, by +the multitude of insignificant treaties which are to be found in the +Corps Diplomatique; but stick to the material ones, which altered the +state of Europe, and made a new arrangement among the great powers; such +as the treaties of Munster, Nimeguen, Ryswick, and Utrecht. + +But there is one part of political knowledge, which is only to be had by +inquiry and conversation; that is, the present state of every power in +Europe, with regard to the three important points, of strength, revenue, +and commerce. You will, therefore, do well, while you are in Germany, to +inform yourself carefully of the military force, the revenues, and the +commerce of every prince and state of the empire; and to write down those +informations in a little book, for that particular purpose. To give you +a specimen of what I mean:-- + + THE ELECTORATE OF HANOVER + + The revenue is about L500,000 a year. + + The military establishment, in time of war, may be about 25,000 men; + but that is the utmost. + + The trade is chiefly linens, exported from Stade. + + There are coarse woolen manufactures for home-consumption. + + The mines of Hartz produce about L100,000 in silver, annually. + + +Such informations you may very easily get, by proper inquiries, of every +state in Germany if you will but prefer useful to frivolous +conversations. + +There are many princes in Germany, who keep very few or no troops, unless +upon the approach of danger, or for the sake of profit, by letting them +out for subsidies, to great powers: In that case, you will inform +yourself what number of troops they could raise, either for their own +defense, or furnish to other powers for subsidies. + +There is very little trouble, and an infinite use, in acquiring of this +knowledge. It seems to me even to be a more entertaining subject to talk +upon, than 'la pluie et le beau tens'. + +Though I am sensible that these things cannot be known with the utmost +exactness, at least by you yet, you may, however, get so near the truth, +that the difference will be very immaterial. + +Pray let me know if the Roman Catholic worship is tolerated in Saxony, +anywhere but at Court; and if public mass-houses are allowed anywhere +else in the electorate. Are the regular Romish clergy allowed; and have +they any convents? + +Are there any military orders in Saxony, and what? Is the White Eagle a +Saxon or a Polish order? Upon what occasion, and when was it founded? +What number of knights? + +Adieu! God bless you; and may you turn out what I wish! + + + + +LETTER XXXII + +BATH, March 9, O. S. 1748. + +DEAR BOY: I must from time to time, remind you of what I have often +recommended to you, and of what you cannot attend to too much; SACRIFICE +TO THE GRACES. The different effects of the same things, said or done, +when accompanied or abandoned by them, is almost inconceivable. They +prepare the way to the heart; and the heart has such an influence over +the understanding, that it is worth while to engage it in our interest. +It is the whole of women, who are guided by nothing else: and it has so +much to say, even with men, and the ablest men too, that it commonly +triumphs in every struggle with the understanding. Monsieur de +Rochefoucault, in his "Maxims," says, that 'l'esprit est souvent la dupe +du coeur.' If he had said, instead of 'souvent, tresque toujours', I +fear he would have been nearer the truth. This being the case, aim at +the heart. Intrinsic merit alone will not do; it will gain you the +general esteem of all; but not the particular affection, that is, the +heart of any. To engage the affections of any particular person, you +must, over and above your general merit, have some particular merit to +that person by services done, or offered; by expressions of regard and +esteem; by complaisance, attentions, etc., for him. And the graceful +manner of doing all these things opens the way to the heart, and +facilitates, or rather insures, their effects. From your own +observation, reflect what a disagreeable impression an awkward address, a +slovenly figure, an ungraceful manner of speaking, whether stuttering, +muttering, monotony, or drawling, an unattentive behavior, etc., make +upon you, at first sight, in a stranger, and how they prejudice you +against him, though for aught you know, he may have great intrinsic sense +and merit. And reflect, on the other hand, how much the opposites of all +these things prepossess you, at first sight, in favor of those who enjoy +them. You wish to find all good qualities in them, and are in some +degree disappointed if you do not. A thousand little things, not +separately to be defined, conspire to form these graces, this je ne sais +quoi, that always please. A pretty person, genteel motions, a proper +degree of dress, an harmonious voice, something open and cheerful in the +countenance, but without laughing; a distinct and properly varied manner +of speaking: All these things, and many others, are necessary ingredients +in the composition of the pleasing je ne sais quoi, which everybody +feels, though nobody can describe. Observe carefully, then, what +displeases or pleases you in others, and be persuaded, that in general; +the same things will please or displease them in you. Having mentioned +laughing, I must particularly warn you against it: and I could heartily +wish, that you may often be seen to smile, but never heard to laugh while +you live. Frequent and loud laughter is the characteristic of folly and +in manners; it is the manner in which the mob express their silly joy at +silly things; and they call it being merry. In my mind, there is nothing +so illiberal, and so ill-bred, as audible laughter. True wit, or sense, +never yet made anybody laugh; they are above it: They please the mind, +and give a cheerfulness to the countenance. But it is low buffoonery, or +silly accidents, that always excite laughter; and that is what people of +sense and breeding should show themselves above. A man's going to sit +down, in the supposition that he has a chair behind him, and falling down +upon his breech for want of one, sets a whole company a laughing, when +all the wit in the world would not do it; a plain proof, in my mind, how +low and unbecoming a thing laughter is: not to mention the disagreeable +noise that it makes, and the shocking distortion of the face that it +occasions. Laughter is easily restrained, by a very little reflection; +but as it is generally connected with the idea of gaiety, people do not +enough attend to its absurdity. I am neither of a melancholy nor a +cynical disposition, and am as willing and as apt to be pleased as +anybody; but I am sure that, since I have had the full use of my reason, +nobody has ever heard me laugh. Many people, at first, from awkwardness +and 'mauvaise honte', have got a very disagreeable and silly trick of +laughing whenever they speak; and I know a man of very good parts, Mr. +Waller, who cannot say the commonest thing without laughing; which makes +those, who do not know him, take him at first for a natural fool. This, +and many other very disagreeable habits, are owing to mauvaise honte at +their first setting out in the world. They are ashamed in company, and +so disconcerted, that they do not know what they do, and try a thousand +tricks to keep themselves in countenance; which tricks afterward grow +habitual to them. Some put their fingers in their nose, others scratch +their heads, others twirl their hats; in short, every awkward, ill-bred +body has his trick. But the frequency does not justify the thing, and +all these vulgar habits and awkwardnesses, though not criminal indeed, +are most carefully to be guarded against, as they are great bars in the +way of the art of pleasing. Remember, that to please is almost to +prevail, or at least a necessary previous step to it. You, who have your +fortune to make, should more particularly study this art. You had not, +I must tell you, when you left England, 'les manieres prevenantes'; and I +must confess they are not very common in England; but I hope that your +good sense will make you acquire them abroad. If you desire to make +yourself considerable in the world (as, if you have any spirit, you do), +it must be entirely your own doing; for I may very possibly be out of the +world at the time you come into it. Your own rank and fortune will not +assist you; your merit and your manners can alone raise you to figure and +fortune. I have laid the foundations of them, by the education which I +have given you; but you must build the superstructure yourself. + +I must now apply to you for some informations, which I dare say you can, +and which I desire you will give me. + +Can the Elector of Saxony put any of his subjects to death for high +treason, without bringing them first to their trial in some public court +of justice? + +Can he, by his own authority, confine any subject in prison as long as he +pleases, without trial? + +Can he banish any subject out of his dominions by his own authority? + +Can he lay any tax whatsoever upon his subjects, without the consent of +the states of Saxony? and what are those states? how are they elected? +what orders do they consist of? Do the clergy make part of them? and +when, and how often do they meet? + +If two subjects of the elector's are at law, for an estate situated in +the electorate, in what court must this suit be tried? and will the +decision of that court be final, or does there lie an appeal to the +imperial chamber at Wetzlaer? + +What do you call the two chief courts, or two chief magistrates, of civil +and criminal justice? + +What is the common revenue of the electorate, one year with another? + +What number of troops does the elector now maintain? and what is the +greatest number that the electorate is able to maintain? + +I do not expect to have all these questions answered at once; but you +will answer them, in proportion as you get the necessary and authentic +informations. + +You are, you see, my German oracle; and I consult you with so much faith, +that you need not, like the oracles of old, return ambiguous answers; +especially as you have this advantage over them, too, that I only consult +you about past end present, but not about what is to come. + +I wish you a good Easter-fair at Leipsig. See, with attention all the +shops, drolls, tumblers, rope-dancers, and 'hoc genus omne': but inform +yourself more particularly of the several parts of trade there. Adieu. + + + + +LETTER XXXIII + +LONDON, March 25, O. S. 1748. + +DEAR BOY: I am in great joy at the written and the verbal accounts which +I have received lately of you. + +The former, from Mr. Harte; the latter, from Mr. Trevanion, who is +arrived here: they conspire to convince me that you employ your time well +at Leipsig. I am glad to find you consult your own interest and your own +pleasure so much; for the knowledge which you will acquire in these two +years is equally necessary for both. I am likewise particularly pleased +to find that you turn yourself to that sort of knowledge which is more +peculiarly necessary for your destination: for Mr. Harte tells me you +have read, with attention, Caillieres, Pequet, and Richelieu's "Letters." +The "Memoirs" of the Cardinal de Retz will both entertain and instruct +you; they relate to a very interesting period of the French history, the +ministry of Cardinal Mazarin, during the minority of Lewis XIV. The +characters of all the considerable people of that time are drawn, in a +short, strong, and masterly manner; and the political reflections, which +are most of them printed in italics, are the justest that ever I met +with: they are not the labored reflections of a systematical closet +politician, who, without the least experience of business, sits at home +and writes maxims; but they are the reflections which a great and able +man formed from long experience and practice in great business. They are +true conclusions, drawn from facts, not from speculations. + +As modern history is particularly your business, I will give you some +rules to direct your study of it. It begins, properly with Charlemagne, +in the year 800. But as, in those times of ignorance, the priests and +monks were almost the only people that could or did write, we have +scarcely any histories of those times but such as they have been pleased +to give us, which are compounds of ignorance, superstition, and party +zeal. So that a general notion of what is rather supposed, than really +known to be, the history of the five or six following centuries, seems to +be sufficient; and much time would be but ill employed in a minute +attention to those legends. But reserve your utmost care, and most +diligent inquiries, from the fifteenth century, and downward. Then +learning began to revive, and credible histories to be written; Europe +began to take the form, which, to some degree, it still retains: at least +the foundations of the present great powers of Europe were then laid. +Lewis the Eleventh made France, in truth, a monarchy, or, as he used to +say himself, 'la mit hors de Page'. Before his time, there were +independent provinces in France, as the Duchy of Brittany, etc., whose +princes tore it to pieces, and kept it in constant domestic confusion. +Lewis the Eleventh reduced all these petty states, by fraud, force, or +marriage; for he scrupled no means to obtain his ends. + +About that time, Ferdinand King of Aragon, and Isabella his wife, Queen +of Castile, united the whole Spanish monarchy, and drove the Moors out of +Spain, who had till then kept position of Granada. About that time, too, +the house of Austria laid the great foundations of its subsequent power; +first, by the marriage of Maximilian with the heiress of Burgundy; and +then, by the marriage of his son Philip, Archduke of Austria, with Jane, +the daughter of Isabella, Queen of Spain, and heiress of that whole +kingdom, and of the West Indies. By the first of these marriages, the +house of Austria acquired the seventeen provinces, and by the latter, +Spain and America; all which centered in the person of Charles the Fifth, +son of the above-mentioned Archduke Philip, the son of Maximilian. It +was upon account of these two marriages, that the following Latin distich +was made: + + Bella gerant alii, Tu felix Austria nube; + Nam qua, Mars aliis; dat tibi regna Venus. + +This immense power, which the Emperor Charles the Fifth found himself +possessed of, gave him a desire for universal power (for people never +desire all till they have gotten a great deal), and alarmed France; this +sowed the seeds of that jealousy and enmity, which have flourished ever +since between those two great powers. Afterward the House of Austria was +weakened by the division made by Charles the Fifth of his dominions, +between his son, Philip the Second of Spain, and his brother Ferdinand; +and has ever since been dwindling to the weak condition in which it now +is. This is a most interesting part of the history of Europe, of which +it is absolutely necessary that you should be exactly and minutely +informed. + +There are in the history of most countries, certain very remarkable eras, +which deserve more particular inquiry and attention than the common run +of history. Such is the revolt of the Seventeen Provinces, in the reign +of Philip the Second of Spain, which ended in forming the present +republic of the Seven United Provinces, whose independency was first +allowed by Spain at the treaty of Munster. Such was the extraordinary +revolution of Portugal, in the year 1640, in favor of the present House +of Braganza. Such is the famous revolution of Sweden, when Christian the +Second of Denmark, who was also king of Sweden, was driven out by +Gustavus Vasa. And such also is that memorable era in Denmark, of 1660; +when the states of that kingdom made a voluntary surrender of all their +rights and liberties to the Crown, and changed that free state into the +most absolute monarchy now in Europe. The Acta Regis, upon that +occasion, are worth your perusing. These remarkable periods of modern +history deserve your particular attention, and most of them have been +treated singly by good historians, which are worth your reading. The +revolutions of Sweden, and of Portugal, are most admirably well written +by L'Abbe de Vertot; they are short, and will not take twelve hours' +reading. There is another book which very well deserves your looking +into, but not worth your buying at present, because it is not portable; +if you can borrow or hire it, you should; and that is, 'L' Histoire des +Traits de Paix, in two volumes, folio, which make part of the 'Corps +Diplomatique'. You will there find a short and clear history, and the +substance of every treaty made in Europe, during the last century, from +the treaty of Vervins. Three parts in four of this book are not worth +your reading, as they relate to treaties of very little importance; but +if you select the most considerable ones, read them with attention, and +take some notes, it will be of great use to you. Attend chiefly to those +in which the great powers of Europe are the parties; such as the treaty +of the Pyrenees, between France and Spain; the treaties of Nimeguen and +Ryswick; but, above all, the treaty of Munster should be most +circumstantially and minutely known to you, as almost every treaty made +since has some reference to it. For this, Pere Bougeant is the best book +you can read, as it takes in the thirty years' war, which preceded that +treaty. The treaty itself, which is made a perpetual law of the empire, +comes in the course of your lectures upon the 'Jus Publicum Imperii'. + +In order to furnish you with materials for a letter, and at the same time +to inform both you and myself of what it is right that we should know, +pray answer me the following questions: + +How many companies are there in the Saxon regiments of foot? How many +men in each company? + +How many troops in the regiments of horse and dragoons; and how many men +in each? + +What number of commissioned and non-commissioned officers in a company of +foot, or in a troop of horse or dragoons? N. B. Noncommissioned +officers are all those below ensigns and cornets. + +What is the daily pay of a Saxon foot soldier, dragoon, and trooper? + +What are the several ranks of the 'Etat Major-general'? N. B. The Etat +Major-general is everything above colonel. The Austrians have no +brigadiers, and the French have no major-generals in their Etat Major. +What have the Saxons? Adieu! + + + + +LETTER XXXIV + +LONDON, March 27, O. S. 1748. + +DEAR BOY: This little packet will be delivered to you by one Monsieur +Duval, who is going to the fair at Leipsig. He is a jeweler, originally +of Geneva, but who has been settled here these eight or ten years, and a +very sensible fellow: pray do be very civil to him. + +As I advised you, some time ago, to inform yourself of the civil and +military establishments of as many of the kingdoms and states of Europe, +as you should either be in yourself, or be able to get authentic accounts +of, I send you here a little book, in which, upon the article of Hanover, +I have pointed out the short method of putting down these informations, +by way of helping your memory. The book being lettered, you can +immediately turn to whatever article you want; and, by adding interleaves +to each letter, may extend your minutes to what particulars you please. +You may get such books made anywhere; and appropriate each, if you +please, to a particular object. I have myself found great utility in +this method. If I had known what to have sent you by this opportunity I +would have done it. The French say, 'Que les petits presens +entretiennent l'amite et que les grande l'augmentent'; but I could not +recollect that you wanted anything, or at least anything that you cannot +get as well at Leipsig as here. Do but continue to deserve, and, I +assure you, that you shall never want anything I can give. + +Do not apprehend that my being out of employment may be any prejudice to +you. Many things will happen before you can be fit for business; and +when you are fit, whatever my situation may be, it will always be in my +power to help you in your first steps; afterward you must help yourself +by your own abilities. Make yourself necessary, and, instead of +soliciting, you will be solicited. The thorough knowledge of foreign +affairs, the interests, the views, and the manners of the several courts +in Europe, are not the common growth of this country. It is in your +power to acquire them; you have all the means. Adieu! Yours. + + + + +LETTERS TO HIS SON + +LETTER XXXV + +LONDON, April 1, O. S. 1748. + +DEAR BOY: I have not received any letter, either from you or from Mr, +Harte, these three posts, which I impute wholly to accidents between this +place and Leipsig; and they are distant enough to admit of many. I +always take it for granted that you are well, when I do not hear to the +contrary; besides, as I have often told you, I am much more anxious about +your doing well, than about your being well; and, when you do not write, +I will suppose that you are doing something more useful. Your health +will continue, while your temperance continues; and at your age nature +takes sufficient care of the body, provided she is left to herself, and +that intemperance on one hand, or medicines on the other, do not break in +upon her. But it is by no means so with the mind, which, at your age +particularly, requires great and constant care, and some physic. Every +quarter of an hour, well or ill employed, will do it essential and +lasting good or harm. It requires also a great deal of exercise, to +bring it to a state of health and vigor. Observe the difference there is +between minds cultivated, and minds uncultivated, and you will, I am +sure, think that you cannot take too much pains, nor employ too much of +your time in the culture of your own. A drayman is probably born with as +good organs as Milton, Locke, or Newton; but, by culture, they are as +much more above him as he is above his horse. Sometimes, indeed, +extraordinary geniuses have broken out by the force of nature, without +the assistance of education; but those instances are too rare for anybody +to trust to; and even they would make a much greater figure, if they had +the advantage of education into the bargain. If Shakespeare's genius had +been cultivated, those beauties, which we so justly admire in him, would +have been undisgraced by those extravagancies, and that nonsense, with +which they are frequently accompanied. People are, in general, what they +are made, by education and company, from fifteen to five-and-twenty; +consider well, therefore, the importance of your next eight or nine +years; your whole depends upon them. I will tell you sincerely, my hopes +and my fears concerning you. I think you will be a good scholar; and +that you will acquire a considerable stock of knowledge of various kinds; +but I fear that you neglect what are called little, though, in truth, +they are very material things; I mean, a gentleness of manners, an +engaging address, and an insinuating behavior; they are real and solid +advantages, and none but those who do not know the world, treat them as +trifles. I am told that you speak very quick, and not distinctly; this +is a most ungraceful and disagreeable trick, which you know I have told +you of a thousand times; pray attend carefully to the correction of it. +An agreeable and, distinct manner of speaking adds greatly to the matter; +and I have known many a very good speech unregarded, upon account of the +disagreeable manner in which it has been delivered, and many an +indifferent one applauded, from the contrary reason. Adieu! + + + + +LETTER XXXVI + +LONDON, April 15, O. S. 1748 + +DEAR BOY: Though I have no letters from you to acknowledge since my last +to you, I will not let three posts go from hence without a letter from +me. My affection always prompts me to write to you; and I am encouraged +to do it, by the hopes that my letters are not quite useless. You will +probably receive this in the midst of the diversions of Leipsig fair; at +which, Mr. Harte tells me, that you are to shine in fine clothes, among +fine folks. I am very glad of it, as it is time that you should begin to +be formed to the manners of the world in higher life. Courts are the +best schools for that sort of learning. You are beginning now with the +outside of a court; and there is not a more gaudy one than that of +Saxony. Attend to it, and make your observations upon the turn and +manners of it, that you may hereafter compare it with other courts which +you will see; And, though you are not yet able to be informed, or to +judge of the political conduct and maxims of that court, yet you may +remark the forms, the ceremonies, and the exterior state of it. At least +see everything that you can see, and know everything that you can know of +it, by asking questions. See likewise everything at the fair, from +operas and plays, down to the Savoyard's raree-shows. + +Everything is worth seeing once; and the more one sees, the less one +either wonders or admires. + +Make my compliments to Mr. Harte, and tell him that I have just now +received his letter, for which I thank him. I am called away, and my +letter is therefore very much shortened. Adieu. + +I am impatient to receive your answers to the many questions that I have +asked you. + + + + +LETTER XXXVII + +LONDON, April 26, O. S. 1748. + +DEAR BOY: I am extremely pleased with your continuation of the history of +the Reformation; which is one of those important eras that deserves your +utmost attention, and of which you cannot be too minutely informed. You +have, doubtless, considered the causes of that great event, and observed +that disappointment and resentment had a much greater share in it, than a +religious zeal or an abhorrence of the errors and abuses of popery. + +Luther, an Augustine monk, enraged that his order, and consequently +himself, had not the exclusive privilege of selling indulgences, but that +the Dominicans were let into a share of that profitable but infamous +trade, turns reformer, and exclaims against the abuses, the corruption, +and the idolatry, of the church of Rome; which were certainly gross +enough for him to have seen long before, but which he had at least +acquiesced in, till what he called the rights, that is, the profit, of +his order came to be touched. It is true, the church of Rome furnished +him ample matter for complaint and reformation, and he laid hold of it +ably. + +This seems to me the true cause of that great and necessary, work; but +whatever the cause was, the effect was good; and the Reformation spread +itself by its own truth and fitness; was conscientiously received by +great numbers in Germany, and other countries; and was soon afterward +mixed up with the politics of princes; and, as it always happens in +religious disputes, became the specious covering of injustice and +ambition. + +Under the pretense of crushing heresy, as it was called, the House of +Austria meant to extend and establish its power in the empire; as, on the +other hand, many Protestant princes, under the pretense of extirpating +idolatry, or at least of securing toleration, meant only to enlarge their +own dominions or privileges. These views respectively, among the chiefs +on both sides, much more than true religious motives, continued what were +called the religious wars in Germany, almost uninterruptedly, till the +affairs of the two religions were finally settled by the treaty of +Munster. + +Were most historical events traced up to their true causes, I fear we +should not find them much more noble or disinterested than Luther's +disappointed avarice; and therefore I look with some contempt upon those +refining and sagacious historians, who ascribe all, even the most common +events, to some deep political cause; whereas mankind is made up of +inconsistencies, and no man acts invariably up to his predominant +character. The wisest man sometimes acts weakly, and the weakest +sometimes wisely. Our jarring passions, our variable humors, nay, our +greater or lesser degree of health and spirits, produce such +contradictions in our conduct, that, I believe, those are the oftenest +mistaken, who ascribe our actions to the most seemingly obvious motives; +and I am convinced, that a light supper, a good night's sleep, and a fine +morning, have sometimes made a hero of the same man, who, by an +indigestion, a restless night, and rainy morning, would, have proved a +coward. Our best conjectures, therefore, as to the true springs of +actions, are but very uncertain; and the actions themselves are all that +we must pretend to know from history. That Caesar was murdered by +twenty-three conspirators, I make no doubt: but I very much doubt that +their love of liberty, and of their country, was their sole, or even +principal motive; and I dare say that, if the truth were known, we should +find that many other motives at least concurred, even in the great Brutus +himself; such as pride, envy, personal pique, and disappointment. Nay, I +cannot help carrying my Pyrrhonism still further, and extending it often +to historical facts themselves, at least to most of the circumstances +with which they are related; and every day's experience confirms me in +this historical incredulity. Do we ever hear the most recent fact +related exactly in the same way, by the several people who were at the +same time eyewitnesses of it? No. One mistakes, another misrepresents, +and others warp it a little to their own, turn of mind, or private views. +A man who has been concerned in a transaction will not write it fairly; +and a man who has not, cannot. But notwithstanding all this uncertainty, +history is not the less necessary to be known, as the best histories are +taken for granted, and are the frequent subjects both of conversation and +writing. Though I am convinced that Caesar's ghost never appeared to +Brutus, yet I should be much ashamed to be ignorant of that fact, as +related by the historians of those times. Thus the Pagan theology is +universally received as matter for writing and conversation, though +believed now by nobody; and we talk of Jupiter, Mars, Apollo, etc., as +gods, though we know, that if they ever existed at all, it was only as +mere mortal men. This historical Pyrrhonism, then, proves nothing +against the study and knowledge of history; which, of all other studies, +is the most necessary for a man who is to live in the world. It only +points out to us, not to be too decisive and peremptory; and to be +cautious how we draw inferences for our own practice from remote facts, +partially or ignorantly related; of which we can, at best, but +imperfectly guess, and certainly not know the real motives. The +testimonies of ancient history must necessarily be weaker than those of +modern, as all testimony grows weaker and weaker, as it is more and more +remote from us. I would therefore advise you to study ancient history, +in general, as other people, do; that is, not to be ignorant of any or +those facts which are universally received, upon the faith of the best +historians; and whether true or false, you have them as other people have +them. But modern history, I mean particularly that of the last three +centuries, is what I would have you apply to with the greatest attention +and exactness. There the probability of coming at the truth is much +greater, as the testimonies are much more recent; besides, anecdotes, +memoirs, and original letters, often come to the aid of modern history. +The best memoirs that I know of are those of Cardinal de Retz, which I +have once before recommended to you; and which I advise you to read more +than once, with attention. There are many political maxims in these +memoirs, most of which are printed in italics; pray attend to, and +remember them. I never read them but my own experience confirms the +truth of them. Many of them seem trifling to people who are not used to +business; but those who are, feel the truth of them. + +It is time to put an end to this long rambling letter; in which if any +one thing can be of use to you, it will more than pay the trouble I have +taken to write it. Adieu! Yours. + + + + +LETTER XXXVIII + +LONDON, May 10, O. S. 1748. + +DEAR BOY: I reckon that this letter will find you just returned from +Dresden, where you have made your first court caravanne. What +inclination for courts this taste of them may have given you, I cannot +tell; but this I think myself sure of, from your good sense, that in +leaving Dresden, you have left dissipation too; and have resumed at +Leipsig that application which, if you like courts, can alone enable you +to make a good figure at them. A mere courtier, without parts or +knowledge, is the most frivolous and contemptible of all beings; as, on +the other hand, a man of parts and knowledge, who acquires the easy and +noble manners of a court, is the most perfect. It is a trite, +commonplace observation, that courts are the seats of falsehood and +dissimulation. That, like many, I might say most, commonplace +observations, is false. Falsehood and dissimulation are certainly to be +found at courts; but where are they not to be found? Cottages have them, +as well as courts; only with worse manners. A couple of neighboring +farmers in a village will contrive and practice as many tricks, to over- +reach each other at the next market, or to supplant each other in the +favor, of the squire, as any two courtiers can do to supplant each other +in the favor of their prince. + +Whatever poets may write, or fools believe, of rural innocence and truth, +and of the perfidy of courts, this is most undoubtedly true that +shepherds and ministers are both men; their nature and passions the same, +the modes of them only different. + +Having mentioned commonplace observations, I will particularly caution +you against either using, believing, or approving them. They are the +common topics of witlings and coxcombs; those, who really have wit, have +the utmost contempt for them, and scorn even to laugh at the pert things +that those would-be wits say upon such subjects. + +Religion is one of their favorite topics; it is all priest-craft; and an +invention contrived and carried on by priests of all religions, for their +own power and profit; from this absurd and false principle flow the +commonplace, insipid jokes, and insults upon the clergy. With these +people, every priest, of every religion, is either a public or a +concealed unbeliever, drunkard, and whoremaster; whereas, I conceive, +that priests are extremely like other men, and neither the better nor the +worse for wearing a gown or a surplice: but if they are different from +other people, probably it is rather on the side of religion and morality, +or, at least, decency, from their education and manner of life. + +Another common topic for false wit, and cool raillery, is matrimony. +Every man and his wife hate each other cordially, whatever they may +pretend, in public, to the contrary. The husband certainly wishes his +wife at the devil, and the wife certainly cuckolds her husband. Whereas, +I presume, that men and their wives neither love nor hate each other the +more, upon account of the form of matrimony which has been said over +them. The cohabitation, indeed, which is the consequence of matrimony, +makes them either love or hate more, accordingly as they respectively +deserve it; but that would be exactly the same between any man and woman +who lived together without being married. + +These and many other commonplace reflections upon nations or professions +in general (which are at least as often false as true), are the poor +refuge of people who have neither wit nor invention of their own, but +endeavor to shine in company by second-hand finery. I always put these +pert jackanapes out of countenance, by looking extremely grave, when they +expect that I should laugh at their pleasantries; and by saying WELL, AND +SO, as if they had not done, and that the sting were still to come. This +disconcerts them, as they have no resources in themselves, and have but +one set of jokes to live upon. Men of parts are not reduced to these +shifts, and have the utmost contempt for them, they find proper subjects +enough for either useful or lively conversations; they can be witty +without satire or commonplace, and serious without being dull. The +frequentation of courts checks this petulancy of manners; the good- +breeding and circumspection which are necessary, and only to be learned +there, correct those pertnesses. I do not doubt but that you are +improved in your manners by the short visit which you have made at +Dresden; and the other courts, which I intend that you shall be better +acquainted with, will gradually smooth you up to the highest polish. +In courts, a versatility of genius and softness of manners are absolutely +necessary; which some people mistake for abject flattery, and having no +opinion of one's own; whereas it is only the decent and genteel manner of +maintaining your own opinion, and possibly of bringing other people to +it. The manner of doing things is often more important than the things +themselves; and the very same thing may become either pleasing or +offensive, by the manner of saying or doing it. 'Materiam superabat +opus', is often said of works of sculpture; where though the materials +were valuable, as silver, gold, etc., the workmanship was still more so. +This holds true, applied to manners; which adorn whatever knowledge or +parts people may have; and even make a greater impression upon nine in +ten of mankind, than the intrinsic value of the materials. On the other +hand, remember, that what Horace says of good writing is justly +applicable to those who would make a good figure in courts, and +distinguish themselves in the shining parts of life; 'Sapere est +principium et fons'. A man who, without a good fund of knowledge and +parts, adopts a court life, makes the most ridiculous figure imaginable. +He is a machine, little superior to the court clock; and, as this points +out the hours, he points out the frivolous employment of them. He is, at +most, a comment upon the clock; and according to the hours that it +strikes, tells you now it is levee, now dinner, now supper time, etc. +The end which I propose by your education, and which (IF YOU PLEASE) I +shall certainly attain, is to unite in you all the knowledge of a scholar +with the manners of a courtier; and to join, what is seldom joined by any +of my countrymen, books and the world. They are commonly twenty years +old before they have spoken to anybody above their schoolmaster, and the +fellows of their college. If they happen to have learning, it is only +Greek and Latin, but not one word of modern history, or modern languages. +Thus prepared, they go abroad, as they call it; but, in truth, they stay +at home all that while; for being very awkward, confoundedly ashamed, and +not speaking the languages, they go into no foreign company, at least +none good; but dine and sup with one another only at the tavern. Such +examples, I am sure, you will not imitate, but even carefully avoid. You +will always take care to keep the best company in the place where you +are, which is the only use of traveling: and (by the way) the pleasures +of a gentleman are only to be found in the best company; for that not +which low company, most falsely and impudently, call pleasure, is only +the sensuality of a swine. + +I ask hard and uninterrupted study from you but one year more; after +that, you shall have every day more and more time for your amusements. +A few hours each day will then be sufficient for application, and the +others cannot be better employed than in the pleasures of good company. +Adieu. + + + + +LETTER XXXIX + +LONDON, May 31, O. S. 1748. + +DEAR BOY: I received yesterday your letter of the 16th, N. S., and have, +in consequence of it, written this day to Sir Charles Williams, to thank +him for all the civilities he has shown you. Your first setting out at +court has, I find, been very favorable; and his Polish Majesty has +distinguished you. I hope you received that mark of distinction with +respect and with steadiness, which is the proper behavior of a man of +fashion. People of a low, obscure education cannot stand the rays of +greatness; they are frightened out of their wits when kings and great men +speak to them; they are awkward, ashamed, and do not know what nor how to +answer; whereas, 'les honnetes gens' are not dazzled by superior rank: +they know, and pay all the respect that is due to it; but they do it +without being disconcerted; and can converse just as easily with a king +as with any one of his subjects. That is the great advantage of being +introduced young into good company, and being used early to converse with +one's superiors. How many men have I seen here, who, after having had +the full benefit of an English education, first at school, and then at +the university, when they have been presented to the king, did not know +whether they stood upon their heads or their heels! If the king spoke to +them, they were annihilated; they trembled, endeavored to put their hands +in their pockets, and missed them; let their hats fall, and were ashamed +to take them up; and in short, put themselves in every attitude but the +right, that is, the easy and natural one. The characteristic of a well- +bred man, is to converse with his inferiors without insolence, and with +his superiors with respect and ease. He talks to kings without concern; +he trifles with women of the first condition with familiarity, gayety, +but respect; and converses with his equals, whether he is acquainted with +them or not, upon general common topics, that are not, however, quite +frivolous, without the least concern of mind or awkwardness of body: +neither of which can appear to advantage, but when they are perfectly +easy. + +The tea-things, which Sir Charles Williams has given you, I would have +you make a present of to your Mamma, and send them to her by Duval when +he returns. You owe her not only duty, but likewise great obligations +for her care and tenderness; and, consequently, cannot take too many +opportunities of showing your gratitude. + +I am impatient to receive your account of Dresden, and likewise your +answers to the many questions that I asked you. + +Adieu for this time, and God bless you! + + + + +LETTER XL + +LONDON, May 27, O. S. 1748. + +DEAR BOY: This and the two next years make so important a period of your +life, that I cannot help repeating to you my exhortations, my commands, +and (what I hope will be still more prevailing with you than either) my +earnest entreaties, to employ them well. Every moment that you now lose, +is so much character and advantage lost; as, on the other hand, every +moment that you now employ usefully, is so much time wisely laid out, at +most prodigious interest. These two years must lay the foundations of +all the knowledge that you will ever have; you may build upon them +afterward as much as you please, but it will be too late to lay any new +ones. Let me beg of you, therefore, to grudge no labor nor pains to +acquire, in time, that stock of knowledge, without which you never can +rise, but must make a very insignificant figure in the world. Consider +your own situation; you have not the advantage of rank or fortune to bear +you up; I shall, very probably, be out of the world before you can +properly be said to be in it. What then will you have to rely on but +your own merit? That alone must raise you, and that alone will raise +you, if you have but enough of it. I have often heard and read of +oppressed and unrewarded merit, but I have oftener (I might say always) +seen great merit make its way, and meet with its reward, to a certain +degree at least, in spite of all difficulties. By merit, I mean the +moral virtues, knowledge, and manners; as to the moral virtues, I say +nothing to you; they speak best for themselves, nor can I suspect that +they want any recommendation with you; I will therefore only assure you, +that without them you will be most unhappy. + +As to knowledge, I have often told you, and I am persuaded you are +thoroughly convinced, how absolutely necessary it is to you, whatever +your destination may be. But as knowledge has a most extensive meaning, +and as the life of man is not long enough to acquire, nor his mind +capable of entertaining and digesting, all parts of knowledge, I will +point out those to which you should particularly apply, and which, by +application, you may make yourself perfect master of. Classical +knowledge, that is, Greek and Latin, is absolutely necessary for +everybody; because everybody has agreed to think and to call it so. And +the word ILLITERATE, in its common acceptation, means a man who is +ignorant of those two languages. You are by this time, I hope, pretty +near master of both, so that a small part of the day dedicated to them, +for two years more, will make you perfect in that study. Rhetoric, +logic, a little geometry, and a general notion of astronomy, must, in +their turns, have their hours too; not that I desire you should be deep +in any one of these; but it is fit you should know something of them all. +The knowledge more particularly useful and necessary for you, considering +your destination, consists of modern languages, modern history, +chronology, and geography, the laws of nations, and the 'jus publicum +Imperii'. You must absolutely speak all the modern Languages, as purely +and correctly as the natives of the respective countries: for whoever +does not speak a language perfectly and easily, will never appear to +advantage in conversation, nor treat with others in it upon equal terms. +As for French, you have it very well already; and must necessarily, from +the universal usage of that language, know it better and better every +day: so that I am in no pain about that: German, I suppose, you know +pretty well by this time, and will be quite master of it before you leave +Leipsig: at least, I am sure you may. Italian and Spanish will come in +their turns, and, indeed, they are both so easy, to one who knows Latin +and French, that neither of them will cost you much time or trouble. +Modern history, by which I mean particularly the history of the last +three centuries, should be the object of your greatest and constant +attention, especially those parts of it which relate more immediately to +the great powers of Europe. This study you will carefully connect with +chronology and geography; that is, you will remark and retain the dates +of every important event; and always read with the map by you, in which +you will constantly look for every place mentioned: this is the only way +of retaining geography; for, though it is soon learned by the lump, yet, +when only so learned, it is still sooner forgot. + +Manners, though the last, and it may be the least ingredient of real +merit, are, however, very far from being useless in its composition; they +adorn, and give an additional force and luster to both virtue and +knowledge. They prepare and smooth the way for the progress of both; and +are, I fear, with the bulk of mankind, more engaging than either. +Remember, then, the infinite advantage of manners; cultivate and improve +your own to the utmost good sense will suggest the great rules to you, +good company will do the rest. Thus you see how much you have to do; and +how little time to do it in: for when you are thrown out into the world, +as in a couple of years you must be, the unavoidable dissipation of +company, and the necessary avocations of some kind of business or other, +will leave you no time to undertake new branches of knowledge: you may, +indeed, by a prudent allotment of your time, reserve some to complete and +finish the building; but you will never find enough to lay new +foundations. I have such an opinion of your understanding, that I am +convinced you are sensible of these truths; and that, however hard and +laborious your present uninterrupted application may seem to you, you +will rather increase than lessen it. For God's sake, my dear boy, do not +squander away one moment of your time, for every moment may be now most +usefully employed. Your future fortune, character, and figure in the +world, entirely depend upon your use or abuse of the two next years. +If you do but employ them well, what may you not reasonably expect to be, +in time? And if you do not, what may I not reasonably fear you will be? +You are the only one I ever knew, of this country, whose education was, +from the beginning, calculated for the department of foreign affairs; +in consequence of which, if you will invariably pursue, and diligently +qualify yourself for that object, you may make yourself absolutely +necessary to the government, and, after having received orders as a +minister abroad, send orders, in your turn, as Secretary of State at +home. Most of our ministers abroad have taken up that department +occasionally, without having ever thought of foreign affairs before; +many of them, without speaking any one foreign language; and all of them +without manners which are absolutely necessary toward being well +received, and making a figure at foreign courts. They do the business +accordingly, that is, very ill: they never get into the secrets of these +courts, for want of insinuation and address: they do not guess at their +views, for want of knowing their interests: and, at last, finding +themselves very unfit for, soon grow weary of their commissions, and are +impatient to return home, where they are but too justly laid aside and +neglected. Every moment's conversation may, if you please, be of use to +you; in this view, every public event, which is the common topic of +conversation, gives you an opportunity of getting some information. For +example, the preliminaries of peace, lately concluded at Aix-la-Chapelle, +will be the common subject of most conversations; in which you will take +care to ask the proper questions: as, what is the meaning of the Assiento +contract for negroes, between England and Spain; what the annual ship; +when stipulated; upon what account suspended, etc. You will likewise +inform yourself about Guastalla, now given to Don Philip, together with +Parma and Placentia; who they belonged to before; what claim or +pretensions Don Philip had to them; what they are worth; in short, +everything concerning them. The cessions made by the Queen of Hungary to +the King of Sardinia, are, by these preliminaries, confirmed and secured +to him: you will inquire, therefore, what they are, and what they are +worth. This is the kind of knowledge which you should be most thoroughly +master of, and in which conversation will help you almost as much as +books: but both are best. There are histories of every considerable +treaty, from that of Westphalia to that of Utrecht, inclusively; all +which I would advise you to read. Pore Bougeant's, of the treaty of +Westphalia, is an excellent one; those of Nimeguen, Ryswick, and Utrecht, +are not so well written; but are, however, very useful. 'L'Histoire des +Traites de Paix', in two volumes, folio, which I recommended to you some +time ago, is a book that you should often consult, when you hear mention +made of any treaty concluded in the seventeenth century. + +Upon the whole, if you have a mind to be considerable, and to shine +hereafter, you must labor hard now. No quickness of parts, no vivacity, +will do long, or go far, without a solid fund of knowledge; and that fund +of knowledge will amply repay all the pains that you can take in +acquiring it. Reflect seriously, within yourself, upon all this, and ask +yourself whether I can have any view, but your interest, in all that I +recommend to you. It is the result of my experience, and flows from that +tenderness and affection with which, while you deserve them, I shall be, +Yours. + +Make my compliments to Mr. Harte, and tell him that I have received his +letter of the 24th, N. S. + + + + +LETTER XLI + +LONDON, May 31, O. S. 1748 + +DEAR BOY: I have received, with great satisfaction, your letter of the +28th N. S., from Dresden: it finishes your short but clear account of the +Reformation which is one of those interesting periods of modern history, +that can not be too much studied nor too minutely known by you. There +are many great events in history, which, when once they are over, leave +things in the situation in which they found them. As, for instance, the +late war; which, excepting the establishment in Italy for Don Philip, +leave things pretty much in state quo; a mutual restitution of all +acquisitions being stipulated by the preliminaries of the peace. Such +events undoubtedly deserve your notice, but yet not so minutely as those, +which are not only important in themselves, but equally (or it may be +more) important by their consequences too: of this latter sort were the +progress of the Christian religion in Europe; the Invasion of the Goths; +the division of the Roman empire into Western and Eastern; the +establishment and rapid progress of Mahometanism; and, lastly, the +Reformation; all which events produced the greatest changes in the +affairs of Europe, and to one or other of which, the present situation of +all the parts of it is to be traced up. + +Next to these, are those events which more immediately effect particular +states and kingdoms, and which are reckoned entirely local, though their +influence may, and indeed very often does, indirectly, extend itself +further, such as civil wars and revolutions, from which a total change in +the form of government frequently flows. The civil wars in England, in +the reign of King Charles I., produced an entire change of the government +here, from a limited monarchy to a commonwealth, at first, and afterward +to absolute power, usurped by Cromwell, under the pretense of protection, +and the title of Protector. + +The Revolution in 1688, instead of changing, preserved one form of +government; which King James II. intended to subvert, and establish +absolute power in the Crown. + +These are the two great epochs in our English history, which I recommend +to your particular attention. + +The league formed by the House of Guise, and fomented by the artifices of +Spain, is a most material part of the history of France. The foundation +of it was laid in the reign of Henry II., but the superstructure was +carried on through the successive reigns of Francis II., Charles IX. and +Henry III., till at last it was crushed, partly, by the arms, but more by +the apostasy of Henry IV. + +In Germany, great events have been frequent, by which the imperial +dignity has always either gotten or lost; and so it they have affected +the constitution of the empire. The House of Austria kept that dignity +to itself for near two hundred years, during which time it was always +attempting extend its power, by encroaching upon the rights and +privileges of the other states of the empire; till at the end of the +bellum tricennale, the treaty of Munster, of which France is guarantee, +fixed the respective claims. + + +Italy has been constantly torn to pieces, from the time of the Goths, by +the Popes and the Anti-popes, severally supported by other great powers +of Europe, more as their interests than as their religion led them; by +the pretensions also of France, and the House of Austria, upon Naples, +Sicily, and the Milanese; not to mention the various lesser causes of +squabbles there, for the little states, such as Ferrara, Parma, +Montserrat, etc. + +The Popes, till lately, have always taken a considerable part, and had +great influence in the affairs of Europe; their excommunications, bulls, +and indulgences, stood instead of armies in the time of ignorance and +bigotry; but now that mankind is better informed, the spiritual authority +of the Pope is not only less regarded, but even despised by the Catholic +princes themselves; and his Holiness is actually little more than Bishop +of Rome, with large temporalities, which he is not likely to keep longer +than till the other greater powers in Italy shall find their conveniency +in taking them from him. Among the modern Popes, Leo the Tenth, +Alexander the Sixth, and Sextus Quintus, deserve your particular notice; +the first, among other things, for his own learning and taste, and for +his encouragement of the reviving arts and sciences in Italy. Under his +protection, the Greek and Latin classics were most excellently translated +into Italian; painting flourished and arrived at its perfection; and +sculpture came so near the ancients, that the works of his time, both in +marble and bronze, are now called Antico-Moderno. + +Alexander the Sixth, together with his natural son Caesar Borgia, was +famous for his wickedness, in which he, and his son too, surpassed all +imagination. Their lives are well worth your reading. They were +poisoned themselves by the poisoned wine which they had prepared for +others; the father died of it, but Caesar recovered. + +Sixtus the Fifth was the son of a swineherd, and raised himself to the +popedom by his abilities: he was a great knave, but an able and singular +one. + +Here is history enough for to-day: you shall have some more soon. Adieu. + + + + +LETTER XLII + +LONDON, June 21, O. S. 1748. + +DEAR BOY: Your very bad enunciation runs so much in my head, and gives me +such real concern, that it will be the subject of this, and, I believe, +of many more letters. I congratulate both you and myself, that, was +informed of it (as I hope) in time to prevent it: and shall ever think +myself, as hereafter you will, I am sure think yourself, infinitely +obliged to Sir Charles Williams for informing me of it. Good God! if +this ungraceful and disagreeable manner of speaking had, either by your +negligence or mine, become habitual to you, as in a couple of years more +it would have been, what a figure would you have made in company, or in a +public assembly? Who would have liked you in the one or attended you; in +the other? Read what Cicero and Quintilian say of enunciation, and see +what a stress they lay upon the gracefulness of it; nay, Cicero goes +further, and even maintains, that a good figure is necessary for an +orator; and particularly that he must not be vastus, that is, overgrown +and clumsy. He shows by it that he knew mankind well, and knew the +powers of an agreeable figure and a graceful, manner. Men, as well as +women, are much oftener led by their hearts than by their understandings. +The way to the heart is through the senses; please their eyes and their +ears and the work is half done. I have frequently known a man's fortune +decided for ever by his first address. If it is pleasing, people are +hurried involuntarily into a persuasion that he has a merit, which +possibly he has not; as, on the other hand, if it is ungraceful, they are +immediately prejudiced against him, and unwilling to allow him the merit +which it may be he has. Nor is this sentiment so unjust and unreasonable +as at first it may seem; for if a man has parts, he must know of what +infinite consequence it is to him to have a graceful manner of speaking, +and a genteel and pleasing address; he will cultivate and improve them to +the utmost. Your figure is a good one; you have no natural defect in the +organs of speech; your address may be engaging, and your manner of +speaking graceful, if you will; so that if you are not so, neither I nor +the world can ascribe it to anything but your want of parts. What is the +constant and just observation as to all actors upon the stage? Is it +not, that those who have the best sense, always speak the best, though +they may happen not to have the best voices? They will speak plainly, +distinctly, and with the proper emphasis, be their voices ever so bad. +Had Roscius spoken QUICK, THICK, and UNGRACEFULLY, I will answer for it, +that Cicero would not have thought him worth the oration which he made in +his favor. Words were given us to communicate our ideas by: and there +must be something inconceivably absurd in uttering them in such a manner +as that either people cannot understand them, or will not desire to +understand them. I tell you, truly and sincerely, that I shall judge of +your parts by your speaking gracefully or ungracefully. If you have +parts, you will never be at rest till you have brought yourself to a +habit of speaking most gracefully; for I aver, that it is in your power-- +You will desire Mr. Harte, that you may read aloud to him every day; and +that he will interrupt and correct you every time that you read too fast, +do not observe the proper stops, or lay a wrong emphasis. You will take +care to open your teeth when you speak; to articulate every word +distinctly; and to beg of Mr. Harte, Mr. Eliot, or whomsoever you speak +to, to remind and stop you, if you ever fall into the rapid and +unintelligible mutter. You will even read aloud to yourself, and time +your utterance to your own ear; and read at first much slower than you +need to do, in order to correct yourself of that shameful trick of +speaking faster than you ought. In short, if you think right, you will +make it your business; your study, and your pleasure to speak well. +Therefore, what I have said in this, and in my last, is more than +sufficient, if you have sense; and ten times more would not be +sufficient, if you have not; so here I rest it. + +Next to graceful speaking, a genteel carriage, and a graceful manner of +presenting yourself, are extremely necessary, for they are extremely +engaging: and carelessness in these points is much more unpardonable in a +young fellow than affectation. It shows an offensive indifference about +pleasing. I am told by one here, who has seen you lately, that you are +awkward in your motions, and negligent of your person: I am sorry for +both; and so will you be, when it will be too late, if you continue so +some time longer. Awkwardness of carriage is very alienating; and a +total negligence of dress and air is an impertinent insult upon custom +and fashion. You remember Mr. ------ very well, I am sure, and you must +consequently remember his, extreme awkwardness: which, I can assure you, +has been a great clog to his parts and merit, that have, with much +difficulty, but barely counterbalanced it at last. Many, to whom I have +formerly commended him, have answered me, that they were sure he could +not have parts, because he was so awkward: so much are people, as I +observed to you before, taken by the eye. Women have great influence as +to a man's fashionable character; and an awkward man will never have +their votes; which, by the way, are very numerous, and much oftener +counted than weighed. You should therefore give some attention to your +dress, and the gracefulness of your motions. I believe, indeed, that you +have no perfect model for either at Leipsig, to form yourself upon; but, +however, do not get a habit of neglecting either; and attend properly to +both, when you go to courts, where they are very necessary, and where you +will have good masters and good models for both. Your exercises of +riding, fencing, and dancing, will civilize and fashion your body and +your limbs, and give you, if you will but take it, 'l'air d'un honnete +homme'. + +I will now conclude with suggesting one reflection to you; which is, that +you should be sensible of your good fortune, in having one who interests +himself enough in you, to inquire into your faults, in order to inform +you of them. Nobody but myself would be so solicitous, either to know or +correct them; so that you might consequently be ignorant of them +yourself; for our own self-love draws a thick veil between us and our +faults. But when you hear yours from me, you may be sure that you hear +them from one who for your sake only desires to correct them; from one +whom you cannot suspect of any, partiality but in your favor; and from +one who heartily wishes that his care of you, as a father, may, in a +little time, render every care unnecessary but that of a friend. Adieu. + +P. S. I condole with you for the untimely and violent death of the +tuneful Matzel. + + + + +LETTER XLIII + +LONDON, July 1, O. S. 1748. + +DEAR Boy: I am extremely well pleased with the course of studies which +Mr. Harte informs me you are now in, and with the degree of application +which he assures me you have to them. It is your interest to do so, as +the advantage will be all your own. My affection for you makes me both +wish and endeavor that you may turn out well; and, according as you do +turn out, I shall either be proud or ashamed of you. But as to mere +interest, in the common acceptation of that word, it would be mine that +you should turn out ill; for you may depend upon it, that whatever you +have from me shall be most exactly proportioned to your desert. Deserve +a great deal, and you shall have a great deal; deserve a little, and you +shall have but a little; and be good for nothing at all, and, I assure +you, you shall have nothing at all. + +Solid knowledge, as I have often told you, is the first and great +foundation of your future fortune and character; for I never mention to +you the two much greater points of Religion and Morality, because I +cannot possibly suspect you as to either of them. This solid knowledge +you are in a fair way of acquiring; you may, if you please; and I will +add, that nobody ever had the means of acquiring it more in their power +than you have. But remember, that manners must adorn knowledge, and +smooth its way through the world. Like a great rough diamond, it may do +very well in a closet by way of curiosity, and also for its intrinsic +value; but it will never be worn or shine if it is not polished. It is +upon this article, I confess, that I suspect you the most, which makes me +recur to it so often; for I fear that you are apt to show too little +attention to everybody, and too much contempt to many. Be convinced, +that there are no persons so insignificant and inconsiderable, but may, +some time or other, have it in their power to be of use to you; which +they certainly will not, if you have once shown them contempt. Wrongs +are often forgiven; but contempt never is. Our pride remembers it +forever. It implies a discovery of weaknesses, which we are much more +careful to conceal than crimes. Many a man will confess his crimes to a +common friend, but I never knew a man who would tell his silly weaknesses +to his most intimate one--as many a friend will tell us our faults +without reserve, who will not so much as hint at our follies; that +discovery is too mortifying to our self-love, either to tell another, +or to be told of one's self. You must, therefore, never expect to hear +of your weaknesses, or your follies, from anybody but me; those I will +take pains to discover, and whenever I do, shall tell you of them. + +Next to manners are exterior graces of person and address, which adorn +manners, as manners adorn knowledge. To say that they please, engage, +and charm, as they most indisputably do, is saying that one should do +everything possible to acquire them. The graceful manner of speaking is, +particularly, what I shall always holloa in your ears, as Hotspur +holloaed MORTIMER to Henry IV., and, like him too, I have aimed to have a +starling taught to say, SPEAK DISTINCTLY AND GRACEFULLY, and send him +you, to replace your loss of the unfortunate Matzel, who, by the way, I +am told, spoke his language very distinctly and gracefully. + +As by this time you must be able to write German tolerably well, I desire +that you will not fail to write a German letter, in the German character, +once every fortnight, to Mr. Grevenkop: which will make it more familiar +to you, and enable me to judge how you improve in it. + +Do not forget to answer me the questions, which I asked you a great while +ago, in relation to the constitution of Saxony; and also the meaning of +the words 'Landsassii and Amptsassii'. + +I hope you do not forget to inquire into the affairs of trade and +commerce, nor to get the best accounts you can of the commodities and +manufactures, exports and imports of the several countries where you may +be, and their gross value. + +I would likewise have you attend to the respective coins, gold, silver, +copper, etc., and their value, compared with our coin's; for which +purpose I would advise you to put up, in a separate piece of paper, one +piece of every kind, wherever you shall be, writing upon it the name and +the value. Such a collection will be curious enough in itself; and that +sort of knowledge will be very useful to you in your way of business, +where the different value of money often comes in question. + +I am doing to Cheltenham to-morrow, less for my health; which is pretty +good, than for the dissipation and amusement of the journey. I shall +stay about a fortnight. + +L'Abbe Mably's 'Droit de l'Europe', which Mr. Harte is so kind as to send +me, is worth your reading. Adieu. + + + + +LETTER XLIV. + +CHELTENHAM, July 6, O. S. 1748. + +DEAR BOY: Your school-fellow, Lord Pulteney,--[Only child of the Right +Hon. William Pulteney, Earl of Bath. He died before his father.]-- set +out last week for Holland, and will, I believe, be at Leipsig soon after +this letter: you will take care to be extremely civil to him, and to do +him any service that you can while you stay there; let him know that I +wrote to you to do so. As being older, he should know more than you; in +that case, take pains to get up to him; but if he does not, take care not +to let him feel his inferiority. He will find it out of himself without +your endeavors; and that cannot be helped: but nothing is more insulting, +more mortifying and less forgiven, than avowedly to take pains to make a +man feel a mortifying inferiority in knowledge, rank, fortune, etc. In +the two last articles, it is unjust, they not being in his power: and in +the first it is both ill-bred and ill-natured. Good-breeding, and good- +nature, do incline us rather to raise and help people up to ourselves, +than to mortify and depress them, and, in truth, our own private interest +concurs in it, as it is making ourselves so many friends, instead of so +many enemies. The constant practice of what the French call 'les +Attentions', is a most necessary ingredient in the art of pleasing; they +flatter the self-love of those to whom they are shown; they engage, they +captivate, more than things of much greater importance. The duties of +social life every man is obliged to discharge; but these attentions are +voluntary acts, the free-will offerings of good-breeding and good. +nature; they are received, remembered, and returned as such. Women, +particularly, have a right to them; and any omission in that respect is +downright ill-breeding. + +Do you employ your, whole time in the most useful manner? I do not mean, +do you study all day long? nor do I require it. But I mean, do you make +the most of the respective allotments of your time? While you study, is +it with attention? When you divert yourself, is it with spirit? Your +diversions may, if you please, employ some part of your time very +usefully. It depends entirely upon the nature of them. If they are +futile and frivolous it is time worse than lost, for they will give you +an habit of futility. All gaming, field-sports, and such sort of +amusements, where neither the understanding nor the senses have the least +share, I look upon as frivolous, and as the resources of little minds, +who either do not think, or do not love to think. But the pleasures of a +man of parts either flatter the senses or improve the mind; I hope at +least, that there is not one minute of the day in which you do nothing at +all. Inaction at your age is unpardonable. + +Tell me what Greek and Latin books you can now read with ease. Can you +open Demosthenes at a venture, and understand him? Can you get through +an "Oration" of Cicero, or a "Satire" of Horace, without difficulty? +What German books do you read, to make yourself master of that language? +And what French books do you read for your amusement? Pray give me a +particular and true account of all this; for I am not indifferent as to +any one thing that relates to you. As, for example, I hope you take +great care to keep your whole person, particularly your mouth, very +clean; common decency requires it, besides that great cleanliness is very +conducive to health. But if you do not keep your mouth excessively +clean, by washing it carefully every morning, and after every meal, it +will not only be apt to smell, which is very disgusting and indecent, but +your teeth will decay and ache, which is both a great loss and a great +pain. A spruceness of dress is also very proper and becoming at your +age; as the negligence of it implies an indifference about pleasing, +which does not become a young fellow. To do whatever you do at all to +the utmost perfection, ought to be your aim at this time of your life; +if you can reach perfection, so much the better; but at least, by +attempting it, you will get much nearer than if you never attempted it at +all. + +Adieu! SPEAK GRACEFULLY AND DISTINCTLY if you intend to converse ever +with, Yours. + +P. S. As I was making up my letter, I received yours of the 6th, O. S. +I like your dissertation upon Preliminary Articles and Truces. Your +definitions of both are true. Those are matters which I would have you +be master of; they belong to your future department, But remember too, +that they are matters upon which you will much oftener have occasion to +speak than to write; and that, consequently, it is full as necessary to +speak gracefully and distinctly upon them as to write clearly and +elegantly. I find no authority among the ancients, nor indeed among the +moderns, for indistinct and unintelligible utterance. The Oracles indeed +meant to be obscure; but then it was by the ambiguity of the expression, +and not by the inarticulation of the words. For if people had not +thought, at least, they understood them, they would neither have +frequented nor presented them as they did. There was likewise among the +ancients, and is still among the moderns, a sort of people called +Ventriloqui, who speak from their bellies, on make the voice seem to come +from some other part of the room than that where they are. But these +Ventriloqui speak very distinctly and intelligibly. The only thing, +then, that I can find like a precedent for your way of speaking (and I +would willingly help you to one if I could) is the modern art 'de +persifler', practiced with great success by the 'Petits maitres' at +Paris. This noble art consists in picking out some grave, serious man, +who neither understands nor expects, raillery, and talking to him very +quick, and inarticulate sounds; while the man, who thinks that he did not +hear well; or attend sufficiently, says, 'Monsieur? or 'Plait-il'? a +hundred times; which affords matter of much mirth to those ingenious +gentlemen. Whether you would follow, this precedent, I submit to you. + +Have you carried no English or French comedies of tragedies with you to +Leipsig? If you have, I insist upon your reciting some passages of them +every day to Mr. Harte in the most distinct and graceful manner, as if +you were acting them upon a stage. + +The first part of my, letter is more than an answer to your questions +concerning Lord Pulteney. + + + + +LETTER XLV + +LONDON, July, 20, O. S. 1748 + +DEAR BOY: There are two sorts of understandings; one of which hinders a +man from ever being considerable, and the other commonly makes him +ridiculous; I mean the lazy mind, and the trifling, frivolous mind: +Yours, I hope, is neither. The lazy mind will not take the trouble of +going to the bottom of anything; but, discouraged by the first +difficulties (and everything worth knowing or having is attained with +some), stops short, contents, itself with easy, and consequently +superficial knowledge, and prefers a great degree of ignorance to a small +degree of trouble. These people either think, or represent most things +as impossible; whereas, few things are so to industry and activity. But +difficulties seem to them, impossibilities, or at least they pretend to +think them so--by way of excuse for their laziness. An hour's attention +to the same subject is too laborious for them; they take everything in +the light in which it first presents itself; never consider, it in all +its different views; and, in short, never think it through. The +consequence of this is that when they come to speak upon these subjects, +before people who have considered them with attention; they only discover +their own ignorance and laziness, and lay themselves open to answers that +put them in confusion. Do not then be discouraged by the first +difficulties, but 'contra audentior ito'; and resolve to go to the bottom +of all those things which every gentleman ought to know well. Those arts +or sciences which are peculiar to certain professions, need not be deeply +known by those who are not intended for those professions. As, for +instance; fortification and navigation; of both which, a superficial and +general knowledge, such as the common course of conversation, with a very +little inquiry on your part, will give you, is sufficient. Though, by +the way, a little more knowledge of fortification may be of some use to +you; as the events of war, in sieges, make many of the terms, of that +science occur frequently in common conversation; and one would be sorry +to say, like the Marquis de Mascarille in Moliere's 'Precieuses +Ridicules', when he hears of 'une demie lune, Ma foi! c'etoit bien une +lune toute entiere'. But those things which every, gentleman, +independently of profession, should know, he ought to know well, and dive +into all the depth of them. Such are languages, history, and geography +ancient and modern, philosophy, rational logic; rhetoric; and, for you +particularly, the constitutions and the civil and military state of every +country in Europe: This, I confess; is a pretty large circle of +knowledge, attended with some difficulties, and requiring some trouble; +which, however; an active and industrious mind will overcome; and be +amply repaid. The trifling and frivolous mind is always busied, but to +little purpose; it takes little objects for great ones, and throws away +upon trifles that time and attention which only important things deserve. +Knick-knacks; butterflies; shells, insects, etc., are the subjects of +their most serious researches. They contemplate the dress, not the +characters of the company they keep. They attend more to the decorations +of a play than the sense of it; and to the ceremonies of a court more +than to its politics. Such an employment of time is an absolute loss of +it. You have now, at most, three years to employ either well or ill; +for, as I have often told you, you will be all your life what you shall +be three years hence. For God's sake then reflect. Will you throw this +time away either in laziness, or in trifles? Or will you not rather +employ every moment of it in a manner that must so soon reward you with +so much pleasure, figure, and character? I cannot, I will not doubt of +your choice. Read only useful books; and never quit a subject till you +are thoroughly master of it, but read and inquire on till then. When you +are in company, bring the conversation to some useful subject, but 'a +portee' of that company. Points of history, matters of literature, the +customs of particular countries, the several orders of knighthood, as +Teutonic, Maltese, etc., are surely better subjects of conversation, than +the weather, dress, or fiddle-faddle stories, that carry no information +along with them. The characters of kings and great men are only to be +learned in conversation; for they are never fairly written during their +lives. This, therefore, is an entertaining and instructive subject of +conversation, and will likewise give you an opportunity of observing how +very differently characters are given, from the different passions and +views of those who give them. Never be ashamed nor afraid of asking +questions: for if they lead to information, and if you accompany them +with some excuse, you will never be reckoned an impertinent or rude +questioner. All those things, in the common course of life, depend +entirely upon the manner; and, in that respect, the vulgar saying is +true, 'That one man can better steal a horse, than another look over the +hedge.' There are few things that may not be said, in some manner or +other; either in a seeming confidence, or a genteel irony, or introduced +with wit; and one great part of the knowledge of the world consists in +knowing when and where to make use of these different manners. The +graces of the person, the countenance, and the way of speaking, +contribute so much to this, that I am convinced, the very same thing, +said by a genteel person in an engaging way, and GRACEFULLY and +distinctly spoken, would please, which would shock, if MUTTERED out by an +awkward figure, with a sullen, serious countenance. The poets always +represent Venus as attended by the three Graces, to intimate that even +beauty will not do without: I think they should have given Minerva three +also; for without them, I am sure learning is very unattractive. Invoke +them, then, DISTINCTLY, to accompany all your words and motions. Adieu. + +P. S. Since I wrote what goes before, I have received your letter, OF NO +DATE, with the inclosed state of the Prussian forces: of which, I hope, +you have kept a copy; this you should lay in a 'portefeuille', and add to +it all the military establishments that you can get of other states and +kingdoms: the Saxon establishment you may, doubtless, easily find. By +the way, do not forget to send me answers to the questions which I sent +you some time ago, concerning both the civil and the ecclesiastical +affairs of Saxony. + +Do not mistake me, and think I only mean that you should speak elegantly +with regard to style, and the purity of language; but I mean, that you +should deliver and pronounce what you say gracefully and distinctly; for +which purpose I will have you frequently read very loud, to Mr. Harte, +recite parts of orations, and speak passages of plays; for, without a +graceful and pleasing enunciation, all your elegancy of style, in +speaking, is not worth one farthing. + +I am very glad that Mr. Lyttelton approves of my new house, and +particularly of my CANONICAL--[James Brydges, duke of Chandos, built a +most magnificent and elegant house at CANNONS, about eight miles from +London. It was superbly furnished with fine pictures, statues, etc., +which, after his death, were sold, by auction. Lord Chesterfield +purchased the hall-pillars, the floor; and staircase with double +flig1hts; which are now m Chesterfield House, London.]--pillars. My bust +of Cicero is a very fine one, and well preserved; it will have the best +place in my library, unless at your return you bring me over as good a +modern head of your own, which I should like still better. I can tell +you, that I shall examine it as attentively as ever antiquary did an old +one. + +Make my compliments to Mr. Harte, at whose recovery I rejoice. + + + + +LETTER XLVI + +LONDON, August 2, O. S. 1748. + +DEAR BOY: Duval the jeweler, is arrived, and was with me three or four +days ago. You will easily imagine that I asked him a few questions +concerning you; and I will give you the satisfaction of knowing that, +upon the whole, I was very well pleased with the account he gave me. +But, though he seemed to be much in your interest, yet he fairly owned to +me that your utterance was rapid, thick, and ungraceful. I can add +nothing to what I have already said upon this subject; but I can and do +repeat the absolute necessity of speaking distinctly and gracefully, or +else of not speaking at all, and having recourse to signs. He tells me +that you are pretty fat for one of your age: this you should attend to in +a proper way; for if, while very young; you should grow fat, it would be +troublesome, unwholesome, and ungraceful; you should therefore, when you +have time, take very strong exercise, and in your diet avoid fattening +things. All malt liquors fatten, or at least bloat; and I hope you do +not deal much in them. I look upon wine and water to be, in every +respect; much wholesomer. + +Duval says there is a great deal of very good company at Madame +Valentin's and at another lady's, I think one Madame Ponce's, at Leipsig. +Do you ever go to either of those houses, at leisure times? It would +not, in my mind, be amiss if you did, and would give you a habit of +ATTENTIONS; they are a tribute which all women expect; and which all men, +who would be well received by them; must pay. And, whatever the mind may +be, manners at least are certainly improved by the company of women of +fashion. + +I have formerly told you, that you should inform yourself of the several +orders, whether military or religious, of the respective countries where +you may be. The Teutonic Order is the great Order of Germany, of which I +send you inclosed a short account. It may serve to suggest questions to +you for more particular inquiries as to the present state of it, of which +you ought to be minutely informed. The knights, at present, make vows, +of which they observe none, except it be that of not marrying; and their +only object now is, to arrive, by seniority, at the Commanderies in their +respective provinces; which are, many of them, very lucrative. The Order +of Malta is, by a very few years, prior to the Teutonic, and owes its +foundation to the same causes. These' knights were first called Knights +Hospitaliers of St. John. of Jerusalem, then Knights of Rhodes; and in +the year 1530, Knights of Malta, the Emperor Charles V. having granted +them that island, upon condition of their defending his island of Sicily +against the Turks, which they effectually did. L'Abbe de Vertot has +written the history of Malta, but it is the least valuable of all his +works; and moreover, too long for you to read. But there is a short +history, of all the military orders whatsoever, which I would advise you +to get, as there is also of all the religious orders; both which. are +worth your having and consulting, whenever you meet with any of them in +your way; as, you will very frequently in Catholic countries. For my own +part, I find that I remember things much better, when I recur, to my +books for them, upon some particular occasion, than by reading them 'tout +de suite'. As, for example, if I were to read the history of all the +military or religious orders, regularly one after another, the latter +puts the former out of my head; but when I read the history of any one, +upon account, of its having been the object of conversation or dispute, +I remember it much better. It is the same in geography, where, looking +for any particular place in the map, upon some particular account, fixes +it in one's memory forever. I hope you have worn out your maps by +frequent, use of that sort. Adieu. + + + A SHORT ACCOUNT OF THE TEUTONIC ORDER + +In the ages of ignorance, which is always the mother of superstition, it +was thought not only just, but meritorious, to propagate religion by fire +and sword, and to, take away, the, lives and properties of unbelievers. +This enthusiasm produced the several crusades, in the 11th, 12th, and +following centuries, the object of which was, to recover the Holy Land +out of, the hands of the Infidels, who, by the way, were the lawful +possessors. Many honest enthusiasts engaged in those crusades, from a +mistaken principle of religion, and from the pardons granted by the Popes +for all the sins of those pious adventurers; but many more knaves adopted +these holy wars, in hopes of conquest and plunder. After Godfrey of +Bouillon, at the head of these knaves and fools, had taken Jerusalem, in +the year 1099, Christians of various nations remained in that city; among +the rest, one good honest German, that took particular care of his +countrymen who came thither in pilgrimages. He built a house for their +reception, and an hospital dedicated to the Virgin. This little +establishment soon became a great one, by the enthusiasm of many +considerable people who engaged in it, in order to drive the Saracens out +of the Holy Land. This society then began to take its first form; and +its members were called Marian Teutonic Knights. Marian, from their +chapel sacred to the Virgin Mary; Teutonic, from the German, or Teuton, +who was the author of it, and Knights from the wars which they were to +carry on against the Infidels. + +These knights behaved themselves so bravely, at first; that Duke +Frederick of Swabia, who was general of the German army in the Holy Land, +sent, in the year 1191, to the Emperor Henry VI. and Pope Celestine III. +to desire that this brave and charitable fraternity might be incorporated +into a regular order of knighthood; which was accordingly done, and rules +and a particular habit were given them. Forty knights, all of noble +families, were at first created by the King of Jerusalem and other +princes then in the army. The first grand master of this order was Henry +Wallpot, of a noble family upon the Rhine. This order soon began to +operate in Europe; drove all the Pagans out of Prussia, and took +possession of it. Soon after, they got Livonia and Courland, and invaded +even Russia, where they introduced the Christian religion. In 1510, they +elected Albert, Marquis of Bradenburg, for their grand master, who, +turning Protestant, soon afterward took Prussia from the order, and kept +it for himself, with the consent of Sigismund, King of Poland, of whom it +was to hold. He then quitted his grand mastership and made himself +hereditary Duke of that country, which is thence called Ducal Prussia. +This order now consists of twelve provinces; viz., Alsatia, Austria, +Coblentz, and Etsch, which are the four under the Prussian jurisdiction; +Franconia, Hesse, Biessen, Westphalia, Lorraine, Thuringia, Saxony, and +Utrecht, which eight are of the German jurisdiction. The Dutch now +possess all that the order had in Utrecht. Every one of the provinces +have their particular Commanderies; and the most ancient of these +Commandeurs is called the Commandeur Provincial. These twelve +Commandeurs are all subordinate to the Grand Master of Germany as their +chief, and have the right of electing the grand master. The elector of +Cologne is at present 'Grand Maitre'. + +This order, founded by mistaken Christian zeal, upon the anti-Christian +principles of violence and persecution, soon grew strong by the weakness +and ignorance of the time; acquired unjustly great possessions, of which +they justly lost the greatest part by their ambition and cruelty, which +made them feared and hated by all their neighbors. + +I have this moment received your letter of the 4th, N. S., and have only +time to tell you that I can by no means agree to your cutting off your +hair. I am very sure that your headaches cannot proceed from thence. +And as for the pimples upon your head, they are only owing to the heat of +the season, and consequently will not last long. But your own hair is, +at your age, such an ornament, and a wig, however well made, such a +disguise, that I will upon no account whatsoever have you cut off your +hair. Nature did not give it to you for nothing, still less to cause you +the headache. Mr. Eliot's hair grew so ill and bushy, that he was in the +right to cut it off. But you have not the same reason. + + + + +LETTER XLVII + +LONDON, August 23, O. S. 1748. + +DEAR BOY: Your friend, Mr. Eliot, has dined with me twice since I +returned here, and I can say with truth that while I had the seals, +I never examined or sifted a state prisoner with so much care and +curiosity as I did him. Nay, I did more; for, contrary to the laws of +this country, I gave him in some manner, the QUESTION ordinary and +extraordinary; and I have infinite pleasure in telling you that the rack +which I put him to, did not extort from him one single word that was not +such as I wished to hear of you. I heartily congratulate you upon such +an advantageous testimony, from so creditable a witness. 'Laudati a +laudato viro', is one of the greatest pleasures and honors a rational +being can have; may you long continue to deserve it! Your aversion to +drinking and your dislike to gaming, which Mr. Eliot assures me are both +very strong, give me, the greatest joy imaginable, for your sake: as the +former would ruin both your constitution and understanding, and the +latter your fortune and character. Mr. Harte wrote me word some time +ago, and Mr. Eliot confirms it now, that you employ your pin money in a +very different manner, from that in which pin money is commonly lavished: +not in gew-gaws and baubles, but in buying good and useful books. This +is an excellent symptom, and gives me very good hopes. Go on thus, my +dear boy, but for these next two years, and I ask no more. You must then +make such a figure and such a fortune in the world as I wish you, and as +I have taken all these pains to enable you to do. After that time I +allow you to be as idle as ever you please; because I am sure that you +will not then please to be so at all. The ignorant and the weak are only +idle; but those who have once acquired a good stock of knowledge, always +desire to increase it. Knowledge is like power in this respect, that +those who have the most, are most desirous of having more. It does not +clog, by possession, but increases desire; which is the case of very few +pleasures. + +Upon receiving this congratulatory letter, and reading your own praises, +I am sure that it must naturally occur to you, how great a share of them +you owe to Mr. Harte's care and attention; and, consequently, that your +regard and affection for him must increase, if there be room for it, in +proportion as you reap, which you do daily, the fruits of his labors. + +I must not, however, conceal from you that there was one article in which +your own witness, Mr. Eliot, faltered; for, upon my questioning him home +as to your manner of speaking, he could not say that your utterance was +either distinct or graceful. I have already said so much to you upon +this point that I can add nothing. I will therefore only repeat this +truth, which is, that if you will not speak distinctly and graceful, +nobody will desire to hear you. I am glad to learn that Abbe Mably's +'Droit Public de l'Europe' makes a part of your evening amusements. It +is a very useful book, and gives a clear deduction of the affairs of +Europe, from the treaty of Munster to this time. Pray read it with +attention, and with the proper maps; always recurring to them for the +several countries or towns yielded, taken, or restored. Pyre Bougeant's +third volume will give you the best idea of the treaty of Munster, and +open to you the several views of the belligerent' and contracting +parties, and there never were greater than at that time. The House of +Austria, in the war immediately preceding that treaty, intended to make +itself absolute in the empire, and to overthrow the rights of the +respective states of it. The view of France was to weaken and dismember +the House of Austria to such a degree, as that it should no longer be a +counterbalance to that of Bourbon. Sweden wanted possessions on the +continent of Germany, not only to supply the necessities of its own poor +and barren country, but likewise to hold the balance in the empire +between the House of Austria and the States. The House of Brandenburg +wanted to aggrandize itself by pilfering in the fire; changed sides +occasionally, and made a good bargain at last; for I think it got, at the +peace, nine or ten bishoprics secularized. So that we may date, from the +treaty of Munster, the decline of the House of Austria, the great power +of the House of Bourbon, and the aggrandizement of that of Bradenburg: +which, I am much mistaken, if it stops where it is now. + +Make my compliments to Lord Pulteney, to whom I would have you be not +only attentive, but useful, by setting him (in case he wants it) a good +example of application and temperance. I begin to believe that, as I +shall be proud of you, others will be proud too of imitating you: Those +expectations of mine seem now so well grounded, that my disappointment, +and consequently my anger, will be so much the greater if they fail; but +as things stand now, I am most affectionately and tenderly, Yours. + + + + +LETTER XLVIII + +LONDON, August 30, O. S. 1748 + +DEAR BOY: Your reflections upon the conduct of France, from the treaty of +Munster to this time, are very just; and I am very glad to find, by them, +that you not only read, but that you think and reflect upon what you +read. Many great readers load their memories, without exercising their +judgments; and make lumber-rooms of their heads instead of furnishing +them usefully; facts are heaped upon facts without order or distinction, +and may justly be said to compose that + + '-----Rudis indigestaque moles + Quem dixere chaos'. + +Go on, then, in the way of reading that you are in; take nothing for +granted, upon the bare authority of the author; but weigh and consider, +in your own mind, the probability of the facts and the justness of the +reflections. Consult different authors upon the same facts, and form +your opinion upon the greater or lesser degree of probability arising +from the whole, which, in my mind, is the utmost stretch of historical +faith; certainty (I fear) not being to be found. When a historian +pretends to give you the causes and motives of events, compare those +causes and motives with the characters and interests of the parties +concerned, and judge for yourself whether they correspond or not. +Consider whether you cannot assign others more probable; and in that +examination, do not despise some very mean and trifling causes of the +actions of great men; for so various and inconsistent is human nature, +so strong and changeable are our passions, so fluctuating are our wills, +and so much are our minds influenced by the accidents of our bodies that +every man is more the man of the day, than a regular consequential +character. The best have something bad, and something little; the worst +have something good, and sometimes something great; for I do not believe +what Velleius Paterculus (for the sake of saying a pretty thing) says of +Scipio, 'Qui nihil non laudandum aut fecit, aut dixit, aut sensit'. As +for the reflections of historians, with which they think it necessary to +interlard their histories, or at least to conclude their chapters (and +which, in the French histories, are always introduced with a 'tant il est +vrai', and in the English, SO TRUE IT IS, do not adopt them implicitly +upon the credit of the author, but analyze them yourself, and judge +whether they are true or not. + +But to return to the politics of France, from which I have digressed. +You have certainly made one further reflection, of an advantage which +France has, over and above its abilities in the cabinet and the skill of +its negotiators, which is (if I may use the expression) its SOLENESS, +continuity of riches and power within itself, and the nature of its +government. Near twenty millions of people, and the ordinary revenue of +above thirteen millions sterling a year, are at the absolute disposal of +the Crown. This is what no other power in Europe can say; so that +different powers must now unite to make a balance against France; which +union, though formed upon the principle of their common interest, can +never be so intimate as to compose a machine so compact and simple as +that of one great kingdom, directed by one will, and moved by one +interest. The Allied Powers (as we have constantly seen) have, besides +the common and declared object of their alliance, some separate and +concealed view to which they often sacrifice the general one; which makes +them, either directly or indirectly, pull different ways. Thus, the +design upon Toulon failed in the year 1706, only from the secret view of +the House of Austria upon Naples: which made the Court of Vienna, +notwithstanding the representations of the other allies to the contrary, +send to Naples the 12,000 men that would have done the business at +Toulon. In this last war too, the same causes had the same effects: the +Queen of Hungary in secret thought of nothing but recovering of Silesia, +and what she had lost in Italy; and, therefore, never sent half that +quota which she promised, and we paid for, into Flanders; but left that +country to the maritime powers to defend as they could. The King of +Sardinia's real object was Savona and all the Riviera di Ponente; for +which reason he concurred so lamely in the invasion of Provence, where +the Queen of Hungary, likewise, did not send one-third of the force +stipulated, engrossed as she was by her oblique views upon the plunder of +Genoa, and the recovery of Naples. Insomuch that the expedition into +Provence, which would have distressed France to the greatest degree, and +have caused a great detachment from their army in Flanders, failed +shamefully, for want of every one thing necessary for its success. +Suppose, therefore, any four or five powers who, all together, shall be +equal, or even a little superior, in riches and strength to that one +power against which they are united; the advantage will still be greatly +on the side of that single power, because it is but one. The power and +riches of Charles V. were, in themselves, certainly superior to those of +Frances I., and yet, upon the whole, he was not an overmatch for him. +Charles V.'s dominions, great as they were, were scattered and remote +from each other; their constitutions different; wherever he did not +reside, disturbances arose; whereas the compactness of France made up the +difference in the strength. This obvious reflection convinced me of the +absurdity of the treaty of Hanover, in 1725, between France and England, +to which the Dutch afterward acceded; for it was made upon the +apprehensions, either real or pretended, that the marriage of Don Carlos +with the eldest archduchess, now Queen of Hungary, was settled in the +treaty of Vienna, of the same year, between Spain and the late Emperor +Charles VI., which marriage, those consummate politicians said would +revive in Europe the exorbitant power of Charles V. I am sure, I +heartily wish it had; as, in that case, there had been, what there +certainly is not now, one power in Europe to counterbalance that of +France; and then the maritime powers would, in reality, have held the +balance of Europe in their hands. Even supposing that the Austrian power +would then have been an overmatch for that of France (which, by the way, +is not clear), the weight of the maritime powers, then thrown into the +scale of France, would infallibly have made the balance at least even. +In which case too, the moderate efforts of the maritime powers on the +side of France would have been sufficient; whereas now, they are obliged +to exhaust and beggar themselves; and that too ineffectually, in hopes to +support the shattered; beggared, and insufficient House of Austria. + +This has been a long political dissertation; but I am informed that +political subjects are your favorite ones; which I am glad of, +considering your destination. You do well to get your materials all +ready, before you begin your work. As you buy and (I am told) read books +of this kind, I will point out two or three for your purchase and +perusal; I am not sure that I have not mentioned them before, but that is +no matter, if you have not got them. 'Memoires pour servir a l'Histoire +du 17ieme Siecle', is a most useful book for you to recur to for all the +facts and chronology of that country : it is in four volumes octavo, and +very correct and exact. If I do not mistake, I have formerly recommended +to you, 'Les Memoires du Cardinal de Retz'; however, if you have not yet +read them, pray do, and with the attention which they deserve. You will +there find the best account of a very interesting period of the minority +of Lewis XIV. The characters are drawn short, but in a strong and +masterly manner; and the political reflections are the only just and +practical ones that I ever saw in print: they are well worth your +transcribing. 'Le Commerce des Anciens, par Monsieur Huet. Eveque +d'Avranche', in one little volume octavo, is worth your perusal, as +commerce is a very considerable part of political knowledge. I need not, +I am sure, suggest to you, when you read the course of commerce, either +of the ancients or of the moderns, to follow it upon your map; for there +is no other way of remembering geography correctly, but by looking +perpetually in the map for the places one reads of, even though one knows +before, pretty near, where they are. + +Adieu! As all the accounts which I receive of you grow better and better, +so I grow more and more affectionately, Yours. + + + + +LETTER XLIX + +LONDON, September 5, O. S. 1748. + +DEAR BOY: I have received yours, with the inclosed German letter to Mr. +Gravenkop, which he assures me is extremely well written, considering the +little time that you have applied yourself to that language. As you have +now got over the most difficult part, pray go on diligently, and make +yourself absolutely master of the rest. Whoever does not entirely +possess a language, will never appear to advantage, or even equal to +himself, either in speaking or writing it. His ideas are fettered, and +seem imperfect or confused, if he is not master of all the words and +phrases necessary to express them. I therefore desire, that you will not +fail writing a German letter once every fortnight to Mr. Gravenkop; which +will make the writing of that language familiar to you; and moreover, +when you shall have left Germany and be arrived at Turin, I shall require +you to write even to me in German; that you may not forget with ease what +you have with difficulty learned. I likewise desire, that while you are +in Germany, you will take all opportunities of conversing in German, +which is the only way of knowing that, or any other language, accurately. +You will also desire your German master to teach you the proper titles +and superscriptions to be used to people of all ranks; which is a point +so material, in Germany, that I have known many a letter returned +unopened, because one title in twenty has been omitted in the direction. + +St. Thomas's day now draws near, when you are to leave Saxony and go to +Berlin; and I take it for granted, that if anything is yet wanting to +complete your knowledge of the state of that electorate, you will not +fail to procure it before you go away. I do not mean, as you will easily +believe, the number of churches, parishes, or towns; but I mean the +constitution, the revenues, the troops, and the trade of that electorate. +A few questions, sensibly asked, of sensible people, will produce you the +necessary informations; which I desire you will enter in your little +book, Berlin will be entirely a new scene to you, and I look upon it, in +a manner, as your first step into the great world; take care that step be +not a false one, and that you do not stumble at the threshold. You will +there be in more company than you have yet been; manners and attentions +will therefore be more necessary. Pleasing in company is the only way of +being pleased in it yourself. Sense and knowledge are the first and +necessary foundations for pleasing in company; but they will by no means +do alone, and they will never be perfectly welcome if they are not +accompanied with manners and attentions. You will best acquire these by +frequenting the companies of people of fashion; but then you must resolve +to acquire them, in those companies, by proper care and observation; for +I have known people, who, though they have frequented good company all +their lifetime, have done it in so inattentive and unobserving a manner, +as to be never the better for it, and to remain as disagreeable, as +awkward, and as vulgar, as if they had never seen any person of fashion. +When you go into good company (by good company is meant the people of the +first fashion of the place observe carefully their turn, their manners, +their address; and conform your own to them. But this is not all +neither; go deeper still; observe their characters, and pray, as far as +you can, into both their hearts and their heads. Seek for their +particular merit, their predominant passion, or their prevailing +weakness; and you will then know what to bait your hook with to catch +them. Man is a composition of so many, and such various ingredients, +that it requires both time and care to analyze him: for though we have +all the same ingredients in our general composition, as reason, will, +passions, and appetites; yet the different proportions and combinations +of them in each individual, produce that infinite variety of characters, +which, in some particular or other, distinguishes every individual from +another. Reason ought to direct the whole, but seldom does. And he who +addresses himself singly to another man's reason, without endeavoring to +engage his heart in his interest also, is no more likely to succeed, than +a man who should apply only to a king's nominal minister, and neglect his +favorite. I will recommend to your attentive perusal, now that you are +going into the world, two books, which will let you as much into the +characters of men, as books can do. I mean, 'Les Reflections Morales de +Monsieur de la Rochefoucault, and Les Caracteres de la Bruyere': but +remember, at the same time, that I only recommend them to you as the best +general maps to assist you in your journey, and not as marking out every +particular turning and winding that you will meet with. There your own +sagacity and observation must come to their aid. La Rochefoucault, is, +I know, blamed, but I think without reason, for deriving all our actions +from the source of self-love. For my own part, I see a great deal of +truth, and no harm at all, in that opinion. It is certain that we seek +our own happiness in everything we do; and it is as certain, that we can +only find it in doing well, and in conforming all our, actions to the +rule of right reason, which is the great law of nature. It is only a +mistaken self-love that is a blamable motive, when we take the immediate +and indiscriminate gratification of a passion, or appetite, for real +happiness. But am I blamable if I do a good action, upon account of the +happiness which that honest consciousness will give me? Surely not. +On the contrary, that pleasing consciousness is a proof of my virtue. +The reflection which is the most censured in Monsieur de la +Rochefoucault's book as a very ill-natured one, is this, 'On trouve dans +le malheur de son meilleur ami, quelque chose qui ne des plait pas'. And +why not? Why may I not feel a very tender and real concern for the +misfortune of my friend, and yet at the same time feel a pleasing +consciousness at having discharged my duty to him, by comforting and +assisting him to the utmost of my power in that misfortune? Give me but +virtuous actions, and I will not quibble and chicane about the motives. +And I will give anybody their choice of these two truths, which amount to +the same thing: He who loves himself best is the honestest man; or, The +honestest man loves himself best. + +The characters of La Bruyere are pictures from the life; most of them +finely drawn, and highly colored. Furnish your mind with them first, and +when you meet with their likeness, as you will every day, they will +strike you the more. You will compare every feature with the original; +and both will reciprocally help you to discover the beauties and the +blemishes. + +As women are a considerable, or, at least a pretty numerous part of +company; and as their suffrages go a great way toward establishing a +man's character in the fashionable part of the world (which is of great +importance to the fortune and figure he proposes to make in it), it is +necessary to please them. I will therefore, upon this subject, let you +into certain Arcana that will be very useful for you to know, but which +you must, with the utmost care, conceal and never seem to know. Women, +then, are only children of a larger growth; they have an entertaining +tattle, and sometimes wit; but for solid reasoning, good sense, I never +knew in my life one that had it, or who reasoned or acted consequentially +for four-and-twenty hours together. Some little passion or humor always +breaks upon their best resolutions. Their beauty neglected or +controverted, their age increased, or their supposed understandings +depreciated, instantly kindles their little passions, and overturns any +system of consequential conduct, that in their most reasonable moments +they might have been capable of forming. A man of sense only trifles +with them, plays with them, humors and flatters them, as he does with a +sprightly forward child; but he neither consults them about, nor trusts +them with serious matters; though he often makes them believe that he +does both; which is the thing in the world that they are proud of; for +they love mightily to be dabbling in business (which by the way they +always spoil); and being justly distrustful that men in general look upon +them in a trifling light, they almost adore that man who talks more +seriously to them, and who seems to consult and trust them; I say, who +seems; for weak men really do, but wise ones only seem to do it. No +flattery is either too high or too low for them. They will greedily +swallow the highest, and gratefully accept of the lowest; and you may +safely flatter any woman from her understanding down to the exquisite +taste of her fan. Women who are either indisputably beautiful, or +indisputably ugly, are best flattered, upon the score of their +understandings; but those who are in a state of mediocrity, are best +flattered upon their beauty, or at least their graces; for every woman +who is not absolutely ugly thinks herself handsome; but not hearing often +that she is so, is the more grateful and the more obliged to the few who +tell her so; whereas a decided and conscious beauty looks upon every +tribute paid to her beauty only as her due; but wants to shine, and to be +considered on the side of her understanding; and a woman who is ugly +enough to know that she is so, knows that she has nothing left for it but +her understanding, which is consequently and probably (in more senses +than one her weak side. But these are secrets which you must keep +inviolably, if you would not, like Orpheus, be torn to pieces by the +whole sex; on the contrary, a man who thinks of living in the great +world, must be gallant, polite, and attentive to please the women. They +have, from the weakness of men, more or less influence in all courts; +they absolutely stamp every man's character in the beau monde, and make +it either current, or cry it down, and stop it in payments. It is, +therefore; absolutely necessary to manage, please, and flatter them and +never to discover the least marks of contempt, which is what they never +forgive; but in this they are not singular, for it is the same with men; +who will much sooner forgive an injustice than an insult. Every man is +not ambitious, or courteous, or passionate; but every man has pride +enough in his composition to feel and resent the least slight and +contempt. Remember, therefore, most carefully to conceal your contempt, +however just, wherever you would riot make an implacable enemy. Men are +much more unwilling to have their weaknesses and their imperfections +known than their crimes; and if you hint to a man that you think him +silly, ignorant, or even ill-bred, or awkward, he will hate you more and +longer, than if you tell him plainly, that you think him a rogue. Never +yield to that temptation, which to most young men is very strong; of +exposing other people's weaknesses and infirmities, for the sake either +of diverting the company, or showing your own superiority. You may get +the laugh on your side by it for the present; but you will make enemies +by it forever; and even those who laugh with you then, will, upon +reflection, fear; and consequently hate you; besides that it is ill- +natured, and a good heart desires rather to conceal than expose other +people's weaknesses or misfortunes. If you have wit, use it to please, +and not to hurt: you may shine, like the sun in the temperate zones, +without scorching. Here it is wished for; under the Line it is dreaded. + +These are some of the hints which my long experience in the great world +enables me to give you; and which, if you attend to them, may prove +useful to you in your journey through it. I wish it may be a prosperous +one; at least, I am sure that it must be your own fault if it is not. + +Make my compliments to Mr. Harte, who, I am very sorry to hear, is not +well. I hope by this time he is recovered. Adieu! + + + + +LETTER L + +LONDON, September 13, O. S. 1748. + +DEAR BOY: I have more than once recommended to you the "Memoirs" of the +Cardinal de Retz, and to attend particularly to the political reflections +interspersed in that excellent work. I will now preach a little upon two +or three of those texts. + +In the disturbances at Paris, Monsieur de Beaufort, who was a very +popular, though a very weak man, was the Cardinal's tool with the +populace. + +Proud of his popularity, he was always for assembling the people of Paris +together, thinking that he made a great figure at the head of them. The +Cardinal, who was factious enough, was wise enough at the same time to +avoid gathering the people together, except when there was occasion, and +when he had something particular for them to do. However, he could not +always check Monsieur de Beaufort; who having assembled them once very +unnecessarily, and without any determined object, they ran riot, would +not be kept within bounds by their leaders, and did their cause a great +deal of harm: upon which the Cardinal observes most judiciously, 'Que +Monsieur de Beaufort me savoit pas, que qui assemble le peuple, l'emeut'. +It is certain, that great numbers of people met together, animate each +other, and will do something, either good or bad, but oftener bad; and +the respective individuals, who were separately very quiet, when met +together in numbers, grow tumultuous as a body, and ripe for any mischief +that may be pointed out to them by the leaders; and, if their leaders +have no business for them, they will find some for themselves. The +demagogues, or leaders of popular factions, should therefore be very +careful not to assemble the people unnecessarily, and without a settled +and well-considered object. Besides that, by making those popular +assemblies too frequent, they make them likewise too familiar, and +consequently less respected by their enemies. Observe any meetings of +people, and you will always find their eagerness and impetuosity rise or +fall in proportion to their numbers: when the numbers are very great, all +sense and reason seem to subside, and one sudden frenzy to seize on all, +even the coolest of them. + +Another very just observation of the Cardinal's is, That, the things +which happen in our own times, and which we see ourselves, do not +surprise us near so much as the things which we read of in times past, +though not in the least more extraordinary; and adds, that he is +persuaded that when Caligula made his horse a Consul, the people of Rome, +at that time, were not greatly surprised at it, having necessarily been +in some degree prepared for it, by an insensible gradation of +extravagances from the same quarter. This is so true that we read every +day, with astonishment, things which we see every day without surprise. +We wonder at the intrepidity of a Leonidas, a Codrus, and a Curtius; and +are not the least surprised to hear of a sea-captain, who has blown up +his ship, his crew, and himself, that they might not fall into the hands +of the enemies of his country. I cannot help reading of Porsenna and +Regulus, with surprise and reverence, and yet I remember that I saw, +without either, the execution of Shepherd,--[James Shepherd, a coach- +painter's apprentice, was executed at Tyburn for high treason, March 17, +1718, in the reign of George I.]--a boy of eighteen years old, who +intended to shoot the late king, and who would have been pardoned, if he +would have expressed the least sorrow for his intended crime; but, on the +contrary, he declared that if he was pardoned he would attempt it again; +that he thought it a duty which he owed to his country, and that he died +with pleasure for having endeavored to perform it. Reason equals +Shepherd to Regulus; but prejudice, and the recency of the fact, make +Shepherd a common malefactor and Regulus a hero. + +Examine carefully, and reconsider all your notions of things; analyze +them, and discover their component parts, and see if habit and prejudice +are not the principal ones; weigh the matter upon which you are to form +your opinion, in the equal and impartial scales of reason. It is not to +be conceived how many people, capable of reasoning, if they would, live +and die in a thousand errors, from laziness; they will rather adopt the +prejudices of others, than give themselves the trouble of forming +opinions of their own. They say things, at first, because other people +have said them, and then they persist in them, because they have said +them themselves. + +The last observation that I shall now mention of the Cardinal's is, "That +a secret is more easily kept by a good many people, than one commonly +imagines." By this he means a secret of importance, among people +interested in the keeping of it. And it is certain that people of +business know the importance of secrecy, and will observe it, where they +are concerned in the event. To go and tell any friend, wife, or +mistress, any secret with which they have nothing to do, is discovering +to them such an unretentive weakness, as must convince them that you will +tell it to twenty others, and consequently that they may reveal it +without the risk of being discovered. But a secret properly communicated +only to those who are to be concerned in the thing in question, will +probably be kept by them though they should be a good many. Little +secrets are commonly told again, but great ones are generally kept. +Adieu! + + + + +LETTER LI + +LONDON, September 20, O. S. 1748. + +DEAR BOY: I wait with impatience for your accurate history of the +'Chevaliers Forte Epees', which you promised me in your last, and which +I take to be the forerunner of a larger work that you intend to give the +public, containing a general account of all the religious and military +orders of Europe. Seriously, you will do well to have a general notion +of all those orders, ancient and modern; both as they are frequently the +subjects of conversation, and as they are more or less interwoven with +the histories of those times. Witness the Teutonic Order, which, as soon +as it gained strength, began its unjust depredations in Germany, and +acquired such considerable possessions there; and the Order of Malta +also, which continues to this day its piracies upon the Infidels. +Besides one can go into no company in Germany, without running against +Monsieur le Chevalier, or Monsieur le Commandeur de l' Ordre Teutonique. +It is the same in all the other parts of Europe with regard to the Order +of Malta, where you never go into company without meeting two or three +Chevaliers or Commandeurs, who talk of their 'Preuves', their 'Langues', +their 'Caravanes', etc., of all which things I am sure you would not +willingly be ignorant. On the other hand, I do not mean that you should +have a profound and minute knowledge of these matters, which are of a +nature that a general knowledge of them is fully sufficient. I would not +recommend you to read Abbe Vertot's "History of the Order of Malta," in +four quarto volumes; that would be employing a great deal of good time +very ill. But I would have you know the foundations, the objects, the +INSIGNIA, and the short general history of them all. + +As for the ancient religious military orders, which were chiefly founded +in the eleventh and twelfth centuries, such as Malta, the Teutonic, the +Knights Templars, etc., the injustice and the wickedness of those +establishments cannot, I am sure, have escaped your observation. Their +pious object was, to take away by force other people's property, and to +massacre the proprietors themselves if they refused to give up that +property, and adopt the opinions of these invaders. What right or +pretense had these confederated Christians of Europe to the Holy Land? +Let them produce their grant of it in the Bible. Will they say, that the +Saracens had possessed themselves of it by force, and that, consequently, +they had the same right? Is it lawful then to steal goods because they +were stolen before? Surely not. The truth is, that the wickedness of +many, and the weakness of more, in those ages of ignorance and +superstition, concurred to form those flagitious conspiracies against the +lives and properties of unoffending people. The Pope sanctified the +villany, and annexed the pardon of sins to the perpetration of it. This +gave rise to the Crusaders, and carried such swarms of people from Europe +to the conquests of the Holy Land. Peter the Hermit, an active and +ambitious priest, by his indefatigable pains, was the immediate author of +the first crusade; kings, princes, all professions and characters united, +from different motives, in this great undertaking, as every sentiment, +except true religion and morality, invited to it. The ambitious hoped +for kingdoms; the greedy and the necessitous for plunder; and some were +enthusiasts enough to hope for salvation, by the destruction of a +considerable number of their fellow creatures, who had done them no +injury. I cannot omit, upon this occasion, telling you that the Eastern +emperors at Constantinople (who, as Christians, were obliged at least to +seem to favor these expeditions, seeing the immense numbers of the +'Croisez', and fearing that the Western Empire might have some mind to +the Eastern Empire too, if it succeeded against the Infidels, as +'l'appetit vient en mangeant'; these Eastern emperors, very honestly, +poisoned the waters where the 'Croisez' were to pass, and so destroyed +infinite numbers of them. + +The later orders of knighthood, such as the Garter in England; the +Elephant in Denmark; the Golden Fleece in Burgundy; the St. Esprit, St. +Michel, St. Louis, and St. Lazare, in France etc., are of a very +different nature and were either the invitations to, or the rewards of; +brave actions in fair war; and are now rather the decorations of the +favor of the prince, than the proofs of the merit of the subject. +However, they are worth your inquiries to a certain degree, and +conversation will give you frequent opportunities for them. Wherever you +are, I would advise you to inquire into the respective orders of that +country, and to write down a short account of them. For example, while +you are in Saxony, get an account of l'Aigle Blanc and of what other +orders there may be, either Polish or Saxon; and, when you shall be at +Berlin, inform yourself of three orders, l'Aigle Noir, la Generosite et +le Vrai Merite, which are the only ones that I know of there. But +whenever you meet with straggling ribands and stars, as you will with a +thousand in Germany, do ,not fail to inquire what they are, and to take a +minute of them in your memorandum book; for it is a sort of knowledge +that costs little to acquire, and yet it is of some use. Young people +have frequently an incuriousness about them, arising either from +laziness, or a contempt of the object, which deprives them of several +such little parts of knowledge, that they afterward wish they had +acquired. If you will put conversation to profit, great knowledge may be +gained by it; and is it not better (since it is full as easy) to turn it +upon useful than upon useless subjects? People always talk best upon +what they know most, and it is both pleasing them and improving one's +self, to put them upon that subject. With people of a particular +profession, or of a distinguished eminency in any branch of learning, +one is not at a loss; but with those, whether men or women, who properly +constitute what is called the beau monde, one must not choose deep +subjects, nor hope to get any knowledge above that of orders, ranks, +families, and court anecdotes; which are therefore the proper (and not +altogether useless) subjects of that kind of conversation. Women, +especially, are to be talked to as below men and above children. If you +talk to them too deep, you only confound them, and lose your own labor; +if you talk to them too frivolously, they perceive and resent the +contempt. The proper tone for them is, what the French call the +'Entregent', and is, in truth, the polite jargon of good company. Thus, +if you are a good chemist, you may extract something out of everything. + +A propos of the beau monde, I must again and again recommend the Graces +to you: There is no doing without them in that world; and, to make a good +figure in that world, is a great step toward making one in the world of +business, particularly that part of it for which you are destined. An +ungraceful manner of speaking, awkward motions, and a disagreeable +address, are great clogs to the ablest man of business, as the opposite +qualifications are of infinite advantage to him. I am told there is a +very good dancing-master at Leipsig. I would have you dance a minuet +very well, not so much for the sake of the minuet itself (though that, if +danced at all, ought to be danced, well), as that it will give you a +habitual genteel carriage and manner of presenting yourself. + +Since I am upon little things, I must mention another, which, though +little enough in itself, yet as it occurs at, least once in every day, +deserves some attention; I mean Carving. Do you use yourself to carve +ADROITLY and genteelly, without hacking half an hour across a bone; +without bespattering the company with the sauce; and without overturning +the glasses into your neighbor's pockets? These awkwardnesses are +extremely disagreeable; and, if often repeated, bring ridicule. They are +very easily avoided by a little attention and use. + +How trifling soever these things may seem, or really be in themselves, +they are no longer so when above half the world thinks them otherwise. +And, as I would have you 'omnibus ornatum--excellere rebus', I think +nothing above or below my pointing out to you, or your excelling in. +You have the means of doing it, and time before you to make use of them. +Take my word for it, I ask nothing now but what you will, twenty years +hence, most heartily wish that you had done. Attention to all these +things, for the next two or three years, will save you infinite trouble +and endless regrets hereafter. May you, in the whole course of your +life, have no reason for any one just regret! Adieu. + +Your Dresden china is arrived, and I have sent it to your Mamma. + + + + +LETTER LII + +LONDON, September 27, O. S. 1748. + +DEAR BOY: I have received your Latin "Lecture upon War," which though it +is not exactly the same Latin that Caesar, Cicero, Horace, Virgil, and +Ovid spoke, is, however, as good Latin as the erudite Germans speak or +write. I have always observed that the most learned people, that is, +those who have read the most Latin, write the worst; and that +distinguishes the Latin of gentleman scholar from that of a pedant. +A gentleman has, probably, read no other Latin than that of the Augustan +age; and therefore can write no other, whereas the pedant has read much +more bad Latin than good, and consequently writes so too. He looks upon +the best classical books, as books for school-boys, and consequently +below him; but pores over fragments of obscure authors, treasures up the +obsolete words which he meets with there, and uses them upon all +occasions to show his reading at the expense of his judgment. Plautus is +his favorite author, not for the sake of the wit and the vis comica of +his comedies, but upon account of the many obsolete words, and the cant +of low characters, which are to be met with nowhere else. He will rather +use 'olli' than 'illi', 'optume' than 'optima', and any bad word rather +than any good one, provided he can but prove, that strictly speaking, it +is Latin; that is, that it was written by a Roman. By this rule, I might +now write to you in the language of Chaucer or Spenser, and assert that I +wrote English, because it was English in their days; but I should be a +most affected puppy if I did so, and you would not understand three words +of my letter. All these, and such like affected peculiarities, are the +characteristics of learned coxcombs and pedants, and are carefully +avoided by all men of sense. + +I dipped accidentally, the other day, into Pitiscus's preface to his +"Lexicon," where I found a word that puzzled me, and which I did not +remember ever to have met with before. It is the adverb 'praefiscine', +which means, IN A GOOD HOUR; an expression which, by the superstition of +it, appears to be low and vulgar. I looked for it: and at last I found +that it is once or twice made use of in Plautus, upon the strength of +which this learned pedant thrusts it into his preface. Whenever you +write Latin, remember that every word or phrase which you make use of, +but cannot find in Caesar, Cicero, Livy, Horace, Virgil; and Ovid, is +bad, illiberal Latin, though it may have been written by a Roman. + +I must now say something as to the matter of the "Lecture," in which I +confess there is one doctrine laid down that surprises me: It is this, +'Quum vero hostis sit lenta citave morte omnia dira nobis minitans +quocunque bellantibus negotium est; parum sane interfuerit quo modo eum +obruere et interficere satagamus, si ferociam exuere cunctetur. Ergo +veneno quoque uti fas est', etc., whereas I cannot conceive that the use +of poison can, upon any account, come within the lawful means of self- +defense. Force may, without doubt, be justly repelled by force, but not +by treachery and fraud; for I do not call the stratagems of war, such as +ambuscades, masked batteries, false attacks, etc., frauds or treachery: +They are mutually to be expected and guarded against; but poisoned +arrows, poisoned waters, or poison administered to your enemy (which can +only be done by treachery), I have always heard, read, and thought, to be +unlawful and infamous means of defense, be your danger ever so great: But +'si ferociam exuere cunctetur'; must I rather die than poison this enemy? +Yes, certainly, much rather die than do a base or criminal action; nor +can I be sure, beforehand, that this enemy may not, in the last moment, +'ferociam exuere'. But the public lawyers, now, seem to me rather to +warp the law, in order to authorize, than to check, those unlawful +proceedings of princes and states; which, by being become common, appear +less criminal, though custom can never alter the nature of good and ill. + +Pray let no quibbles of lawyers, no refinements of casuists, break into +the plain notions of right and wrong, which every man's right reason and +plain common sense suggest to him. To do as you would be done by, is the +plain, sure, and undisputed rule of morality and justice. Stick to that; +and be convinced that whatever breaks into it, in any degree, however +speciously it may be turned, and however puzzling it may be to answer it, +is, notwithstanding, false in itself, unjust, and criminal. I do not +know a crime in the world, which is not by the casuists among the Jesuits +(especially the twenty-four collected, I think, by Escobar) allowed, in +some, or many cases, not to be criminal. The principles first laid down +by them are often specious, the reasonings plausible, but the conclusion +always a lie: for it is contrary, to that evident and undeniable rule of +justice which I have mentioned above, of not doing to anyone what you +would not have him do to you. But, however, these refined pieces of +casuistry and sophistry, being very convenient and welcome to people's +passions and appetites, they gladly accept the indulgence, without +desiring to detect the fallacy or the reasoning: and indeed many, I might +say most people, are not able to do it; which makes the publication of +such quibblings and refinements the more pernicious. I am no skillful +casuist nor subtle disputant; and yet I would undertake to justify and +qualify the profession of a highwayman, step by step, and so plausibly, +as to make many ignorant people embrace the profession, as an innocent, +if not even a laudable one; and puzzle people of some degree of +knowledge, to answer me point by point. I have seen a book, entitled +'Quidlibet ex Quolibet', or the art of making anything out of anything; +which is not so difficult as it would seem, if once one quits certain +plain truths, obvious in gross to every understanding, in order to run +after the ingenious refinements of warm imaginations and speculative +reasonings. Doctor Berkeley, Bishop of Cloyne, a very worthy, ingenious, +and learned man, has written a book, to prove that there is no such thing +as matter, and that nothing exists but in idea: that you and I only fancy +ourselves eating, drinking, and sleeping; you at Leipsig, and I at +London: that we think we have flesh and blood, legs, arms, etc., but that +we are only spirit. His arguments are, strictly speaking, unanswerable; +but yet I am so far from being convinced by them, that I am determined to +go on to eat and drink, and walk and ride, in order to keep that MATTER, +which I so mistakenly imagine my body at present to consist of, in as +good plight as possible. Common sense (which, in truth, very uncommon) +is the best sense I know of: abide by it, it will counsel you best. Read +and hear, for your amusement, ingenious systems, nice questions subtilly +agitated, with all the refinements that warm imaginations suggest; but +consider them only as exercitations for the mind, and turn always to +settle with common sense. + +I stumbled, the other day, at a bookseller's, upon "Comte Gabalis," +in two very little volumes, which I had formerly read. I read it over +again, and with fresh astonishment. Most of the extravagances are taken +from the Jewish Rabbins, who broached those wild notions, and delivered +them in the unintelligible jargon which the Caballists and Rosicrucians +deal in to this day. Their number is, I believe, much lessened, but +there are still some; and I myself have known two; who studied and firmly +believed in that mystical nonsense. What extravagancy is not man capable +of entertaining, when once his shackled reason is led in triumph by fancy +and prejudice! The ancient alchemists give very much into this stuff, +by which they thought they should discover the philosopher's stone; +and some of the most celebrated empirics employed it in the pursuit of +the universal medicine. Paracelsus, a bold empiric and wild Caballist, +asserted that he had discovered it, and called it his 'Alkahest'. +Why or wherefore, God knows; only that those madmen call nothing by an +intelligible name. You may easily get this book from The Hague: read it, +for it will both divert and astonish you, and at the same time teach you +'nil admirari'; a very necessary lesson. + +Your letters, except when upon a given subject, are exceedingly laconic, +and neither answer my desires nor the purpose of letters; which should be +familiar conversations, between absent friends. As I desire to live with +you upon the footing of an intimate friend, and not of a parent, I could +wish that your letters gave me more particular accounts of yourself, +and of your lesser transactions. When you write to me, suppose yourself +conversing freely with me by the fireside. In that case, you would +naturally mention the incidents of the day; as where you had been, who +you had seen, what you thought of them, etc. Do this in your letters: +acquaint me sometimes with your studies, sometimes with your diversions; +tell me of any new persons and characters that you meet with in company, +and add your own observations upon them: in short, let me see more of you +in your letters. How do you go on with Lord Pulteney, and how does he go +on at Leipsig? Has he learning, has he parts, has he application? Is he +good or ill-natured? In short, What is he? at least, what do you think +him? You may tell me without reserve, for I promise you secrecy. +You are now of an age that I am desirous to begin a confidential +correspondence with you; and as I shall, on my part, write you very +freely my opinion upon men and things, which I should often be very +unwilling that anybody but you and Mr. Harte should see, so, on your +part, if you write me without reserve, you may depend upon my inviolable +secrecy. If you have ever looked into the "Letters" of Madame de Sevigne +to her daughter, Madame de Grignan, you must have observed the ease, +freedom, and friendship of that correspondence; and yet, I hope and I +believe, that they did not love one another better than we do. Tell me +what books you are now reading, either by way of study or amusement; how +you pass your evenings when at home, and where you pass them when abroad. +I know that you go sometimes to Madame Valentin's assembly; What do you +do there? Do you play, or sup, or is it only 'la belle conversation?' +Do you mind your dancing while your dancing-master is with you? As you +will be often under the necessity of dancing a minuet, I would have you +dance it very well. Remember, that the graceful motion of the arms, the +giving your hand, and the putting on and pulling off your hat genteelly, +are the material parts of a gentleman's dancing. But the greatest +advantage of dancing well is, that it necessarily teaches you to present +yourself, to sit, stand, and walk, genteelly; all of which are of real +importance to a man of fashion. + +I should wish that you were polished before you go to Berlin; where, as +you will be in a great deal of good company, I would have you have the +right manners for it. It is a very considerable article to have 'le ton +de la bonne compagnie', in your destination particularly. The principal +business of a foreign minister is, to get into the secrets, and to know +all 'les allures' of the courts at which he resides; this he can never +bring about but by such a pleasing address, such engaging manners, and +such an insinuating behavior, as may make him sought for, and in some +measure domestic, in the best company and the best families of the place. +He will then, indeed, be well informed of all that passes, either by the +confidences made him, or by the carelessness of people in his company, +who are accustomed to look upon him as one of them, and consequently are +not upon their guard before him. For a minister who only goes to the +court he resides at, in form, to ask an audience of the prince or the +minister upon his last instructions, puts them upon their guard, and will +never know anything more than what they have a mind that he should know. +Here women may be put to some use. A king's mistress, or a minister's +wife or mistress, may give great and useful informations; and are very +apt to do it, being proud to show that they have been trusted. But then, +in this case, the height of that sort of address, which, strikes women, +is requisite; I mean that easy politeness, genteel and graceful address, +and that 'exterieur brilliant' which they cannot withstand. There is a +sort of men so like women, that they are to be taken just in the same +way; I mean those who are commonly called FINE MEN; who swarm at all +courts; who have little reflection, and less knowledge; but, who by their +good breeding, and 'train-tran' of the world, are admitted into all +companies; and, by the imprudence or carelessness of their superiors, +pick up secrets worth knowing, which are easily got out of them by proper +address. Adieu. + + + + +LETTER LIII + +BATH, October 12, O. S. 1748. + +DEAR BOY: I came here three days ago upon account of a disorder in my +stomach, which affected my head and gave me vertigo. I already find +myself something better; and consequently do not doubt but that the +course of these waters will set me quite right. But however and wherever +I am, your welfare, your character, your knowledge, and your morals, +employ my thoughts more than anything that can happen to me, or that I +can fear or hope for myself. I am going off the stage, you are coming +upon it; with me what has been, has been, and reflection now would come +too late; with you everything is to come, even, in some manner, +reflection itself; so that this is the very time when my reflections, +the result of experience, may be of use to you, by supplying the want of +yours. As soon as you leave Leipsig, you will gradually be going into +the great world; where the first impressions that you shall give of +yourself will be of great importance to you; but those which you shall +receive will be decisive, for they always stick. To keep good company, +especially at your first setting out, is the way to receive good +impressions. If you ask me what I mean by good company, I will confess +to you that it is pretty difficult to define; but I will endeavor to make +you understand it as well as I can. + +Good company is not what respective sets of company are pleased either to +call or think themselves, but it is that company which all the people of +the place call, and acknowledge to be, good company, notwithstanding some +objections which they may form to some of the individuals who compose it. +It consists chiefly (but by no means without exception) of people of +considerable birth, rank, and character; for people of neither birth nor +rank are frequently, and very justly admitted into it, if distinguished +by any peculiar merit, or eminency in any liberal art or science. Nay, +so motly a thing is good company, that many people, without birth, rank, +or merit, intrude into it by their own forwardness, and others slide into +it by the protection of some considerable person; and some even of +indifferent characters and morals make part of it. But in the main, the +good part preponderates, and people of infamous and blasted characters +are never admitted. In this fashionable good company, the best manners +and the best language of the place are most unquestionably to be learned; +for they establish and give the tone to both, which are therefore called +the language and manners of good company: there being no legal tribunal +to ascertain either. + +A company, consisting wholly of people of the first quality, cannot, for +that reason, be called good company, in the common acceptation of the +phrase, unless they are, into the bargain, the fashionable and accredited +company of the place; for people of the very first quality can be as +silly, as ill-bred, and as worthless, as people of the meanest degree. +On the other hand, a company consisting entirely of people of very low +condition, whatever their merit or parts may be, can never be called good +company; and consequently should not be much frequented, though by no +means despised. + +A company wholly composed of men of learning, though greatly to be valued +and respected, is not meant by the words GOOD COMPANY; they cannot have +the easy manners and, 'tournure' of the world, as they do not live in it. +If you can bear your part well in such a company, it is extremely right +to be in it sometimes, and you will be but more esteemed in other +companies, for having a place in that. But then do not let it engross +you; for if you do, you will be only considered as one of the 'literati' +by profession; which is not the way either, to shine, or rise in the +world. + +The company of professed wits and pests is extremely inviting to most +young men; who if they have wit themselves, are pleased with it, and if +they have none, are sillily proud of being one of it: but it should be +frequented with moderation and judgment, and you should by no means give +yourself up to it. A wit is a very unpopular denomination, as it carries +terror along with it; and people in general are as much afraid of a live +wit, in company, as a woman is of a gun, which she thinks may go off of +itself, and do her a mischief. Their acquaintance is, however, worth +seeking, and their company worth frequenting; but not exclusively of +others, nor to such a degree as to be considered only as one of that +particular set. + +But the company, which of all others you should most carefully avoid, is +that low company, which, in every sense of the word, is low indeed; low +in rank, low in parts, low in manners, and low in merit. You will, +perhaps, be surprised that I should think it necessary to warn you +against such company, but yet I do not think it wholly, unnecessary, +from the many instances which I have seen of men of sense and rank, +discredited, verified, and undone, by keeping such company. + +Vanity, that source of many of our follies, and of some of our crimes, +has sunk many a man into company, in every light infinitely, below +himself, for the sake of being the first man in it. There he dictates, +is applauded, admired; and, for the sake of being the Coryphceus of that +wretched chorus, disgraces and disqualifies himself soon for any better +company. Depend upon it, you will sink or rise to the level of the +company which you commonly keep: people will judge of you, and not +unreasonably, by that. There is good sense in the Spanish saying, "Tell +me whom you live with, and I will tell you who you are." Make it +therefore your business, wherever you are, to get into that company which +everybody in the place allows to be the best company next to their own; +which is the best definition that I can give you of good company. But +here, too, one caution is very necessary, for want of which many young +men have been ruined, even in good company. + +Good company (as I have before observed) is composed of a great variety +of fashionable people, whose characters and morals are very different, +though their manners are pretty much the same. When a young man, new in +the world, first gets into that company, he very rightly determines to +conform to, and imitate it. But then he too often, and fatally, mistakes +the objects of his imitation. He has often heard that absurd term of +genteel and fashionable vices. He there sees some people who shine, and +who in general are admired and esteemed; and observes that these people +are whoremasters, drunkards, or gamesters, upon which he adopts their +vices, mistaking their defects for their perfections, and thinking that +they owe their fashions and their luster to those genteel vices. +Whereas it is exactly the reverse; for these people have acquired their +reputation by their parts, their learning, their good-breeding, and other +real accomplishments: and are only blemished and lowered, in the opinions +of all reasonable people, and of their own, in time, by these genteel and +fashionable vices. A whoremaster, in a flux, or without a nose, is a +very genteel person, indeed, and well worthy of imitation. A drunkard, +vomiting up at night the wine of the day, and stupefied by the headache +all the next, is, doubtless, a fine model to copy from. And a gamester, +tearing his hair, and blaspheming, for having lost more than he had in +the world, is surely a most amiable character. No; these are alloys, and +great ones too, which can never adorn any character, but will always +debase the best. To prove this, suppose any man, without parts and some +other good qualities, to be merely a whoremaster, a drunkard, or a +gamester; how will he be looked upon by all sorts of people? Why, as a +most contemptible and vicious animal. Therefore it is plain, that in +these mixed characters, the good part only makes people forgive, but not +approve, the bad. + +I will hope and believe that you will have no vices; but if, +unfortunately, you should have any, at least I beg of you to be content +with your own, and to adopt no other body's. + +The adoption of vice has, I am convinced, ruined ten times more young men +than natural inclinations. + +As I make no difficulty of confessing my past errors, where I think the +confession may be of use to you, I will own that when I first went to the +university, I drank and smoked, notwithstanding the aversion I had to +wine and tobacco, only because I thought it genteel, and that it made me +look like a man. When I went abroad, I first went to The Hague, where +gaming was much in fashion, and where I observed that many people of +shining rank and character gamed too. I was then young enough, and silly +enough, to believe that gaming was one of their accomplishments; and, as +I aimed at perfection, I adopted gaming as a necessary step to it. Thus +I acquired by error the habit of a vice which, far from adorning my +character, has, I am conscious, been a great blemish in it. + +Imitate then, with discernment and judgment, the real perfections of the +good company into which you may get; copy their politeness, their +carriage, their address, and the easy and well-bred turn of their +conversation; but remember that, let them shine ever so bright, their +vices, if they have any, are so many spots which you would no more +imitate, than you would make an artificial wart upon your face, because +some very handsome man had the misfortune to have a natural one upon his: +but, on the contrary, think how much handsomer he would have been without +it. + +Having thus confessed some of my 'egaremens', I will now show you a +little of my right side. I always endeavored to get into the best +company wherever I was, and commonly succeeded. There I pleased to some +degree by showing a desire to please. I took care never to be absent or +'distrait'; but on the contrary, attended to everything that was said, +done, or even looked, in company; I never failed in the minutest +attentions and was never 'journalier'. These things, and not my +'egaremens', made me fashionable. Adieu! This letter is full long +enough. + + + + +LETTER LIV + +BATH, October 19, O. S. 1748. + +DEAR BOY: Having in my last pointed out what sort of company you should +keep, I will now give you some rules for your conduct in it; rules which +my own experience and observation enable me to lay down, and communicate +to you, with some degree of confidence. I have often given you hints of +this kind before, but then it has been by snatches; I will now be more +regular and methodical. I shall say nothing with regard to your bodily +carriage and address, but leave them to the care of your dancing-master, +and to your own attention to the best models; remember, however, that +they are of consequence. + +Talk often, but never long: in that case, if you do not please, at least +you are sure not to tire your hearers. Pay your own reckoning, but do +not treat the whole company; this being one of the very few cases in +which people do not care to be treated, everyone being fully convinced +that he has wherewithal to pay. + +Tell stories very seldom, and absolutely never but where they are very +apt and very short. Omit every circumstance that is not material, and +beware of digressions. To have frequent recourse to narrative betrays +great want of imagination. + +Never hold anybody by the button or the hand, in order to be heard out; +for, if people are not willing to hear you, you had much better hold your +tongue than them. + +Most long talkers single out some one unfortunate man in company +(commonly him whom they observe to be the most silent, or their next +neighbor) to whisper, or at least in a half voice, to convey a continuity +of words to. This is excessively ill-bred, and in some degree a fraud; +conversation-stock being a joint and common property. But, on the other +hand, if one of these unmerciful talkers lays hold of you, hear him with +patience (and at least seeming attention), if he is worth obliging; for +nothing will oblige him more than a patient hearing, as nothing would +hurt him more than either to leave him in the midst of his discourse, or +to discover your impatience under your affliction. + +Take, rather than give, the tone of the company you are in. If you have +parts, you will show them, more or less, upon every subject; and if you +have not, you had better talk sillily upon a subject of other people's +than of your own choosing. + +Avoid as much as you can, in mixed companies, argumentative, polemical +conversations; which, though they should not, yet certainly do, indispose +for a time the contending parties toward each other; and, if the +controversy grows warm and noisy, endeavor to put an end to it by some +genteel levity or joke. I quieted such a conversation-hubbub once, by +representing to them that, though I was persuaded none there present +would repeat, out of company, what passed in it, yet I could not answer +for the discretion of the passengers in the street, who must necessarily +hear all that was said. + +Above all things, and upon all occasions, avoid speaking of yourself, if +it be possible. Such is the natural pride and vanity of our hearts, that +it perpetually breaks out, even in people of the best parts, in all the +various modes and figures of the egotism. + +Some, abruptly, speak advantageously of themselves, without either +pretense or provocation. They are impudent. Others proceed more +artfully, as they imagine; and forge accusations against themselves, +complain of calumnies which they never heard, in order to justify +themselves, by exhibiting a catalogue of their many virtues. They +acknowledge it may, indeed, seem odd that they should talk in that manner +of themselves; it is what they do not like, and what they never would +have done; no; no tortures should ever have forced it from them, if they +had, not been thus unjustly and monstrously accused. But, in these +cases; justice is surely due to one's self, as well as to others; and +when our character is attacked, we may say in our own justification, what +otherwise we never would have said. This thin veil of Modesty drawn +before Vanity, is much too transparent to conceal it, even from very +moderate discernment. + +Others go more modestly and more slyly still (as they think) to work; but +in my mind still more ridiculously. They confess themselves (not without +some degree of shame and confusion) into all the Cardinal Virtues, by +first degrading them into weaknesses and then owning their misfortune in +being made up of those weaknesses. They cannot see people suffer without +sympathizing with, and endeavoring to help them. They cannot see people +want, without relieving them, though truly their own circumstances cannot +very well afford it. They cannot help speaking truth, though they know +all the imprudence of it. In short, they know that, with all these +weaknesses, they are not fit to live in the world, much less to thrive in +it. But they are now too old to change, and must rub on as well as they +can. This sounds too ridiculous and 'outre', almost, for the stage; and +yet, take my word for it, you will frequently meet with it upon the +common stage of the world. And here I will observe, by the bye, that you +will often meet with characters in nature so extravagant, that a discreet +dramatist would not venture to set them upon the stage in their true and +high coloring. + +This principle of vanity and pride is so strong in human nature that it +descends even to the lowest objects; and one often sees people angling +for praise, where, admitting all they say to be true (which, by the way, +it seldom is), no just praise is to be caught. One man affirms that he +has rode post an hundred miles in six hours; probably it is a lie: but +supposing it to be true, what then? Why he is a very good post-boy, that +is all. Another asserts, and probably not without oaths, that he has +drunk six or eight bottles of wine at a sitting; out of charity, I will +believe him a liar; for, if I do not, I must think him a beast. + +Such, and a thousand more, are the follies and extravagances, which +vanity draws people into, and which always defeat their own purpose; and +as Waller says, upon another subject,-- + + "Make the wretch the most despised, + Where most he wishes to be prized." + +The only sure way of avoiding these evils, is never to speak of yourself +at all. But when, historically, you are obliged to mention yourself, +take care not to drop one single word that can directly or indirectly be +construed as fishing for applause. Be your character what it will, it +will be known; and nobody will take it upon your own word. Never imagine +that anything you can say yourself will varnish your defects, or add +lustre to your perfections! but, on the contrary, it may, and nine times +in ten, will, make the former more glaring and the latter obscure. If +you are silent upon your own subject, neither envy, indignation, nor +ridicule, will obstruct or allay the applause which you may really +deserve; but if you publish your own panegyric upon any occasion, or in +any shape whatsoever, and however artfully dressed or disguised, they +will all conspire against you, and you will be disappointed of the very +end you aim at. + +Take care never to seem dark and mysterious; which is not only a very +unamiable character, but a very suspicious one too; if you seem +mysterious with others, they will be really so with you, and you will +know nothing. The height of abilities is to have 'volto sciolto' and +'pensieri stretti'; that is, a frank, open, and ingenuous exterior, with +a prudent interior; to be upon your own guard, and yet, by a seeming +natural openness, to put people off theirs. Depend upon it nine in ten +of every company you are in will avail themselves of every indiscreet and +unguarded expression of yours, if they can turn it to their own +advantage. A prudent reserve is therefore as necessary as a seeming +openness is prudent. Always look people in the face when you speak to +them: the not doing it is thought to imply conscious guilt; besides that +you lose the advantage of serving by their countenances what impression +your discourse makes upon them. In order to know people's real +sentiments, I trust much more to my eyes than to my ears: for they can +say whatever they have a mind I should hear; but they can seldom help +looking, what they have no intention that I should know. + +Neither retail nor receive scandal willingly; defamation of others may +for the present gratify the malignity of the pride of our hearts; cool +reflection will draw very disadvantageous conclusions from such a +disposition; and in the case of scandal, as in that of robbery, the +receiver is always thought, as bad as the thief. + +Mimicry, which is the common and favorite amusement of little low minds, +is in the utmost contempt with great ones. It is the lowest and most +illiberal of all buffoonery. Pray, neither practice it yourself, nor +applaud it in others. Besides that the person mimicked is insulted; and, +as I have often observed to you before, an insult is never forgiven. + +I need not (I believe) advise you to adapt your conversation to the +people you are conversing with: for I suppose you would not, without this +caution, have talked upon the same subject, and in the same manner, to a +minister of state, a bishop, a philosopher, a captain, and a woman. +A man of the world must, like the chameleon, be able to take every +different hue; which is by no means a criminal or abject, but a necessary +complaisance; for it relates only to manners and not to morals. + +One word only as to swearing, and that, I hope and believe, is more than +is necessary. You may sometimes hear some people in good company +interlard their discourse with oaths, by way of embellishment, as they +think, but you must observe, too, that those who do so are never those +who contribute, in any degree, to give that company the denomination of +good company. They are always subalterns, or people of low education; +for that practice, besides that it has no one temptation to plead, is as +silly and as illiberal as it is wicked. + +Loud laughter is the mirth of the mob, who are only pleased with silly +things; for true wit or good sense never excited a laugh since the +creation of the world. A man of parts and fashion is therefore only seen +to smile; but never heard to laugh. + +But to conclude this long letter; all the above-mentioned rules, however +carefully you may observe them, will lose half their effect, if +unaccompanied by the Graces. Whatever you say, if you say it with a +supercilious, cynical face, or an embarrassed countenance, or a silly, +disconcerted grin, will be ill received. If, into the bargain, YOU +MUTTER IT, OR UTTER IT INDISTINCTLY AND UNGRACEFULLY, it will be still +worse received. If your air and address are vulgar, awkward, and gauche, +you may be esteemed indeed, if you have great intrinsic merit; but you +will never, please; and without pleasing you will rise but heavily. +Venus, among the ancients, was synonymous with the Graces, who were +always supposed to accompany her; and Horace tells us that even Youth and +Mercury, the god of Arts and Eloquence, would not do without her: + + 'Parum comis sine to Juventas Mercuriusque.' + +They are not inexorable Ladies, and may be had if properly, and +diligently pursued. Adieu. + + + + +LETTER LV + +BATH, October 29, O. S. 1748. + +DEAR BOY: My anxiety for your success increases in proportion as the time +approaches of your taking your part upon the great stage of the world. +The audience will form their opinion of you upon your first appearance +(making the proper allowance for your inexperience), and so far it will +be final, that, though it may vary as to the degrees, it will never +totally change. This consideration excites that restless attention with +which I am constantly examining how I can best contribute to the +perfection of that character, in which the least spot or blemish would +give me more real concern, than I am now capable of feeling upon any +other account whatsoever. + +I have long since done mentioning your great religious and moral duties, +because I could not make your understanding so bad a compliment as to +suppose that you wanted, or could receive, any new instructions upon +those two important points. Mr. Harte, I am sure, has not neglected +them; and, besides, they are so obvious to common sense and reason, +that commentators may (as they often do) perplex, but cannot make them +clearer. My province, therefore, is to supply by my experience your +hitherto inevitable inexperience in the ways of the world. People at +your age are in a state of natural ebriety; and want rails, and +'gardefous', wherever they go, to hinder them from breaking their necks. +This drunkenness of youth is not only tolerated, but even pleases, if +kept within certain bounds of discretion and decency. These bounds are +the point which it is difficult for the drunken man himself to find out; +and there it is that the experience of a friend may not only serve, but +save him. + +Carry with you, and welcome, into company all the gaiety and spirits, but +as little of the giddiness, of youth as you can. The former will charm; +but the latter will often, though innocently, implacably offend. Inform +yourself of the characters and situations of the company, before you give +way to what your imagination may prompt you to say. There are, in all +companies, more wrong beads than right ones, and many more who deserve, +than who like censure. Should you therefore expatiate in the praise of +some virtue, which some in company notoriously want; or declaim against +any vice, which others are notoriously infected with, your reflections, +however general and unapplied, will, by being applicable, be thought +personal and leveled at those people. This consideration points out to +you, sufficiently, not to be suspicious and captious yourself, nor to +suppose that things, because they may be, are therefore meant at you. +The manners of well-bred people secure one from those indirect and mean +attacks; but if, by chance, a flippant woman or a pert coxcomb lets off +anything of that kind, it is much better not to seem to understand, than +to reply to it. + +Cautiously avoid talking of either your own or other people's domestic +affairs. Yours are nothing to them but tedious; theirs are nothing to +you. The subject is a tender one: and it is odds but that you touch +somebody or other's sore place: for, in this case, there is no trusting +to specious appearances; which may be, and often are, so contrary to the +real situations of things, between men and their wives, parents and their +children, seeming friends, etc., that, with the best intentions in the +world, one often blunders disagreeably. + +Remember that the wit, humor, and jokes, of most mixed companies are +local. They thrive in that particular soil, but will not often bear +transplanting. Every company is differently circumstanced, has its +particular cant and jargon; which may give occasion to wit and mirth +within that circle, but would seem flat and insipid in any other, and +therefore will not bear repeating. Nothing makes a man look sillier than +a pleasantry not relished or not understood; and if he meets with a +profound silence when he expected a general applause, or, what is worse, +if he is desired to explain the bon mot, his awkward and embarrassed +situation is easier imagined' than described. 'A propos' of repeating; +take great care never to repeat (I do not mean here the pleasantries) in +one company what you hear in another. Things, seemingly indifferent, +may, by circulation, have much graver consequences than you would +imagine. Besides, there is a general tacit trust in conversation, by +which a man is obliged not to report anything out of it, though he is not +immediately enjoined to secrecy. A retailer of this kind is sure to draw +himself into a thousand scrapes and discussions, and to be shyly and +uncomfortably received wherever he goes. + +You will find, in most good company, some people who only keep their +place there by a contemptible title enough; these are what we call VERY +GOOD-NATURED FELLOWS, and the French, 'bons diables'. The truth is, they +are people without any parts or fancy, and who, having no will of their +own, readily assent to, concur in, and applaud, whatever is said or done +in the company; and adopt, with the same alacrity, the most virtuous or +the most criminal, the wisest or the silliest scheme, that happens to be +entertained by the majority of the company. This foolish, and often +criminal complaisance flows from a foolish cause,--the want of any other +merit. I hope that you will hold your place in company by a nobler +tenure, and that you will hold it (you can bear a quibble, I believe, +yet) 'in capite'. Have a will and an opinion of your own, and adhere to +them steadily; but then do it with good humor, good-breeding, and (if you +have it) with urbanity; for you have not yet heard enough either to +preach or censure. + +All other kinds of complaisance are not only blameless, but necessary in +good company. Not to seem to perceive the little weaknesses, and the +idle but innocent affectations of the company, but even to flatter them, +in a certain manner, is not only very allowable, but, in truth, a sort of +polite duty. They will be pleased with you, if you do; and will +certainly not be reformed by you if you do not. + +For instance: you will find, in every group of company, two principal +figures, viz., the fine lady and the fine gentleman who absolutely give +the law of wit, language, fashion, and taste, to the rest of that +society. There is always a strict, and often for the time being, a +tender alliance between these two figures. The lady looks upon her +empire as founded upon the divine right of beauty (and full as good a +divine right it is as any king, emperor, or pope, can pretend to); she +requires, and commonly meets with, unlimited passive obedience. And why +should she not meet with it? Her demands go no higher than to have her +unquestioned preeminence in beauty, wit, and fashion, firmly established. +Few sovereigns (by the way) are so reasonable. The fine gentleman's +claims of right are, 'mutatis mutandis', the same; and though, indeed, +he is not always a wit 'de jure', yet, as he is the wit 'de facto' of +that company, he is entitled to a share of your allegiance, and everybody +expects at least as much as they are entitled to, if not something more. +Prudence bids you make your court to these joint sovereigns; and no duty, +that I know of, forbids it. Rebellion here is exceedingly dangerous, and +inevitably punished by banishment, and immediate forfeiture of all your +wit, manners, taste, and fashion; as, on the other hand, a cheerful +submission, not without some flattery, is sure to procure you a strong +recommendation and most effectual pass, throughout all their, and +probably the neighboring, dominions. With a moderate share of sagacity, +you will, before you have been half an hour in their company, easily +discover those two principal figures: both by the deference which you +will observe the whole company pay them, and by that easy, careless, and +serene air, which their consciousness of power gives them. As in this +case, so in all others, aim always at the highest; get always into the +highest company, and address yourself particularly to the highest in it. +The search after the unattainable philosopher's stone has occasioned a +thousand useful discoveries, which otherwise would never have been made. + +What the French justly call 'les manieres nobles' are only to be acquired +in the very best companies. They are the distinguishing characteristics +of men of fashion: people of low education never wear them so close, but +that some part or other of the original vulgarism appears. 'Les manieres +nobles' equally forbid insolent contempt, or low envy and jealousy. Low +people, in good circumstances, fine clothes, and equipages, will +insolently show contempt for all those who cannot afford as fine clothes, +as good an equipage, and who have not (as their term is) as much money in +their pockets: on the other hand, they are gnawed with envy, and cannot +help discovering it, of those who surpass them in any of these articles; +which are far from being sure criterions of merit. They are likewise +jealous of being slighted; and, consequently, suspicious and captious; +they are eager and hot about trifles because trifles were, at first, +their affairs of consequence. 'Les manieres nobles' imply exactly the +reverse of all this. Study them early; you cannot make them too habitual +and familiar to you. + +Just as I had written what goes before, I received your letter of the +24th, N. S., but I have not received that which you mention for Mr. +Harte. Yours is of the kind that I desire; for I want to see your +private picture, drawn by yourself, at different sittings; for though, +as it is drawn by yourself, I presume you will take the most advantageous +likeness, yet I think that I have skill enough in that kind of painting +to discover the true features, though ever so artfully colored, or thrown +into skillful lights and shades. + +By your account of the German play, which I do not know whether I should +call tragedy or comedy, the only shining part of it (since I am in a way +of quibbling) seems to have been the fox's tail. I presume, too, that +the play has had the same fate with the squib, and has gone off no more. +I remember a squib much better applied, when it was made the device of +the colors of a French regiment of grenadiers; it was represented +bursting, with this motto under it: 'Peream dum luceam'. + +I like the description of your PIC-NIC; where I take it for granted, that +your cards are only to break the formality of a circle, and your +SYMPOSION intended more to promote conversation than drinking. Such an +AMICABLE COLLISION, as Lord Shaftesbury very prettily calls it, rubs off +and smooths those rough corners which mere nature has given to the +smoothest of us. I hope some part, at least, of the conversation is in +German. 'A propos': tell me do you speak that language correctly, and do +you write it with ease? I have no doubt of your mastering the other +modern languages, which are much easier, and occur much oftener; for +which reason, I desire that you will apply most diligently to German, +while you are in Germany, that you may speak and write that language most +correctly. + +I expect to meet Mr. Eliot in London, in about three weeks, after which +you will soon see him at Leipsig. Adieu. + + + + +LETTER LVI + +LONDON, November 18, O. S. 1748. + +DEAR BOY: Whatever I see or whatever I hear, my first consideration is, +whether it can in any way be useful to you. As a proof of this, I went +accidentally the other day into a print-shop, where, among many others, +I found one print from a famous design of Carlo Maratti, who died about +thirty years ago, and was the last eminent painter in Europe: the subject +is 'il Studio del Disegno'; or "The School of Drawing." An old man, +supposed to be the master, points to his scholars, who are variously +employed in perspective, geometry, and the observation of the statues of +antiquity. With regard to perspective, of which there are some little +specimens, he has wrote, 'Tanto che basti', that is, "As much as is +sufficient"; with regard to geometry, 'Tanto che basti' again; with +regard to the contemplation of the ancient statues, there is written, +'Non mai a bastanza',--"There never can be enough." But in the clouds, +at the top of the piece, are represented the three Graces, with this just +sentence written over them, 'Senza di noi ogni fatica e vana', that is, +"Without us, all labor is vain." This everybody allows to be true in +painting; but all people do not seem to consider, as I hope you will, +that this truth is full as applicable to every other art or science; +indeed to everything that is to be said or done. I will send you the +print itself by Mr. Eliot, when he returns; and I will advise you to +make the same use of it that the Roman Catholics say they do of the +pictures and images of their saints, which is, only to remind them of +those; for the adoration they disclaim. Nay, I will go further, as the +transition from Popery to Paganism is short and easy, I will classically +end poetically advise you to invoke, and sacrifice to them every day, and +all the day. It must be owned, that the Graces do not seem to be natives +of Great Britain; and, I doubt, the best of us here have more of rough +than polished diamond. + +Since barbarism drove them out of Greece and Rome, they seem to have +taken refuge in France, where their temples are numerous, and their +worship the established one. Examine yourself seriously, why such and +such people please and engage you, more than such and such others, of +equal merit; and you will always find that it is because the former have +the Graces and the latter not. I have known many a woman with an exact +shape, and a symmetrical assemblage of beautiful features, please nobody; +while others, with very moderate shapes and features, have charmed +everybody. Why? because Venus will not charm so much, without her +attendant Graces, as they will without her. Among men, how often have I +seen the most solid merit and knowledge neglected, unwelcome, or even +rejected, for want of them! While flimsy parts, little knowledge, and +less merit, introduced by the Graces, have been received, cherished, and +admired. Even virtue, which is moral beauty, wants some of its charms if +unaccompanied by them. + +If you ask me how you shall acquire what neither you nor I can define or +ascertain, I can only answer, BY OBSERVATION. Form yourself, with regard +to others, upon what you feel pleases you in them. I can tell you the +importance, the advantage, of having the Graces; but I cannot give them +you: I heartily wish I could, and I certainly would; for I do not know a +better present that I could make you. To show you that a very wise, +philosophical, and retired man thinks upon that subject as I do, who have +always lived in the world, I send you, by Mr. Eliot, the famous Mr. +Locke's book upon education; in which you will end the stress that he +lays upon the Graces, which he calls (and very truly) good-breeding. +I have marked all the parts of that book that are worth your attention; +for as he begins with the child, almost from its birth, the parts +relative to its infancy would be useless to you. Germany is, still less +than England, the seat of the Graces; however, you had as good not say so +while you are there. But the place which you are going to, in a great +degree, is; for I have known as many well-bred, pretty men come from +Turin, as from any part of Europe. The late King Victor Amedee took +great pains to form such of his subjects as were of any consideration, +both to business and manners; the present king, I am told, follows his +example: this, however, is certain, that in all courts and congresses, +where there are various foreign ministers, those of the King of Sardinia +are generally the ablest, the politest, and 'les plus delies'. You will +therefore, at Turin, have very good models to form yourself upon: and +remember, that with regard to the best models, as well as to the antique +Greek statues in the print, 'non mai a bastanza'. Observe every word, +look, and motion of those who are allowed to be the most accomplished +persons there. Observe their natural and careless, but genteel air; +their unembarrassed good-breeding; their unassuming, but yet +unprostituted dignity. Mind their decent mirth, their discreet +frankness, and that 'entregent' which, as much above the frivolous as +below the important and the secret, is the proper medium for conversation +in mixed companies. I will observe, by the bye, that the talent of that +light 'entregent' is often of great use to a foreign minister; not only +as it helps him to domesticate himself in many families, but also as it +enables him to put by and parry some subjects of conversation, which +might possibly lay him under difficulties both what to say and how to +look. + +Of all the men that ever I knew in my life (and I knew him extremely +well), the late Duke of Marlborough possessed the graces in the highest +degree, not to say engrossed them; and indeed he got the most by them; +for I will venture (contrary to the custom of profound historians, who +always assign deep causes for great events), to ascribe the better half +of the Duke of Marlborough's greatness and riches to those graces. He +was eminently illiterate; wrote bad English and spelled it still worse. +He had no share of what is commonly called PARTS: that is, he had no +brightness, nothing shining in his genius. He had most undoubtedly, an +excellent good plain understanding with sound judgment. But these alone, +would probably have raised him but something higher than they found him; +which was page to King James the Second's queen. There the Graces +protected and promoted him; for while he was an ensign of the Guards, the +Duchess of Cleveland, then favorite mistress to King Charles the Second, +struck by those very Graces, gave him five thousand pounds, with which he +immediately bought an annuity for his life of five hundred pounds a year, +of my grandfather Halifax; which was the foundation of his subsequent +fortune. His figure was beautiful; but his manner was irresistible, by +either man or woman. It was by this engaging, graceful manner, that he +was enabled, during all his war, to connect the various and jarring +powers of the Grand Alliance, and to carry them on to the main object of +the war, notwithstanding their private and separate views, jealousies, +and wrongheadednesses. Whatever court he went to (and he was often +obliged to go himself to some resty and refractory ones), he as +constantly prevailed, and brought them into his measures. The Pensionary +Heinsius, a venerable old minister, grown gray in business, and who had +governed the republic of the United Provinces for more than forty years, +was absolutely governed by the Duke of Marlborough, as that republic +feels to this day. He was always cool; and nobody ever observed the +least variation in his countenance; he could refuse more gracefully than +other people could grant; and those who went away from him the most +dissatisfied as to the substance of their business, were yet personally +charmed with him and, in some degree, comforted by his manner. With all +his gentleness and gracefulness, no man living was more conscious of his +situation, nor maintained his dignity better. + +With the share of knowledge which you have already gotten, and with the +much greater which I hope you will soon acquire, what may you not expect +to arrive at, if you join all these graces to it? In your destination +particularly, they are in truth half your business: for, if you once gain +the affections as well as the esteem of the prince or minister of the +court to which you are sent, I will answer for it, that will effectually +do the business of the court that sent you; otherwise it is up-hill work. +Do not mistake, and think that these graces which I so often and so +earnestly recommend to you, should only accompany important transactions, +and be worn only 'les jours de gala'; no, they should, if possible, +accompany every, the least thing you do or say; for, if you neglect them +in little things, they will leave you in great ones. I should, for +instance, be extremely concerned to see you even drink a cup of coffee +ungracefully, and slop yourself with it, by your awkward manner of +holding it; nor should I like to see your coat buttoned, or your shoes +buckled awry. But I should be outrageous, if I heard you mutter your +words unintelligibly, stammer, in your speech, or hesitate, misplace, and +mistake in your narrations; and I should run away from you with greater +rapidity, if possible, than I should now run to embrace you, if I found +you destitute of all those graces which I have set my heart upon their +making you one day, 'omnibus ornatum excellere rebus'. + +This subject is inexhaustible, as it extends to everything that is to be +said or done: but I will leave it for the present, as this letter is +already pretty long. Such is my desire, my anxiety for your perfection, +that I never think I have said enough, though you may possibly think that +I have said too much; and though, in truth, if your own good sense is not +sufficient to direct you, in many of these plain points, all that I or +anybody else can say will be insufficient. But where you are concerned, +I am the insatiable man in Horace, who covets still a little corner more +to complete the figure of his field. I dread every little corner that +may deform mine, in which I would have (if possible) no one defect. + +I this moment receive yours of the 17th, N. S., and cannot condole with +you upon the secession of your German 'Commensaux'; who both by your and +Mr. Harte's description, seem to be 'des gens d'une amiable absence'; +and, if you can replace them by any other German conversation, you will +be a gainer by the bargain. I cannot conceive, if you understand German +well enough to read any German book, how the writing of the German +character can be so difficult and tedious to you, the twenty-four letters +being very soon learned; and I do not expect that you should write yet +with the utmost purity and correctness, as to the language: what I meant +by your writing once a fortnight to Grevenkop, was only to make the +written character familiar to you. However, I will be content with one +in three weeks or so. + +I believe you are not likely to see Mr. Eliot again soon, he being still +in Cornwall with his father; who, I hear, is not likely to recover. +Adieu. + + + + +LETTER LVII + +LONDON, November 29, O. S. 1748. + +DEAR BOY: I delayed writing to you till I could give you some account of +the motions of your friend Mr. Eliot; for whom I know you have, and very +justly, the most friendly concern. His father and he came to town +together, in a post-chaise a fortnight ago, the rest of the family +remaining in Cornwall. His father, with difficulty, survived the +journey, and died last Saturday was seven-night. Both concern and +decency confined your friend, till two days ago, when I saw him; he has +determined, and I think very prudently, to go abroad again; but how soon, +it is yet impossible for him to know, as he must necessarily put his own +private affairs in some order first; but I conjecture that he may +possibly join you at Turin; sooner, to be sure, not. I am very sorry +that you are likely to be so long without the company and the example of +so valuable a friend; and therefore I hope that you will make it up to +yourself, as well as you can at this distance, by remembering and +following his example. Imitate that application of his, which has made +him know all thoroughly, and to the bottom. He does not content himself +with the surface of knowledge; but works in the mine for it, knowing that +it lies deep. Pope says, very truly, in his "Essay on Criticism":-- + + A little learning is a dangerous thing; + Drink deep, or taste not the Pierian spring. + +I shall send you by a ship that goes to Hamburg next week (and by which +Hawkins sends Mr. Harte some things that he wrote for) all those which I +propose sending you by Mr. Eliot, together with a very little box that I +am desired to forward to Mr. Harte. There will be, likewise, two letters +of recommendation for you to Monsieur Andrie and Comte Algarotti, at +Berlin, which you will take care to deliver to them, as soon as you shall +be rigged and fitted out to appear there. They will introduce you into +the best company, and I depend upon your own good sense for your avoiding +of bad. If you fall into bad and low company there, or anywhere else, +you will be irrecoverably lost; whereas, if you keep good company, and +company above yourself, your character and your fortune will be immovably +fixed. + +I have not time to-day, upon account of the meeting of the parliament, to +make this letter of the usual length; and indeed, after the volumes that +I have written to you, all I can add must be unnecessary. However, I +shall probably, 'ex abundanti', return soon to my former prolixity; and +you will receive more and more last words from, Yours. + + + + +LETTER LVIII + +LONDON, December 6, O. S. 1748. + +DEAR BOY: I am at present under very great concern for the loss of a most +affectionate brother, with whom I had always lived in the closest +friendship. My brother John died last Friday night, of a fit of the +gout, which he had had for about a month in his hands and feet, and which +fell at last upon his stomach and head. As he grew, toward the last, +lethargic, his end was not painful to himself. At the distance which you +are at from hence, you need not go into mourning upon this occasion, as +the time of your mourning would be near over, before you could put it on. + +By a ship which sails this week for Hamburg, I shall send you those +things which I proposed to have sent you by Mr. Eliot, viz., a little box +from your Mamma; a less box for Mr. Harte; Mr. Locke's book upon +education; the print of Carlo Maratti, which I mentioned to you some time +ago; and two letters of recommendation, one to Monsieur Andrie and the +other to Comte Algarotti, at Berlin. Both those gentlemen will, I am +sure, be as willing as they are able to introduce you into the best +company; and I hope you will not (as many of your countrymen are apt to +do) decline it. It is in the best companies only; that you can learn the +best manners and that 'tournure', and those graces, which I have so often +recommended to you, as the necessary means of making a figure in the +world. + +I am most extremely pleased with the account which Mr. Harte gives me of +your progress in Greek, and of your having read Hesiod almost critically. +Upon this subject I suggest but one thing to you, of many that I might +suggest; which is, that you have now got over the difficulties of that +language, and therefore it would be unpardonable not to persevere to your +journey's end, now that all the rest of your way is down hill. + +I am also very well pleased to hear that you have such a knowledge of, +and taste for curious books and scarce and valuable tracts. This is a +kind of knowledge which very well becomes a man of sound and solid +learning, but which only exposes a man of slight and superficial reading; +therefore, pray make the substance and matter of such books your first +object, and their title-pages, indexes, letter, and binding, but your +second. It is the characteristic of a man of parts and good judgment to +know, and give that degree of attention that each object deserves. +Whereas little minds mistake little objects for great ones, and lavish +away upon the former that time and attention which only the latter +deserve. To such mistakes we owe the numerous and frivolous tribes of +insect-mongers, shell-mongers, and pursuers and driers of butterflies, +etc. The strong mind distinguishes, not only between the useful and the +useless, but likewise between the useful and the curious. He applies +himself intensely to the former; he only amuses himself with the latter. +Of this little sort of knowledge, which I have just hinted at, you will +find at least as much as you need wish to know, in a superficial but +pretty French book, entitled, 'Spectacle de la Nature'; which will amuse +you while you read it, and give you a sufficient notion of the various +parts of nature. I would advise you to read it, at leisure hours. But +that part of nature, which Mr. Harte tells me you have begun to study +with the Rector magnificus, is of much greater importance, and deserves +much more attention; I mean astronomy. The vast and immense planetary +system, the astonishing order and regularity of those innumerable worlds, +will open a scene to you, which not only deserves your attention as a +matter of curiosity, or rather astonishment; but still more, as it will +give you greater, and consequently juster, ideas of that eternal and +omnipotent Being, who contrived, made, and still preserves that universe, +than all the contemplation of this, comparatively, very little orb, which +we at present inhabit, could possibly give you. Upon this subject, +Monsieur Fontenelle's 'Pluralite des Mondes', which you may read in two +hours' time, will both inform and please you. God bless you! Yours. + + + + +LETTER LIX + +LONDON, December 13, O. S. 1748. + +DEAR BOY: The last four posts have brought me no letters, either from you +or from Mr. Harte, at which I am uneasy; not as a mamma would be, but as +a father should be: for I do not want your letters as bills of health; +you are young, strong, and healthy, and I am, consequently, in no pain +about that: moreover, were either you or Mr. Harte ill, the other would +doubtless write me word of it. My impatience for yours or Mr. Harte's +letters arises from a very different cause, which is my desire to hear +frequently of the state and progress of your mind. You are now at that +critical period of life when every week ought to produce fruit or flowers +answerable to your culture, which I am sure has not been neglected; and +it is by your letters, and Mr. Harte's accounts of you, that, at this +distance, I can only judge at your gradations to maturity; I desire, +therefore, that one of you two will not fail to write to me once a week. +The sameness of your present way of life, I easily conceive, would not +make out a very interesting letter to an indifferent bystander; but so +deeply concerned as I am in the game you are playing, even the least move +is to me of importance, and helps me to judge of the final event. + +As you will be leaving Leipsig pretty soon after you shall have received +this letter, I here send you one inclosed to deliver to Mr. Mascow. It +is to thank him for his attention and civility to you, during your stay +with him: and I take it for granted, that you will not fail making him +the proper compliments at parting; for the good name that we leave behind +at one place often gets before us to another, and is of great use. As +Mr. Mascow is much known and esteemed in the republic of letters, I think +it would be of advantage to you, if you got letters of recommendation +from him to some of the learned men at Berlin. Those testimonials give a +lustre, which is not to be despised; for the most ignorant are forced to +seem, at least, to pay a regard to learning, as the most wicked are to +virtue. Such is their intrinsic worth. + +Your friend Duval dined with me the other day, and complained most +grievously that he had not heard from you above a year; I bid him abuse +you for it himself; and advised him to do it in verse, which, if he was +really angry, his indignation would enable him to do. He accordingly +brought me, yesterday, the inclosed reproaches and challenge, which he +desired me to transmit to you. As this is his first essay in English +poetry, the inaccuracies in the rhymes and the numbers are very +excusable. He insists, as you will find, upon being answered in verse; +which I should imagine that you and Mr. HARTE, together, could bring +about; as the late Lady Dorchester used to say, that she and Dr. +Radcliffe, together, could cure a fever. This is however sure, that it +now rests upon you; and no man can say what methods Duval may take, if +you decline his challenge. I am sensible that you are under some +disadvantages in this proffered combat. Your climate, at this time of +the year especially, delights more in the wood fire, than in the poetic +fire; and I conceive the Muses, if there are any at Leipsig, to be rather +shivering than singing; nay, I question whether Apollo is even known +there as god of Verse, or as god of Light: perhaps a little as god of +Physic. These will be fair excuses, if your performance should fall +something short; though I do not apprehend that it will. + +While you have been at Leipsig, which is a place of study more than of +pleasure or company, you have had all opportunities of pursuing your +studies uninterruptedly; and have had, I believe, very few temptations to +the contrary. But the case will be quite different at Berlin, where the +splendor and dissipation of a court and the 'beau monde', will present +themselves to you in gaudy shapes, attractive enough to all young people. +Do not think, now, that like an old fellow, I am going to advise you to +reject them, and shut yourself up in your closet: quite the contrary; +I advise you to take your share, and enter into them with spirit and +pleasure; but then I advise you, too, to allot your time so prudently, +as that learning may keep pace with pleasures; there is full time, in the +course of the day, for both, if you do but manage that time right and +like a good economist. The whole morning, if diligently and attentively +devoted to solid studies, will go a great way at the year's end; and the +evenings spent in the pleasures of good company, will go as far in +teaching you a knowledge, not much less necessary than the other, I mean +the knowledge of the world. Between these two necessary studies, that of +books in the morning, and that of the world in the evening, you see that +you will not have one minute to squander or slattern away. Nobody ever +lent themselves more than I did, when I was young, to the pleasures and +dissipation of good company. I even did it too much. But then, I can +assure you, that I always found time for serious studies; and, when I +could find it no other way, I took it out of my sleep, for I resolved +always to rise early in the morning, however late I went to bed at night; +and this resolution I have kept so sacred, that, unless when I have been +confined to my bed by illness, I have not, for more than forty years, +ever been in bed at nine o'clock in the morning but commonly up before +eight. + +When you are at Berlin, remember to speak German as often as you can, in +company; for everybody there will speak French to you, unless you let +them know that you can speak German, which then they will choose to +speak. Adieu. + + + + +LETTER LX + +LONDON, December 20, O. S. 1748. + +DEAR BOY: I received last Saturday by three mails, which came in at once, +two letters from Mr. Harte, and yours of the 8th, N. S. + +It was I who mistook your meaning, with regard to your German letters, +and not you who expressed it ill. I thought it was the writing of the +German character that took up so much of your time, and therefore I +advised you, by the frequent writing of that character, to make it easy +and familiar to you: But, since it is only the propriety and purity of +the German language which make your writing it so tedious and laborious, +I will tell you I shall not be nice upon that article; and did not expect +that you should yet be master of all the idioms, delicacies, and +peculiarities of that difficult language. That can only come by use, +especially frequent speaking; therefore, when you shall be at Berlin, +and afterward at Turin, where you will meet many Germans, pray take all +opportunities of conversing in German, in order not only to keep what you +have got of that language, but likewise to improve and perfect yourself +in it. As to the characters, you form them very well, and as you +yourself own, better than your English ones; but then let me ask you this +question: Why do you not form your Roman characters better? for I +maintain, that it is in every man's power to write what hand he pleases; +and, consequently, that he ought to write a good one. You form, +particularly, your ee and your ll in zigzag, instead of making them +straight, as thus, ee, ll; a fault very easily mended. You will not, I +believe, be angry with this little criticism, when I tell you, that by +all the accounts I have had of late from Mr. Harte and others, this is +the only criticism that you give me occasion to make. Mr. Harte's last +letter, of the 14th, N. S., particularly, makes me extremely happy, by +assuring me that, in every respect, you do exceedingly well. I am not +afraid, by what I now say, of making you too vain; because I do not think +that a just consciousness and an honest pride of doing well, can be +called vanity; for vanity is either the silly affectation of good +qualities which one has not, or the sillier pride of what does not +deserve commendation in itself. By Mr. Harte's account, you are got very +near the goal of Greek and Latin; and therefore I cannot suppose that, +as your sense increases, your endeavors and your speed will slacken in +finishing the small remains of your course. Consider what lustre and +'eclat' it will give you, when you return here, to be allowed to be the +best scholar, for a gentleman, in England; not to mention the real +pleasure and solid comfort which such knowledge will give you throughout +your whole life. Mr. Harte tells me another thing, which, I own, I did +not expect: it is, that when you read aloud, or repeat parts of plays, +you speak very properly and distinctly. This relieves me from great +uneasiness, which I was under upon account of your former bad +enunciation. Go on, and attend most diligently to this important +article. It is, of all Graces (and they are all necessary), the most +necessary one. + +Comte Pertingue, who has been here about a fortnight, far from +disavowing, confirms all that Mr. Harte has said to your advantage. +He thinks that he shall be at Turin much about the time of your arrival +there, and pleases himself with the hopes of being useful to you. +Though, should you get there before him, he says that Comte du Perron, +with whom you are a favorite, will take that care. You see, by this one +instance, and in the course of your life you will see by a million of +instances, of what use a good reputation is, and how swift and +advantageous a harbinger it is, wherever one goes. Upon this point, too, +Mr. Harte does you justice, and tells me that you are desirous of praise +from the praiseworthy. This is a right and generous ambition; and +without which, I fear, few people would deserve praise. + +But here let me, as an old stager upon the theatre of the world, suggest +one consideration to you; which is, to extend your desire of praise a +little beyond the strictly praiseworthy; or else you may be apt to +discover too much contempt for at least three parts in five of the world, +who will never forgive it you. In the mass of mankind, I fear, there is +too great a majority of fools and, knaves; who, singly from their number, +must to a certain degree be respected, though they are by no means +respectable. And a man who will show every knave or fool that he thinks +him such, will engage in a most ruinous war, against numbers much +superior to those that he and his allies can bring into the field. Abhor +a knave, and pity a fool in your heart; but let neither of them, +unnecessarily, see that you do so. Some complaisance and attention to +fools is prudent, and not mean; as a silent abhorrence of individual +knaves is often necessary and not criminal. + +As you will now soon part with Lord Pulteney, with whom, during your stay +together at Leipsig, I suppose you have formed a connection, I imagine +that you will continue it by letters, which I would advise you to do. +They tell me that he is good-natured, and does not want parts; which are +of themselves two good reasons for keeping it up; but there is also a +third reason, which, in the course of the world, is not to be despised: +His father cannot live long, and will leave him an immense fortune; +which, in all events will make him of some consequence; and, if he has +parts into the bargain, of very great consequence; so that his +friendship, may be extremely well worth your cultivating, especially as +it will not cost you above one letter in one month. + +I do not know whether this letter will find you at Leipsig: at least, +it is the last that I shall direct there. My, next to either you or +Mr. Harte will be directed to Berlin; but as I do not know to what house +or street there, I suppose it will remain at the posthouse till you send +for it. Upon your arrival at Berlin you will send me your particular +direction; and also, pray be minute in your accounts of your reception +there, by those whom I recommend you to, as well as by those to whom they +present you. Remember, too, that you are going to a polite and literate +court, where the Graces will best introduce you. + +Adieu. God bless you, and may you continue to deserve my love, as much +as you now enjoy it! + +P. S. Lady Chesterfield bids me tell you, that she decides entirely in +your favor against Mr. Grevenkop, and even against herself; for she does +not think that she could, at this time, write either so good a character +or so good German. Pray write her a German letter upon that subject, in +which you may tell her, that, like the rest of the world, you approve of +her judgment, because it is in your favor; and that you true Germans +cannot allow Danes to be competent judges of your language, etc. + + + + +LETTER LXI + +LONDON, December 30, O. S. 1748. + +DEAR BOY: I direct this letter to Berlin, where, I suppose, it will +either find you, or at least wait but a very little time for you. I +cannot help being anxious for your success, at this your first appearance +upon the great stage of the world; for, though the spectators are always +candid enough to give great allowances, and to show great indulgence to a +new actor; yet, from the first impressions which he makes upon them, they +are apt to decide, in their own minds, at least, whether he will ever be +a good one, or not. If he seems to understand what he says, by speaking +it properly; if he is attentive to his part, instead of staring +negligently about him; and if, upon the whole, he seems ambitious to +please, they willingly pass over little awkwardnesses and inaccuracies, +which they ascribe to a commendable modesty in a young and inexperienced +actor. They pronounce that he will be a good one in time; and, by the +encouragement which they give him, make him so the sooner. This, I hope, +will be your case: you have sense enough to understand your part; a +constant attention, and ambition to excel in it, with a careful +observation of the best actors, will inevitably qualify you, if not for +the first, at least for considerable parts. + +Your dress (as insignificant a thing as dress is in itself) is now become +an object worthy of some attention; for, I confess, I cannot help forming +some opinion of a man's sense and character from his dress; and I believe +most people do as well as myself. Any affectation whatsoever in dress +implies, in my mind, a flaw in the understanding. Most of our young +fellows here display some character or other by their dress; some affect +the tremendous, and wear a great and fiercely cocked hat, an enormous +sword, a short waistcoat and a black cravat; these I should be almost +tempted to swear the peace against, in my own defense, if I were not +convinced that they are but meek asses in lions' skins. Others go in +brown frocks, leather breeches, great oaken cudgels in their hands, their +hats uncocked, and their hair unpowdered; and imitate grooms, stage- +coachmen, and country bumpkins so well in their outsides, that I do not +make the least doubt of their resembling them equally in their insides. +A man of sense carefully avoids any particular character in his dress; +he is accurately clean for his own sake; but all the rest is for other +people's. He dresses as well, and in the same manner, as the people of +sense and fashion of the place where he is. If he dresses better, as he +thinks, that is, more than they, he is a fop; if he dresses worse, he is +unpardonably negligent. But, of the two, I would rather have a young +fellow too much than too little dressed; the excess on that side will +wear off, with a little age and reflection; but if he is negligent at +twenty, he will be a sloven at forty, and stink at fifty years old. +Dress yourself fine, where others are fine; and plain where others are +plain; but take care always that your clothes are well made, and fit you, +for otherwise they will give you a very awkward air. When you are once +well dressed for the day think no more of it afterward; and, without any +stiffness for fear of discomposing that dress, let all your motions be as +easy and natural as if you had no clothes on at all. So much for dress, +which I maintain to be a thing of consequence in the polite world. + +As to manners, good-breeding, and the Graces, I have so often entertained +you upon those important subjects, that I can add nothing to what I have +formerly said. Your own good sense will suggest to you the substance of +them; and observation, experience, and good company, the several modes of +them. Your great vivacity, which I hear of from many people, will be no +hindrance to your pleasing in good company: on the contrary, will be of +use to you, if tempered by good-breeding and accompanied by the Graces. +But then, I suppose your vivacity to be a vivacity of parts, and not a +constitutional restlessness; for the most disagreeable composition that I +know in the world, is that of strong animal spirits, with a cold genius. +Such a fellow is troublesomely active, frivolously busy, foolishly +lively; talks much with little meaning, and laughs more, with less reason +whereas, in my opinion, a warm and lively genius with a cool +constitution, is the perfection of human nature. + +Do what you will at Berlin, provided you do but do something all day +long. All that I desire of you is, that you will never slattern away one +minute in idleness and in doing of nothing. When you are (not)in +company, learn what either books, masters, or Mr. Harte, can teach you; +and when you are in company, learn (what company can only teach you) the +characters and manners of mankind. I really ask your pardon for giving +you this advice; because, if you are a rational creature and thinking +being, as I suppose, and verily believe you are, it must be unnecessary, +and to a certain degree injurious. If I did not know by experience, that +some men pass their whole time in doing nothing, I should not think it +possible for any being, superior to Monsieur Descartes' automatons, to +squander away, in absolute idleness, one single minute of that small +portion of time which is allotted us in this world. + +I have lately seen one Mr. Cranmer, a very sensible merchant, who told me +that he had dined with you, and seen you often at Leipsig. And yesterday +I saw an old footman of mine, whom I made a messenger, who told me that +he had seen you last August. You will easily imagine, that I was not the +less glad to see them because they had seen you; and I examined them both +narrowly, in their respective departments; the former as to your mind, +the latter, as to your body. Mr. Cranmer gave me great satisfaction, +not only by what he told me of himself concerning you, but by what he was +commissioned to tell me from Mr. Mascow. As he speaks German perfectly +himself, I asked him how you spoke it; and he assured me very well for +the time, and that a very little more practice would make you perfectly +master of it. The messenger told me that you were much grown, and, to +the best of his guess, within two inches as tall as I am; that you were +plump, and looked healthy and strong; which was all that I could expect, +or hope, from the sagacity of the person. + +I send you, my dear child (and you will not doubt it), very sincerely, +the wishes of the season. May you deserve a great number of happy New- +years; and, if you deserve, may you have them. Many New-years, indeed, +you may see, but happy ones you cannot see without deserving them. +These, virtue, honor, and knowledge, alone can merit, alone can procure, +'Dii tibi dent annos, de te nam cetera sumes', was a pretty piece of +poetical flattery, where it was said: I hope that, in time, it may be no +flattery when said to you. But I assure you, that wherever I cannot +apply the latter part of the line to you with truth, I shall neither say, +think, or wish the former. Adieu! + + + +ETEXT EDITOR'S BOOKMARKS: + +A little learning is a dangerous thing;. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +Above all things, avoid speaking of yourself. . . . . . . . . . . . . +Above the frivolous as below the important and the secret. . . . . . . +Abroad but they stay at home all that while. . . . . . . . . . . . . . +Absolute command of your temper. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +Abstain from learned ostentation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +Absurd term of genteel and fashionable vices . . . . . . . . . . . . . +Advice is seldom welcome . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +Affectation whatsoever in dress. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +Always look people in the face when you speak to them. . . . . . . . . +Ancients and Moderns . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +Argumentative, polemical conversations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +As willing and as apt to be pleased as anybody . . . . . . . . . . . . +Authority. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +Better not to seem to understand, than to reply. . . . . . . . . . . . +Bruyere. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +Cannot understand them, or will not desire to understand them. . . . . +Cardinal de Retz . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +Cardinal Virtues, by first degrading them into weaknesses. . . . . . . +Cautious how we draw inferences. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +Chameleon, be able to take every different hue . . . . . . . . . . . . +Cheerful in the countenance, but without laughing. . . . . . . . . . . +Common sense (which, in truth, very uncommon . . . . . . . . . . . . . +Commonplace observations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +Complaisance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +Consciousness and an honest pride of doing well. . . . . . . . . . . . +Contempt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +Conversation will help you almost as much as books . . . . . . . . . . +Conversation-stock being a joint and common property . . . . . . . . . +Converse with his inferiors without insolence. . . . . . . . . . . . . +Deriving all our actions from the source of self-love. . . . . . . . . +Deserve a little, and you shall have but a little. . . . . . . . . . . +Desirous of praise from the praiseworthy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +Dexterity enough to conceal a truth without telling a lie. . . . . . . +Difficulties seem to them, impossibilities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +Distinguish between the useful and the curious . . . . . . . . . . . . +Do as you would be done by . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +Do what you will but do something all day long . . . . . . . . . . . . +Either do not think, or do not love to think . . . . . . . . . . . . . +Equally forbid insolent contempt, or low envy and jealousy . . . . . . +Even where you are sure, seem rather doubtful. . . . . . . . . . . . . +Every virtue, has its kindred vice or weakness . . . . . . . . . . . . +Fiddle-faddle stories, that carry no information along with the. . . . +Flattery of women. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +Forge accusations against themselves . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +Forgive, but not approve, the bad. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +Frank, open, and ingenuous exterior, with a prudent interior . . . . . +Gain the affections as well as the esteem. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +Generosity often runs into profusion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +Go to the bottom of things . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +Good company . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +Graces: Without us, all labor is vain. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +Great learning; which, if not accompanied with sound judgment. . . . . +Great numbers of people met together, animate each other . . . . . . . +Habit and prejudice. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +Half done or half known. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +Hardly any body good for every thing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +Have a will and an opinion of your own, and adhere . . . . . . . . . . +Have but one set of jokes to live upon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +He will find it out of himself without your endeavors. . . . . . . . . +Heart has such an influence over the understanding . . . . . . . . . . +Helps only, not as guides. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +Historians . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +Honest error is to be pitied, not ridiculed. . . . . . . . . . . . . . +Honestest man loves himself best.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +How much you have to do; and how little time to do it in . . . . . . . +I hope, I wish, I doubt, and fear alternately. . . . . . . . . . . . . +I shall always love you as you shall deserve.. . . . . . . . . . . . . +If you would convince others, seem open to conviction yourself . . . . +Impertinent insult upon custom and fashion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +Inaction at your age is unpardonable . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +Jealous of being slighted. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +Judge them all by their merits, but not by their ages. . . . . . . . . +Keep good company, and company above yourself. . . . . . . . . . . . . +Know their real value, and how much they are generally overrated . . . +Knowledge is like power in this respect. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +Knowledge of a scholar with the manners of a courtier. . . . . . . . . +Laughing, I must particularly warn you against it. . . . . . . . . . . +Lazy mind, and the trifling, frivolous mind. . . . . . . . . . . . . . +Learning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +Let me see more of you in your letters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +Little minds mistake little objects for great ones . . . . . . . . . . +Livery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +Loud laughter is the mirth of the mob. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +Low buffoonery, or silly accidents, that always excite laughter. . . . +Low company, most falsely and impudently, call pleasure. . . . . . . . +Luther's disappointed avarice. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +Make yourself necessary. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +Manner of doing things is often more important . . . . . . . . . . . . +Manners must adorn knowledge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +May not forget with ease what you have with difficulty learned . . . . +Mimicry. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +More one sees, the less one either wonders or admires. . . . . . . . . +More you know, the modester you should be. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +Mortifying inferiority in knowledge, rank, fortune . . . . . . . . . . +Most long talkers single out some one unfortunate man in compan. . . . +Much sooner forgive an injustice than an insult. . . . . . . . . . . . +Mystical nonsense. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +Name that we leave behind at one place often gets before us. . . . . . +Neglect them in little things, they will leave you in great. . . . . . +Negligence of it implies an indifference about pleasing. . . . . . . . +Neither retail nor receive scandal willingly . . . . . . . . . . . . . +Never quit a subject till you are thoroughly master of it. . . . . . . +Never seem wiser, nor more learned, than the people you are wit. . . . +Never slattern away one minute in idleness . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +Never to speak of yourself at all. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +Not one minute of the day in which you do nothing at all . . . . . . . +Not to admire anything too much. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +Oftener led by their hearts than by their understandings . . . . . . . +Out of livery; which makes them both impertinent and useless . . . . . +Overvalue what we do not know. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +Pay your own reckoning, but do not treat the whole company . . . . . . +People angling for praise. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +People never desire all till they have gotten a great deal . . . . . . +Plain notions of right and wrong . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +Planted while young, that degree of knowledge now my refuge. . . . . . +Pleased to some degree by showing a desire to please . . . . . . . . . +Pleasing in company is the only way of being pleased in yourself . . . +Pleasure and business with equal inattention . . . . . . . . . . . . . +Prefer useful to frivolous conversations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +Pride remembers it forever . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +Prudent reserve. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +Pyrrhonism . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +Reason ought to direct the whole, but seldom does. . . . . . . . . . . +Reformation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +Refuge of people who have neither wit nor invention of their ow. . . . +Refuse more gracefully than other people could grant . . . . . . . . . +Repeating. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +Represent, but do not pronounce. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +Rochefoucault. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +Rough corners which mere nature has given to the smoothest . . . . . . +Scandal: receiver is always thought, as bad as the thief . . . . . . . +Scarcely any body who is absolutely good for nothing . . . . . . . . . +Scrupled no means to obtain his ends.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +Secrets. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +Seeming frankness with a real reserve. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +Seeming openness is prudent. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +Self-love draws a thick veil between us and our faults . . . . . . . . +Serious without being dull . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +Shakespeare. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +Shepherds and ministers are both men . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +Some complaisance and attention to fools is prudent, and not me. . . . +Some men pass their whole time in doing nothing. . . . . . . . . . . . +Something or other is to be got out of everybody . . . . . . . . . . . +Swearing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +Take nothing for granted, upon the bare authority of the author. . . . +Take, rather than give, the tone of the company you are in.. . . . . . +Talk often, but never long . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +Talk sillily upon a subject of other people's. . . . . . . . . . . . . +Talking of either your own or other people's domestic affairs. . . . . +Tell me whom you live with, and I will tell you who you are. . . . . . +Tell stories very seldom . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +Tenderness and affection with which, while you deserve them. . . . . . +The best have something bad, and something little. . . . . . . . . . . +The worst have something good, and sometimes something great . . . . . +Thin veil of Modesty drawn before Vanity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +Thoroughly, not superficially. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +To know people's real sentiments, I trust much more to my eyes . . . . +Unopened, because one title in twenty has been omitted . . . . . . . . +Value of moments, when cast up, is immense . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +Vanity, that source of many of our follies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +Weaknesses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +What displeases or pleases you in others . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +What you feel pleases you in them. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +When well dressed for the day think no more of it afterward. . . . . . +Will not so much as hint at our follies. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +Witty without satire or commonplace. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +Women. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +Wrongs are often forgiven; but contempt never is.. . . . . . . . . . . +You had much better hold your tongue than them . . . . . . . . . . . . +Your merit and your manners can alone raise you. . . . . . . . . . . . + + + + + +End of this Project Gutenberg Etext of Letters to His Son, 1748 +by The Earl of Chesterfield + diff --git a/old/lc02s10.zip b/old/lc02s10.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..42bb918 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/lc02s10.zip diff --git a/old/lc02s11.txt b/old/lc02s11.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..3bc363b --- /dev/null +++ b/old/lc02s11.txt @@ -0,0 +1,4633 @@ +The Project Gutenberg Etext of Letters to His Son, 1748 +#2 in our series by The Earl of Chesterfield + +Copyright laws are changing all over the world, be sure to check +the laws for your country before redistributing these files!!!!! + +Please take a look at the important information in this header. +We encourage you to keep this file on your own disk, keeping an +electronic path open for the next readers. + +Please do not remove this. + +This should be the first thing seen when anyone opens the book. +Do not change or edit it without written permission. 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S. 1748. + +DEAR BOY: I am edified with the allotment of your time at Leipsig; which +is so well employed from morning till night, that a fool would say you +had none left for yourself; whereas, I am sure you have sense enough to +know, that such a right use of your time is having it all to yourself; +nay, it is even more, for it is laying it out to immense interest, which, +in a very few years, will amount to a prodigious capital. + +Though twelve of your fourteen 'Commensaux' may not be the liveliest +people in the world, and may want (as I easily conceive that they do) 'le +ton de la bonne campagnie, et les graces', which I wish you, yet pray +take care not to express any contempt, or throw out any ridicule; which I +can assure you, is not more contrary to good manners than to good sense: +but endeavor rather to get all the good you can out of them; and +something or other is to be got out of everybody. They will, at least, +improve you in the German language; and, as they come from different +countries, you may put them upon subjects, concerning which they must +necessarily be able to give you some useful informations, let them be +ever so dull or disagreeable in general: they will know something, at +least, of the laws, customs, government, and considerable families of +their respective countries; all which are better known than not, and +consequently worth inquiring into. There is hardly any body good for +every thing, and there is scarcely any body who is absolutely good for +nothing. A good chemist will extract some spirit or other out of every +substance; and a man of parts will, by his dexterity and management, +elicit something worth knowing out of every being he converses with. + +As you have been introduced to the Duchess of Courland, pray go there as +often as ever your more necessary occupations will allow you. I am told +she is extremely well bred, and has parts. Now, though I would not +recommend to you, to go into women's company in search of solid +knowledge, or judgment, yet it has its use in other respects; for it +certainly polishes the manners, and gives 'une certaine tournure', which +is very necessary in the course of the world; and which Englishmen have +generally less of than any people in the world. + +I cannot say that your suppers are luxurious, but you must own they are +solid; and a quart of soup, and two pounds of potatoes, will enable you +to pass the night without great impatience for your breakfast next +morning. One part of your supper (the potatoes) is the constant diet of +my old friends and countrymen,--[Lord Chesterfield, from the time he was +appointed Lord-lieutenant of Ireland, 1775, used always to call the Irish +his countrymen.]--the Irish, who are the healthiest and the strongest +bodies of men that I know in Europe. + +As I believe that many of my letters to you and to Mr. Harte have +miscarried, as well as some of yours and his to me; particularly one of +his from Leipsig, to which he refers in a subsequent one, and which I +never received; I would have you, for the future, acknowledge the dates +of all the letters which either of you shall receive from me; and I will +do the same on my part. + +That which I received by the last mail, from you, was of the 25th +November, N. S.; the mail before that brought me yours, of which I have +forgot the date, but which inclosed one to Lady Chesterfield: she will +answer it soon, and, in the mean time, thanks you for it. + +My disorder was only a very great cold, of which I am entirely recovered. +You shall not complain for want of accounts from Mr. Grevenkop, who will +frequently write you whatever passes here, in the German language and +character; which will improve you in both. Adieu. + + + + +LETTER XXV + +LONDON, January 15, O. S. 1748. + +DEAR BOY: I willingly accept the new-year's gift which you promise me for +next year; and the more valuable you make it, the more thankful I shall +be. That depends entirely upon you; and therefore I hope to be presented, +every year, with a new edition of you, more correct than the former, and +considerably enlarged and amended. + +Since you do not care to be an assessor of the imperial chamber, and that +you desire an establishment in England; what do you think of being Greek +Professor at one of our universities? It is a very pretty sinecure, and +requires very little knowledge (much less than, I hope, you have already) +of that language. If you do not approve of this, I am at a loss to know +what else to propose to you; and therefore desire that you will inform me +what sort of destination you propose for yourself; for it is now time to +fix it, and to take our measures accordingly. Mr. Harte tells me that +you set up for a ----------; if so, I presume it is in the view of +succeeding me in my office;--[A secretary of state.]--which I will very +willingly resign to you, whenever you shall call upon me for it. But, if +you intend to be the --------, or the ------- ----, there are some +trifling circumstances upon which you should previously take your +resolution. The first of which is, to be fit for it: and then, in order +to be so, make yourself master of ancient and, modern history, and +languages. To know perfectly the constitution, and form of government of +every nation; the growth and the decline of ancient and modern empires; +and to trace out and reflect upon the causes of both. To know the +strength, the riches, and the commerce of every country. These little +things, trifling as they may seem, are yet very necessary for a +politician to know; and which therefore, I presume, you will condescend +to apply yourself to. There are some additional qualifications +necessary, in the practical part of business, which may deserve some +consideration in your leisure moments; such as, an absolute command of +your temper, so as not to be provoked to passion, upon any account; +patience, to hear frivolous, impertinent, and unreasonable applications; +with address enough to refuse, without offending, or, by your manner of +granting, to double the obligation; dexterity enough to conceal a truth +without telling a lie; sagacity enough to read other people's +countenances; and serenity enough not to let them discover anything by +yours; a seeming frankness with a real reserve. These are the rudiments +of a politician; the world must be your grammar. + +Three mails are now due from Holland; so that I have no letters from you +to acknowledge. I therefore conclude with recommending myself to your +favor and protection when you succeed. Yours. + + + + +LETTER XXVI + +LONDON, January 29, O. S. 1748. + +DEAR BOY: I find, by Mr. Harte's last letter, that many of my letters to +you and him, have been frozen up on their way to Leipsig; the thaw has, I +suppose, by this time, set them at liberty to pursue their journey to +you, and you will receive a glut of them at once. Hudibras alludes, in +this verse, + + "Like words congealed in northern air," + +to a vulgar notion, that in Greenland words were frozen in their +utterance; and that upon a thaw, a very mixed conversation was heard in +the air, of all those words set at liberty. This conversation was, I +presume, too various and extensive to be much attended to: and may not +that be the case of half a dozen of my long letters, when you receive +them all at once? I think that I can, eventually, answer that question, +thus: If you consider my letters in their true light, as conveying to you +the advice of a friend, who sincerely wishes your happiness, and desires +to promote your pleasure, you will both read and attend to them; but, if +you consider them in their opposite, and very false light, as the +dictates of a morose and sermonizing father, I am sure they will be not +only unattended to, but unread. Which is the case, you can best tell me. +Advice is seldom welcome; and those who want it the most always like it +the least. I hope that your want of experience, of which you must be +conscious, will convince you, that you want advice; and that your good +sense will incline you to follow it. + +Tell me how you pass your leisure hours at Leipsig; I know you have not +many; and I have too good an opinion of you to think, that, at this age, +you would desire more. Have you assemblies, or public spectacles? and of +what kind are they? Whatever they are, see them all; seeing everything, +is the only way not to admire anything too much. + +If you ever take up little tale-books, to amuse you by snatches, I will +recommend two French books, which I have already mentioned; they will +entertain you, and not without some use to your mind and your manners. +One is, 'La Maniere de bien penser dans les Ouvrages d'Esprit', written +by Pere Bouhours; I believe you read it once in England, with Monsieur +Coderc; but I think that you will do well to read it again, as I know of +no book that will form your taste better. The other is, 'L'Art de plaire +dans la Conversation', by the Abbe de Bellegarde, and is by no means +useless, though I will not pretend to say, that the art of pleasing can +be reduced to a receipt; if it could, I am sure that receipt would be +worth purchasing at any price. Good sense, and good nature, are the +principal ingredients; and your own observation, and the good advice of +others, must give the right color and taste to it. Adieu! I shall always +love you as you shall deserve. + + + + +LETTER XXVII + +LONDON, February 9, O. S. 1748. + +DEAR BOY: You will receive this letter, not from a Secretary of State but +from a private man; for whom, at his time of life, quiet was as fit, and +as necessary, as labor and activity are for you at your age, and for many +years yet to come. I resigned the seals, last Saturday, to the King; who +parted with me most graciously, and (I may add, for he said so himself) +with regret. As I retire from hurry to quiet, and to enjoy, at my ease, +the comforts of private and social life, you will easily imagine that I +have no thoughts of opposition, or meddling with business. 'Otium cum +dignitate' is my object. The former I now enjoy; and I hope that my +conduct and character entitle me to some share of the latter. In short, +I am now happy: and I found that I could not be so in my former public +situation. + +As I like your correspondence better than that of all the kings, princes, +and ministers, in Europe, I shall now have leisure to carry it on more +regularly. My letters to you will be written, I am sure, by me, and, I +hope, read by you, with pleasure; which, I believe, seldom happens, +reciprocally, to letters written from and to a secretary's office. + +Do not apprehend that my retirement from business may be a hindrance to +your advancement in it, at a proper time: on the contrary, it will +promote it; for, having nothing to ask for myself, I shall have the +better title to ask for you. But you have still a surer way than this of +rising, and which is wholly in your own power. Make yourself necessary; +which, with your natural parts, you may, by application, do. We are in +general, in England, ignorant of foreign affairs: and of the interests, +views, pretensions, and policy of other courts. That part of knowledge +never enters into our thoughts, nor makes part of our education; for +which reason, we have fewer proper subjects for foreign commissions, +than any other country in Europe; and, when foreign affairs happen to be +debated in Parliament, it is incredible with how much ignorance. The +harvest of foreign affairs being then so great, and the laborers so few, +if you make yourself master of them, you will make yourself necessary; +first as a foreign, and then as a domestic minister for that department. + +I am extremely well pleased with the account which you give me of the +allotment of your time. Do but go on so, for two years longer, and I +will ask no more of you. Your labors will be their own reward; but if +you desire any other, that I can add, you may depend upon it. + +I am glad that you perceive the indecency and turpitude of those of your +'Commensaux', who disgrace and foul themselves with dirty w----s and +scoundrel gamesters. And the light in which, I am sure, you see all +reasonable and decent people consider them, will be a good warning to +you. Adieu. + + + + +LETTER XXVIII + +LONDON, February 13, O. S. 1748 + +DEAR BOY: your last letter gave me a very satisfactory account of your +manner of employing your time at Leipsig. Go on so but for two years +more, and, I promise you, that you will outgo all the people of your age +and time. I thank you for your explanation of the 'Schriftsassen', and +'Amptsassen'; and pray let me know the meaning of the 'Landsassen'. I am +very willing that you should take a Saxon servant, who speaks nothing but +German, which will be a sure way of keeping up your German, after you +leave Germany. But then, I would neither have that man, nor him whom you +have already, put out of livery; which makes them both impertinent and +useless. I am sure, that as soon as you shall have taken the other +servant, your present man will press extremely to be out of livery, and +valet de chambre; which is as much as to say, that he will curl your hair +and shave you, but not condescend to do anything else. I therefore +advise you, never to have a servant out of livery; and, though you may +not always think proper to carry the servant who dresses you abroad in +the rain and dirt, behind a coach or before a chair, yet keep it in your +power to do so, if you please, by keeping him in livery. + +I have seen Monsieur and Madame Flemming, who gave me a very good account +of you, and of your manners, which to tell you the plain truth, were what +I doubted of the most. She told me, that you were easy, and not ashamed: +which is a great deal for an Englishman at your age. + +I set out for Bath to-morrow, for a month; only to be better than well, +and enjoy, in, quiet, the liberty which I have acquired by the +resignation of the seals. You shall hear from me more at large from +thence; and now good night to you. + + + + +LETTER XXIX + +BATH, February 18, O. S. 1748. + +DEAR BOY: The first use that I made of my liberty was to come here, where +I arrived yesterday. My health, though not fundamentally bad yet, for +want of proper attention of late, wanted some repairs, which these waters +never fail giving it. I shall drink them a month, and return to London, +there to enjoy the comforts of social life, instead of groaning under the +load of business. I have given the description of the life that I +propose to lead for the future, in this motto, which I have put up in the +frize of my library in my new house:-- + + Nunc veterum libris, nunc somno, et inertibus horis + Ducere sollicitae jucunda oblivia vitas. + +I must observe to you upon this occasion, that the uninterrupted +satisfaction which I expect to find in that library, will be chiefly +owing to my having employed some part of my life well at your age. I +wish I had employed it better, and my satisfaction would now be complete; +but, however, I planted while young, that degree of knowledge which is +now my refuge and my shelter. Make your plantations still more +extensive; they will more than pay you for your trouble. I do not regret +the time that I passed in pleasures; they were seasonable; they were the +pleasures of youth, and I enjoyed them while young. If I had not, +I should probably have overvalued them now, as we are very apt to do what +we do not know; but, knowing them as I do, I know their real value, and +how much they are generally overrated. Nor do I regret the time that +I have passed in business, for the same reason; those who see only the +outside of it, imagine it has hidden charms, which they pant after; and +nothing but acquaintance can undeceive them. I, who have been behind the +scenes, both of pleasure and business, and have seen all the springs and +pullies of those decorations which astonish and dazzle the audience, +retire, not only without regret, but with contentment and satisfaction. +But what I do, and ever shall regret, is the time which, while young, +I lost in mere idleness, and in doing nothing. This is the common effect +of the inconsideracy of youth, against which I beg you will be most +carefully upon your guard. The value of moments, when cast up, is +immense, if well employed; if thrown away, their loss is irrecoverable. +Every moment may be put to some use, and that with much more pleasure, +than if unemployed. Do not imagine, that by the employment of time, I +mean an uninterrupted application to serious studies. No; pleasures are, +at proper times, both as necessary and as useful; they fashion and form +you for the world; they teach you characters, and show you the human +heart in its unguarded minutes. But then remember to make that use of +them. I have known many people, from laziness of mind, go through both +pleasure and business with equal inattention; neither enjoying the one, +nor doing the other; thinking themselves men of pleasure, because they +were mingled with those who were, and men of business, because they had +business to do, though they did not do it. Whatever you do, do it to the +purpose; do it thoroughly, not superficially. 'Approfondissez': go to +the bottom of things. Any thing half done or half known, is, in my mind, +neither done nor known at all. Nay worse, it often misleads. There is +hardly any place or any company, where you may not gain knowledge, if you +please; almost everybody knows some one thing, and is glad to talk upon +that one thing. Seek and you will find, in this world as well as in the +next. See everything; inquire into everything; and you may excuse your +curiosity, and the questions you ask which otherwise might be thought +impertinent, by your manner of asking them; for most things depend a +great deal upon the manner. As, for example, I AM AFRAID THAT I AM VERY +TROUBLESOME WITH MY QUESTIONS; BUT NOBODY CAN INFORM ME SO WELL +AS YOU; +or something of that kind. + +Now that you are in a Lutheran country, go to their churches, and observe +the manner of their public worship; attend to their ceremonies, and +inquire the meaning and intention of everyone of them. And, as you will +soon understand German well enough, attend to their sermons, and observe +their manner of preaching. Inform yourself of their church government: +whether it resides in the sovereign, or in consistories and synods. +Whence arises the maintenance of their clergy; whether from tithes, as in +England, or from voluntary contributions, or from pensions from the +state. Do the same thing when you are in Roman Catholic countries; go to +their churches, see all their ceremonies: ask the meaning of them, get +the terms explained to you. As, for instance, Prime, Tierce, Sexte, +Nones, Matins, Angelus, High Mass, Vespers, Complines, etc. Inform +yourself of their several religious orders, their founders, their rules, +their vows, their habits, their revenues, etc. But, when you frequent +places of public worship, as I would have you go to all the different +ones you meet with, remember, that however erroneous, they are none of +them objects of laughter and ridicule. Honest error is to be pitied, not +ridiculed. The object of all the public worships in the world is the +same; it is that great eternal Being who created everything. The +different manners of worship are by no means subjects of ridicule. Each +sect thinks its own is the best; and I know no infallible judge in this +world, to decide which is the best. Make the same inquiries, wherever +you are, concerning the revenues, the military establishment, the trade, +the commerce, and the police of every country. And you would do well to +keep a blank paper book, which the Germans call an ALBUM; and there, +instead of desiring, as they do, every fool they meet with to scribble +something, write down all these things as soon as they come to your +knowledge from good authorities. + +I had almost forgotten one thing, which I would recommend as an object +for your curiosity and information, that is, the administration of +justice; which, as it is always carried on in open court, you may, and I +would have you, go and see it with attention and inquiry. + +I have now but one anxiety left, which is concerning you. I would have +you be, what I know nobody is--perfect. As that is impossible, I would +have you as near perfection as possible. I know nobody in a fairer way +toward it than yourself, if you please. Never were so much pains taken +for anybody's education as for yours; and never had anybody those +opportunities of knowledge and improvement which you, have had, and still +have, I hope, I wish, I doubt, and fear alternately. This only I am sure +of, that you will prove either the greatest pain or the greatest pleasure +of, Yours. + + + + +LETTER XXX + +BATH, February 22, O. S. 1748. + +DEAR Boy: Every excellency, and every virtue, has its kindred vice or +weakness; and if carried beyond certain bounds, sinks into one or the +other. Generosity often runs into profusion, economy into avarice, +courage into rashness, caution into timidity, and so on:--insomuch that, +I believe, there is more judgment required, for the proper conduct of our +virtues, than for avoiding their opposite vices. Vice, in its true +light, is so deformed, that it shocks us at first sight, and would hardly +ever seduce us, if it did not, at first, wear the mask of some virtue. +But virtue is, in itself, so beautiful, that it charms us at first sight; +engages us more and more upon further acquaintance; and, as with other +beauties, we think excess impossible; it is here that judgment is +necessary, to moderate and direct the effects of an excellent cause. +I shall apply this reasoning, at present, not to any particular virtue, +but to an excellency, which, for want of judgment, is often the cause of +ridiculous and blamable effects; I mean, great learning; which, if not +accompanied with sound judgment, frequently carries us into error, pride, +and pedantry. As, I hope, you will possess that excellency in its utmost +extent, and yet without its too common failings, the hints, which my +experience can suggest, may probably not be useless to you. + +Some learned men, proud of their knowledge, only speak to decide, and +give judgment without appeal; the consequence of which is, that mankind, +provoked by the insult, and injured by the oppression, revolt; and, in +order to shake off the tyranny, even call the lawful authority in +question. The more you know, the modester you should be: and (by the +bye) that modesty is the surest way of gratifying your vanity. Even +where you are sure, seem rather doubtful; represent, but do not +pronounce, and, if you would convince others, seem open to conviction +yourself. + +Others, to show their learning, or often from the prejudices of a school- +education, where they hear of nothing else, are always talking of the +ancients, as something more than men, and of the moderns, as something +less. They are never without a classic or two in their pockets; they +stick to the old good sense; they read none of the modern trash; and will +show you, plainly, that no improvement has been made, in any one art or +science, these last seventeen hundred years. I would by no means have +you disown your acquaintance with the ancients: but still less would I +have you brag of an exclusive intimacy with them. Speak of the moderns +without contempt, and of the ancients without idolatry; judge them all by +their merits, but not by their ages; and if you happen to have an Elzevir +classic in your pocket neither show it nor mention it. + +Some great scholars, most absurdly, draw all their maxims, both for +public and private life, from what they call parallel cases in the +ancient authors; without considering, that, in the first place, there +never were, since the creation of the world, two cases exactly parallel; +and, in the next place, that there never was a case stated, or even +known, by any historian, with every one of its circumstances; which, +however, ought to be known, in order to be reasoned from. Reason upon +the case itself, and the several circumstances that attend it, and act +accordingly; but not from the authority of ancient poets, or historians. +Take into your consideration, if you please, cases seemingly analogous; +but take them as helps only, not as guides. We are really so prejudiced +by our education, that, as the ancients deified their heroes, we deify +their madmen; of which, with all due regard for antiquity, I take +Leonidas and Curtius to have been two distinguished ones. And yet a +solid pedant would, in a speech in parliament, relative to a tax of two- +pence in the pound upon some community or other, quote those two heroes, +as examples of what we ought to do and suffer for our country. I have +known these absurdities carried so far by people of injudicious learning, +that I should not be surprised, if some of them were to propose, while we +are at war with the Gauls, that a number of geese should be kept in the +Tower, upon account of the infinite advantage which Rome received IN A +PARALLEL CASE, from a certain number of geese in the Capitol. This way +of reasoning, and this way of speaking, will always form a poor +politician, and a puerile declaimer. + +There is another species of learned men, who, though less dogmatical and +supercilious, are not less impertinent. These are the communicative and +shining pedants, who adorn their conversation, even with women, by happy +quotations of Greek and Latin; and who have contracted such a familiarity +with the Greek and Roman authors, that they, call them by certain names +or epithets denoting intimacy. As OLD Homer; that SLY ROGUE Horace; +MARO, instead of Virgil; and Naso, Instead of Ovid. These are often +imitated by coxcombs, who have no learning at all; but who have got some +names and some scraps of ancient authors by heart, which they improperly +and impertinently retail in all companies, in hopes of passing for +scholars. If, therefore, you would avoid the accusation of pedantry on +one hand, or the suspicion of ignorance on the other, abstain from +learned ostentation. Speak the language of the company that you are in; +speak it purely, and unlarded with any other. Never seem wiser, nor more +learned, than the people you are with. Wear your learning, like your +watch, in a private pocket: and do not pull it out and strike it; merely +to show that you have one. If you are asked what o'clock it is, tell it; +but do not proclaim it hourly and unasked, like the watchman. + +Upon the whole, remember that learning (I mean Greek and Roman learning) +is a most useful and necessary ornament, which it is shameful not to be +master of; but, at the same time most carefully avoid those errors and +abuses which I have mentioned, and which too often attend it. Remember, +too, that great modern knowledge is still more necessary than ancient; +and that you had better know perfectly the present, than the old state of +Europe; though I would have you well acquainted with both. + +I have this moment received your letter of the 17th, N. S. Though, I +confess, there is no great variety in your present manner of life, yet +materials can never be wanting for a letter; you see, you hear, or you +read something new every day; a short account of which, with your own +reflections thereupon, will make out a letter very well. But, since you +desire a subject, pray send me an account of the Lutheran establishment +in Germany; their religious tenets, their church government, the +maintenance, authority, and titles of their clergy. + +'Vittorio Siri', complete, is a very scarce and very dear book here; but +I do not want it. If your own library grows too voluminous, you will not +know what to do with it, when you leave Leipsig. Your best way will be, +when you go away from thence, to send to England, by Hamburg, all the +books that you do not absolutely want. + Yours. + + + + +LETTER XXXI + +BATH, March 1, O. S. 1748. + +DEAR BOY: By Mr. Harte's letter to Mr. Grevenkop, of the 21st February, +N. S., I find that you had been a great while without receiving any +letters from me; but by this time, I daresay you think you have received +enough, and possibly more than you have read; for I am not only a +frequent, but a prolix correspondent. + +Mr. Harte says, in that letter, that he looks upon Professor Mascow to be +one of the ablest men in Europe, in treaty and political knowledge. I am +extremely glad of it; for that is what I would have you particularly +apply to, and make yourself perfect master of. The treaty part you must +chiefly acquire by reading the treaties themselves, and the histories and +memoirs relative to them; not but that inquiries and conversations upon +those treaties will help you greatly, and imprint them better in your +mind. In this course of reading, do not perplex yourself, at first, by +the multitude of insignificant treaties which are to be found in the +Corps Diplomatique; but stick to the material ones, which altered the +state of Europe, and made a new arrangement among the great powers; such +as the treaties of Munster, Nimeguen, Ryswick, and Utrecht. + +But there is one part of political knowledge, which is only to be had by +inquiry and conversation; that is, the present state of every power in +Europe, with regard to the three important points, of strength, revenue, +and commerce. You will, therefore, do well, while you are in Germany, to +inform yourself carefully of the military force, the revenues, and the +commerce of every prince and state of the empire; and to write down those +informations in a little book, for that particular purpose. To give you +a specimen of what I mean:-- + + THE ELECTORATE OF HANOVER + + The revenue is about L500,000 a year. + + The military establishment, in time of war, may be about 25,000 men; + but that is the utmost. + + The trade is chiefly linens, exported from Stade. + + There are coarse woolen manufactures for home-consumption. + + The mines of Hartz produce about L100,000 in silver, annually. + + +Such informations you may very easily get, by proper inquiries, of every +state in Germany if you will but prefer useful to frivolous +conversations. + +There are many princes in Germany, who keep very few or no troops, unless +upon the approach of danger, or for the sake of profit, by letting them +out for subsidies, to great powers: In that case, you will inform +yourself what number of troops they could raise, either for their own +defense, or furnish to other powers for subsidies. + +There is very little trouble, and an infinite use, in acquiring of this +knowledge. It seems to me even to be a more entertaining subject to talk +upon, than 'la pluie et le beau tens'. + +Though I am sensible that these things cannot be known with the utmost +exactness, at least by you yet, you may, however, get so near the truth, +that the difference will be very immaterial. + +Pray let me know if the Roman Catholic worship is tolerated in Saxony, +anywhere but at Court; and if public mass-houses are allowed anywhere +else in the electorate. Are the regular Romish clergy allowed; and have +they any convents? + +Are there any military orders in Saxony, and what? Is the White Eagle a +Saxon or a Polish order? Upon what occasion, and when was it founded? +What number of knights? + +Adieu! God bless you; and may you turn out what I wish! + + + + +LETTER XXXII + +BATH, March 9, O. S. 1748. + +DEAR BOY: I must from time to time, remind you of what I have often +recommended to you, and of what you cannot attend to too much; SACRIFICE +TO THE GRACES. The different effects of the same things, said or done, +when accompanied or abandoned by them, is almost inconceivable. They +prepare the way to the heart; and the heart has such an influence over +the understanding, that it is worth while to engage it in our interest. +It is the whole of women, who are guided by nothing else: and it has so +much to say, even with men, and the ablest men too, that it commonly +triumphs in every struggle with the understanding. Monsieur de +Rochefoucault, in his "Maxims," says, that 'l'esprit est souvent la dupe +du coeur.' If he had said, instead of 'souvent, tresque toujours', I +fear he would have been nearer the truth. This being the case, aim at +the heart. Intrinsic merit alone will not do; it will gain you the +general esteem of all; but not the particular affection, that is, the +heart of any. To engage the affections of any particular person, you +must, over and above your general merit, have some particular merit to +that person by services done, or offered; by expressions of regard and +esteem; by complaisance, attentions, etc., for him. And the graceful +manner of doing all these things opens the way to the heart, and +facilitates, or rather insures, their effects. From your own +observation, reflect what a disagreeable impression an awkward address, a +slovenly figure, an ungraceful manner of speaking, whether stuttering, +muttering, monotony, or drawling, an unattentive behavior, etc., make +upon you, at first sight, in a stranger, and how they prejudice you +against him, though for aught you know, he may have great intrinsic sense +and merit. And reflect, on the other hand, how much the opposites of all +these things prepossess you, at first sight, in favor of those who enjoy +them. You wish to find all good qualities in them, and are in some +degree disappointed if you do not. A thousand little things, not +separately to be defined, conspire to form these graces, this je ne sais +quoi, that always please. A pretty person, genteel motions, a proper +degree of dress, an harmonious voice, something open and cheerful in the +countenance, but without laughing; a distinct and properly varied manner +of speaking: All these things, and many others, are necessary ingredients +in the composition of the pleasing je ne sais quoi, which everybody +feels, though nobody can describe. Observe carefully, then, what +displeases or pleases you in others, and be persuaded, that in general; +the same things will please or displease them in you. Having mentioned +laughing, I must particularly warn you against it: and I could heartily +wish, that you may often be seen to smile, but never heard to laugh while +you live. Frequent and loud laughter is the characteristic of folly and +in manners; it is the manner in which the mob express their silly joy at +silly things; and they call it being merry. In my mind, there is nothing +so illiberal, and so ill-bred, as audible laughter. True wit, or sense, +never yet made anybody laugh; they are above it: They please the mind, +and give a cheerfulness to the countenance. But it is low buffoonery, or +silly accidents, that always excite laughter; and that is what people of +sense and breeding should show themselves above. A man's going to sit +down, in the supposition that he has a chair behind him, and falling down +upon his breech for want of one, sets a whole company a laughing, when +all the wit in the world would not do it; a plain proof, in my mind, how +low and unbecoming a thing laughter is: not to mention the disagreeable +noise that it makes, and the shocking distortion of the face that it +occasions. Laughter is easily restrained, by a very little reflection; +but as it is generally connected with the idea of gaiety, people do not +enough attend to its absurdity. I am neither of a melancholy nor a +cynical disposition, and am as willing and as apt to be pleased as +anybody; but I am sure that, since I have had the full use of my reason, +nobody has ever heard me laugh. Many people, at first, from awkwardness +and 'mauvaise honte', have got a very disagreeable and silly trick of +laughing whenever they speak; and I know a man of very good parts, Mr. +Waller, who cannot say the commonest thing without laughing; which makes +those, who do not know him, take him at first for a natural fool. This, +and many other very disagreeable habits, are owing to mauvaise honte at +their first setting out in the world. They are ashamed in company, and +so disconcerted, that they do not know what they do, and try a thousand +tricks to keep themselves in countenance; which tricks afterward grow +habitual to them. Some put their fingers in their nose, others scratch +their heads, others twirl their hats; in short, every awkward, ill-bred +body has his trick. But the frequency does not justify the thing, and +all these vulgar habits and awkwardnesses, though not criminal indeed, +are most carefully to be guarded against, as they are great bars in the +way of the art of pleasing. Remember, that to please is almost to +prevail, or at least a necessary previous step to it. You, who have your +fortune to make, should more particularly study this art. You had not, +I must tell you, when you left England, 'les manieres prevenantes'; and I +must confess they are not very common in England; but I hope that your +good sense will make you acquire them abroad. If you desire to make +yourself considerable in the world (as, if you have any spirit, you do), +it must be entirely your own doing; for I may very possibly be out of the +world at the time you come into it. Your own rank and fortune will not +assist you; your merit and your manners can alone raise you to figure and +fortune. I have laid the foundations of them, by the education which I +have given you; but you must build the superstructure yourself. + +I must now apply to you for some informations, which I dare say you can, +and which I desire you will give me. + +Can the Elector of Saxony put any of his subjects to death for high +treason, without bringing them first to their trial in some public court +of justice? + +Can he, by his own authority, confine any subject in prison as long as he +pleases, without trial? + +Can he banish any subject out of his dominions by his own authority? + +Can he lay any tax whatsoever upon his subjects, without the consent of +the states of Saxony? and what are those states? how are they elected? +what orders do they consist of? Do the clergy make part of them? and +when, and how often do they meet? + +If two subjects of the elector's are at law, for an estate situated in +the electorate, in what court must this suit be tried? and will the +decision of that court be final, or does there lie an appeal to the +imperial chamber at Wetzlaer? + +What do you call the two chief courts, or two chief magistrates, of civil +and criminal justice? + +What is the common revenue of the electorate, one year with another? + +What number of troops does the elector now maintain? and what is the +greatest number that the electorate is able to maintain? + +I do not expect to have all these questions answered at once; but you +will answer them, in proportion as you get the necessary and authentic +informations. + +You are, you see, my German oracle; and I consult you with so much faith, +that you need not, like the oracles of old, return ambiguous answers; +especially as you have this advantage over them, too, that I only consult +you about past end present, but not about what is to come. + +I wish you a good Easter-fair at Leipsig. See, with attention all the +shops, drolls, tumblers, rope-dancers, and 'hoc genus omne': but inform +yourself more particularly of the several parts of trade there. Adieu. + + + + +LETTER XXXIII + +LONDON, March 25, O. S. 1748. + +DEAR BOY: I am in great joy at the written and the verbal accounts which +I have received lately of you. + +The former, from Mr. Harte; the latter, from Mr. Trevanion, who is +arrived here: they conspire to convince me that you employ your time well +at Leipsig. I am glad to find you consult your own interest and your own +pleasure so much; for the knowledge which you will acquire in these two +years is equally necessary for both. I am likewise particularly pleased +to find that you turn yourself to that sort of knowledge which is more +peculiarly necessary for your destination: for Mr. Harte tells me you +have read, with attention, Caillieres, Pequet, and Richelieu's "Letters." +The "Memoirs" of the Cardinal de Retz will both entertain and instruct +you; they relate to a very interesting period of the French history, the +ministry of Cardinal Mazarin, during the minority of Lewis XIV. The +characters of all the considerable people of that time are drawn, in a +short, strong, and masterly manner; and the political reflections, which +are most of them printed in italics, are the justest that ever I met +with: they are not the labored reflections of a systematical closet +politician, who, without the least experience of business, sits at home +and writes maxims; but they are the reflections which a great and able +man formed from long experience and practice in great business. They are +true conclusions, drawn from facts, not from speculations. + +As modern history is particularly your business, I will give you some +rules to direct your study of it. It begins, properly with Charlemagne, +in the year 800. But as, in those times of ignorance, the priests and +monks were almost the only people that could or did write, we have +scarcely any histories of those times but such as they have been pleased +to give us, which are compounds of ignorance, superstition, and party +zeal. So that a general notion of what is rather supposed, than really +known to be, the history of the five or six following centuries, seems to +be sufficient; and much time would be but ill employed in a minute +attention to those legends. But reserve your utmost care, and most +diligent inquiries, from the fifteenth century, and downward. Then +learning began to revive, and credible histories to be written; Europe +began to take the form, which, to some degree, it still retains: at least +the foundations of the present great powers of Europe were then laid. +Lewis the Eleventh made France, in truth, a monarchy, or, as he used to +say himself, 'la mit hors de Page'. Before his time, there were +independent provinces in France, as the Duchy of Brittany, etc., whose +princes tore it to pieces, and kept it in constant domestic confusion. +Lewis the Eleventh reduced all these petty states, by fraud, force, or +marriage; for he scrupled no means to obtain his ends. + +About that time, Ferdinand King of Aragon, and Isabella his wife, Queen +of Castile, united the whole Spanish monarchy, and drove the Moors out of +Spain, who had till then kept position of Granada. About that time, too, +the house of Austria laid the great foundations of its subsequent power; +first, by the marriage of Maximilian with the heiress of Burgundy; and +then, by the marriage of his son Philip, Archduke of Austria, with Jane, +the daughter of Isabella, Queen of Spain, and heiress of that whole +kingdom, and of the West Indies. By the first of these marriages, the +house of Austria acquired the seventeen provinces, and by the latter, +Spain and America; all which centered in the person of Charles the Fifth, +son of the above-mentioned Archduke Philip, the son of Maximilian. It +was upon account of these two marriages, that the following Latin distich +was made: + + Bella gerant alii, Tu felix Austria nube; + Nam qua, Mars aliis; dat tibi regna Venus. + +This immense power, which the Emperor Charles the Fifth found himself +possessed of, gave him a desire for universal power (for people never +desire all till they have gotten a great deal), and alarmed France; this +sowed the seeds of that jealousy and enmity, which have flourished ever +since between those two great powers. Afterward the House of Austria was +weakened by the division made by Charles the Fifth of his dominions, +between his son, Philip the Second of Spain, and his brother Ferdinand; +and has ever since been dwindling to the weak condition in which it now +is. This is a most interesting part of the history of Europe, of which +it is absolutely necessary that you should be exactly and minutely +informed. + +There are in the history of most countries, certain very remarkable eras, +which deserve more particular inquiry and attention than the common run +of history. Such is the revolt of the Seventeen Provinces, in the reign +of Philip the Second of Spain, which ended in forming the present +republic of the Seven United Provinces, whose independency was first +allowed by Spain at the treaty of Munster. Such was the extraordinary +revolution of Portugal, in the year 1640, in favor of the present House +of Braganza. Such is the famous revolution of Sweden, when Christian the +Second of Denmark, who was also king of Sweden, was driven out by +Gustavus Vasa. And such also is that memorable era in Denmark, of 1660; +when the states of that kingdom made a voluntary surrender of all their +rights and liberties to the Crown, and changed that free state into the +most absolute monarchy now in Europe. The Acta Regis, upon that +occasion, are worth your perusing. These remarkable periods of modern +history deserve your particular attention, and most of them have been +treated singly by good historians, which are worth your reading. The +revolutions of Sweden, and of Portugal, are most admirably well written +by L'Abbe de Vertot; they are short, and will not take twelve hours' +reading. There is another book which very well deserves your looking +into, but not worth your buying at present, because it is not portable; +if you can borrow or hire it, you should; and that is, 'L' Histoire des +Traits de Paix, in two volumes, folio, which make part of the 'Corps +Diplomatique'. You will there find a short and clear history, and the +substance of every treaty made in Europe, during the last century, from +the treaty of Vervins. Three parts in four of this book are not worth +your reading, as they relate to treaties of very little importance; but +if you select the most considerable ones, read them with attention, and +take some notes, it will be of great use to you. Attend chiefly to those +in which the great powers of Europe are the parties; such as the treaty +of the Pyrenees, between France and Spain; the treaties of Nimeguen and +Ryswick; but, above all, the treaty of Munster should be most +circumstantially and minutely known to you, as almost every treaty made +since has some reference to it. For this, Pere Bougeant is the best book +you can read, as it takes in the thirty years' war, which preceded that +treaty. The treaty itself, which is made a perpetual law of the empire, +comes in the course of your lectures upon the 'Jus Publicum Imperii'. + +In order to furnish you with materials for a letter, and at the same time +to inform both you and myself of what it is right that we should know, +pray answer me the following questions: + +How many companies are there in the Saxon regiments of foot? How many +men in each company? + +How many troops in the regiments of horse and dragoons; and how many men +in each? + +What number of commissioned and non-commissioned officers in a company of +foot, or in a troop of horse or dragoons? N. B. Noncommissioned +officers are all those below ensigns and cornets. + +What is the daily pay of a Saxon foot soldier, dragoon, and trooper? + +What are the several ranks of the 'Etat Major-general'? N. B. The Etat +Major-general is everything above colonel. The Austrians have no +brigadiers, and the French have no major-generals in their Etat Major. +What have the Saxons? Adieu! + + + + +LETTER XXXIV + +LONDON, March 27, O. S. 1748. + +DEAR BOY: This little packet will be delivered to you by one Monsieur +Duval, who is going to the fair at Leipsig. He is a jeweler, originally +of Geneva, but who has been settled here these eight or ten years, and a +very sensible fellow: pray do be very civil to him. + +As I advised you, some time ago, to inform yourself of the civil and +military establishments of as many of the kingdoms and states of Europe, +as you should either be in yourself, or be able to get authentic accounts +of, I send you here a little book, in which, upon the article of Hanover, +I have pointed out the short method of putting down these informations, +by way of helping your memory. The book being lettered, you can +immediately turn to whatever article you want; and, by adding interleaves +to each letter, may extend your minutes to what particulars you please. +You may get such books made anywhere; and appropriate each, if you +please, to a particular object. I have myself found great utility in +this method. If I had known what to have sent you by this opportunity I +would have done it. The French say, 'Que les petits presens +entretiennent l'amite et que les grande l'augmentent'; but I could not +recollect that you wanted anything, or at least anything that you cannot +get as well at Leipsig as here. Do but continue to deserve, and, I +assure you, that you shall never want anything I can give. + +Do not apprehend that my being out of employment may be any prejudice to +you. Many things will happen before you can be fit for business; and +when you are fit, whatever my situation may be, it will always be in my +power to help you in your first steps; afterward you must help yourself +by your own abilities. Make yourself necessary, and, instead of +soliciting, you will be solicited. The thorough knowledge of foreign +affairs, the interests, the views, and the manners of the several courts +in Europe, are not the common growth of this country. It is in your +power to acquire them; you have all the means. Adieu! Yours. + + + + +LETTERS TO HIS SON + +LETTER XXXV + +LONDON, April 1, O. S. 1748. + +DEAR BOY: I have not received any letter, either from you or from Mr, +Harte, these three posts, which I impute wholly to accidents between this +place and Leipsig; and they are distant enough to admit of many. I +always take it for granted that you are well, when I do not hear to the +contrary; besides, as I have often told you, I am much more anxious about +your doing well, than about your being well; and, when you do not write, +I will suppose that you are doing something more useful. Your health +will continue, while your temperance continues; and at your age nature +takes sufficient care of the body, provided she is left to herself, and +that intemperance on one hand, or medicines on the other, do not break in +upon her. But it is by no means so with the mind, which, at your age +particularly, requires great and constant care, and some physic. Every +quarter of an hour, well or ill employed, will do it essential and +lasting good or harm. It requires also a great deal of exercise, to +bring it to a state of health and vigor. Observe the difference there is +between minds cultivated, and minds uncultivated, and you will, I am +sure, think that you cannot take too much pains, nor employ too much of +your time in the culture of your own. A drayman is probably born with as +good organs as Milton, Locke, or Newton; but, by culture, they are as +much more above him as he is above his horse. Sometimes, indeed, +extraordinary geniuses have broken out by the force of nature, without +the assistance of education; but those instances are too rare for anybody +to trust to; and even they would make a much greater figure, if they had +the advantage of education into the bargain. If Shakespeare's genius had +been cultivated, those beauties, which we so justly admire in him, would +have been undisgraced by those extravagancies, and that nonsense, with +which they are frequently accompanied. People are, in general, what they +are made, by education and company, from fifteen to five-and-twenty; +consider well, therefore, the importance of your next eight or nine +years; your whole depends upon them. I will tell you sincerely, my hopes +and my fears concerning you. I think you will be a good scholar; and +that you will acquire a considerable stock of knowledge of various kinds; +but I fear that you neglect what are called little, though, in truth, +they are very material things; I mean, a gentleness of manners, an +engaging address, and an insinuating behavior; they are real and solid +advantages, and none but those who do not know the world, treat them as +trifles. I am told that you speak very quick, and not distinctly; this +is a most ungraceful and disagreeable trick, which you know I have told +you of a thousand times; pray attend carefully to the correction of it. +An agreeable and, distinct manner of speaking adds greatly to the matter; +and I have known many a very good speech unregarded, upon account of the +disagreeable manner in which it has been delivered, and many an +indifferent one applauded, from the contrary reason. Adieu! + + + + +LETTER XXXVI + +LONDON, April 15, O. S. 1748 + +DEAR BOY: Though I have no letters from you to acknowledge since my last +to you, I will not let three posts go from hence without a letter from +me. My affection always prompts me to write to you; and I am encouraged +to do it, by the hopes that my letters are not quite useless. You will +probably receive this in the midst of the diversions of Leipsig fair; at +which, Mr. Harte tells me, that you are to shine in fine clothes, among +fine folks. I am very glad of it, as it is time that you should begin to +be formed to the manners of the world in higher life. Courts are the +best schools for that sort of learning. You are beginning now with the +outside of a court; and there is not a more gaudy one than that of +Saxony. Attend to it, and make your observations upon the turn and +manners of it, that you may hereafter compare it with other courts which +you will see; And, though you are not yet able to be informed, or to +judge of the political conduct and maxims of that court, yet you may +remark the forms, the ceremonies, and the exterior state of it. At least +see everything that you can see, and know everything that you can know of +it, by asking questions. See likewise everything at the fair, from +operas and plays, down to the Savoyard's raree-shows. + +Everything is worth seeing once; and the more one sees, the less one +either wonders or admires. + +Make my compliments to Mr. Harte, and tell him that I have just now +received his letter, for which I thank him. I am called away, and my +letter is therefore very much shortened. Adieu. + +I am impatient to receive your answers to the many questions that I have +asked you. + + + + +LETTER XXXVII + +LONDON, April 26, O. S. 1748. + +DEAR BOY: I am extremely pleased with your continuation of the history of +the Reformation; which is one of those important eras that deserves your +utmost attention, and of which you cannot be too minutely informed. You +have, doubtless, considered the causes of that great event, and observed +that disappointment and resentment had a much greater share in it, than a +religious zeal or an abhorrence of the errors and abuses of popery. + +Luther, an Augustine monk, enraged that his order, and consequently +himself, had not the exclusive privilege of selling indulgences, but that +the Dominicans were let into a share of that profitable but infamous +trade, turns reformer, and exclaims against the abuses, the corruption, +and the idolatry, of the church of Rome; which were certainly gross +enough for him to have seen long before, but which he had at least +acquiesced in, till what he called the rights, that is, the profit, of +his order came to be touched. It is true, the church of Rome furnished +him ample matter for complaint and reformation, and he laid hold of it +ably. + +This seems to me the true cause of that great and necessary, work; but +whatever the cause was, the effect was good; and the Reformation spread +itself by its own truth and fitness; was conscientiously received by +great numbers in Germany, and other countries; and was soon afterward +mixed up with the politics of princes; and, as it always happens in +religious disputes, became the specious covering of injustice and +ambition. + +Under the pretense of crushing heresy, as it was called, the House of +Austria meant to extend and establish its power in the empire; as, on the +other hand, many Protestant princes, under the pretense of extirpating +idolatry, or at least of securing toleration, meant only to enlarge their +own dominions or privileges. These views respectively, among the chiefs +on both sides, much more than true religious motives, continued what were +called the religious wars in Germany, almost uninterruptedly, till the +affairs of the two religions were finally settled by the treaty of +Munster. + +Were most historical events traced up to their true causes, I fear we +should not find them much more noble or disinterested than Luther's +disappointed avarice; and therefore I look with some contempt upon those +refining and sagacious historians, who ascribe all, even the most common +events, to some deep political cause; whereas mankind is made up of +inconsistencies, and no man acts invariably up to his predominant +character. The wisest man sometimes acts weakly, and the weakest +sometimes wisely. Our jarring passions, our variable humors, nay, our +greater or lesser degree of health and spirits, produce such +contradictions in our conduct, that, I believe, those are the oftenest +mistaken, who ascribe our actions to the most seemingly obvious motives; +and I am convinced, that a light supper, a good night's sleep, and a fine +morning, have sometimes made a hero of the same man, who, by an +indigestion, a restless night, and rainy morning, would, have proved a +coward. Our best conjectures, therefore, as to the true springs of +actions, are but very uncertain; and the actions themselves are all that +we must pretend to know from history. That Caesar was murdered by +twenty-three conspirators, I make no doubt: but I very much doubt that +their love of liberty, and of their country, was their sole, or even +principal motive; and I dare say that, if the truth were known, we should +find that many other motives at least concurred, even in the great Brutus +himself; such as pride, envy, personal pique, and disappointment. Nay, I +cannot help carrying my Pyrrhonism still further, and extending it often +to historical facts themselves, at least to most of the circumstances +with which they are related; and every day's experience confirms me in +this historical incredulity. Do we ever hear the most recent fact +related exactly in the same way, by the several people who were at the +same time eyewitnesses of it? No. One mistakes, another misrepresents, +and others warp it a little to their own, turn of mind, or private views. +A man who has been concerned in a transaction will not write it fairly; +and a man who has not, cannot. But notwithstanding all this uncertainty, +history is not the less necessary to be known, as the best histories are +taken for granted, and are the frequent subjects both of conversation and +writing. Though I am convinced that Caesar's ghost never appeared to +Brutus, yet I should be much ashamed to be ignorant of that fact, as +related by the historians of those times. Thus the Pagan theology is +universally received as matter for writing and conversation, though +believed now by nobody; and we talk of Jupiter, Mars, Apollo, etc., as +gods, though we know, that if they ever existed at all, it was only as +mere mortal men. This historical Pyrrhonism, then, proves nothing +against the study and knowledge of history; which, of all other studies, +is the most necessary for a man who is to live in the world. It only +points out to us, not to be too decisive and peremptory; and to be +cautious how we draw inferences for our own practice from remote facts, +partially or ignorantly related; of which we can, at best, but +imperfectly guess, and certainly not know the real motives. The +testimonies of ancient history must necessarily be weaker than those of +modern, as all testimony grows weaker and weaker, as it is more and more +remote from us. I would therefore advise you to study ancient history, +in general, as other people, do; that is, not to be ignorant of any or +those facts which are universally received, upon the faith of the best +historians; and whether true or false, you have them as other people have +them. But modern history, I mean particularly that of the last three +centuries, is what I would have you apply to with the greatest attention +and exactness. There the probability of coming at the truth is much +greater, as the testimonies are much more recent; besides, anecdotes, +memoirs, and original letters, often come to the aid of modern history. +The best memoirs that I know of are those of Cardinal de Retz, which I +have once before recommended to you; and which I advise you to read more +than once, with attention. There are many political maxims in these +memoirs, most of which are printed in italics; pray attend to, and +remember them. I never read them but my own experience confirms the +truth of them. Many of them seem trifling to people who are not used to +business; but those who are, feel the truth of them. + +It is time to put an end to this long rambling letter; in which if any +one thing can be of use to you, it will more than pay the trouble I have +taken to write it. Adieu! Yours. + + + + +LETTER XXXVIII + +LONDON, May 10, O. S. 1748. + +DEAR BOY: I reckon that this letter will find you just returned from +Dresden, where you have made your first court caravanne. What +inclination for courts this taste of them may have given you, I cannot +tell; but this I think myself sure of, from your good sense, that in +leaving Dresden, you have left dissipation too; and have resumed at +Leipsig that application which, if you like courts, can alone enable you +to make a good figure at them. A mere courtier, without parts or +knowledge, is the most frivolous and contemptible of all beings; as, on +the other hand, a man of parts and knowledge, who acquires the easy and +noble manners of a court, is the most perfect. It is a trite, +commonplace observation, that courts are the seats of falsehood and +dissimulation. That, like many, I might say most, commonplace +observations, is false. Falsehood and dissimulation are certainly to be +found at courts; but where are they not to be found? Cottages have them, +as well as courts; only with worse manners. A couple of neighboring +farmers in a village will contrive and practice as many tricks, to over- +reach each other at the next market, or to supplant each other in the +favor, of the squire, as any two courtiers can do to supplant each other +in the favor of their prince. + +Whatever poets may write, or fools believe, of rural innocence and truth, +and of the perfidy of courts, this is most undoubtedly true that +shepherds and ministers are both men; their nature and passions the same, +the modes of them only different. + +Having mentioned commonplace observations, I will particularly caution +you against either using, believing, or approving them. They are the +common topics of witlings and coxcombs; those, who really have wit, have +the utmost contempt for them, and scorn even to laugh at the pert things +that those would-be wits say upon such subjects. + +Religion is one of their favorite topics; it is all priest-craft; and an +invention contrived and carried on by priests of all religions, for their +own power and profit; from this absurd and false principle flow the +commonplace, insipid jokes, and insults upon the clergy. With these +people, every priest, of every religion, is either a public or a +concealed unbeliever, drunkard, and whoremaster; whereas, I conceive, +that priests are extremely like other men, and neither the better nor the +worse for wearing a gown or a surplice: but if they are different from +other people, probably it is rather on the side of religion and morality, +or, at least, decency, from their education and manner of life. + +Another common topic for false wit, and cool raillery, is matrimony. +Every man and his wife hate each other cordially, whatever they may +pretend, in public, to the contrary. The husband certainly wishes his +wife at the devil, and the wife certainly cuckolds her husband. Whereas, +I presume, that men and their wives neither love nor hate each other the +more, upon account of the form of matrimony which has been said over +them. The cohabitation, indeed, which is the consequence of matrimony, +makes them either love or hate more, accordingly as they respectively +deserve it; but that would be exactly the same between any man and woman +who lived together without being married. + +These and many other commonplace reflections upon nations or professions +in general (which are at least as often false as true), are the poor +refuge of people who have neither wit nor invention of their own, but +endeavor to shine in company by second-hand finery. I always put these +pert jackanapes out of countenance, by looking extremely grave, when they +expect that I should laugh at their pleasantries; and by saying WELL, AND +SO, as if they had not done, and that the sting were still to come. This +disconcerts them, as they have no resources in themselves, and have but +one set of jokes to live upon. Men of parts are not reduced to these +shifts, and have the utmost contempt for them, they find proper subjects +enough for either useful or lively conversations; they can be witty +without satire or commonplace, and serious without being dull. The +frequentation of courts checks this petulancy of manners; the good- +breeding and circumspection which are necessary, and only to be learned +there, correct those pertnesses. I do not doubt but that you are +improved in your manners by the short visit which you have made at +Dresden; and the other courts, which I intend that you shall be better +acquainted with, will gradually smooth you up to the highest polish. +In courts, a versatility of genius and softness of manners are absolutely +necessary; which some people mistake for abject flattery, and having no +opinion of one's own; whereas it is only the decent and genteel manner of +maintaining your own opinion, and possibly of bringing other people to +it. The manner of doing things is often more important than the things +themselves; and the very same thing may become either pleasing or +offensive, by the manner of saying or doing it. 'Materiam superabat +opus', is often said of works of sculpture; where though the materials +were valuable, as silver, gold, etc., the workmanship was still more so. +This holds true, applied to manners; which adorn whatever knowledge or +parts people may have; and even make a greater impression upon nine in +ten of mankind, than the intrinsic value of the materials. On the other +hand, remember, that what Horace says of good writing is justly +applicable to those who would make a good figure in courts, and +distinguish themselves in the shining parts of life; 'Sapere est +principium et fons'. A man who, without a good fund of knowledge and +parts, adopts a court life, makes the most ridiculous figure imaginable. +He is a machine, little superior to the court clock; and, as this points +out the hours, he points out the frivolous employment of them. He is, at +most, a comment upon the clock; and according to the hours that it +strikes, tells you now it is levee, now dinner, now supper time, etc. +The end which I propose by your education, and which (IF YOU PLEASE) I +shall certainly attain, is to unite in you all the knowledge of a scholar +with the manners of a courtier; and to join, what is seldom joined by any +of my countrymen, books and the world. They are commonly twenty years +old before they have spoken to anybody above their schoolmaster, and the +fellows of their college. If they happen to have learning, it is only +Greek and Latin, but not one word of modern history, or modern languages. +Thus prepared, they go abroad, as they call it; but, in truth, they stay +at home all that while; for being very awkward, confoundedly ashamed, and +not speaking the languages, they go into no foreign company, at least +none good; but dine and sup with one another only at the tavern. Such +examples, I am sure, you will not imitate, but even carefully avoid. You +will always take care to keep the best company in the place where you +are, which is the only use of traveling: and (by the way) the pleasures +of a gentleman are only to be found in the best company; for that not +which low company, most falsely and impudently, call pleasure, is only +the sensuality of a swine. + +I ask hard and uninterrupted study from you but one year more; after +that, you shall have every day more and more time for your amusements. +A few hours each day will then be sufficient for application, and the +others cannot be better employed than in the pleasures of good company. +Adieu. + + + + +LETTER XXXIX + +LONDON, May 31, O. S. 1748. + +DEAR BOY: I received yesterday your letter of the 16th, N. S., and have, +in consequence of it, written this day to Sir Charles Williams, to thank +him for all the civilities he has shown you. Your first setting out at +court has, I find, been very favorable; and his Polish Majesty has +distinguished you. I hope you received that mark of distinction with +respect and with steadiness, which is the proper behavior of a man of +fashion. People of a low, obscure education cannot stand the rays of +greatness; they are frightened out of their wits when kings and great men +speak to them; they are awkward, ashamed, and do not know what nor how to +answer; whereas, 'les honnetes gens' are not dazzled by superior rank: +they know, and pay all the respect that is due to it; but they do it +without being disconcerted; and can converse just as easily with a king +as with any one of his subjects. That is the great advantage of being +introduced young into good company, and being used early to converse with +one's superiors. How many men have I seen here, who, after having had +the full benefit of an English education, first at school, and then at +the university, when they have been presented to the king, did not know +whether they stood upon their heads or their heels! If the king spoke to +them, they were annihilated; they trembled, endeavored to put their hands +in their pockets, and missed them; let their hats fall, and were ashamed +to take them up; and in short, put themselves in every attitude but the +right, that is, the easy and natural one. The characteristic of a well- +bred man, is to converse with his inferiors without insolence, and with +his superiors with respect and ease. He talks to kings without concern; +he trifles with women of the first condition with familiarity, gayety, +but respect; and converses with his equals, whether he is acquainted with +them or not, upon general common topics, that are not, however, quite +frivolous, without the least concern of mind or awkwardness of body: +neither of which can appear to advantage, but when they are perfectly +easy. + +The tea-things, which Sir Charles Williams has given you, I would have +you make a present of to your Mamma, and send them to her by Duval when +he returns. You owe her not only duty, but likewise great obligations +for her care and tenderness; and, consequently, cannot take too many +opportunities of showing your gratitude. + +I am impatient to receive your account of Dresden, and likewise your +answers to the many questions that I asked you. + +Adieu for this time, and God bless you! + + + + +LETTER XL + +LONDON, May 27, O. S. 1748. + +DEAR BOY: This and the two next years make so important a period of your +life, that I cannot help repeating to you my exhortations, my commands, +and (what I hope will be still more prevailing with you than either) my +earnest entreaties, to employ them well. Every moment that you now lose, +is so much character and advantage lost; as, on the other hand, every +moment that you now employ usefully, is so much time wisely laid out, at +most prodigious interest. These two years must lay the foundations of +all the knowledge that you will ever have; you may build upon them +afterward as much as you please, but it will be too late to lay any new +ones. Let me beg of you, therefore, to grudge no labor nor pains to +acquire, in time, that stock of knowledge, without which you never can +rise, but must make a very insignificant figure in the world. Consider +your own situation; you have not the advantage of rank or fortune to bear +you up; I shall, very probably, be out of the world before you can +properly be said to be in it. What then will you have to rely on but +your own merit? That alone must raise you, and that alone will raise +you, if you have but enough of it. I have often heard and read of +oppressed and unrewarded merit, but I have oftener (I might say always) +seen great merit make its way, and meet with its reward, to a certain +degree at least, in spite of all difficulties. By merit, I mean the +moral virtues, knowledge, and manners; as to the moral virtues, I say +nothing to you; they speak best for themselves, nor can I suspect that +they want any recommendation with you; I will therefore only assure you, +that without them you will be most unhappy. + +As to knowledge, I have often told you, and I am persuaded you are +thoroughly convinced, how absolutely necessary it is to you, whatever +your destination may be. But as knowledge has a most extensive meaning, +and as the life of man is not long enough to acquire, nor his mind +capable of entertaining and digesting, all parts of knowledge, I will +point out those to which you should particularly apply, and which, by +application, you may make yourself perfect master of. Classical +knowledge, that is, Greek and Latin, is absolutely necessary for +everybody; because everybody has agreed to think and to call it so. And +the word ILLITERATE, in its common acceptation, means a man who is +ignorant of those two languages. You are by this time, I hope, pretty +near master of both, so that a small part of the day dedicated to them, +for two years more, will make you perfect in that study. Rhetoric, +logic, a little geometry, and a general notion of astronomy, must, in +their turns, have their hours too; not that I desire you should be deep +in any one of these; but it is fit you should know something of them all. +The knowledge more particularly useful and necessary for you, considering +your destination, consists of modern languages, modern history, +chronology, and geography, the laws of nations, and the 'jus publicum +Imperii'. You must absolutely speak all the modern Languages, as purely +and correctly as the natives of the respective countries: for whoever +does not speak a language perfectly and easily, will never appear to +advantage in conversation, nor treat with others in it upon equal terms. +As for French, you have it very well already; and must necessarily, from +the universal usage of that language, know it better and better every +day: so that I am in no pain about that: German, I suppose, you know +pretty well by this time, and will be quite master of it before you leave +Leipsig: at least, I am sure you may. Italian and Spanish will come in +their turns, and, indeed, they are both so easy, to one who knows Latin +and French, that neither of them will cost you much time or trouble. +Modern history, by which I mean particularly the history of the last +three centuries, should be the object of your greatest and constant +attention, especially those parts of it which relate more immediately to +the great powers of Europe. This study you will carefully connect with +chronology and geography; that is, you will remark and retain the dates +of every important event; and always read with the map by you, in which +you will constantly look for every place mentioned: this is the only way +of retaining geography; for, though it is soon learned by the lump, yet, +when only so learned, it is still sooner forgot. + +Manners, though the last, and it may be the least ingredient of real +merit, are, however, very far from being useless in its composition; they +adorn, and give an additional force and luster to both virtue and +knowledge. They prepare and smooth the way for the progress of both; and +are, I fear, with the bulk of mankind, more engaging than either. +Remember, then, the infinite advantage of manners; cultivate and improve +your own to the utmost good sense will suggest the great rules to you, +good company will do the rest. Thus you see how much you have to do; and +how little time to do it in: for when you are thrown out into the world, +as in a couple of years you must be, the unavoidable dissipation of +company, and the necessary avocations of some kind of business or other, +will leave you no time to undertake new branches of knowledge: you may, +indeed, by a prudent allotment of your time, reserve some to complete and +finish the building; but you will never find enough to lay new +foundations. I have such an opinion of your understanding, that I am +convinced you are sensible of these truths; and that, however hard and +laborious your present uninterrupted application may seem to you, you +will rather increase than lessen it. For God's sake, my dear boy, do not +squander away one moment of your time, for every moment may be now most +usefully employed. Your future fortune, character, and figure in the +world, entirely depend upon your use or abuse of the two next years. +If you do but employ them well, what may you not reasonably expect to be, +in time? And if you do not, what may I not reasonably fear you will be? +You are the only one I ever knew, of this country, whose education was, +from the beginning, calculated for the department of foreign affairs; +in consequence of which, if you will invariably pursue, and diligently +qualify yourself for that object, you may make yourself absolutely +necessary to the government, and, after having received orders as a +minister abroad, send orders, in your turn, as Secretary of State at +home. Most of our ministers abroad have taken up that department +occasionally, without having ever thought of foreign affairs before; +many of them, without speaking any one foreign language; and all of them +without manners which are absolutely necessary toward being well +received, and making a figure at foreign courts. They do the business +accordingly, that is, very ill: they never get into the secrets of these +courts, for want of insinuation and address: they do not guess at their +views, for want of knowing their interests: and, at last, finding +themselves very unfit for, soon grow weary of their commissions, and are +impatient to return home, where they are but too justly laid aside and +neglected. Every moment's conversation may, if you please, be of use to +you; in this view, every public event, which is the common topic of +conversation, gives you an opportunity of getting some information. For +example, the preliminaries of peace, lately concluded at Aix-la-Chapelle, +will be the common subject of most conversations; in which you will take +care to ask the proper questions: as, what is the meaning of the Assiento +contract for negroes, between England and Spain; what the annual ship; +when stipulated; upon what account suspended, etc. You will likewise +inform yourself about Guastalla, now given to Don Philip, together with +Parma and Placentia; who they belonged to before; what claim or +pretensions Don Philip had to them; what they are worth; in short, +everything concerning them. The cessions made by the Queen of Hungary to +the King of Sardinia, are, by these preliminaries, confirmed and secured +to him: you will inquire, therefore, what they are, and what they are +worth. This is the kind of knowledge which you should be most thoroughly +master of, and in which conversation will help you almost as much as +books: but both are best. There are histories of every considerable +treaty, from that of Westphalia to that of Utrecht, inclusively; all +which I would advise you to read. Pore Bougeant's, of the treaty of +Westphalia, is an excellent one; those of Nimeguen, Ryswick, and Utrecht, +are not so well written; but are, however, very useful. 'L'Histoire des +Traites de Paix', in two volumes, folio, which I recommended to you some +time ago, is a book that you should often consult, when you hear mention +made of any treaty concluded in the seventeenth century. + +Upon the whole, if you have a mind to be considerable, and to shine +hereafter, you must labor hard now. No quickness of parts, no vivacity, +will do long, or go far, without a solid fund of knowledge; and that fund +of knowledge will amply repay all the pains that you can take in +acquiring it. Reflect seriously, within yourself, upon all this, and ask +yourself whether I can have any view, but your interest, in all that I +recommend to you. It is the result of my experience, and flows from that +tenderness and affection with which, while you deserve them, I shall be, +Yours. + +Make my compliments to Mr. Harte, and tell him that I have received his +letter of the 24th, N. S. + + + + +LETTER XLI + +LONDON, May 31, O. S. 1748 + +DEAR BOY: I have received, with great satisfaction, your letter of the +28th N. S., from Dresden: it finishes your short but clear account of the +Reformation which is one of those interesting periods of modern history, +that can not be too much studied nor too minutely known by you. There +are many great events in history, which, when once they are over, leave +things in the situation in which they found them. As, for instance, the +late war; which, excepting the establishment in Italy for Don Philip, +leave things pretty much in state quo; a mutual restitution of all +acquisitions being stipulated by the preliminaries of the peace. Such +events undoubtedly deserve your notice, but yet not so minutely as those, +which are not only important in themselves, but equally (or it may be +more) important by their consequences too: of this latter sort were the +progress of the Christian religion in Europe; the Invasion of the Goths; +the division of the Roman empire into Western and Eastern; the +establishment and rapid progress of Mahometanism; and, lastly, the +Reformation; all which events produced the greatest changes in the +affairs of Europe, and to one or other of which, the present situation of +all the parts of it is to be traced up. + +Next to these, are those events which more immediately effect particular +states and kingdoms, and which are reckoned entirely local, though their +influence may, and indeed very often does, indirectly, extend itself +further, such as civil wars and revolutions, from which a total change in +the form of government frequently flows. The civil wars in England, in +the reign of King Charles I., produced an entire change of the government +here, from a limited monarchy to a commonwealth, at first, and afterward +to absolute power, usurped by Cromwell, under the pretense of protection, +and the title of Protector. + +The Revolution in 1688, instead of changing, preserved one form of +government; which King James II. intended to subvert, and establish +absolute power in the Crown. + +These are the two great epochs in our English history, which I recommend +to your particular attention. + +The league formed by the House of Guise, and fomented by the artifices of +Spain, is a most material part of the history of France. The foundation +of it was laid in the reign of Henry II., but the superstructure was +carried on through the successive reigns of Francis II., Charles IX. and +Henry III., till at last it was crushed, partly, by the arms, but more by +the apostasy of Henry IV. + +In Germany, great events have been frequent, by which the imperial +dignity has always either gotten or lost; and so it they have affected +the constitution of the empire. The House of Austria kept that dignity +to itself for near two hundred years, during which time it was always +attempting extend its power, by encroaching upon the rights and +privileges of the other states of the empire; till at the end of the +bellum tricennale, the treaty of Munster, of which France is guarantee, +fixed the respective claims. + + +Italy has been constantly torn to pieces, from the time of the Goths, by +the Popes and the Anti-popes, severally supported by other great powers +of Europe, more as their interests than as their religion led them; by +the pretensions also of France, and the House of Austria, upon Naples, +Sicily, and the Milanese; not to mention the various lesser causes of +squabbles there, for the little states, such as Ferrara, Parma, +Montserrat, etc. + +The Popes, till lately, have always taken a considerable part, and had +great influence in the affairs of Europe; their excommunications, bulls, +and indulgences, stood instead of armies in the time of ignorance and +bigotry; but now that mankind is better informed, the spiritual authority +of the Pope is not only less regarded, but even despised by the Catholic +princes themselves; and his Holiness is actually little more than Bishop +of Rome, with large temporalities, which he is not likely to keep longer +than till the other greater powers in Italy shall find their conveniency +in taking them from him. Among the modern Popes, Leo the Tenth, +Alexander the Sixth, and Sextus Quintus, deserve your particular notice; +the first, among other things, for his own learning and taste, and for +his encouragement of the reviving arts and sciences in Italy. Under his +protection, the Greek and Latin classics were most excellently translated +into Italian; painting flourished and arrived at its perfection; and +sculpture came so near the ancients, that the works of his time, both in +marble and bronze, are now called Antico-Moderno. + +Alexander the Sixth, together with his natural son Caesar Borgia, was +famous for his wickedness, in which he, and his son too, surpassed all +imagination. Their lives are well worth your reading. They were +poisoned themselves by the poisoned wine which they had prepared for +others; the father died of it, but Caesar recovered. + +Sixtus the Fifth was the son of a swineherd, and raised himself to the +popedom by his abilities: he was a great knave, but an able and singular +one. + +Here is history enough for to-day: you shall have some more soon. Adieu. + + + + +LETTER XLII + +LONDON, June 21, O. S. 1748. + +DEAR BOY: Your very bad enunciation runs so much in my head, and gives me +such real concern, that it will be the subject of this, and, I believe, +of many more letters. I congratulate both you and myself, that, was +informed of it (as I hope) in time to prevent it: and shall ever think +myself, as hereafter you will, I am sure think yourself, infinitely +obliged to Sir Charles Williams for informing me of it. Good God! if +this ungraceful and disagreeable manner of speaking had, either by your +negligence or mine, become habitual to you, as in a couple of years more +it would have been, what a figure would you have made in company, or in a +public assembly? Who would have liked you in the one or attended you; in +the other? Read what Cicero and Quintilian say of enunciation, and see +what a stress they lay upon the gracefulness of it; nay, Cicero goes +further, and even maintains, that a good figure is necessary for an +orator; and particularly that he must not be vastus, that is, overgrown +and clumsy. He shows by it that he knew mankind well, and knew the +powers of an agreeable figure and a graceful, manner. Men, as well as +women, are much oftener led by their hearts than by their understandings. +The way to the heart is through the senses; please their eyes and their +ears and the work is half done. I have frequently known a man's fortune +decided for ever by his first address. If it is pleasing, people are +hurried involuntarily into a persuasion that he has a merit, which +possibly he has not; as, on the other hand, if it is ungraceful, they are +immediately prejudiced against him, and unwilling to allow him the merit +which it may be he has. Nor is this sentiment so unjust and unreasonable +as at first it may seem; for if a man has parts, he must know of what +infinite consequence it is to him to have a graceful manner of speaking, +and a genteel and pleasing address; he will cultivate and improve them to +the utmost. Your figure is a good one; you have no natural defect in the +organs of speech; your address may be engaging, and your manner of +speaking graceful, if you will; so that if you are not so, neither I nor +the world can ascribe it to anything but your want of parts. What is the +constant and just observation as to all actors upon the stage? Is it +not, that those who have the best sense, always speak the best, though +they may happen not to have the best voices? They will speak plainly, +distinctly, and with the proper emphasis, be their voices ever so bad. +Had Roscius spoken QUICK, THICK, and UNGRACEFULLY, I will answer for it, +that Cicero would not have thought him worth the oration which he made in +his favor. Words were given us to communicate our ideas by: and there +must be something inconceivably absurd in uttering them in such a manner +as that either people cannot understand them, or will not desire to +understand them. I tell you, truly and sincerely, that I shall judge of +your parts by your speaking gracefully or ungracefully. If you have +parts, you will never be at rest till you have brought yourself to a +habit of speaking most gracefully; for I aver, that it is in your power-- +You will desire Mr. Harte, that you may read aloud to him every day; and +that he will interrupt and correct you every time that you read too fast, +do not observe the proper stops, or lay a wrong emphasis. You will take +care to open your teeth when you speak; to articulate every word +distinctly; and to beg of Mr. Harte, Mr. Eliot, or whomsoever you speak +to, to remind and stop you, if you ever fall into the rapid and +unintelligible mutter. You will even read aloud to yourself, and time +your utterance to your own ear; and read at first much slower than you +need to do, in order to correct yourself of that shameful trick of +speaking faster than you ought. In short, if you think right, you will +make it your business; your study, and your pleasure to speak well. +Therefore, what I have said in this, and in my last, is more than +sufficient, if you have sense; and ten times more would not be +sufficient, if you have not; so here I rest it. + +Next to graceful speaking, a genteel carriage, and a graceful manner of +presenting yourself, are extremely necessary, for they are extremely +engaging: and carelessness in these points is much more unpardonable in a +young fellow than affectation. It shows an offensive indifference about +pleasing. I am told by one here, who has seen you lately, that you are +awkward in your motions, and negligent of your person: I am sorry for +both; and so will you be, when it will be too late, if you continue so +some time longer. Awkwardness of carriage is very alienating; and a +total negligence of dress and air is an impertinent insult upon custom +and fashion. You remember Mr. ------ very well, I am sure, and you must +consequently remember his, extreme awkwardness: which, I can assure you, +has been a great clog to his parts and merit, that have, with much +difficulty, but barely counterbalanced it at last. Many, to whom I have +formerly commended him, have answered me, that they were sure he could +not have parts, because he was so awkward: so much are people, as I +observed to you before, taken by the eye. Women have great influence as +to a man's fashionable character; and an awkward man will never have +their votes; which, by the way, are very numerous, and much oftener +counted than weighed. You should therefore give some attention to your +dress, and the gracefulness of your motions. I believe, indeed, that you +have no perfect model for either at Leipsig, to form yourself upon; but, +however, do not get a habit of neglecting either; and attend properly to +both, when you go to courts, where they are very necessary, and where you +will have good masters and good models for both. Your exercises of +riding, fencing, and dancing, will civilize and fashion your body and +your limbs, and give you, if you will but take it, 'l'air d'un honnete +homme'. + +I will now conclude with suggesting one reflection to you; which is, that +you should be sensible of your good fortune, in having one who interests +himself enough in you, to inquire into your faults, in order to inform +you of them. Nobody but myself would be so solicitous, either to know or +correct them; so that you might consequently be ignorant of them +yourself; for our own self-love draws a thick veil between us and our +faults. But when you hear yours from me, you may be sure that you hear +them from one who for your sake only desires to correct them; from one +whom you cannot suspect of any, partiality but in your favor; and from +one who heartily wishes that his care of you, as a father, may, in a +little time, render every care unnecessary but that of a friend. Adieu. + +P. S. I condole with you for the untimely and violent death of the +tuneful Matzel. + + + + +LETTER XLIII + +LONDON, July 1, O. S. 1748. + +DEAR Boy: I am extremely well pleased with the course of studies which +Mr. Harte informs me you are now in, and with the degree of application +which he assures me you have to them. It is your interest to do so, as +the advantage will be all your own. My affection for you makes me both +wish and endeavor that you may turn out well; and, according as you do +turn out, I shall either be proud or ashamed of you. But as to mere +interest, in the common acceptation of that word, it would be mine that +you should turn out ill; for you may depend upon it, that whatever you +have from me shall be most exactly proportioned to your desert. Deserve +a great deal, and you shall have a great deal; deserve a little, and you +shall have but a little; and be good for nothing at all, and, I assure +you, you shall have nothing at all. + +Solid knowledge, as I have often told you, is the first and great +foundation of your future fortune and character; for I never mention to +you the two much greater points of Religion and Morality, because I +cannot possibly suspect you as to either of them. This solid knowledge +you are in a fair way of acquiring; you may, if you please; and I will +add, that nobody ever had the means of acquiring it more in their power +than you have. But remember, that manners must adorn knowledge, and +smooth its way through the world. Like a great rough diamond, it may do +very well in a closet by way of curiosity, and also for its intrinsic +value; but it will never be worn or shine if it is not polished. It is +upon this article, I confess, that I suspect you the most, which makes me +recur to it so often; for I fear that you are apt to show too little +attention to everybody, and too much contempt to many. Be convinced, +that there are no persons so insignificant and inconsiderable, but may, +some time or other, have it in their power to be of use to you; which +they certainly will not, if you have once shown them contempt. Wrongs +are often forgiven; but contempt never is. Our pride remembers it +forever. It implies a discovery of weaknesses, which we are much more +careful to conceal than crimes. Many a man will confess his crimes to a +common friend, but I never knew a man who would tell his silly weaknesses +to his most intimate one--as many a friend will tell us our faults +without reserve, who will not so much as hint at our follies; that +discovery is too mortifying to our self-love, either to tell another, +or to be told of one's self. You must, therefore, never expect to hear +of your weaknesses, or your follies, from anybody but me; those I will +take pains to discover, and whenever I do, shall tell you of them. + +Next to manners are exterior graces of person and address, which adorn +manners, as manners adorn knowledge. To say that they please, engage, +and charm, as they most indisputably do, is saying that one should do +everything possible to acquire them. The graceful manner of speaking is, +particularly, what I shall always holloa in your ears, as Hotspur +holloaed MORTIMER to Henry IV., and, like him too, I have aimed to have a +starling taught to say, SPEAK DISTINCTLY AND GRACEFULLY, and send him +you, to replace your loss of the unfortunate Matzel, who, by the way, I +am told, spoke his language very distinctly and gracefully. + +As by this time you must be able to write German tolerably well, I desire +that you will not fail to write a German letter, in the German character, +once every fortnight, to Mr. Grevenkop: which will make it more familiar +to you, and enable me to judge how you improve in it. + +Do not forget to answer me the questions, which I asked you a great while +ago, in relation to the constitution of Saxony; and also the meaning of +the words 'Landsassii and Amptsassii'. + +I hope you do not forget to inquire into the affairs of trade and +commerce, nor to get the best accounts you can of the commodities and +manufactures, exports and imports of the several countries where you may +be, and their gross value. + +I would likewise have you attend to the respective coins, gold, silver, +copper, etc., and their value, compared with our coin's; for which +purpose I would advise you to put up, in a separate piece of paper, one +piece of every kind, wherever you shall be, writing upon it the name and +the value. Such a collection will be curious enough in itself; and that +sort of knowledge will be very useful to you in your way of business, +where the different value of money often comes in question. + +I am doing to Cheltenham to-morrow, less for my health; which is pretty +good, than for the dissipation and amusement of the journey. I shall +stay about a fortnight. + +L'Abbe Mably's 'Droit de l'Europe', which Mr. Harte is so kind as to send +me, is worth your reading. Adieu. + + + + +LETTER XLIV. + +CHELTENHAM, July 6, O. S. 1748. + +DEAR BOY: Your school-fellow, Lord Pulteney,--[Only child of the Right +Hon. William Pulteney, Earl of Bath. He died before his father.]--set +out last week for Holland, and will, I believe, be at Leipsig soon after +this letter: you will take care to be extremely civil to him, and to do +him any service that you can while you stay there; let him know that I +wrote to you to do so. As being older, he should know more than you; in +that case, take pains to get up to him; but if he does not, take care not +to let him feel his inferiority. He will find it out of himself without +your endeavors; and that cannot be helped: but nothing is more insulting, +more mortifying and less forgiven, than avowedly to take pains to make a +man feel a mortifying inferiority in knowledge, rank, fortune, etc. In +the two last articles, it is unjust, they not being in his power: and in +the first it is both ill-bred and ill-natured. Good-breeding, and good- +nature, do incline us rather to raise and help people up to ourselves, +than to mortify and depress them, and, in truth, our own private interest +concurs in it, as it is making ourselves so many friends, instead of so +many enemies. The constant practice of what the French call 'les +Attentions', is a most necessary ingredient in the art of pleasing; they +flatter the self-love of those to whom they are shown; they engage, they +captivate, more than things of much greater importance. The duties of +social life every man is obliged to discharge; but these attentions are +voluntary acts, the free-will offerings of good-breeding and good. +nature; they are received, remembered, and returned as such. Women, +particularly, have a right to them; and any omission in that respect is +downright ill-breeding. + +Do you employ your, whole time in the most useful manner? I do not mean, +do you study all day long? nor do I require it. But I mean, do you make +the most of the respective allotments of your time? While you study, is +it with attention? When you divert yourself, is it with spirit? Your +diversions may, if you please, employ some part of your time very +usefully. It depends entirely upon the nature of them. If they are +futile and frivolous it is time worse than lost, for they will give you +an habit of futility. All gaming, field-sports, and such sort of +amusements, where neither the understanding nor the senses have the least +share, I look upon as frivolous, and as the resources of little minds, +who either do not think, or do not love to think. But the pleasures of a +man of parts either flatter the senses or improve the mind; I hope at +least, that there is not one minute of the day in which you do nothing at +all. Inaction at your age is unpardonable. + +Tell me what Greek and Latin books you can now read with ease. Can you +open Demosthenes at a venture, and understand him? Can you get through +an "Oration" of Cicero, or a "Satire" of Horace, without difficulty? +What German books do you read, to make yourself master of that language? +And what French books do you read for your amusement? Pray give me a +particular and true account of all this; for I am not indifferent as to +any one thing that relates to you. As, for example, I hope you take +great care to keep your whole person, particularly your mouth, very +clean; common decency requires it, besides that great cleanliness is very +conducive to health. But if you do not keep your mouth excessively +clean, by washing it carefully every morning, and after every meal, it +will not only be apt to smell, which is very disgusting and indecent, but +your teeth will decay and ache, which is both a great loss and a great +pain. A spruceness of dress is also very proper and becoming at your +age; as the negligence of it implies an indifference about pleasing, +which does not become a young fellow. To do whatever you do at all to +the utmost perfection, ought to be your aim at this time of your life; +if you can reach perfection, so much the better; but at least, by +attempting it, you will get much nearer than if you never attempted it at +all. + +Adieu! SPEAK GRACEFULLY AND DISTINCTLY if you intend to converse ever +with, Yours. + +P. S. As I was making up my letter, I received yours of the 6th, O. S. +I like your dissertation upon Preliminary Articles and Truces. Your +definitions of both are true. Those are matters which I would have you +be master of; they belong to your future department, But remember too, +that they are matters upon which you will much oftener have occasion to +speak than to write; and that, consequently, it is full as necessary to +speak gracefully and distinctly upon them as to write clearly and +elegantly. I find no authority among the ancients, nor indeed among the +moderns, for indistinct and unintelligible utterance. The Oracles indeed +meant to be obscure; but then it was by the ambiguity of the expression, +and not by the inarticulation of the words. For if people had not +thought, at least, they understood them, they would neither have +frequented nor presented them as they did. There was likewise among the +ancients, and is still among the moderns, a sort of people called +Ventriloqui, who speak from their bellies, on make the voice seem to come +from some other part of the room than that where they are. But these +Ventriloqui speak very distinctly and intelligibly. The only thing, +then, that I can find like a precedent for your way of speaking (and I +would willingly help you to one if I could) is the modern art 'de +persifler', practiced with great success by the 'Petits maitres' at +Paris. This noble art consists in picking out some grave, serious man, +who neither understands nor expects, raillery, and talking to him very +quick, and inarticulate sounds; while the man, who thinks that he did not +hear well; or attend sufficiently, says, 'Monsieur? or 'Plait-il'? a +hundred times; which affords matter of much mirth to those ingenious +gentlemen. Whether you would follow, this precedent, I submit to you. + +Have you carried no English or French comedies of tragedies with you to +Leipsig? If you have, I insist upon your reciting some passages of them +every day to Mr. Harte in the most distinct and graceful manner, as if +you were acting them upon a stage. + +The first part of my, letter is more than an answer to your questions +concerning Lord Pulteney. + + + + +LETTER XLV + +LONDON, July, 20, O. S. 1748 + +DEAR BOY: There are two sorts of understandings; one of which hinders a +man from ever being considerable, and the other commonly makes him +ridiculous; I mean the lazy mind, and the trifling, frivolous mind: +Yours, I hope, is neither. The lazy mind will not take the trouble of +going to the bottom of anything; but, discouraged by the first +difficulties (and everything worth knowing or having is attained with +some), stops short, contents, itself with easy, and consequently +superficial knowledge, and prefers a great degree of ignorance to a small +degree of trouble. These people either think, or represent most things +as impossible; whereas, few things are so to industry and activity. But +difficulties seem to them, impossibilities, or at least they pretend to +think them so--by way of excuse for their laziness. An hour's attention +to the same subject is too laborious for them; they take everything in +the light in which it first presents itself; never consider, it in all +its different views; and, in short, never think it through. The +consequence of this is that when they come to speak upon these subjects, +before people who have considered them with attention; they only discover +their own ignorance and laziness, and lay themselves open to answers that +put them in confusion. Do not then be discouraged by the first +difficulties, but 'contra audentior ito'; and resolve to go to the bottom +of all those things which every gentleman ought to know well. Those arts +or sciences which are peculiar to certain professions, need not be deeply +known by those who are not intended for those professions. As, for +instance; fortification and navigation; of both which, a superficial and +general knowledge, such as the common course of conversation, with a very +little inquiry on your part, will give you, is sufficient. Though, by +the way, a little more knowledge of fortification may be of some use to +you; as the events of war, in sieges, make many of the terms, of that +science occur frequently in common conversation; and one would be sorry +to say, like the Marquis de Mascarille in Moliere's 'Precieuses +Ridicules', when he hears of 'une demie lune, Ma foi! c'etoit bien une +lune toute entiere'. But those things which every, gentleman, +independently of profession, should know, he ought to know well, and dive +into all the depth of them. Such are languages, history, and geography +ancient and modern, philosophy, rational logic; rhetoric; and, for you +particularly, the constitutions and the civil and military state of every +country in Europe: This, I confess; is a pretty large circle of +knowledge, attended with some difficulties, and requiring some trouble; +which, however; an active and industrious mind will overcome; and be +amply repaid. The trifling and frivolous mind is always busied, but to +little purpose; it takes little objects for great ones, and throws away +upon trifles that time and attention which only important things deserve. +Knick-knacks; butterflies; shells, insects, etc., are the subjects of +their most serious researches. They contemplate the dress, not the +characters of the company they keep. They attend more to the decorations +of a play than the sense of it; and to the ceremonies of a court more +than to its politics. Such an employment of time is an absolute loss of +it. You have now, at most, three years to employ either well or ill; +for, as I have often told you, you will be all your life what you shall +be three years hence. For God's sake then reflect. Will you throw this +time away either in laziness, or in trifles? Or will you not rather +employ every moment of it in a manner that must so soon reward you with +so much pleasure, figure, and character? I cannot, I will not doubt of +your choice. Read only useful books; and never quit a subject till you +are thoroughly master of it, but read and inquire on till then. When you +are in company, bring the conversation to some useful subject, but 'a +portee' of that company. Points of history, matters of literature, the +customs of particular countries, the several orders of knighthood, as +Teutonic, Maltese, etc., are surely better subjects of conversation, than +the weather, dress, or fiddle-faddle stories, that carry no information +along with them. The characters of kings and great men are only to be +learned in conversation; for they are never fairly written during their +lives. This, therefore, is an entertaining and instructive subject of +conversation, and will likewise give you an opportunity of observing how +very differently characters are given, from the different passions and +views of those who give them. Never be ashamed nor afraid of asking +questions: for if they lead to information, and if you accompany them +with some excuse, you will never be reckoned an impertinent or rude +questioner. All those things, in the common course of life, depend +entirely upon the manner; and, in that respect, the vulgar saying is +true, 'That one man can better steal a horse, than another look over the +hedge.' There are few things that may not be said, in some manner or +other; either in a seeming confidence, or a genteel irony, or introduced +with wit; and one great part of the knowledge of the world consists in +knowing when and where to make use of these different manners. The +graces of the person, the countenance, and the way of speaking, +contribute so much to this, that I am convinced, the very same thing, +said by a genteel person in an engaging way, and GRACEFULLY and +distinctly spoken, would please, which would shock, if MUTTERED out by an +awkward figure, with a sullen, serious countenance. The poets always +represent Venus as attended by the three Graces, to intimate that even +beauty will not do without: I think they should have given Minerva three +also; for without them, I am sure learning is very unattractive. Invoke +them, then, DISTINCTLY, to accompany all your words and motions. Adieu. + +P. S. Since I wrote what goes before, I have received your letter, OF NO +DATE, with the inclosed state of the Prussian forces: of which, I hope, +you have kept a copy; this you should lay in a 'portefeuille', and add to +it all the military establishments that you can get of other states and +kingdoms: the Saxon establishment you may, doubtless, easily find. By +the way, do not forget to send me answers to the questions which I sent +you some time ago, concerning both the civil and the ecclesiastical +affairs of Saxony. + +Do not mistake me, and think I only mean that you should speak elegantly +with regard to style, and the purity of language; but I mean, that you +should deliver and pronounce what you say gracefully and distinctly; for +which purpose I will have you frequently read very loud, to Mr. Harte, +recite parts of orations, and speak passages of plays; for, without a +graceful and pleasing enunciation, all your elegancy of style, in +speaking, is not worth one farthing. + +I am very glad that Mr. Lyttelton approves of my new house, and +particularly of my CANONICAL--[James Brydges, duke of Chandos, built a +most magnificent and elegant house at CANNONS, about eight miles from +London. It was superbly furnished with fine pictures, statues, etc., +which, after his death, were sold, by auction. Lord Chesterfield +purchased the hall-pillars, the floor; and staircase with double +flights; which are now in Chesterfield House, London.]--pillars. My bust +of Cicero is a very fine one, and well preserved; it will have the best +place in my library, unless at your return you bring me over as good a +modern head of your own, which I should like still better. I can tell +you, that I shall examine it as attentively as ever antiquary did an old +one. + +Make my compliments to Mr. Harte, at whose recovery I rejoice. + + + + +LETTER XLVI + +LONDON, August 2, O. S. 1748. + +DEAR BOY: Duval the jeweler, is arrived, and was with me three or four +days ago. You will easily imagine that I asked him a few questions +concerning you; and I will give you the satisfaction of knowing that, +upon the whole, I was very well pleased with the account he gave me. +But, though he seemed to be much in your interest, yet he fairly owned to +me that your utterance was rapid, thick, and ungraceful. I can add +nothing to what I have already said upon this subject; but I can and do +repeat the absolute necessity of speaking distinctly and gracefully, or +else of not speaking at all, and having recourse to signs. He tells me +that you are pretty fat for one of your age: this you should attend to in +a proper way; for if, while very young; you should grow fat, it would be +troublesome, unwholesome, and ungraceful; you should therefore, when you +have time, take very strong exercise, and in your diet avoid fattening +things. All malt liquors fatten, or at least bloat; and I hope you do +not deal much in them. I look upon wine and water to be, in every +respect; much wholesomer. + +Duval says there is a great deal of very good company at Madame +Valentin's and at another lady's, I think one Madame Ponce's, at Leipsig. +Do you ever go to either of those houses, at leisure times? It would +not, in my mind, be amiss if you did, and would give you a habit of +ATTENTIONS; they are a tribute which all women expect; and which all men, +who would be well received by them; must pay. And, whatever the mind may +be, manners at least are certainly improved by the company of women of +fashion. + +I have formerly told you, that you should inform yourself of the several +orders, whether military or religious, of the respective countries where +you may be. The Teutonic Order is the great Order of Germany, of which I +send you inclosed a short account. It may serve to suggest questions to +you for more particular inquiries as to the present state of it, of which +you ought to be minutely informed. The knights, at present, make vows, +of which they observe none, except it be that of not marrying; and their +only object now is, to arrive, by seniority, at the Commanderies in their +respective provinces; which are, many of them, very lucrative. The Order +of Malta is, by a very few years, prior to the Teutonic, and owes its +foundation to the same causes. These' knights were first called Knights +Hospitaliers of St. John. of Jerusalem, then Knights of Rhodes; and in +the year 1530, Knights of Malta, the Emperor Charles V. having granted +them that island, upon condition of their defending his island of Sicily +against the Turks, which they effectually did. L'Abbe de Vertot has +written the history of Malta, but it is the least valuable of all his +works; and moreover, too long for you to read. But there is a short +history, of all the military orders whatsoever, which I would advise you +to get, as there is also of all the religious orders; both which. are +worth your having and consulting, whenever you meet with any of them in +your way; as, you will very frequently in Catholic countries. For my own +part, I find that I remember things much better, when I recur, to my +books for them, upon some particular occasion, than by reading them 'tout +de suite'. As, for example, if I were to read the history of all the +military or religious orders, regularly one after another, the latter +puts the former out of my head; but when I read the history of any one, +upon account, of its having been the object of conversation or dispute, +I remember it much better. It is the same in geography, where, looking +for any particular place in the map, upon some particular account, fixes +it in one's memory forever. I hope you have worn out your maps by +frequent, use of that sort. Adieu. + + + A SHORT ACCOUNT OF THE TEUTONIC ORDER + +In the ages of ignorance, which is always the mother of superstition, it +was thought not only just, but meritorious, to propagate religion by fire +and sword, and to, take away, the, lives and properties of unbelievers. +This enthusiasm produced the several crusades, in the 11th, 12th, and +following centuries, the object of which was, to recover the Holy Land +out of, the hands of the Infidels, who, by the way, were the lawful +possessors. Many honest enthusiasts engaged in those crusades, from a +mistaken principle of religion, and from the pardons granted by the Popes +for all the sins of those pious adventurers; but many more knaves adopted +these holy wars, in hopes of conquest and plunder. After Godfrey of +Bouillon, at the head of these knaves and fools, had taken Jerusalem, in +the year 1099, Christians of various nations remained in that city; among +the rest, one good honest German, that took particular care of his +countrymen who came thither in pilgrimages. He built a house for their +reception, and an hospital dedicated to the Virgin. This little +establishment soon became a great one, by the enthusiasm of many +considerable people who engaged in it, in order to drive the Saracens out +of the Holy Land. This society then began to take its first form; and +its members were called Marian Teutonic Knights. Marian, from their +chapel sacred to the Virgin Mary; Teutonic, from the German, or Teuton, +who was the author of it, and Knights from the wars which they were to +carry on against the Infidels. + +These knights behaved themselves so bravely, at first; that Duke +Frederick of Swabia, who was general of the German army in the Holy Land, +sent, in the year 1191, to the Emperor Henry VI. and Pope Celestine III. +to desire that this brave and charitable fraternity might be incorporated +into a regular order of knighthood; which was accordingly done, and rules +and a particular habit were given them. Forty knights, all of noble +families, were at first created by the King of Jerusalem and other +princes then in the army. The first grand master of this order was Henry +Wallpot, of a noble family upon the Rhine. This order soon began to +operate in Europe; drove all the Pagans out of Prussia, and took +possession of it. Soon after, they got Livonia and Courland, and invaded +even Russia, where they introduced the Christian religion. In 1510, they +elected Albert, Marquis of Bradenburg, for their grand master, who, +turning Protestant, soon afterward took Prussia from the order, and kept +it for himself, with the consent of Sigismund, King of Poland, of whom it +was to hold. He then quitted his grand mastership and made himself +hereditary Duke of that country, which is thence called Ducal Prussia. +This order now consists of twelve provinces; viz., Alsatia, Austria, +Coblentz, and Etsch, which are the four under the Prussian jurisdiction; +Franconia, Hesse, Biessen, Westphalia, Lorraine, Thuringia, Saxony, and +Utrecht, which eight are of the German jurisdiction. The Dutch now +possess all that the order had in Utrecht. Every one of the provinces +have their particular Commanderies; and the most ancient of these +Commandeurs is called the Commandeur Provincial. These twelve +Commandeurs are all subordinate to the Grand Master of Germany as their +chief, and have the right of electing the grand master. The elector of +Cologne is at present 'Grand Maitre'. + +This order, founded by mistaken Christian zeal, upon the anti-Christian +principles of violence and persecution, soon grew strong by the weakness +and ignorance of the time; acquired unjustly great possessions, of which +they justly lost the greatest part by their ambition and cruelty, which +made them feared and hated by all their neighbors. + +I have this moment received your letter of the 4th, N. S., and have only +time to tell you that I can by no means agree to your cutting off your +hair. I am very sure that your headaches cannot proceed from thence. +And as for the pimples upon your head, they are only owing to the heat of +the season, and consequently will not last long. But your own hair is, +at your age, such an ornament, and a wig, however well made, such a +disguise, that I will upon no account whatsoever have you cut off your +hair. Nature did not give it to you for nothing, still less to cause you +the headache. Mr. Eliot's hair grew so ill and bushy, that he was in the +right to cut it off. But you have not the same reason. + + + + +LETTER XLVII + +LONDON, August 23, O. S. 1748. + +DEAR BOY: Your friend, Mr. Eliot, has dined with me twice since I +returned here, and I can say with truth that while I had the seals, +I never examined or sifted a state prisoner with so much care and +curiosity as I did him. Nay, I did more; for, contrary to the laws of +this country, I gave him in some manner, the QUESTION ordinary and +extraordinary; and I have infinite pleasure in telling you that the rack +which I put him to, did not extort from him one single word that was not +such as I wished to hear of you. I heartily congratulate you upon such +an advantageous testimony, from so creditable a witness. 'Laudati a +laudato viro', is one of the greatest pleasures and honors a rational +being can have; may you long continue to deserve it! Your aversion to +drinking and your dislike to gaming, which Mr. Eliot assures me are both +very strong, give me, the greatest joy imaginable, for your sake: as the +former would ruin both your constitution and understanding, and the +latter your fortune and character. Mr. Harte wrote me word some time +ago, and Mr. Eliot confirms it now, that you employ your pin money in a +very different manner, from that in which pin money is commonly lavished: +not in gew-gaws and baubles, but in buying good and useful books. This +is an excellent symptom, and gives me very good hopes. Go on thus, my +dear boy, but for these next two years, and I ask no more. You must then +make such a figure and such a fortune in the world as I wish you, and as +I have taken all these pains to enable you to do. After that time I +allow you to be as idle as ever you please; because I am sure that you +will not then please to be so at all. The ignorant and the weak are only +idle; but those who have once acquired a good stock of knowledge, always +desire to increase it. Knowledge is like power in this respect, that +those who have the most, are most desirous of having more. It does not +clog, by possession, but increases desire; which is the case of very few +pleasures. + +Upon receiving this congratulatory letter, and reading your own praises, +I am sure that it must naturally occur to you, how great a share of them +you owe to Mr. Harte's care and attention; and, consequently, that your +regard and affection for him must increase, if there be room for it, in +proportion as you reap, which you do daily, the fruits of his labors. + +I must not, however, conceal from you that there was one article in which +your own witness, Mr. Eliot, faltered; for, upon my questioning him home +as to your manner of speaking, he could not say that your utterance was +either distinct or graceful. I have already said so much to you upon +this point that I can add nothing. I will therefore only repeat this +truth, which is, that if you will not speak distinctly and graceful, +nobody will desire to hear you. I am glad to learn that Abbe Mably's +'Droit Public de l'Europe' makes a part of your evening amusements. It +is a very useful book, and gives a clear deduction of the affairs of +Europe, from the treaty of Munster to this time. Pray read it with +attention, and with the proper maps; always recurring to them for the +several countries or towns yielded, taken, or restored. Pyre Bougeant's +third volume will give you the best idea of the treaty of Munster, and +open to you the several views of the belligerent' and contracting +parties, and there never were greater than at that time. The House of +Austria, in the war immediately preceding that treaty, intended to make +itself absolute in the empire, and to overthrow the rights of the +respective states of it. The view of France was to weaken and dismember +the House of Austria to such a degree, as that it should no longer be a +counterbalance to that of Bourbon. Sweden wanted possessions on the +continent of Germany, not only to supply the necessities of its own poor +and barren country, but likewise to hold the balance in the empire +between the House of Austria and the States. The House of Brandenburg +wanted to aggrandize itself by pilfering in the fire; changed sides +occasionally, and made a good bargain at last; for I think it got, at the +peace, nine or ten bishoprics secularized. So that we may date, from the +treaty of Munster, the decline of the House of Austria, the great power +of the House of Bourbon, and the aggrandizement of that of Bradenburg: +which, I am much mistaken, if it stops where it is now. + +Make my compliments to Lord Pulteney, to whom I would have you be not +only attentive, but useful, by setting him (in case he wants it) a good +example of application and temperance. I begin to believe that, as I +shall be proud of you, others will be proud too of imitating you: Those +expectations of mine seem now so well grounded, that my disappointment, +and consequently my anger, will be so much the greater if they fail; but +as things stand now, I am most affectionately and tenderly, Yours. + + + + +LETTER XLVIII + +LONDON, August 30, O. S. 1748 + +DEAR BOY: Your reflections upon the conduct of France, from the treaty of +Munster to this time, are very just; and I am very glad to find, by them, +that you not only read, but that you think and reflect upon what you +read. Many great readers load their memories, without exercising their +judgments; and make lumber-rooms of their heads instead of furnishing +them usefully; facts are heaped upon facts without order or distinction, +and may justly be said to compose that + + '-----Rudis indigestaque moles + Quem dixere chaos'. + +Go on, then, in the way of reading that you are in; take nothing for +granted, upon the bare authority of the author; but weigh and consider, +in your own mind, the probability of the facts and the justness of the +reflections. Consult different authors upon the same facts, and form +your opinion upon the greater or lesser degree of probability arising +from the whole, which, in my mind, is the utmost stretch of historical +faith; certainty (I fear) not being to be found. When a historian +pretends to give you the causes and motives of events, compare those +causes and motives with the characters and interests of the parties +concerned, and judge for yourself whether they correspond or not. +Consider whether you cannot assign others more probable; and in that +examination, do not despise some very mean and trifling causes of the +actions of great men; for so various and inconsistent is human nature, +so strong and changeable are our passions, so fluctuating are our wills, +and so much are our minds influenced by the accidents of our bodies that +every man is more the man of the day, than a regular consequential +character. The best have something bad, and something little; the worst +have something good, and sometimes something great; for I do not believe +what Velleius Paterculus (for the sake of saying a pretty thing) says of +Scipio, 'Qui nihil non laudandum aut fecit, aut dixit, aut sensit'. As +for the reflections of historians, with which they think it necessary to +interlard their histories, or at least to conclude their chapters (and +which, in the French histories, are always introduced with a 'tant il est +vrai', and in the English, SO TRUE IT IS), do not adopt them implicitly +upon the credit of the author, but analyze them yourself, and judge +whether they are true or not. + +But to return to the politics of France, from which I have digressed. +You have certainly made one further reflection, of an advantage which +France has, over and above its abilities in the cabinet and the skill of +its negotiators, which is (if I may use the expression) its SOLENESS, +continuity of riches and power within itself, and the nature of its +government. Near twenty millions of people, and the ordinary revenue of +above thirteen millions sterling a year, are at the absolute disposal of +the Crown. This is what no other power in Europe can say; so that +different powers must now unite to make a balance against France; which +union, though formed upon the principle of their common interest, can +never be so intimate as to compose a machine so compact and simple as +that of one great kingdom, directed by one will, and moved by one +interest. The Allied Powers (as we have constantly seen) have, besides +the common and declared object of their alliance, some separate and +concealed view to which they often sacrifice the general one; which makes +them, either directly or indirectly, pull different ways. Thus, the +design upon Toulon failed in the year 1706, only from the secret view of +the House of Austria upon Naples: which made the Court of Vienna, +notwithstanding the representations of the other allies to the contrary, +send to Naples the 12,000 men that would have done the business at +Toulon. In this last war too, the same causes had the same effects: the +Queen of Hungary in secret thought of nothing but recovering of Silesia, +and what she had lost in Italy; and, therefore, never sent half that +quota which she promised, and we paid for, into Flanders; but left that +country to the maritime powers to defend as they could. The King of +Sardinia's real object was Savona and all the Riviera di Ponente; for +which reason he concurred so lamely in the invasion of Provence, where +the Queen of Hungary, likewise, did not send one-third of the force +stipulated, engrossed as she was by her oblique views upon the plunder of +Genoa, and the recovery of Naples. Insomuch that the expedition into +Provence, which would have distressed France to the greatest degree, and +have caused a great detachment from their army in Flanders, failed +shamefully, for want of every one thing necessary for its success. +Suppose, therefore, any four or five powers who, all together, shall be +equal, or even a little superior, in riches and strength to that one +power against which they are united; the advantage will still be greatly +on the side of that single power, because it is but one. The power and +riches of Charles V. were, in themselves, certainly superior to those of +Frances I., and yet, upon the whole, he was not an overmatch for him. +Charles V.'s dominions, great as they were, were scattered and remote +from each other; their constitutions different; wherever he did not +reside, disturbances arose; whereas the compactness of France made up the +difference in the strength. This obvious reflection convinced me of the +absurdity of the treaty of Hanover, in 1725, between France and England, +to which the Dutch afterward acceded; for it was made upon the +apprehensions, either real or pretended, that the marriage of Don Carlos +with the eldest archduchess, now Queen of Hungary, was settled in the +treaty of Vienna, of the same year, between Spain and the late Emperor +Charles VI., which marriage, those consummate politicians said would +revive in Europe the exorbitant power of Charles V. I am sure, I +heartily wish it had; as, in that case, there had been, what there +certainly is not now, one power in Europe to counterbalance that of +France; and then the maritime powers would, in reality, have held the +balance of Europe in their hands. Even supposing that the Austrian power +would then have been an overmatch for that of France (which, by the way, +is not clear), the weight of the maritime powers, then thrown into the +scale of France, would infallibly have made the balance at least even. +In which case too, the moderate efforts of the maritime powers on the +side of France would have been sufficient; whereas now, they are obliged +to exhaust and beggar themselves; and that too ineffectually, in hopes to +support the shattered; beggared, and insufficient House of Austria. + +This has been a long political dissertation; but I am informed that +political subjects are your favorite ones; which I am glad of, +considering your destination. You do well to get your materials all +ready, before you begin your work. As you buy and (I am told) read books +of this kind, I will point out two or three for your purchase and +perusal; I am not sure that I have not mentioned them before, but that is +no matter, if you have not got them. 'Memoires pour servir a l'Histoire +du 17ieme Siecle', is a most useful book for you to recur to for all the +facts and chronology of that country: it is in four volumes octavo, and +very correct and exact. If I do not mistake, I have formerly recommended +to you, 'Les Memoires du Cardinal de Retz'; however, if you have not yet +read them, pray do, and with the attention which they deserve. You will +there find the best account of a very interesting period of the minority +of Lewis XIV. The characters are drawn short, but in a strong and +masterly manner; and the political reflections are the only just and +practical ones that I ever saw in print: they are well worth your +transcribing. 'Le Commerce des Anciens, par Monsieur Huet. Eveque +d'Avranche', in one little volume octavo, is worth your perusal, as +commerce is a very considerable part of political knowledge. I need not, +I am sure, suggest to you, when you read the course of commerce, either +of the ancients or of the moderns, to follow it upon your map; for there +is no other way of remembering geography correctly, but by looking +perpetually in the map for the places one reads of, even though one knows +before, pretty near, where they are. + +Adieu! As all the accounts which I receive of you grow better and better, +so I grow more and more affectionately, Yours. + + + + +LETTER XLIX + +LONDON, September 5, O. S. 1748. + +DEAR BOY: I have received yours, with the inclosed German letter to Mr. +Gravenkop, which he assures me is extremely well written, considering the +little time that you have applied yourself to that language. As you have +now got over the most difficult part, pray go on diligently, and make +yourself absolutely master of the rest. Whoever does not entirely +possess a language, will never appear to advantage, or even equal to +himself, either in speaking or writing it. His ideas are fettered, and +seem imperfect or confused, if he is not master of all the words and +phrases necessary to express them. I therefore desire, that you will not +fail writing a German letter once every fortnight to Mr. Gravenkop; which +will make the writing of that language familiar to you; and moreover, +when you shall have left Germany and be arrived at Turin, I shall require +you to write even to me in German; that you may not forget with ease what +you have with difficulty learned. I likewise desire, that while you are +in Germany, you will take all opportunities of conversing in German, +which is the only way of knowing that, or any other language, accurately. +You will also desire your German master to teach you the proper titles +and superscriptions to be used to people of all ranks; which is a point +so material, in Germany, that I have known many a letter returned +unopened, because one title in twenty has been omitted in the direction. + +St. Thomas's day now draws near, when you are to leave Saxony and go to +Berlin; and I take it for granted, that if anything is yet wanting to +complete your knowledge of the state of that electorate, you will not +fail to procure it before you go away. I do not mean, as you will easily +believe, the number of churches, parishes, or towns; but I mean the +constitution, the revenues, the troops, and the trade of that electorate. +A few questions, sensibly asked, of sensible people, will produce you the +necessary informations; which I desire you will enter in your little +book, Berlin will be entirely a new scene to you, and I look upon it, in +a manner, as your first step into the great world; take care that step be +not a false one, and that you do not stumble at the threshold. You will +there be in more company than you have yet been; manners and attentions +will therefore be more necessary. Pleasing in company is the only way of +being pleased in it yourself. Sense and knowledge are the first and +necessary foundations for pleasing in company; but they will by no means +do alone, and they will never be perfectly welcome if they are not +accompanied with manners and attentions. You will best acquire these by +frequenting the companies of people of fashion; but then you must resolve +to acquire them, in those companies, by proper care and observation; for +I have known people, who, though they have frequented good company all +their lifetime, have done it in so inattentive and unobserving a manner, +as to be never the better for it, and to remain as disagreeable, as +awkward, and as vulgar, as if they had never seen any person of fashion. +When you go into good company (by good company is meant the people of the +first fashion of the place) observe carefully their turn, their manners, +their address; and conform your own to them. But this is not all +neither; go deeper still; observe their characters, and pray, as far as +you can, into both their hearts and their heads. Seek for their +particular merit, their predominant passion, or their prevailing +weakness; and you will then know what to bait your hook with to catch +them. Man is a composition of so many, and such various ingredients, +that it requires both time and care to analyze him: for though we have +all the same ingredients in our general composition, as reason, will, +passions, and appetites; yet the different proportions and combinations +of them in each individual, produce that infinite variety of characters, +which, in some particular or other, distinguishes every individual from +another. Reason ought to direct the whole, but seldom does. And he who +addresses himself singly to another man's reason, without endeavoring to +engage his heart in his interest also, is no more likely to succeed, than +a man who should apply only to a king's nominal minister, and neglect his +favorite. I will recommend to your attentive perusal, now that you are +going into the world, two books, which will let you as much into the +characters of men, as books can do. I mean, 'Les Reflections Morales de +Monsieur de la Rochefoucault, and Les Caracteres de la Bruyere': but +remember, at the same time, that I only recommend them to you as the best +general maps to assist you in your journey, and not as marking out every +particular turning and winding that you will meet with. There your own +sagacity and observation must come to their aid. La Rochefoucault, is, +I know, blamed, but I think without reason, for deriving all our actions +from the source of self-love. For my own part, I see a great deal of +truth, and no harm at all, in that opinion. It is certain that we seek +our own happiness in everything we do; and it is as certain, that we can +only find it in doing well, and in conforming all our, actions to the +rule of right reason, which is the great law of nature. It is only a +mistaken self-love that is a blamable motive, when we take the immediate +and indiscriminate gratification of a passion, or appetite, for real +happiness. But am I blamable if I do a good action, upon account of the +happiness which that honest consciousness will give me? Surely not. +On the contrary, that pleasing consciousness is a proof of my virtue. +The reflection which is the most censured in Monsieur de la +Rochefoucault's book as a very ill-natured one, is this, 'On trouve dans +le malheur de son meilleur ami, quelque chose qui ne des plait pas'. And +why not? Why may I not feel a very tender and real concern for the +misfortune of my friend, and yet at the same time feel a pleasing +consciousness at having discharged my duty to him, by comforting and +assisting him to the utmost of my power in that misfortune? Give me but +virtuous actions, and I will not quibble and chicane about the motives. +And I will give anybody their choice of these two truths, which amount to +the same thing: He who loves himself best is the honestest man; or, The +honestest man loves himself best. + +The characters of La Bruyere are pictures from the life; most of them +finely drawn, and highly colored. Furnish your mind with them first, and +when you meet with their likeness, as you will every day, they will +strike you the more. You will compare every feature with the original; +and both will reciprocally help you to discover the beauties and the +blemishes. + +As women are a considerable, or, at least a pretty numerous part of +company; and as their suffrages go a great way toward establishing a +man's character in the fashionable part of the world (which is of great +importance to the fortune and figure he proposes to make in it), it is +necessary to please them. I will therefore, upon this subject, let you +into certain Arcana that will be very useful for you to know, but which +you must, with the utmost care, conceal and never seem to know. Women, +then, are only children of a larger growth; they have an entertaining +tattle, and sometimes wit; but for solid reasoning, good sense, I never +knew in my life one that had it, or who reasoned or acted consequentially +for four-and-twenty hours together. Some little passion or humor always +breaks upon their best resolutions. Their beauty neglected or +controverted, their age increased, or their supposed understandings +depreciated, instantly kindles their little passions, and overturns any +system of consequential conduct, that in their most reasonable moments +they might have been capable of forming. A man of sense only trifles +with them, plays with them, humors and flatters them, as he does with a +sprightly forward child; but he neither consults them about, nor trusts +them with serious matters; though he often makes them believe that he +does both; which is the thing in the world that they are proud of; for +they love mightily to be dabbling in business (which by the way they +always spoil); and being justly distrustful that men in general look upon +them in a trifling light, they almost adore that man who talks more +seriously to them, and who seems to consult and trust them; I say, who +seems; for weak men really do, but wise ones only seem to do it. No +flattery is either too high or too low for them. They will greedily +swallow the highest, and gratefully accept of the lowest; and you may +safely flatter any woman from her understanding down to the exquisite +taste of her fan. Women who are either indisputably beautiful, or +indisputably ugly, are best flattered, upon the score of their +understandings; but those who are in a state of mediocrity, are best +flattered upon their beauty, or at least their graces; for every woman +who is not absolutely ugly thinks herself handsome; but not hearing often +that she is so, is the more grateful and the more obliged to the few who +tell her so; whereas a decided and conscious beauty looks upon every +tribute paid to her beauty only as her due; but wants to shine, and to be +considered on the side of her understanding; and a woman who is ugly +enough to know that she is so, knows that she has nothing left for it but +her understanding, which is consequently and probably (in more senses +than one) her weak side. But these are secrets which you must keep +inviolably, if you would not, like Orpheus, be torn to pieces by the +whole sex; on the contrary, a man who thinks of living in the great +world, must be gallant, polite, and attentive to please the women. They +have, from the weakness of men, more or less influence in all courts; +they absolutely stamp every man's character in the beau monde, and make +it either current, or cry it down, and stop it in payments. It is, +therefore; absolutely necessary to manage, please, and flatter them and +never to discover the least marks of contempt, which is what they never +forgive; but in this they are not singular, for it is the same with men; +who will much sooner forgive an injustice than an insult. Every man is +not ambitious, or courteous, or passionate; but every man has pride +enough in his composition to feel and resent the least slight and +contempt. Remember, therefore, most carefully to conceal your contempt, +however just, wherever you would riot make an implacable enemy. Men are +much more unwilling to have their weaknesses and their imperfections +known than their crimes; and if you hint to a man that you think him +silly, ignorant, or even ill-bred, or awkward, he will hate you more and +longer, than if you tell him plainly, that you think him a rogue. Never +yield to that temptation, which to most young men is very strong; of +exposing other people's weaknesses and infirmities, for the sake either +of diverting the company, or showing your own superiority. You may get +the laugh on your side by it for the present; but you will make enemies +by it forever; and even those who laugh with you then, will, upon +reflection, fear; and consequently hate you; besides that it is ill- +natured, and a good heart desires rather to conceal than expose other +people's weaknesses or misfortunes. If you have wit, use it to please, +and not to hurt: you may shine, like the sun in the temperate zones, +without scorching. Here it is wished for; under the Line it is dreaded. + +These are some of the hints which my long experience in the great world +enables me to give you; and which, if you attend to them, may prove +useful to you in your journey through it. I wish it may be a prosperous +one; at least, I am sure that it must be your own fault if it is not. + +Make my compliments to Mr. Harte, who, I am very sorry to hear, is not +well. I hope by this time he is recovered. Adieu! + + + + +LETTER L + +LONDON, September 13, O. S. 1748. + +DEAR BOY: I have more than once recommended to you the "Memoirs" of the +Cardinal de Retz, and to attend particularly to the political reflections +interspersed in that excellent work. I will now preach a little upon two +or three of those texts. + +In the disturbances at Paris, Monsieur de Beaufort, who was a very +popular, though a very weak man, was the Cardinal's tool with the +populace. + +Proud of his popularity, he was always for assembling the people of Paris +together, thinking that he made a great figure at the head of them. The +Cardinal, who was factious enough, was wise enough at the same time to +avoid gathering the people together, except when there was occasion, and +when he had something particular for them to do. However, he could not +always check Monsieur de Beaufort; who having assembled them once very +unnecessarily, and without any determined object, they ran riot, would +not be kept within bounds by their leaders, and did their cause a great +deal of harm: upon which the Cardinal observes most judiciously, 'Que +Monsieur de Beaufort me savoit pas, que qui assemble le peuple, l'emeut'. +It is certain, that great numbers of people met together, animate each +other, and will do something, either good or bad, but oftener bad; and +the respective individuals, who were separately very quiet, when met +together in numbers, grow tumultuous as a body, and ripe for any mischief +that may be pointed out to them by the leaders; and, if their leaders +have no business for them, they will find some for themselves. The +demagogues, or leaders of popular factions, should therefore be very +careful not to assemble the people unnecessarily, and without a settled +and well-considered object. Besides that, by making those popular +assemblies too frequent, they make them likewise too familiar, and +consequently less respected by their enemies. Observe any meetings of +people, and you will always find their eagerness and impetuosity rise or +fall in proportion to their numbers: when the numbers are very great, all +sense and reason seem to subside, and one sudden frenzy to seize on all, +even the coolest of them. + +Another very just observation of the Cardinal's is, That, the things +which happen in our own times, and which we see ourselves, do not +surprise us near so much as the things which we read of in times past, +though not in the least more extraordinary; and adds, that he is +persuaded that when Caligula made his horse a Consul, the people of Rome, +at that time, were not greatly surprised at it, having necessarily been +in some degree prepared for it, by an insensible gradation of +extravagances from the same quarter. This is so true that we read every +day, with astonishment, things which we see every day without surprise. +We wonder at the intrepidity of a Leonidas, a Codrus, and a Curtius; and +are not the least surprised to hear of a sea-captain, who has blown up +his ship, his crew, and himself, that they might not fall into the hands +of the enemies of his country. I cannot help reading of Porsenna and +Regulus, with surprise and reverence, and yet I remember that I saw, +without either, the execution of Shepherd,--[James Shepherd, a coach- +painter's apprentice, was executed at Tyburn for high treason, March 17, +1718, in the reign of George I.]--a boy of eighteen years old, who +intended to shoot the late king, and who would have been pardoned, if he +would have expressed the least sorrow for his intended crime; but, on the +contrary, he declared that if he was pardoned he would attempt it again; +that he thought it a duty which he owed to his country, and that he died +with pleasure for having endeavored to perform it. Reason equals +Shepherd to Regulus; but prejudice, and the recency of the fact, make +Shepherd a common malefactor and Regulus a hero. + +Examine carefully, and reconsider all your notions of things; analyze +them, and discover their component parts, and see if habit and prejudice +are not the principal ones; weigh the matter upon which you are to form +your opinion, in the equal and impartial scales of reason. It is not to +be conceived how many people, capable of reasoning, if they would, live +and die in a thousand errors, from laziness; they will rather adopt the +prejudices of others, than give themselves the trouble of forming +opinions of their own. They say things, at first, because other people +have said them, and then they persist in them, because they have said +them themselves. + +The last observation that I shall now mention of the Cardinal's is, "That +a secret is more easily kept by a good many people, than one commonly +imagines." By this he means a secret of importance, among people +interested in the keeping of it. And it is certain that people of +business know the importance of secrecy, and will observe it, where they +are concerned in the event. To go and tell any friend, wife, or +mistress, any secret with which they have nothing to do, is discovering +to them such an unretentive weakness, as must convince them that you will +tell it to twenty others, and consequently that they may reveal it +without the risk of being discovered. But a secret properly communicated +only to those who are to be concerned in the thing in question, will +probably be kept by them though they should be a good many. Little +secrets are commonly told again, but great ones are generally kept. +Adieu! + + + + +LETTER LI + +LONDON, September 20, O. S. 1748. + +DEAR BOY: I wait with impatience for your accurate history of the +'Chevaliers Forte Epees', which you promised me in your last, and which +I take to be the forerunner of a larger work that you intend to give the +public, containing a general account of all the religious and military +orders of Europe. Seriously, you will do well to have a general notion +of all those orders, ancient and modern; both as they are frequently the +subjects of conversation, and as they are more or less interwoven with +the histories of those times. Witness the Teutonic Order, which, as soon +as it gained strength, began its unjust depredations in Germany, and +acquired such considerable possessions there; and the Order of Malta +also, which continues to this day its piracies upon the Infidels. +Besides one can go into no company in Germany, without running against +Monsieur le Chevalier, or Monsieur le Commandeur de l' Ordre Teutonique. +It is the same in all the other parts of Europe with regard to the Order +of Malta, where you never go into company without meeting two or three +Chevaliers or Commandeurs, who talk of their 'Preuves', their 'Langues', +their 'Caravanes', etc., of all which things I am sure you would not +willingly be ignorant. On the other hand, I do not mean that you should +have a profound and minute knowledge of these matters, which are of a +nature that a general knowledge of them is fully sufficient. I would not +recommend you to read Abbe Vertot's "History of the Order of Malta," in +four quarto volumes; that would be employing a great deal of good time +very ill. But I would have you know the foundations, the objects, the +INSIGNIA, and the short general history of them all. + +As for the ancient religious military orders, which were chiefly founded +in the eleventh and twelfth centuries, such as Malta, the Teutonic, the +Knights Templars, etc., the injustice and the wickedness of those +establishments cannot, I am sure, have escaped your observation. Their +pious object was, to take away by force other people's property, and to +massacre the proprietors themselves if they refused to give up that +property, and adopt the opinions of these invaders. What right or +pretense had these confederated Christians of Europe to the Holy Land? +Let them produce their grant of it in the Bible. Will they say, that the +Saracens had possessed themselves of it by force, and that, consequently, +they had the same right? Is it lawful then to steal goods because they +were stolen before? Surely not. The truth is, that the wickedness of +many, and the weakness of more, in those ages of ignorance and +superstition, concurred to form those flagitious conspiracies against the +lives and properties of unoffending people. The Pope sanctified the +villany, and annexed the pardon of sins to the perpetration of it. This +gave rise to the Crusaders, and carried such swarms of people from Europe +to the conquests of the Holy Land. Peter the Hermit, an active and +ambitious priest, by his indefatigable pains, was the immediate author of +the first crusade; kings, princes, all professions and characters united, +from different motives, in this great undertaking, as every sentiment, +except true religion and morality, invited to it. The ambitious hoped +for kingdoms; the greedy and the necessitous for plunder; and some were +enthusiasts enough to hope for salvation, by the destruction of a +considerable number of their fellow creatures, who had done them no +injury. I cannot omit, upon this occasion, telling you that the Eastern +emperors at Constantinople (who, as Christians, were obliged at least to +seem to favor these expeditions), seeing the immense numbers of the +'Croisez', and fearing that the Western Empire might have some mind to +the Eastern Empire too, if it succeeded against the Infidels, as +'l'appetit vient en mangeant'; these Eastern emperors, very honestly, +poisoned the waters where the 'Croisez' were to pass, and so destroyed +infinite numbers of them. + +The later orders of knighthood, such as the Garter in England; the +Elephant in Denmark; the Golden Fleece in Burgundy; the St. Esprit, St. +Michel, St. Louis, and St. Lazare, in France etc., are of a very +different nature and were either the invitations to, or the rewards of; +brave actions in fair war; and are now rather the decorations of the +favor of the prince, than the proofs of the merit of the subject. +However, they are worth your inquiries to a certain degree, and +conversation will give you frequent opportunities for them. Wherever you +are, I would advise you to inquire into the respective orders of that +country, and to write down a short account of them. For example, while +you are in Saxony, get an account of l'Aigle Blanc and of what other +orders there may be, either Polish or Saxon; and, when you shall be at +Berlin, inform yourself of three orders, l'Aigle Noir, la Generosite et +le Vrai Merite, which are the only ones that I know of there. But +whenever you meet with straggling ribands and stars, as you will with a +thousand in Germany, do not fail to inquire what they are, and to take a +minute of them in your memorandum book; for it is a sort of knowledge +that costs little to acquire, and yet it is of some use. Young people +have frequently an incuriousness about them, arising either from +laziness, or a contempt of the object, which deprives them of several +such little parts of knowledge, that they afterward wish they had +acquired. If you will put conversation to profit, great knowledge may be +gained by it; and is it not better (since it is full as easy) to turn it +upon useful than upon useless subjects? People always talk best upon +what they know most, and it is both pleasing them and improving one's +self, to put them upon that subject. With people of a particular +profession, or of a distinguished eminency in any branch of learning, +one is not at a loss; but with those, whether men or women, who properly +constitute what is called the beau monde, one must not choose deep +subjects, nor hope to get any knowledge above that of orders, ranks, +families, and court anecdotes; which are therefore the proper (and not +altogether useless) subjects of that kind of conversation. Women, +especially, are to be talked to as below men and above children. If you +talk to them too deep, you only confound them, and lose your own labor; +if you talk to them too frivolously, they perceive and resent the +contempt. The proper tone for them is, what the French call the +'Entregent', and is, in truth, the polite jargon of good company. Thus, +if you are a good chemist, you may extract something out of everything. + +A propos of the beau monde, I must again and again recommend the Graces +to you: There is no doing without them in that world; and, to make a good +figure in that world, is a great step toward making one in the world of +business, particularly that part of it for which you are destined. An +ungraceful manner of speaking, awkward motions, and a disagreeable +address, are great clogs to the ablest man of business, as the opposite +qualifications are of infinite advantage to him. I am told there is a +very good dancing-master at Leipsig. I would have you dance a minuet +very well, not so much for the sake of the minuet itself (though that, if +danced at all, ought to be danced, well), as that it will give you a +habitual genteel carriage and manner of presenting yourself. + +Since I am upon little things, I must mention another, which, though +little enough in itself, yet as it occurs at, least once in every day, +deserves some attention; I mean Carving. Do you use yourself to carve +ADROITLY and genteelly, without hacking half an hour across a bone; +without bespattering the company with the sauce; and without overturning +the glasses into your neighbor's pockets? These awkwardnesses are +extremely disagreeable; and, if often repeated, bring ridicule. They are +very easily avoided by a little attention and use. + +How trifling soever these things may seem, or really be in themselves, +they are no longer so when above half the world thinks them otherwise. +And, as I would have you 'omnibus ornatum--excellere rebus', I think +nothing above or below my pointing out to you, or your excelling in. +You have the means of doing it, and time before you to make use of them. +Take my word for it, I ask nothing now but what you will, twenty years +hence, most heartily wish that you had done. Attention to all these +things, for the next two or three years, will save you infinite trouble +and endless regrets hereafter. May you, in the whole course of your +life, have no reason for any one just regret! Adieu. + +Your Dresden china is arrived, and I have sent it to your Mamma. + + + + +LETTER LII + +LONDON, September 27, O. S. 1748. + +DEAR BOY: I have received your Latin "Lecture upon War," which though it +is not exactly the same Latin that Caesar, Cicero, Horace, Virgil, and +Ovid spoke, is, however, as good Latin as the erudite Germans speak or +write. I have always observed that the most learned people, that is, +those who have read the most Latin, write the worst; and that +distinguishes the Latin of gentleman scholar from that of a pedant. +A gentleman has, probably, read no other Latin than that of the Augustan +age; and therefore can write no other, whereas the pedant has read much +more bad Latin than good, and consequently writes so too. He looks upon +the best classical books, as books for school-boys, and consequently +below him; but pores over fragments of obscure authors, treasures up the +obsolete words which he meets with there, and uses them upon all +occasions to show his reading at the expense of his judgment. Plautus is +his favorite author, not for the sake of the wit and the vis comica of +his comedies, but upon account of the many obsolete words, and the cant +of low characters, which are to be met with nowhere else. He will rather +use 'olli' than 'illi', 'optume' than 'optima', and any bad word rather +than any good one, provided he can but prove, that strictly speaking, it +is Latin; that is, that it was written by a Roman. By this rule, I might +now write to you in the language of Chaucer or Spenser, and assert that I +wrote English, because it was English in their days; but I should be a +most affected puppy if I did so, and you would not understand three words +of my letter. All these, and such like affected peculiarities, are the +characteristics of learned coxcombs and pedants, and are carefully +avoided by all men of sense. + +I dipped accidentally, the other day, into Pitiscus's preface to his +"Lexicon," where I found a word that puzzled me, and which I did not +remember ever to have met with before. It is the adverb 'praefiscine', +which means, IN A GOOD HOUR; an expression which, by the superstition of +it, appears to be low and vulgar. I looked for it: and at last I found +that it is once or twice made use of in Plautus, upon the strength of +which this learned pedant thrusts it into his preface. Whenever you +write Latin, remember that every word or phrase which you make use of, +but cannot find in Caesar, Cicero, Livy, Horace, Virgil; and Ovid, is +bad, illiberal Latin, though it may have been written by a Roman. + +I must now say something as to the matter of the "Lecture," in which I +confess there is one doctrine laid down that surprises me: It is this, +'Quum vero hostis sit lenta citave morte omnia dira nobis minitans +quocunque bellantibus negotium est; parum sane interfuerit quo modo eum +obruere et interficere satagamus, si ferociam exuere cunctetur. Ergo +veneno quoque uti fas est', etc., whereas I cannot conceive that the use +of poison can, upon any account, come within the lawful means of self- +defense. Force may, without doubt, be justly repelled by force, but not +by treachery and fraud; for I do not call the stratagems of war, such as +ambuscades, masked batteries, false attacks, etc., frauds or treachery: +They are mutually to be expected and guarded against; but poisoned +arrows, poisoned waters, or poison administered to your enemy (which can +only be done by treachery), I have always heard, read, and thought, to be +unlawful and infamous means of defense, be your danger ever so great: But +'si ferociam exuere cunctetur'; must I rather die than poison this enemy? +Yes, certainly, much rather die than do a base or criminal action; nor +can I be sure, beforehand, that this enemy may not, in the last moment, +'ferociam exuere'. But the public lawyers, now, seem to me rather to +warp the law, in order to authorize, than to check, those unlawful +proceedings of princes and states; which, by being become common, appear +less criminal, though custom can never alter the nature of good and ill. + +Pray let no quibbles of lawyers, no refinements of casuists, break into +the plain notions of right and wrong, which every man's right reason and +plain common sense suggest to him. To do as you would be done by, is the +plain, sure, and undisputed rule of morality and justice. Stick to that; +and be convinced that whatever breaks into it, in any degree, however +speciously it may be turned, and however puzzling it may be to answer it, +is, notwithstanding, false in itself, unjust, and criminal. I do not +know a crime in the world, which is not by the casuists among the Jesuits +(especially the twenty-four collected, I think, by Escobar) allowed, in +some, or many cases, not to be criminal. The principles first laid down +by them are often specious, the reasonings plausible, but the conclusion +always a lie: for it is contrary, to that evident and undeniable rule of +justice which I have mentioned above, of not doing to anyone what you +would not have him do to you. But, however, these refined pieces of +casuistry and sophistry, being very convenient and welcome to people's +passions and appetites, they gladly accept the indulgence, without +desiring to detect the fallacy or the reasoning: and indeed many, I might +say most people, are not able to do it; which makes the publication of +such quibblings and refinements the more pernicious. I am no skillful +casuist nor subtle disputant; and yet I would undertake to justify and +qualify the profession of a highwayman, step by step, and so plausibly, +as to make many ignorant people embrace the profession, as an innocent, +if not even a laudable one; and puzzle people of some degree of +knowledge, to answer me point by point. I have seen a book, entitled +'Quidlibet ex Quolibet', or the art of making anything out of anything; +which is not so difficult as it would seem, if once one quits certain +plain truths, obvious in gross to every understanding, in order to run +after the ingenious refinements of warm imaginations and speculative +reasonings. Doctor Berkeley, Bishop of Cloyne, a very worthy, ingenious, +and learned man, has written a book, to prove that there is no such thing +as matter, and that nothing exists but in idea: that you and I only fancy +ourselves eating, drinking, and sleeping; you at Leipsig, and I at +London: that we think we have flesh and blood, legs, arms, etc., but that +we are only spirit. His arguments are, strictly speaking, unanswerable; +but yet I am so far from being convinced by them, that I am determined to +go on to eat and drink, and walk and ride, in order to keep that MATTER, +which I so mistakenly imagine my body at present to consist of, in as +good plight as possible. Common sense (which, in truth, very uncommon) +is the best sense I know of: abide by it, it will counsel you best. Read +and hear, for your amusement, ingenious systems, nice questions subtilly +agitated, with all the refinements that warm imaginations suggest; but +consider them only as exercitations for the mind, and turn always to +settle with common sense. + +I stumbled, the other day, at a bookseller's, upon "Comte Gabalis," +in two very little volumes, which I had formerly read. I read it over +again, and with fresh astonishment. Most of the extravagances are taken +from the Jewish Rabbins, who broached those wild notions, and delivered +them in the unintelligible jargon which the Caballists and Rosicrucians +deal in to this day. Their number is, I believe, much lessened, but +there are still some; and I myself have known two; who studied and firmly +believed in that mystical nonsense. What extravagancy is not man capable +of entertaining, when once his shackled reason is led in triumph by fancy +and prejudice! The ancient alchemists give very much into this stuff, +by which they thought they should discover the philosopher's stone; +and some of the most celebrated empirics employed it in the pursuit of +the universal medicine. Paracelsus, a bold empiric and wild Caballist, +asserted that he had discovered it, and called it his 'Alkahest'. +Why or wherefore, God knows; only that those madmen call nothing by an +intelligible name. You may easily get this book from The Hague: read it, +for it will both divert and astonish you, and at the same time teach you +'nil admirari'; a very necessary lesson. + +Your letters, except when upon a given subject, are exceedingly laconic, +and neither answer my desires nor the purpose of letters; which should be +familiar conversations, between absent friends. As I desire to live with +you upon the footing of an intimate friend, and not of a parent, I could +wish that your letters gave me more particular accounts of yourself, +and of your lesser transactions. When you write to me, suppose yourself +conversing freely with me by the fireside. In that case, you would +naturally mention the incidents of the day; as where you had been, who +you had seen, what you thought of them, etc. Do this in your letters: +acquaint me sometimes with your studies, sometimes with your diversions; +tell me of any new persons and characters that you meet with in company, +and add your own observations upon them: in short, let me see more of you +in your letters. How do you go on with Lord Pulteney, and how does he go +on at Leipsig? Has he learning, has he parts, has he application? Is he +good or ill-natured? In short, What is he? at least, what do you think +him? You may tell me without reserve, for I promise you secrecy. +You are now of an age that I am desirous to begin a confidential +correspondence with you; and as I shall, on my part, write you very +freely my opinion upon men and things, which I should often be very +unwilling that anybody but you and Mr. Harte should see, so, on your +part, if you write me without reserve, you may depend upon my inviolable +secrecy. If you have ever looked into the "Letters" of Madame de Sevigne +to her daughter, Madame de Grignan, you must have observed the ease, +freedom, and friendship of that correspondence; and yet, I hope and I +believe, that they did not love one another better than we do. Tell me +what books you are now reading, either by way of study or amusement; how +you pass your evenings when at home, and where you pass them when abroad. +I know that you go sometimes to Madame Valentin's assembly; What do you +do there? Do you play, or sup, or is it only 'la belle conversation?' +Do you mind your dancing while your dancing-master is with you? As you +will be often under the necessity of dancing a minuet, I would have you +dance it very well. Remember, that the graceful motion of the arms, the +giving your hand, and the putting on and pulling off your hat genteelly, +are the material parts of a gentleman's dancing. But the greatest +advantage of dancing well is, that it necessarily teaches you to present +yourself, to sit, stand, and walk, genteelly; all of which are of real +importance to a man of fashion. + +I should wish that you were polished before you go to Berlin; where, as +you will be in a great deal of good company, I would have you have the +right manners for it. It is a very considerable article to have 'le ton +de la bonne compagnie', in your destination particularly. The principal +business of a foreign minister is, to get into the secrets, and to know +all 'les allures' of the courts at which he resides; this he can never +bring about but by such a pleasing address, such engaging manners, and +such an insinuating behavior, as may make him sought for, and in some +measure domestic, in the best company and the best families of the place. +He will then, indeed, be well informed of all that passes, either by the +confidences made him, or by the carelessness of people in his company, +who are accustomed to look upon him as one of them, and consequently are +not upon their guard before him. For a minister who only goes to the +court he resides at, in form, to ask an audience of the prince or the +minister upon his last instructions, puts them upon their guard, and will +never know anything more than what they have a mind that he should know. +Here women may be put to some use. A king's mistress, or a minister's +wife or mistress, may give great and useful informations; and are very +apt to do it, being proud to show that they have been trusted. But then, +in this case, the height of that sort of address, which, strikes women, +is requisite; I mean that easy politeness, genteel and graceful address, +and that 'exterieur brilliant' which they cannot withstand. There is a +sort of men so like women, that they are to be taken just in the same +way; I mean those who are commonly called FINE MEN; who swarm at all +courts; who have little reflection, and less knowledge; but, who by their +good breeding, and 'train-tran' of the world, are admitted into all +companies; and, by the imprudence or carelessness of their superiors, +pick up secrets worth knowing, which are easily got out of them by proper +address. Adieu. + + + + +LETTER LIII + +BATH, October 12, O. S. 1748. + +DEAR BOY: I came here three days ago upon account of a disorder in my +stomach, which affected my head and gave me vertigo. I already find +myself something better; and consequently do not doubt but that the +course of these waters will set me quite right. But however and wherever +I am, your welfare, your character, your knowledge, and your morals, +employ my thoughts more than anything that can happen to me, or that I +can fear or hope for myself. I am going off the stage, you are coming +upon it; with me what has been, has been, and reflection now would come +too late; with you everything is to come, even, in some manner, +reflection itself; so that this is the very time when my reflections, +the result of experience, may be of use to you, by supplying the want of +yours. As soon as you leave Leipsig, you will gradually be going into +the great world; where the first impressions that you shall give of +yourself will be of great importance to you; but those which you shall +receive will be decisive, for they always stick. To keep good company, +especially at your first setting out, is the way to receive good +impressions. If you ask me what I mean by good company, I will confess +to you that it is pretty difficult to define; but I will endeavor to make +you understand it as well as I can. + +Good company is not what respective sets of company are pleased either to +call or think themselves, but it is that company which all the people of +the place call, and acknowledge to be, good company, notwithstanding some +objections which they may form to some of the individuals who compose it. +It consists chiefly (but by no means without exception) of people of +considerable birth, rank, and character; for people of neither birth nor +rank are frequently, and very justly admitted into it, if distinguished +by any peculiar merit, or eminency in any liberal art or science. Nay, +so motly a thing is good company, that many people, without birth, rank, +or merit, intrude into it by their own forwardness, and others slide into +it by the protection of some considerable person; and some even of +indifferent characters and morals make part of it. But in the main, the +good part preponderates, and people of infamous and blasted characters +are never admitted. In this fashionable good company, the best manners +and the best language of the place are most unquestionably to be learned; +for they establish and give the tone to both, which are therefore called +the language and manners of good company: there being no legal tribunal +to ascertain either. + +A company, consisting wholly of people of the first quality, cannot, for +that reason, be called good company, in the common acceptation of the +phrase, unless they are, into the bargain, the fashionable and accredited +company of the place; for people of the very first quality can be as +silly, as ill-bred, and as worthless, as people of the meanest degree. +On the other hand, a company consisting entirely of people of very low +condition, whatever their merit or parts may be, can never be called good +company; and consequently should not be much frequented, though by no +means despised. + +A company wholly composed of men of learning, though greatly to be valued +and respected, is not meant by the words GOOD COMPANY; they cannot have +the easy manners and, 'tournure' of the world, as they do not live in it. +If you can bear your part well in such a company, it is extremely right +to be in it sometimes, and you will be but more esteemed in other +companies, for having a place in that. But then do not let it engross +you; for if you do, you will be only considered as one of the 'literati' +by profession; which is not the way either, to shine, or rise in the +world. + +The company of professed wits and pests is extremely inviting to most +young men; who if they have wit themselves, are pleased with it, and if +they have none, are sillily proud of being one of it: but it should be +frequented with moderation and judgment, and you should by no means give +yourself up to it. A wit is a very unpopular denomination, as it carries +terror along with it; and people in general are as much afraid of a live +wit, in company, as a woman is of a gun, which she thinks may go off of +itself, and do her a mischief. Their acquaintance is, however, worth +seeking, and their company worth frequenting; but not exclusively of +others, nor to such a degree as to be considered only as one of that +particular set. + +But the company, which of all others you should most carefully avoid, is +that low company, which, in every sense of the word, is low indeed; low +in rank, low in parts, low in manners, and low in merit. You will, +perhaps, be surprised that I should think it necessary to warn you +against such company, but yet I do not think it wholly, unnecessary, +from the many instances which I have seen of men of sense and rank, +discredited, verified, and undone, by keeping such company. + +Vanity, that source of many of our follies, and of some of our crimes, +has sunk many a man into company, in every light infinitely, below +himself, for the sake of being the first man in it. There he dictates, +is applauded, admired; and, for the sake of being the Coryphceus of that +wretched chorus, disgraces and disqualifies himself soon for any better +company. Depend upon it, you will sink or rise to the level of the +company which you commonly keep: people will judge of you, and not +unreasonably, by that. There is good sense in the Spanish saying, "Tell +me whom you live with, and I will tell you who you are." Make it +therefore your business, wherever you are, to get into that company which +everybody in the place allows to be the best company next to their own; +which is the best definition that I can give you of good company. But +here, too, one caution is very necessary, for want of which many young +men have been ruined, even in good company. + +Good company (as I have before observed) is composed of a great variety +of fashionable people, whose characters and morals are very different, +though their manners are pretty much the same. When a young man, new in +the world, first gets into that company, he very rightly determines to +conform to, and imitate it. But then he too often, and fatally, mistakes +the objects of his imitation. He has often heard that absurd term of +genteel and fashionable vices. He there sees some people who shine, and +who in general are admired and esteemed; and observes that these people +are whoremasters, drunkards, or gamesters, upon which he adopts their +vices, mistaking their defects for their perfections, and thinking that +they owe their fashions and their luster to those genteel vices. +Whereas it is exactly the reverse; for these people have acquired their +reputation by their parts, their learning, their good-breeding, and other +real accomplishments: and are only blemished and lowered, in the opinions +of all reasonable people, and of their own, in time, by these genteel and +fashionable vices. A whoremaster, in a flux, or without a nose, is a +very genteel person, indeed, and well worthy of imitation. A drunkard, +vomiting up at night the wine of the day, and stupefied by the headache +all the next, is, doubtless, a fine model to copy from. And a gamester, +tearing his hair, and blaspheming, for having lost more than he had in +the world, is surely a most amiable character. No; these are alloys, and +great ones too, which can never adorn any character, but will always +debase the best. To prove this, suppose any man, without parts and some +other good qualities, to be merely a whoremaster, a drunkard, or a +gamester; how will he be looked upon by all sorts of people? Why, as a +most contemptible and vicious animal. Therefore it is plain, that in +these mixed characters, the good part only makes people forgive, but not +approve, the bad. + +I will hope and believe that you will have no vices; but if, +unfortunately, you should have any, at least I beg of you to be content +with your own, and to adopt no other body's. + +The adoption of vice has, I am convinced, ruined ten times more young men +than natural inclinations. + +As I make no difficulty of confessing my past errors, where I think the +confession may be of use to you, I will own that when I first went to the +university, I drank and smoked, notwithstanding the aversion I had to +wine and tobacco, only because I thought it genteel, and that it made me +look like a man. When I went abroad, I first went to The Hague, where +gaming was much in fashion, and where I observed that many people of +shining rank and character gamed too. I was then young enough, and silly +enough, to believe that gaming was one of their accomplishments; and, as +I aimed at perfection, I adopted gaming as a necessary step to it. Thus +I acquired by error the habit of a vice which, far from adorning my +character, has, I am conscious, been a great blemish in it. + +Imitate then, with discernment and judgment, the real perfections of the +good company into which you may get; copy their politeness, their +carriage, their address, and the easy and well-bred turn of their +conversation; but remember that, let them shine ever so bright, their +vices, if they have any, are so many spots which you would no more +imitate, than you would make an artificial wart upon your face, because +some very handsome man had the misfortune to have a natural one upon his: +but, on the contrary, think how much handsomer he would have been without +it. + +Having thus confessed some of my 'egaremens', I will now show you a +little of my right side. I always endeavored to get into the best +company wherever I was, and commonly succeeded. There I pleased to some +degree by showing a desire to please. I took care never to be absent or +'distrait'; but on the contrary, attended to everything that was said, +done, or even looked, in company; I never failed in the minutest +attentions and was never 'journalier'. These things, and not my +'egaremens', made me fashionable. Adieu! This letter is full long +enough. + + + + +LETTER LIV + +BATH, October 19, O. S. 1748. + +DEAR BOY: Having in my last pointed out what sort of company you should +keep, I will now give you some rules for your conduct in it; rules which +my own experience and observation enable me to lay down, and communicate +to you, with some degree of confidence. I have often given you hints of +this kind before, but then it has been by snatches; I will now be more +regular and methodical. I shall say nothing with regard to your bodily +carriage and address, but leave them to the care of your dancing-master, +and to your own attention to the best models; remember, however, that +they are of consequence. + +Talk often, but never long: in that case, if you do not please, at least +you are sure not to tire your hearers. Pay your own reckoning, but do +not treat the whole company; this being one of the very few cases in +which people do not care to be treated, everyone being fully convinced +that he has wherewithal to pay. + +Tell stories very seldom, and absolutely never but where they are very +apt and very short. Omit every circumstance that is not material, and +beware of digressions. To have frequent recourse to narrative betrays +great want of imagination. + +Never hold anybody by the button or the hand, in order to be heard out; +for, if people are not willing to hear you, you had much better hold your +tongue than them. + +Most long talkers single out some one unfortunate man in company +(commonly him whom they observe to be the most silent, or their next +neighbor) to whisper, or at least in a half voice, to convey a continuity +of words to. This is excessively ill-bred, and in some degree a fraud; +conversation-stock being a joint and common property. But, on the other +hand, if one of these unmerciful talkers lays hold of you, hear him with +patience (and at least seeming attention), if he is worth obliging; for +nothing will oblige him more than a patient hearing, as nothing would +hurt him more than either to leave him in the midst of his discourse, or +to discover your impatience under your affliction. + +Take, rather than give, the tone of the company you are in. If you have +parts, you will show them, more or less, upon every subject; and if you +have not, you had better talk sillily upon a subject of other people's +than of your own choosing. + +Avoid as much as you can, in mixed companies, argumentative, polemical +conversations; which, though they should not, yet certainly do, indispose +for a time the contending parties toward each other; and, if the +controversy grows warm and noisy, endeavor to put an end to it by some +genteel levity or joke. I quieted such a conversation-hubbub once, by +representing to them that, though I was persuaded none there present +would repeat, out of company, what passed in it, yet I could not answer +for the discretion of the passengers in the street, who must necessarily +hear all that was said. + +Above all things, and upon all occasions, avoid speaking of yourself, if +it be possible. Such is the natural pride and vanity of our hearts, that +it perpetually breaks out, even in people of the best parts, in all the +various modes and figures of the egotism. + +Some, abruptly, speak advantageously of themselves, without either +pretense or provocation. They are impudent. Others proceed more +artfully, as they imagine; and forge accusations against themselves, +complain of calumnies which they never heard, in order to justify +themselves, by exhibiting a catalogue of their many virtues. They +acknowledge it may, indeed, seem odd that they should talk in that manner +of themselves; it is what they do not like, and what they never would +have done; no; no tortures should ever have forced it from them, if they +had, not been thus unjustly and monstrously accused. But, in these +cases; justice is surely due to one's self, as well as to others; and +when our character is attacked, we may say in our own justification, what +otherwise we never would have said. This thin veil of Modesty drawn +before Vanity, is much too transparent to conceal it, even from very +moderate discernment. + +Others go more modestly and more slyly still (as they think) to work; but +in my mind still more ridiculously. They confess themselves (not without +some degree of shame and confusion) into all the Cardinal Virtues, by +first degrading them into weaknesses and then owning their misfortune in +being made up of those weaknesses. They cannot see people suffer without +sympathizing with, and endeavoring to help them. They cannot see people +want, without relieving them, though truly their own circumstances cannot +very well afford it. They cannot help speaking truth, though they know +all the imprudence of it. In short, they know that, with all these +weaknesses, they are not fit to live in the world, much less to thrive in +it. But they are now too old to change, and must rub on as well as they +can. This sounds too ridiculous and 'outre', almost, for the stage; and +yet, take my word for it, you will frequently meet with it upon the +common stage of the world. And here I will observe, by the bye, that you +will often meet with characters in nature so extravagant, that a discreet +dramatist would not venture to set them upon the stage in their true and +high coloring. + +This principle of vanity and pride is so strong in human nature that it +descends even to the lowest objects; and one often sees people angling +for praise, where, admitting all they say to be true (which, by the way, +it seldom is), no just praise is to be caught. One man affirms that he +has rode post an hundred miles in six hours; probably it is a lie: but +supposing it to be true, what then? Why he is a very good post-boy, that +is all. Another asserts, and probably not without oaths, that he has +drunk six or eight bottles of wine at a sitting; out of charity, I will +believe him a liar; for, if I do not, I must think him a beast. + +Such, and a thousand more, are the follies and extravagances, which +vanity draws people into, and which always defeat their own purpose; and +as Waller says, upon another subject,-- + + "Make the wretch the most despised, + Where most he wishes to be prized." + +The only sure way of avoiding these evils, is never to speak of yourself +at all. But when, historically, you are obliged to mention yourself, +take care not to drop one single word that can directly or indirectly be +construed as fishing for applause. Be your character what it will, it +will be known; and nobody will take it upon your own word. Never imagine +that anything you can say yourself will varnish your defects, or add +lustre to your perfections! but, on the contrary, it may, and nine times +in ten, will, make the former more glaring and the latter obscure. If +you are silent upon your own subject, neither envy, indignation, nor +ridicule, will obstruct or allay the applause which you may really +deserve; but if you publish your own panegyric upon any occasion, or in +any shape whatsoever, and however artfully dressed or disguised, they +will all conspire against you, and you will be disappointed of the very +end you aim at. + +Take care never to seem dark and mysterious; which is not only a very +unamiable character, but a very suspicious one too; if you seem +mysterious with others, they will be really so with you, and you will +know nothing. The height of abilities is to have 'volto sciolto' and +'pensieri stretti'; that is, a frank, open, and ingenuous exterior, with +a prudent interior; to be upon your own guard, and yet, by a seeming +natural openness, to put people off theirs. Depend upon it nine in ten +of every company you are in will avail themselves of every indiscreet and +unguarded expression of yours, if they can turn it to their own +advantage. A prudent reserve is therefore as necessary as a seeming +openness is prudent. Always look people in the face when you speak to +them: the not doing it is thought to imply conscious guilt; besides that +you lose the advantage of serving by their countenances what impression +your discourse makes upon them. In order to know people's real +sentiments, I trust much more to my eyes than to my ears: for they can +say whatever they have a mind I should hear; but they can seldom help +looking, what they have no intention that I should know. + +Neither retail nor receive scandal willingly; defamation of others may +for the present gratify the malignity of the pride of our hearts; cool +reflection will draw very disadvantageous conclusions from such a +disposition; and in the case of scandal, as in that of robbery, the +receiver is always thought, as bad as the thief. + +Mimicry, which is the common and favorite amusement of little low minds, +is in the utmost contempt with great ones. It is the lowest and most +illiberal of all buffoonery. Pray, neither practice it yourself, nor +applaud it in others. Besides that the person mimicked is insulted; and, +as I have often observed to you before, an insult is never forgiven. + +I need not (I believe) advise you to adapt your conversation to the +people you are conversing with: for I suppose you would not, without this +caution, have talked upon the same subject, and in the same manner, to a +minister of state, a bishop, a philosopher, a captain, and a woman. +A man of the world must, like the chameleon, be able to take every +different hue; which is by no means a criminal or abject, but a necessary +complaisance; for it relates only to manners and not to morals. + +One word only as to swearing, and that, I hope and believe, is more than +is necessary. You may sometimes hear some people in good company +interlard their discourse with oaths, by way of embellishment, as they +think, but you must observe, too, that those who do so are never those +who contribute, in any degree, to give that company the denomination of +good company. They are always subalterns, or people of low education; +for that practice, besides that it has no one temptation to plead, is as +silly and as illiberal as it is wicked. + +Loud laughter is the mirth of the mob, who are only pleased with silly +things; for true wit or good sense never excited a laugh since the +creation of the world. A man of parts and fashion is therefore only seen +to smile; but never heard to laugh. + +But to conclude this long letter; all the above-mentioned rules, however +carefully you may observe them, will lose half their effect, if +unaccompanied by the Graces. Whatever you say, if you say it with a +supercilious, cynical face, or an embarrassed countenance, or a silly, +disconcerted grin, will be ill received. If, into the bargain, YOU +MUTTER IT, OR UTTER IT INDISTINCTLY AND UNGRACEFULLY, it will be still +worse received. If your air and address are vulgar, awkward, and gauche, +you may be esteemed indeed, if you have great intrinsic merit; but you +will never, please; and without pleasing you will rise but heavily. +Venus, among the ancients, was synonymous with the Graces, who were +always supposed to accompany her; and Horace tells us that even Youth and +Mercury, the god of Arts and Eloquence, would not do without her: + + 'Parum comis sine to Juventas Mercuriusque.' + +They are not inexorable Ladies, and may be had if properly, and +diligently pursued. Adieu. + + + + +LETTER LV + +BATH, October 29, O. S. 1748. + +DEAR BOY: My anxiety for your success increases in proportion as the time +approaches of your taking your part upon the great stage of the world. +The audience will form their opinion of you upon your first appearance +(making the proper allowance for your inexperience), and so far it will +be final, that, though it may vary as to the degrees, it will never +totally change. This consideration excites that restless attention with +which I am constantly examining how I can best contribute to the +perfection of that character, in which the least spot or blemish would +give me more real concern, than I am now capable of feeling upon any +other account whatsoever. + +I have long since done mentioning your great religious and moral duties, +because I could not make your understanding so bad a compliment as to +suppose that you wanted, or could receive, any new instructions upon +those two important points. Mr. Harte, I am sure, has not neglected +them; and, besides, they are so obvious to common sense and reason, +that commentators may (as they often do) perplex, but cannot make them +clearer. My province, therefore, is to supply by my experience your +hitherto inevitable inexperience in the ways of the world. People at +your age are in a state of natural ebriety; and want rails, and +'gardefous', wherever they go, to hinder them from breaking their necks. +This drunkenness of youth is not only tolerated, but even pleases, if +kept within certain bounds of discretion and decency. These bounds are +the point which it is difficult for the drunken man himself to find out; +and there it is that the experience of a friend may not only serve, but +save him. + +Carry with you, and welcome, into company all the gaiety and spirits, but +as little of the giddiness, of youth as you can. The former will charm; +but the latter will often, though innocently, implacably offend. Inform +yourself of the characters and situations of the company, before you give +way to what your imagination may prompt you to say. There are, in all +companies, more wrong beads than right ones, and many more who deserve, +than who like censure. Should you therefore expatiate in the praise of +some virtue, which some in company notoriously want; or declaim against +any vice, which others are notoriously infected with, your reflections, +however general and unapplied, will, by being applicable, be thought +personal and leveled at those people. This consideration points out to +you, sufficiently, not to be suspicious and captious yourself, nor to +suppose that things, because they may be, are therefore meant at you. +The manners of well-bred people secure one from those indirect and mean +attacks; but if, by chance, a flippant woman or a pert coxcomb lets off +anything of that kind, it is much better not to seem to understand, than +to reply to it. + +Cautiously avoid talking of either your own or other people's domestic +affairs. Yours are nothing to them but tedious; theirs are nothing to +you. The subject is a tender one: and it is odds but that you touch +somebody or other's sore place: for, in this case, there is no trusting +to specious appearances; which may be, and often are, so contrary to the +real situations of things, between men and their wives, parents and their +children, seeming friends, etc., that, with the best intentions in the +world, one often blunders disagreeably. + +Remember that the wit, humor, and jokes, of most mixed companies are +local. They thrive in that particular soil, but will not often bear +transplanting. Every company is differently circumstanced, has its +particular cant and jargon; which may give occasion to wit and mirth +within that circle, but would seem flat and insipid in any other, and +therefore will not bear repeating. Nothing makes a man look sillier than +a pleasantry not relished or not understood; and if he meets with a +profound silence when he expected a general applause, or, what is worse, +if he is desired to explain the bon mot, his awkward and embarrassed +situation is easier imagined' than described. 'A propos' of repeating; +take great care never to repeat (I do not mean here the pleasantries) in +one company what you hear in another. Things, seemingly indifferent, +may, by circulation, have much graver consequences than you would +imagine. Besides, there is a general tacit trust in conversation, by +which a man is obliged not to report anything out of it, though he is not +immediately enjoined to secrecy. A retailer of this kind is sure to draw +himself into a thousand scrapes and discussions, and to be shyly and +uncomfortably received wherever he goes. + +You will find, in most good company, some people who only keep their +place there by a contemptible title enough; these are what we call VERY +GOOD-NATURED FELLOWS, and the French, 'bons diables'. The truth is, they +are people without any parts or fancy, and who, having no will of their +own, readily assent to, concur in, and applaud, whatever is said or done +in the company; and adopt, with the same alacrity, the most virtuous or +the most criminal, the wisest or the silliest scheme, that happens to be +entertained by the majority of the company. This foolish, and often +criminal complaisance flows from a foolish cause,--the want of any other +merit. I hope that you will hold your place in company by a nobler +tenure, and that you will hold it (you can bear a quibble, I believe, +yet) 'in capite'. Have a will and an opinion of your own, and adhere to +them steadily; but then do it with good humor, good-breeding, and (if you +have it) with urbanity; for you have not yet heard enough either to +preach or censure. + +All other kinds of complaisance are not only blameless, but necessary in +good company. Not to seem to perceive the little weaknesses, and the +idle but innocent affectations of the company, but even to flatter them, +in a certain manner, is not only very allowable, but, in truth, a sort of +polite duty. They will be pleased with you, if you do; and will +certainly not be reformed by you if you do not. + +For instance: you will find, in every group of company, two principal +figures, viz., the fine lady and the fine gentleman who absolutely give +the law of wit, language, fashion, and taste, to the rest of that +society. There is always a strict, and often for the time being, a +tender alliance between these two figures. The lady looks upon her +empire as founded upon the divine right of beauty (and full as good a +divine right it is as any king, emperor, or pope, can pretend to); she +requires, and commonly meets with, unlimited passive obedience. And why +should she not meet with it? Her demands go no higher than to have her +unquestioned preeminence in beauty, wit, and fashion, firmly established. +Few sovereigns (by the way) are so reasonable. The fine gentleman's +claims of right are, 'mutatis mutandis', the same; and though, indeed, +he is not always a wit 'de jure', yet, as he is the wit 'de facto' of +that company, he is entitled to a share of your allegiance, and everybody +expects at least as much as they are entitled to, if not something more. +Prudence bids you make your court to these joint sovereigns; and no duty, +that I know of, forbids it. Rebellion here is exceedingly dangerous, and +inevitably punished by banishment, and immediate forfeiture of all your +wit, manners, taste, and fashion; as, on the other hand, a cheerful +submission, not without some flattery, is sure to procure you a strong +recommendation and most effectual pass, throughout all their, and +probably the neighboring, dominions. With a moderate share of sagacity, +you will, before you have been half an hour in their company, easily +discover those two principal figures: both by the deference which you +will observe the whole company pay them, and by that easy, careless, and +serene air, which their consciousness of power gives them. As in this +case, so in all others, aim always at the highest; get always into the +highest company, and address yourself particularly to the highest in it. +The search after the unattainable philosopher's stone has occasioned a +thousand useful discoveries, which otherwise would never have been made. + +What the French justly call 'les manieres nobles' are only to be acquired +in the very best companies. They are the distinguishing characteristics +of men of fashion: people of low education never wear them so close, but +that some part or other of the original vulgarism appears. 'Les manieres +nobles' equally forbid insolent contempt, or low envy and jealousy. Low +people, in good circumstances, fine clothes, and equipages, will +insolently show contempt for all those who cannot afford as fine clothes, +as good an equipage, and who have not (as their term is) as much money in +their pockets: on the other hand, they are gnawed with envy, and cannot +help discovering it, of those who surpass them in any of these articles; +which are far from being sure criterions of merit. They are likewise +jealous of being slighted; and, consequently, suspicious and captious; +they are eager and hot about trifles because trifles were, at first, +their affairs of consequence. 'Les manieres nobles' imply exactly the +reverse of all this. Study them early; you cannot make them too habitual +and familiar to you. + +Just as I had written what goes before, I received your letter of the +24th, N. S., but I have not received that which you mention for Mr. +Harte. Yours is of the kind that I desire; for I want to see your +private picture, drawn by yourself, at different sittings; for though, +as it is drawn by yourself, I presume you will take the most advantageous +likeness, yet I think that I have skill enough in that kind of painting +to discover the true features, though ever so artfully colored, or thrown +into skillful lights and shades. + +By your account of the German play, which I do not know whether I should +call tragedy or comedy, the only shining part of it (since I am in a way +of quibbling) seems to have been the fox's tail. I presume, too, that +the play has had the same fate with the squib, and has gone off no more. +I remember a squib much better applied, when it was made the device of +the colors of a French regiment of grenadiers; it was represented +bursting, with this motto under it: 'Peream dum luceam'. + +I like the description of your PIC-NIC; where I take it for granted, that +your cards are only to break the formality of a circle, and your +SYMPOSION intended more to promote conversation than drinking. Such an +AMICABLE COLLISION, as Lord Shaftesbury very prettily calls it, rubs off +and smooths those rough corners which mere nature has given to the +smoothest of us. I hope some part, at least, of the conversation is in +German. 'A propos': tell me do you speak that language correctly, and do +you write it with ease? I have no doubt of your mastering the other +modern languages, which are much easier, and occur much oftener; for +which reason, I desire that you will apply most diligently to German, +while you are in Germany, that you may speak and write that language most +correctly. + +I expect to meet Mr. Eliot in London, in about three weeks, after which +you will soon see him at Leipsig. Adieu. + + + + +LETTER LVI + +LONDON, November 18, O. S. 1748. + +DEAR BOY: Whatever I see or whatever I hear, my first consideration is, +whether it can in any way be useful to you. As a proof of this, I went +accidentally the other day into a print-shop, where, among many others, +I found one print from a famous design of Carlo Maratti, who died about +thirty years ago, and was the last eminent painter in Europe: the subject +is 'il Studio del Disegno'; or "The School of Drawing." An old man, +supposed to be the master, points to his scholars, who are variously +employed in perspective, geometry, and the observation of the statues of +antiquity. With regard to perspective, of which there are some little +specimens, he has wrote, 'Tanto che basti', that is, "As much as is +sufficient"; with regard to geometry, 'Tanto che basti' again; with +regard to the contemplation of the ancient statues, there is written, +'Non mai a bastanza',--"There never can be enough." But in the clouds, +at the top of the piece, are represented the three Graces, with this just +sentence written over them, 'Senza di noi ogni fatica e vana', that is, +"Without us, all labor is vain." This everybody allows to be true in +painting; but all people do not seem to consider, as I hope you will, +that this truth is full as applicable to every other art or science; +indeed to everything that is to be said or done. I will send you the +print itself by Mr. Eliot, when he returns; and I will advise you to +make the same use of it that the Roman Catholics say they do of the +pictures and images of their saints, which is, only to remind them of +those; for the adoration they disclaim. Nay, I will go further, as the +transition from Popery to Paganism is short and easy, I will classically +end poetically advise you to invoke, and sacrifice to them every day, and +all the day. It must be owned, that the Graces do not seem to be natives +of Great Britain; and, I doubt, the best of us here have more of rough +than polished diamond. + +Since barbarism drove them out of Greece and Rome, they seem to have +taken refuge in France, where their temples are numerous, and their +worship the established one. Examine yourself seriously, why such and +such people please and engage you, more than such and such others, of +equal merit; and you will always find that it is because the former have +the Graces and the latter not. I have known many a woman with an exact +shape, and a symmetrical assemblage of beautiful features, please nobody; +while others, with very moderate shapes and features, have charmed +everybody. Why? because Venus will not charm so much, without her +attendant Graces, as they will without her. Among men, how often have I +seen the most solid merit and knowledge neglected, unwelcome, or even +rejected, for want of them! While flimsy parts, little knowledge, and +less merit, introduced by the Graces, have been received, cherished, and +admired. Even virtue, which is moral beauty, wants some of its charms if +unaccompanied by them. + +If you ask me how you shall acquire what neither you nor I can define or +ascertain, I can only answer, BY OBSERVATION. Form yourself, with regard +to others, upon what you feel pleases you in them. I can tell you the +importance, the advantage, of having the Graces; but I cannot give them +you: I heartily wish I could, and I certainly would; for I do not know a +better present that I could make you. To show you that a very wise, +philosophical, and retired man thinks upon that subject as I do, who have +always lived in the world, I send you, by Mr. Eliot, the famous Mr. +Locke's book upon education; in which you will end the stress that he +lays upon the Graces, which he calls (and very truly) good-breeding. +I have marked all the parts of that book that are worth your attention; +for as he begins with the child, almost from its birth, the parts +relative to its infancy would be useless to you. Germany is, still less +than England, the seat of the Graces; however, you had as good not say so +while you are there. But the place which you are going to, in a great +degree, is; for I have known as many well-bred, pretty men come from +Turin, as from any part of Europe. The late King Victor Amedee took +great pains to form such of his subjects as were of any consideration, +both to business and manners; the present king, I am told, follows his +example: this, however, is certain, that in all courts and congresses, +where there are various foreign ministers, those of the King of Sardinia +are generally the ablest, the politest, and 'les plus delies'. You will +therefore, at Turin, have very good models to form yourself upon: and +remember, that with regard to the best models, as well as to the antique +Greek statues in the print, 'non mai a bastanza'. Observe every word, +look, and motion of those who are allowed to be the most accomplished +persons there. Observe their natural and careless, but genteel air; +their unembarrassed good-breeding; their unassuming, but yet +unprostituted dignity. Mind their decent mirth, their discreet +frankness, and that 'entregent' which, as much above the frivolous as +below the important and the secret, is the proper medium for conversation +in mixed companies. I will observe, by the bye, that the talent of that +light 'entregent' is often of great use to a foreign minister; not only +as it helps him to domesticate himself in many families, but also as it +enables him to put by and parry some subjects of conversation, which +might possibly lay him under difficulties both what to say and how to +look. + +Of all the men that ever I knew in my life (and I knew him extremely +well), the late Duke of Marlborough possessed the graces in the highest +degree, not to say engrossed them; and indeed he got the most by them; +for I will venture (contrary to the custom of profound historians, who +always assign deep causes for great events), to ascribe the better half +of the Duke of Marlborough's greatness and riches to those graces. He +was eminently illiterate; wrote bad English and spelled it still worse. +He had no share of what is commonly called PARTS: that is, he had no +brightness, nothing shining in his genius. He had most undoubtedly, an +excellent good plain understanding with sound judgment. But these alone, +would probably have raised him but something higher than they found him; +which was page to King James the Second's queen. There the Graces +protected and promoted him; for while he was an ensign of the Guards, the +Duchess of Cleveland, then favorite mistress to King Charles the Second, +struck by those very Graces, gave him five thousand pounds, with which he +immediately bought an annuity for his life of five hundred pounds a year, +of my grandfather Halifax; which was the foundation of his subsequent +fortune. His figure was beautiful; but his manner was irresistible, by +either man or woman. It was by this engaging, graceful manner, that he +was enabled, during all his war, to connect the various and jarring +powers of the Grand Alliance, and to carry them on to the main object of +the war, notwithstanding their private and separate views, jealousies, +and wrongheadednesses. Whatever court he went to (and he was often +obliged to go himself to some resty and refractory ones), he as +constantly prevailed, and brought them into his measures. The Pensionary +Heinsius, a venerable old minister, grown gray in business, and who had +governed the republic of the United Provinces for more than forty years, +was absolutely governed by the Duke of Marlborough, as that republic +feels to this day. He was always cool; and nobody ever observed the +least variation in his countenance; he could refuse more gracefully than +other people could grant; and those who went away from him the most +dissatisfied as to the substance of their business, were yet personally +charmed with him and, in some degree, comforted by his manner. With all +his gentleness and gracefulness, no man living was more conscious of his +situation, nor maintained his dignity better. + +With the share of knowledge which you have already gotten, and with the +much greater which I hope you will soon acquire, what may you not expect +to arrive at, if you join all these graces to it? In your destination +particularly, they are in truth half your business: for, if you once gain +the affections as well as the esteem of the prince or minister of the +court to which you are sent, I will answer for it, that will effectually +do the business of the court that sent you; otherwise it is up-hill work. +Do not mistake, and think that these graces which I so often and so +earnestly recommend to you, should only accompany important transactions, +and be worn only 'les jours de gala'; no, they should, if possible, +accompany every, the least thing you do or say; for, if you neglect them +in little things, they will leave you in great ones. I should, for +instance, be extremely concerned to see you even drink a cup of coffee +ungracefully, and slop yourself with it, by your awkward manner of +holding it; nor should I like to see your coat buttoned, or your shoes +buckled awry. But I should be outrageous, if I heard you mutter your +words unintelligibly, stammer, in your speech, or hesitate, misplace, and +mistake in your narrations; and I should run away from you with greater +rapidity, if possible, than I should now run to embrace you, if I found +you destitute of all those graces which I have set my heart upon their +making you one day, 'omnibus ornatum excellere rebus'. + +This subject is inexhaustible, as it extends to everything that is to be +said or done: but I will leave it for the present, as this letter is +already pretty long. Such is my desire, my anxiety for your perfection, +that I never think I have said enough, though you may possibly think that +I have said too much; and though, in truth, if your own good sense is not +sufficient to direct you, in many of these plain points, all that I or +anybody else can say will be insufficient. But where you are concerned, +I am the insatiable man in Horace, who covets still a little corner more +to complete the figure of his field. I dread every little corner that +may deform mine, in which I would have (if possible) no one defect. + +I this moment receive yours of the 17th, N. S., and cannot condole with +you upon the secession of your German 'Commensaux'; who both by your and +Mr. Harte's description, seem to be 'des gens d'une amiable absence'; +and, if you can replace them by any other German conversation, you will +be a gainer by the bargain. I cannot conceive, if you understand German +well enough to read any German book, how the writing of the German +character can be so difficult and tedious to you, the twenty-four letters +being very soon learned; and I do not expect that you should write yet +with the utmost purity and correctness, as to the language: what I meant +by your writing once a fortnight to Grevenkop, was only to make the +written character familiar to you. However, I will be content with one +in three weeks or so. + +I believe you are not likely to see Mr. Eliot again soon, he being still +in Cornwall with his father; who, I hear, is not likely to recover. +Adieu. + + + + +LETTER LVII + +LONDON, November 29, O. S. 1748. + +DEAR BOY: I delayed writing to you till I could give you some account of +the motions of your friend Mr. Eliot; for whom I know you have, and very +justly, the most friendly concern. His father and he came to town +together, in a post-chaise a fortnight ago, the rest of the family +remaining in Cornwall. His father, with difficulty, survived the +journey, and died last Saturday was seven-night. Both concern and +decency confined your friend, till two days ago, when I saw him; he has +determined, and I think very prudently, to go abroad again; but how soon, +it is yet impossible for him to know, as he must necessarily put his own +private affairs in some order first; but I conjecture that he may +possibly join you at Turin; sooner, to be sure, not. I am very sorry +that you are likely to be so long without the company and the example of +so valuable a friend; and therefore I hope that you will make it up to +yourself, as well as you can at this distance, by remembering and +following his example. Imitate that application of his, which has made +him know all thoroughly, and to the bottom. He does not content himself +with the surface of knowledge; but works in the mine for it, knowing that +it lies deep. Pope says, very truly, in his "Essay on Criticism":-- + + A little learning is a dangerous thing; + Drink deep, or taste not the Pierian spring. + +I shall send you by a ship that goes to Hamburg next week (and by which +Hawkins sends Mr. Harte some things that he wrote for) all those which I +propose sending you by Mr. Eliot, together with a very little box that I +am desired to forward to Mr. Harte. There will be, likewise, two letters +of recommendation for you to Monsieur Andrie and Comte Algarotti, at +Berlin, which you will take care to deliver to them, as soon as you shall +be rigged and fitted out to appear there. They will introduce you into +the best company, and I depend upon your own good sense for your avoiding +of bad. If you fall into bad and low company there, or anywhere else, +you will be irrecoverably lost; whereas, if you keep good company, and +company above yourself, your character and your fortune will be immovably +fixed. + +I have not time to-day, upon account of the meeting of the parliament, to +make this letter of the usual length; and indeed, after the volumes that +I have written to you, all I can add must be unnecessary. However, I +shall probably, 'ex abundanti', return soon to my former prolixity; and +you will receive more and more last words from, Yours. + + + + +LETTER LVIII + +LONDON, December 6, O. S. 1748. + +DEAR BOY: I am at present under very great concern for the loss of a most +affectionate brother, with whom I had always lived in the closest +friendship. My brother John died last Friday night, of a fit of the +gout, which he had had for about a month in his hands and feet, and which +fell at last upon his stomach and head. As he grew, toward the last, +lethargic, his end was not painful to himself. At the distance which you +are at from hence, you need not go into mourning upon this occasion, as +the time of your mourning would be near over, before you could put it on. + +By a ship which sails this week for Hamburg, I shall send you those +things which I proposed to have sent you by Mr. Eliot, viz., a little box +from your Mamma; a less box for Mr. Harte; Mr. Locke's book upon +education; the print of Carlo Maratti, which I mentioned to you some time +ago; and two letters of recommendation, one to Monsieur Andrie and the +other to Comte Algarotti, at Berlin. Both those gentlemen will, I am +sure, be as willing as they are able to introduce you into the best +company; and I hope you will not (as many of your countrymen are apt to +do) decline it. It is in the best companies only; that you can learn the +best manners and that 'tournure', and those graces, which I have so often +recommended to you, as the necessary means of making a figure in the +world. + +I am most extremely pleased with the account which Mr. Harte gives me of +your progress in Greek, and of your having read Hesiod almost critically. +Upon this subject I suggest but one thing to you, of many that I might +suggest; which is, that you have now got over the difficulties of that +language, and therefore it would be unpardonable not to persevere to your +journey's end, now that all the rest of your way is down hill. + +I am also very well pleased to hear that you have such a knowledge of, +and taste for curious books and scarce and valuable tracts. This is a +kind of knowledge which very well becomes a man of sound and solid +learning, but which only exposes a man of slight and superficial reading; +therefore, pray make the substance and matter of such books your first +object, and their title-pages, indexes, letter, and binding, but your +second. It is the characteristic of a man of parts and good judgment to +know, and give that degree of attention that each object deserves. +Whereas little minds mistake little objects for great ones, and lavish +away upon the former that time and attention which only the latter +deserve. To such mistakes we owe the numerous and frivolous tribes of +insect-mongers, shell-mongers, and pursuers and driers of butterflies, +etc. The strong mind distinguishes, not only between the useful and the +useless, but likewise between the useful and the curious. He applies +himself intensely to the former; he only amuses himself with the latter. +Of this little sort of knowledge, which I have just hinted at, you will +find at least as much as you need wish to know, in a superficial but +pretty French book, entitled, 'Spectacle de la Nature'; which will amuse +you while you read it, and give you a sufficient notion of the various +parts of nature. I would advise you to read it, at leisure hours. But +that part of nature, which Mr. Harte tells me you have begun to study +with the Rector magnificus, is of much greater importance, and deserves +much more attention; I mean astronomy. The vast and immense planetary +system, the astonishing order and regularity of those innumerable worlds, +will open a scene to you, which not only deserves your attention as a +matter of curiosity, or rather astonishment; but still more, as it will +give you greater, and consequently juster, ideas of that eternal and +omnipotent Being, who contrived, made, and still preserves that universe, +than all the contemplation of this, comparatively, very little orb, which +we at present inhabit, could possibly give you. Upon this subject, +Monsieur Fontenelle's 'Pluralite des Mondes', which you may read in two +hours' time, will both inform and please you. God bless you! Yours. + + + + +LETTER LIX + +LONDON, December 13, O. S. 1748. + +DEAR BOY: The last four posts have brought me no letters, either from you +or from Mr. Harte, at which I am uneasy; not as a mamma would be, but as +a father should be: for I do not want your letters as bills of health; +you are young, strong, and healthy, and I am, consequently, in no pain +about that: moreover, were either you or Mr. Harte ill, the other would +doubtless write me word of it. My impatience for yours or Mr. Harte's +letters arises from a very different cause, which is my desire to hear +frequently of the state and progress of your mind. You are now at that +critical period of life when every week ought to produce fruit or flowers +answerable to your culture, which I am sure has not been neglected; and +it is by your letters, and Mr. Harte's accounts of you, that, at this +distance, I can only judge at your gradations to maturity; I desire, +therefore, that one of you two will not fail to write to me once a week. +The sameness of your present way of life, I easily conceive, would not +make out a very interesting letter to an indifferent bystander; but so +deeply concerned as I am in the game you are playing, even the least move +is to me of importance, and helps me to judge of the final event. + +As you will be leaving Leipsig pretty soon after you shall have received +this letter, I here send you one inclosed to deliver to Mr. Mascow. It +is to thank him for his attention and civility to you, during your stay +with him: and I take it for granted, that you will not fail making him +the proper compliments at parting; for the good name that we leave behind +at one place often gets before us to another, and is of great use. As +Mr. Mascow is much known and esteemed in the republic of letters, I think +it would be of advantage to you, if you got letters of recommendation +from him to some of the learned men at Berlin. Those testimonials give a +lustre, which is not to be despised; for the most ignorant are forced to +seem, at least, to pay a regard to learning, as the most wicked are to +virtue. Such is their intrinsic worth. + +Your friend Duval dined with me the other day, and complained most +grievously that he had not heard from you above a year; I bid him abuse +you for it himself; and advised him to do it in verse, which, if he was +really angry, his indignation would enable him to do. He accordingly +brought me, yesterday, the inclosed reproaches and challenge, which he +desired me to transmit to you. As this is his first essay in English +poetry, the inaccuracies in the rhymes and the numbers are very +excusable. He insists, as you will find, upon being answered in verse; +which I should imagine that you and Mr. HARTE, together, could bring +about; as the late Lady Dorchester used to say, that she and Dr. +Radcliffe, together, could cure a fever. This is however sure, that it +now rests upon you; and no man can say what methods Duval may take, if +you decline his challenge. I am sensible that you are under some +disadvantages in this proffered combat. Your climate, at this time of +the year especially, delights more in the wood fire, than in the poetic +fire; and I conceive the Muses, if there are any at Leipsig, to be rather +shivering than singing; nay, I question whether Apollo is even known +there as god of Verse, or as god of Light: perhaps a little as god of +Physic. These will be fair excuses, if your performance should fall +something short; though I do not apprehend that it will. + +While you have been at Leipsig, which is a place of study more than of +pleasure or company, you have had all opportunities of pursuing your +studies uninterruptedly; and have had, I believe, very few temptations to +the contrary. But the case will be quite different at Berlin, where the +splendor and dissipation of a court and the 'beau monde', will present +themselves to you in gaudy shapes, attractive enough to all young people. +Do not think, now, that like an old fellow, I am going to advise you to +reject them, and shut yourself up in your closet: quite the contrary; +I advise you to take your share, and enter into them with spirit and +pleasure; but then I advise you, too, to allot your time so prudently, +as that learning may keep pace with pleasures; there is full time, in the +course of the day, for both, if you do but manage that time right and +like a good economist. The whole morning, if diligently and attentively +devoted to solid studies, will go a great way at the year's end; and the +evenings spent in the pleasures of good company, will go as far in +teaching you a knowledge, not much less necessary than the other, I mean +the knowledge of the world. Between these two necessary studies, that of +books in the morning, and that of the world in the evening, you see that +you will not have one minute to squander or slattern away. Nobody ever +lent themselves more than I did, when I was young, to the pleasures and +dissipation of good company. I even did it too much. But then, I can +assure you, that I always found time for serious studies; and, when I +could find it no other way, I took it out of my sleep, for I resolved +always to rise early in the morning, however late I went to bed at night; +and this resolution I have kept so sacred, that, unless when I have been +confined to my bed by illness, I have not, for more than forty years, +ever been in bed at nine o'clock in the morning but commonly up before +eight. + +When you are at Berlin, remember to speak German as often as you can, in +company; for everybody there will speak French to you, unless you let +them know that you can speak German, which then they will choose to +speak. Adieu. + + + + +LETTER LX + +LONDON, December 20, O. S. 1748. + +DEAR BOY: I received last Saturday by three mails, which came in at once, +two letters from Mr. Harte, and yours of the 8th, N. S. + +It was I who mistook your meaning, with regard to your German letters, +and not you who expressed it ill. I thought it was the writing of the +German character that took up so much of your time, and therefore I +advised you, by the frequent writing of that character, to make it easy +and familiar to you: But, since it is only the propriety and purity of +the German language which make your writing it so tedious and laborious, +I will tell you I shall not be nice upon that article; and did not expect +that you should yet be master of all the idioms, delicacies, and +peculiarities of that difficult language. That can only come by use, +especially frequent speaking; therefore, when you shall be at Berlin, +and afterward at Turin, where you will meet many Germans, pray take all +opportunities of conversing in German, in order not only to keep what you +have got of that language, but likewise to improve and perfect yourself +in it. As to the characters, you form them very well, and as you +yourself own, better than your English ones; but then let me ask you this +question: Why do you not form your Roman characters better? for I +maintain, that it is in every man's power to write what hand he pleases; +and, consequently, that he ought to write a good one. You form, +particularly, your 'ee' and your 'll' in zigzag, instead of making them +straight, as thus, 'ee', 'll'; a fault very easily mended. You will not, I +believe, be angry with this little criticism, when I tell you, that by +all the accounts I have had of late from Mr. Harte and others, this is +the only criticism that you give me occasion to make. Mr. Harte's last +letter, of the 14th, N. S., particularly, makes me extremely happy, by +assuring me that, in every respect, you do exceedingly well. I am not +afraid, by what I now say, of making you too vain; because I do not think +that a just consciousness and an honest pride of doing well, can be +called vanity; for vanity is either the silly affectation of good +qualities which one has not, or the sillier pride of what does not +deserve commendation in itself. By Mr. Harte's account, you are got very +near the goal of Greek and Latin; and therefore I cannot suppose that, +as your sense increases, your endeavors and your speed will slacken in +finishing the small remains of your course. Consider what lustre and +'eclat' it will give you, when you return here, to be allowed to be the +best scholar, for a gentleman, in England; not to mention the real +pleasure and solid comfort which such knowledge will give you throughout +your whole life. Mr. Harte tells me another thing, which, I own, I did +not expect: it is, that when you read aloud, or repeat parts of plays, +you speak very properly and distinctly. This relieves me from great +uneasiness, which I was under upon account of your former bad +enunciation. Go on, and attend most diligently to this important +article. It is, of all Graces (and they are all necessary), the most +necessary one. + +Comte Pertingue, who has been here about a fortnight, far from +disavowing, confirms all that Mr. Harte has said to your advantage. +He thinks that he shall be at Turin much about the time of your arrival +there, and pleases himself with the hopes of being useful to you. +Though, should you get there before him, he says that Comte du Perron, +with whom you are a favorite, will take that care. You see, by this one +instance, and in the course of your life you will see by a million of +instances, of what use a good reputation is, and how swift and +advantageous a harbinger it is, wherever one goes. Upon this point, too, +Mr. Harte does you justice, and tells me that you are desirous of praise +from the praiseworthy. This is a right and generous ambition; and +without which, I fear, few people would deserve praise. + +But here let me, as an old stager upon the theatre of the world, suggest +one consideration to you; which is, to extend your desire of praise a +little beyond the strictly praiseworthy; or else you may be apt to +discover too much contempt for at least three parts in five of the world, +who will never forgive it you. In the mass of mankind, I fear, there is +too great a majority of fools and, knaves; who, singly from their number, +must to a certain degree be respected, though they are by no means +respectable. And a man who will show every knave or fool that he thinks +him such, will engage in a most ruinous war, against numbers much +superior to those that he and his allies can bring into the field. Abhor +a knave, and pity a fool in your heart; but let neither of them, +unnecessarily, see that you do so. Some complaisance and attention to +fools is prudent, and not mean; as a silent abhorrence of individual +knaves is often necessary and not criminal. + +As you will now soon part with Lord Pulteney, with whom, during your stay +together at Leipsig, I suppose you have formed a connection, I imagine +that you will continue it by letters, which I would advise you to do. +They tell me that he is good-natured, and does not want parts; which are +of themselves two good reasons for keeping it up; but there is also a +third reason, which, in the course of the world, is not to be despised: +His father cannot live long, and will leave him an immense fortune; +which, in all events will make him of some consequence; and, if he has +parts into the bargain, of very great consequence; so that his +friendship, may be extremely well worth your cultivating, especially as +it will not cost you above one letter in one month. + +I do not know whether this letter will find you at Leipsig: at least, +it is the last that I shall direct there. My, next to either you or +Mr. Harte will be directed to Berlin; but as I do not know to what house +or street there, I suppose it will remain at the posthouse till you send +for it. Upon your arrival at Berlin you will send me your particular +direction; and also, pray be minute in your accounts of your reception +there, by those whom I recommend you to, as well as by those to whom they +present you. Remember, too, that you are going to a polite and literate +court, where the Graces will best introduce you. + +Adieu. God bless you, and may you continue to deserve my love, as much +as you now enjoy it! + +P. S. Lady Chesterfield bids me tell you, that she decides entirely in +your favor against Mr. Grevenkop, and even against herself; for she does +not think that she could, at this time, write either so good a character +or so good German. Pray write her a German letter upon that subject, in +which you may tell her, that, like the rest of the world, you approve of +her judgment, because it is in your favor; and that you true Germans +cannot allow Danes to be competent judges of your language, etc. + + + + +LETTER LXI + +LONDON, December 30, O. S. 1748. + +DEAR BOY: I direct this letter to Berlin, where, I suppose, it will +either find you, or at least wait but a very little time for you. I +cannot help being anxious for your success, at this your first appearance +upon the great stage of the world; for, though the spectators are always +candid enough to give great allowances, and to show great indulgence to a +new actor; yet, from the first impressions which he makes upon them, they +are apt to decide, in their own minds, at least, whether he will ever be +a good one, or not. If he seems to understand what he says, by speaking +it properly; if he is attentive to his part, instead of staring +negligently about him; and if, upon the whole, he seems ambitious to +please, they willingly pass over little awkwardnesses and inaccuracies, +which they ascribe to a commendable modesty in a young and inexperienced +actor. They pronounce that he will be a good one in time; and, by the +encouragement which they give him, make him so the sooner. This, I hope, +will be your case: you have sense enough to understand your part; a +constant attention, and ambition to excel in it, with a careful +observation of the best actors, will inevitably qualify you, if not for +the first, at least for considerable parts. + +Your dress (as insignificant a thing as dress is in itself) is now become +an object worthy of some attention; for, I confess, I cannot help forming +some opinion of a man's sense and character from his dress; and I believe +most people do as well as myself. Any affectation whatsoever in dress +implies, in my mind, a flaw in the understanding. Most of our young +fellows here display some character or other by their dress; some affect +the tremendous, and wear a great and fiercely cocked hat, an enormous +sword, a short waistcoat and a black cravat; these I should be almost +tempted to swear the peace against, in my own defense, if I were not +convinced that they are but meek asses in lions' skins. Others go in +brown frocks, leather breeches, great oaken cudgels in their hands, their +hats uncocked, and their hair unpowdered; and imitate grooms, stage- +coachmen, and country bumpkins so well in their outsides, that I do not +make the least doubt of their resembling them equally in their insides. +A man of sense carefully avoids any particular character in his dress; +he is accurately clean for his own sake; but all the rest is for other +people's. He dresses as well, and in the same manner, as the people of +sense and fashion of the place where he is. If he dresses better, as he +thinks, that is, more than they, he is a fop; if he dresses worse, he is +unpardonably negligent. But, of the two, I would rather have a young +fellow too much than too little dressed; the excess on that side will +wear off, with a little age and reflection; but if he is negligent at +twenty, he will be a sloven at forty, and stink at fifty years old. +Dress yourself fine, where others are fine; and plain where others are +plain; but take care always that your clothes are well made, and fit you, +for otherwise they will give you a very awkward air. When you are once +well dressed for the day think no more of it afterward; and, without any +stiffness for fear of discomposing that dress, let all your motions be as +easy and natural as if you had no clothes on at all. So much for dress, +which I maintain to be a thing of consequence in the polite world. + +As to manners, good-breeding, and the Graces, I have so often entertained +you upon those important subjects, that I can add nothing to what I have +formerly said. Your own good sense will suggest to you the substance of +them; and observation, experience, and good company, the several modes of +them. Your great vivacity, which I hear of from many people, will be no +hindrance to your pleasing in good company: on the contrary, will be of +use to you, if tempered by good-breeding and accompanied by the Graces. +But then, I suppose your vivacity to be a vivacity of parts, and not a +constitutional restlessness; for the most disagreeable composition that I +know in the world, is that of strong animal spirits, with a cold genius. +Such a fellow is troublesomely active, frivolously busy, foolishly +lively; talks much with little meaning, and laughs more, with less reason +whereas, in my opinion, a warm and lively genius with a cool +constitution, is the perfection of human nature. + +Do what you will at Berlin, provided you do but do something all day +long. All that I desire of you is, that you will never slattern away one +minute in idleness and in doing of nothing. When you are (not)in +company, learn what either books, masters, or Mr. Harte, can teach you; +and when you are in company, learn (what company can only teach you) the +characters and manners of mankind. I really ask your pardon for giving +you this advice; because, if you are a rational creature and thinking +being, as I suppose, and verily believe you are, it must be unnecessary, +and to a certain degree injurious. If I did not know by experience, that +some men pass their whole time in doing nothing, I should not think it +possible for any being, superior to Monsieur Descartes' automatons, to +squander away, in absolute idleness, one single minute of that small +portion of time which is allotted us in this world. + +I have lately seen one Mr. Cranmer, a very sensible merchant, who told me +that he had dined with you, and seen you often at Leipsig. And yesterday +I saw an old footman of mine, whom I made a messenger, who told me that +he had seen you last August. You will easily imagine, that I was not the +less glad to see them because they had seen you; and I examined them both +narrowly, in their respective departments; the former as to your mind, +the latter, as to your body. Mr. Cranmer gave me great satisfaction, +not only by what he told me of himself concerning you, but by what he was +commissioned to tell me from Mr. Mascow. As he speaks German perfectly +himself, I asked him how you spoke it; and he assured me very well for +the time, and that a very little more practice would make you perfectly +master of it. The messenger told me that you were much grown, and, to +the best of his guess, within two inches as tall as I am; that you were +plump, and looked healthy and strong; which was all that I could expect, +or hope, from the sagacity of the person. + +I send you, my dear child (and you will not doubt it), very sincerely, +the wishes of the season. May you deserve a great number of happy New- +years; and, if you deserve, may you have them. Many New-years, indeed, +you may see, but happy ones you cannot see without deserving them. +These, virtue, honor, and knowledge, alone can merit, alone can procure, +'Dii tibi dent annos, de te nam cetera sumes', was a pretty piece of +poetical flattery, where it was said: I hope that, in time, it may be no +flattery when said to you. But I assure you, that wherever I cannot +apply the latter part of the line to you with truth, I shall neither say, +think, or wish the former. Adieu! + + + + +ETEXT EDITOR'S BOOKMARKS: + +A little learning is a dangerous thing; +Above all things, avoid speaking of yourself +Above the frivolous as below the important and the secret +Abroad but they stay at home all that while +Absolute command of your temper +Abstain from learned ostentation +Absurd term of genteel and fashionable vices +Advice is seldom welcome +Affectation whatsoever in dress +Always look people in the face when you speak to them +Ancients and Moderns +Argumentative, polemical conversations +As willing and as apt to be pleased as anybody +Authority +Better not to seem to understand, than to reply +Bruyere +Cannot understand them, or will not desire to understand them +Cardinal de Retz +Cardinal Virtues, by first degrading them into weaknesses +Cautious how we draw inferences +Chameleon, be able to take every different hue +Cheerful in the countenance, but without laughing +Common sense (which, in truth, very uncommon) +Commonplace observations +Complaisance +Consciousness and an honest pride of doing well +Contempt +Conversation will help you almost as much as books +Conversation-stock being a joint and common property +Converse with his inferiors without insolence +Deriving all our actions from the source of self-love +Deserve a little, and you shall have but a little +Desirous of praise from the praiseworthy +Dexterity enough to conceal a truth without telling a lie +Difficulties seem to them, impossibilities +Distinguish between the useful and the curious +Do as you would be done by +Do what you will but do something all day long +Either do not think, or do not love to think +Equally forbid insolent contempt, or low envy and jealousy +Even where you are sure, seem rather doubtful +Every virtue, has its kindred vice or weakness +Fiddle-faddle stories, that carry no information along with the +Flattery of women +Forge accusations against themselves +Forgive, but not approve, the bad +Frank, open, and ingenuous exterior, with a prudent interior +Gain the affections as well as the esteem +Generosity often runs into profusion +Go to the bottom of things +Good company +Graces: Without us, all labor is vain +Great learning; which, if not accompanied with sound judgment +Great numbers of people met together, animate each other +Habit and prejudice +Half done or half known +Hardly any body good for every thing +Have a will and an opinion of your own, and adhere +Have but one set of jokes to live upon +He will find it out of himself without your endeavors +Heart has such an influence over the understanding +Helps only, not as guides +Historians +Honest error is to be pitied, not ridiculed +Honestest man loves himself best +How much you have to do; and how little time to do it in +I hope, I wish, I doubt, and fear alternately +I shall always love you as you shall deserve +If you would convince others, seem open to conviction yourself +Impertinent insult upon custom and fashion +Inaction at your age is unpardonable +Jealous of being slighted +Judge them all by their merits, but not by their ages +Keep good company, and company above yourself +Know their real value, and how much they are generally overrated +Knowledge is like power in this respect +Knowledge of a scholar with the manners of a courtier +Laughing, I must particularly warn you against it +Lazy mind, and the trifling, frivolous mind +Learning +Let me see more of you in your letters +Little minds mistake little objects for great ones +Livery +Loud laughter is the mirth of the mob +Low buffoonery, or silly accidents, that always excite laughter +Low company, most falsely and impudently, call pleasure +Luther's disappointed avarice +Make yourself necessary +Manner of doing things is often more important +Manners must adorn knowledge +May not forget with ease what you have with difficulty learned +Mimicry +More one sees, the less one either wonders or admires +More you know, the modester you should be +Mortifying inferiority in knowledge, rank, fortune +Most long talkers single out some one unfortunate man in compan +Much sooner forgive an injustice than an insult +Mystical nonsense +Name that we leave behind at one place often gets before us +Neglect them in little things, they will leave you in great +Negligence of it implies an indifference about pleasing +Neither retail nor receive scandal willingly +Never quit a subject till you are thoroughly master of it +Never seem wiser, nor more learned, than the people you are wit +Never slattern away one minute in idleness +Never to speak of yourself at all +Not one minute of the day in which you do nothing at all +Not to admire anything too much +Oftener led by their hearts than by their understandings +Out of livery; which makes them both impertinent and useless +Overvalue what we do not know +Pay your own reckoning, but do not treat the whole company +People angling for praise +People never desire all till they have gotten a great deal +Plain notions of right and wrong +Planted while young, that degree of knowledge now my refuge +Pleased to some degree by showing a desire to please +Pleasing in company is the only way of being pleased in yourself +Pleasure and business with equal inattention +Prefer useful to frivolous conversations +Pride remembers it forever +Prudent reserve +Pyrrhonism +Reason ought to direct the whole, but seldom does +Reformation +Refuge of people who have neither wit nor invention of their ow +Refuse more gracefully than other people could grant +Repeating +Represent, but do not pronounce +Rochefoucault +Rough corners which mere nature has given to the smoothest +Scandal: receiver is always thought, as bad as the thief +Scarcely any body who is absolutely good for nothing +Scrupled no means to obtain his ends +Secrets +Seeming frankness with a real reserve +Seeming openness is prudent +Self-love draws a thick veil between us and our faults +Serious without being dull +Shakespeare +Shepherds and ministers are both men +Some complaisance and attention to fools is prudent, and not me +Some men pass their whole time in doing nothing +Something or other is to be got out of everybody +Swearing +Take nothing for granted, upon the bare authority of the author +Take, rather than give, the tone of the company you are in +Talk often, but never long +Talk sillily upon a subject of other people's +Talking of either your own or other people's domestic affairs +Tell me whom you live with, and I will tell you who you are +Tell stories very seldom +Tenderness and affection with which, while you deserve them +The best have something bad, and something little +The worst have something good, and sometimes something great +Thin veil of Modesty drawn before Vanity +Thoroughly, not superficially +To know people's real sentiments, I trust much more to my eyes +Unopened, because one title in twenty has been omitted +Value of moments, when cast up, is immense +Vanity, that source of many of our follies +Weaknesses +What displeases or pleases you in others +What you feel pleases you in them +When well dressed for the day think no more of it afterward +Will not so much as hint at our follies +Witty without satire or commonplace +Women +Wrongs are often forgiven; but contempt never is +You had much better hold your tongue than them +Your merit and your manners can alone raise you + + + + +End of this Project Gutenberg Etext of Letters to His Son, 1748 +by The Earl of Chesterfield + diff --git a/old/lc02s11.zip b/old/lc02s11.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..b7e6eee --- /dev/null +++ b/old/lc02s11.zip |