136 LORD CHESTERFIELD'S LETTERS

And Claudian has the following lines upon that subject:

Ifsa quidem Virtus pretium sibi, solaque late
Fortunæ fecura nitet: nec fœcibus ullis
Erigitur; flauſique petit clareſcere vulgi.
Nil opis externæ cupiens, nil indiga laudis:
Divitiis animoſa ſuis, immotaque cunèlis
Caſibus, ex alta mortalia deſpicit arce.

Adieu.

LETTER LV.

DEAR BOY,

Wednesday.

YOU behaved yourself so well at Mr. Boden's, laft Sunday,
that you juſtly deferve commendation: befides, you en-
courage me to give you ſome rules of politeneſs and good-breeding,
being perfuaded that you will obſerve them. Know then,
that as learning, honour, and virtue, are absolutely neceſſary to
gain you the eſteem and admiration of mankind; politeneſs and
good-breeding are equally neceſſary, to make you welcome and
agreeable in converſation, and common life. Great talents, ſuch
as honour, virtue, learning, and parts, are above the generality
of the world; who neither poſſeſs themſelves, nor judge of
them rightly in others: but all people are judges of the leſſer
talents, ſuch as civility, affability, and an obliging, agreeable
addrefs and manner; becauſe they feel the good effects of them,
as making ſociety eafy and pleafing. Good-fenſe muſt, in many
cafes, determine good-breeding; becauſe, the fame thing that
would be civil at one time, and to one perſon, may be quite
otherwife

TO HIS SON.

otherwife at another time, and to another perſon; but there
are ſome general rules of good-breeding, that hold always true,
and in all cafés. As for example; it is always extremely rude,
to anſwer only yes, or no, to any body, without adding, Sir,
my Lord, or Madam, according to the quality of the perſon
you ſpeak to; as, in French, you muſt always ſay Monsieur,
Milord, Madame, and Mademoiselle. I ſuppofe you know that
every married woman is, in French, Madame, and every un-
married one is Mademoiselle. It is likewife extremely rude, not
to give the proper attention, and a civil anſwer, when people
ſpeak to you; or to go away, or be doing ſomething eſſe, while
they are ſpeaking to you; for that convinces them that you de-
ſpife them, and do not think it worth your while to hear or
anſwer what they ſay. I dare ſay I need not tell you how rude
it is, to take the beſt place in a room, or to ſeize immediatly upon
what you like at table, without offering firſt to help others; as
if you confidered nobody but yourſelf. On the contrary, you
ſhould always endeavour to procure all the conveniencies you can,
to the people you are with. Befides being civil, which is abfo-
lutely neceſſary, the perfection of good-breeding is, to be civil
with eafe, and in a gentleman-like manner. For this, you ſhould
obſerve the French people; who excel in it, and whole politeneſs
ſeems as eafy and natural as any other part of their converſation.
Whereas the English are often awkward in their civilities, and,
when they mean to be civil, are too much aſhamed to get it out.
But, pray, do you remember never to be aſhamed of doing what
is right: you would have a great deal of reaſon to be aſhamed, if
you were not civil; but what reaſon can you have to be aſhamed
of being civil? And why not ſay a civil and an obliging thing, as
eafly and as naturally, as you would aſſ what o'clock it is?
This kind of bathſfulneſs, which is juſtly called, by the French,

Vol. I.

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mauvaise

138 LORD CHESTERFIELD'S LETTERS

mauvais honte, is the distinguishing character of an English
booby; who is frightened out of his wits, when people of fashion
speak to him; and, when he is to anwer them, blufhes, stammers,
can hardly get out what he would say; and becomes really
ridiculous, from a groundleſs fear of being laughed at: whereas
a real well-bred man would speak to all the Kings in the world,
with as little concern, and as much ease, as he would speak
to you.

Remember, then, that to be civil, and to be civil with eafe
(which is properly called good-breeding) is the only way to be
beloved, and well received in company; that to be ill-bred, and
rude, is intolerable, and the way to be kicked out of company;
and that to be bafhful, is to be ridiculous. As I am furc you
will mind and praſtife all this, I expecſ that when you are
novennis, you will not only be the beſt scholar, but the beſt-bred
boy in England of your age. Adieu.

LETTER LVI.

Philippus Cheſterfield

Philippo Stanhope, adhuc puerulo, fed cras e pueritiâ egreſſuro.

S. D.

HANC ultimam ad te, uti ad puerum, epiftolam mitto;
cras enim, ni fallor, fies novennis, ita, ut abhinc mihi
tecum, quaſi cum adolescentulo agendum erit. Alia enim nune
ratio vitæ, et ſtudiorum tibi ſuſcipienda eſt; levitas et nugæ pue-
riles relinquendæ ſunt, animuſque ad feria intendendus eſt. Quæ
enim puerum decebant, adolescentulo dedecori eſſent. Quare
omnibus viribus tibi enitendum eſt, ut te alium præbeas, et ut
eruditione,

TO HIS SON.

139

eruditione, moribus, et urbanitate, aliifque animi dotibus, adolescen-
tulos ejuſdem ætatis, æque ſuperes, ac jam puerulus puerulos tui
temporis ſuperâſti. Tecum obſero reputa, quantum tibi eru-
becendum foret, ſi te nunc vinci patiaris, ab iis, quos adhuc
vicifiti. Exempli gratiâ: ſi adolescentulus Onflow ſcholæ Weſt-
monaſterienſis nunc alumnus, olim ſodalis tuus, et novennis æque ac
tu, ſi ille, inquam, locum tibi ſuperiorem in ſcholâ meritò obti-
neret, quid ageres, rogo? Quò tenderes? illinc enim diſcedendum
foret, ubi cum dignitate manere non poſſes? Quare ſi tibi ſama
apud omnes, et gratia apud me, curæ eſt, fac omni ſtudio et
labore, ut adolescentulorum eruditorum facile princeps meritò
dici poſſis. Sic te ſervet Pater Omnipotens, tibi detque ut omni-
bus ornatus excellas rebus. Addam etiam, quod Horatius Ti-
bullo ſuo optat, ut:

Gratia, ſama, valetudo contingat abundè;
Et mundus viétus, non deficiente crumenâ!

Kalend. Maii 1741.

Vale.

TRANSLATION.

Philip Cheſterfield

To Philip Stanhope, yet a little Boy; but to-morrow going out
of Childhood.

THIS is the laſt letter I ſhall write to you as to a little boy;
for, to-morrow, if I am not miftaken, you will attain
your ninth year; ſo that, for the future, I ſhall treat you as a
youth. You muſt now commence a different courſe of life, a
different courſe of ſtudies. No more levity: chilſh toys and
play-things muſt be thrown aſide, and your mind directed to ſerious
objects. What was not unbecoming of a child, would be dif-

T 2

graceful

140 LORD CHESTERFIELD'S LETTERS

graceful to a youth. Wherefore, endeavour, with all your might,
to show a suitable change; and, by learning, good manners,
politeness, and other accomplishments, to surpasf those youths
of your own age, whom hitherto you have surpafied when boys.
Confider, I intreat you, how fthameful it would be for you,
should you let them get the better of you now. For inflance;
should Onflow, now a Westminfter scholar, heretofore your
 companion, and a youth of nine years old, as you are; should he,
I fay, defervedly obtain a place in schoof above you, what would
you do? where would you run to hide yourfelf? You would cer-
tainly be glad to quit a place where you could not remain with
honneur. If, therefore, you have any regard for your own reputa-
tion, and a defire to pleafe me, fee that, by unremitting atten-
tion and labour, you may, with juſtice, be flyled the head of
your clafs. So may the Almighty preferve you, and beſtow up-
on you his choiceſt bleſſings. I ftiall add what Horace withſes for
his Tibullus:

Gratia, fama, valetudo contingat abunde;
Et mundus victus, non deficiente crumenā!


Kalends of May, 1741.

LETTER LVII.

DEAR BOY,

Bruffels, May the 19th, 1741.

I
Believe we are yet well enough together for you to be glad to
hear of my safe arrival on this side of the water, which I crofted
in four hours time from Dover to Calais. By the way, Calais was
the laft town that the English kept in France, after it was con-
quered by Henry V; and it was yielded up to France in the
reign

6

TO HIS SON.

141

reign of the popifh Queen Mary, daughter to Henry VIII.
From Calais I went to Dunkirk, which belonged formerly to the
Spaniards, and was taken by Oliver Cromwell; but afterwards
fhamefully fold to France, by King Charles II. From Dunkirk
I went to Lifle, which is a very great, rich, and ftrong town, be-
longing to France, and the chief town of French Flanders.
From Lifle I came to Ghent, which is the capital of that part of
Flanders that belongs to the Queen of Hungary, as heirefs of the
houfe of Aufftria. It is a very large town, but neither rich nor
ftrong. The Emperor Charles V. was born there, and his statue
is upon a pillar in the middle of a great square. From Lifle, I
came here to Bruffels, which is the chief town of Brabant, and a
very fine one. Here the beſt camlets are made, and moſt of the
fine laces that you fee worn in England. You may follow me
through this journey upon your map; till you take it, fome time
hence, in reality.

I expeſt you to make prodigious improvements in your learn-
ing, by the time I fee you again; for now, that you are paſt nine
years old, you have no time to loſe; and I wait with impatience
for a good account of you from Mr. Maittaire: I dare not
buy any thing for you till then, for fear I should be obliged to
keep it myfelf. But if I should have a very good account, there
ſhall be very good rewards brought over. Adieu !

Make my compliments to your Mamma; and, when you write
to me, ſend your letters to my houſe in town.

LETTER

142 LORD CHESTERFIELD'S LETTERS

LETTER LVIII.

MON CHER ENFANT,

A Aix-la-Chapelle, 8 Juin N. S.

ME voici à Aix-la-Chapelle depuis quatre jours, d'où je prends, la liberté de vous affurer de mes refpeets; ne doutant pas que vous n'aiez la bonté de me pardonner fi je vous impor- tune trop fouvent par mes lettres. Je fais combien votre tems eft précieux, et que vous l'emploiez fi utilement que je me ferois confiance d'interrompre le cours de vos études, que vous pour- fuivez, fans doute, avec tant de fuccès et d'attention. Mais raillerie àpart, j'efpere que vous apprenez comme il faut, et que Monfieur Maittaire eft très content de vous, car autrement je vous affure que je ferai très mécontent.

A propos d'apprendre; je vous dirai, que j'ai vu à Bruxelles un petit garçon à peu près de votre age, le fils du Comte de l'An- noy, qui savoit le Latin parfaitement bien, jouoit la comédie, et déclamoit la tragédie Françoife dans la dernière perfection. Mais c'eft qu'il s'appliquoit, et retenoit ce qu'il avoit une fois appris. De plus il étoit très poli; et dans une compagnie nombreufe, qu'il ne connoiffoit pas, il n'étoit point du tout déconcerté, mais par- loit et répondoit à un chacun, avec manieres et aifance.

Cette ville ici eft aſſez grande, mais aſſez mauvaiſe, elle s'appelle en Latin *Aquiſgranum*, c'eſt la première ville Imperiale et libre de tout l'Empire, c'eſt à dire qu'elle eſt gouvernée par ſes propres Magiftrats, qu'elle choifit elle même, et qu'elle a ſes droits aux quels l'Empereur ne peut pas donner atteinte. Charlemagne y fut couronné Empereur l'an 800 et l'on montre encore ici, dans l'eglise cathédrale, la couronne dont il fut couronné. Elle n'eſt d'ailleurs fameuſe que par ſes eaux minérales, qui y attirent beau- coup

TO HIS SON.

143

coup de monde : elles font fort chaudes et fort dégoutantes, ſen- tant les œufs pourris.

Les villes Impériales ont voix à la Diéte de l'Empire, qui ſe tient à Ratiſbonne, c'eſt à dire à l'Aſſemblée de l'Empire : c'eſt là ou les Electeurs, les Princes, et les villes Imperiales envoient leurs Députés pour régler les affaires de l'Empire, conjointement avec l'Empereur; comme notre Parlement fait en Angleterre. De forte, que vous voiez, que l'Empire d'Allemagne eſt un Etat libre, dans lequel aucune loi ne peut être faite fans le confentement de l'Empereur, des Electeurs, des Princes Souverains et des villes Im- périales. Il eſt bon que vous fachiez les différentes formes de gouvernement, des différens païs de l'Europe; et quand vous lifez leurs hiftoires faites y une attention particulière. Adieu pour cette fois.

TRANSLATION.

Aix-la-Chapelle, June the 8th, N. S.

MY DEAR CHILD,

IT is now four days since I arrived here, at Aix-la-Chapelle; from whence I take the liberty of affuring you of my refpeets; not doubting but you will be so good to forgive me, if I impor- tune you too often with my letters. I know your time is valu- able; and am ſenſible, that it would be pity to interrupt the courſe of your ſtudies, which I do not queſtion but you purſue with great ſucces and attention. However, fetting aſide all raillery, I hope you learn as you ought; and that Mr. Maittaire is ſatisfied; otherwife, I can aſſure you, that I ſhall be very much diſſatisfied.

*A propos of learning; I muſt tell you, that I have ſeen, at Brusſels, a little boy, of about your age; he is ſon to Comte de l'Annoy: he knows Latin perſectly; he plays in comedy; and declaims in French tragedy moſt exquifitely well: but this is*

beaſuſe.

2

LORD CHESTERFIELD'S LETTERS

144

because he applies, and retains whatever he has once learned. Besides all this, he is very polite; and, in the midst of a numerous company, whom he did not know, he was not in the least diffeconcerted; but spoke, and answered each person, with good manners, and with cafe.

This town is large, but rather ugly; it is called in Latin *Aquif-granum*. It is the first Imperial and free city of the Empire; and as such, has the privilege of chusing its own Magistrates; is governed by them; and is in possession of other rights, that can-not be infringed by the Emperor. In the year 800, Charle-magne was here crowned Emperor; and the crown, used in that ceremony, is still shown in the cathedral of this place. It is not famous for any thing but its mineral waters; which occa-sion a great resort of people: they are very heating, and dif-agreeable to the taste, having the favour of rotten eggs.

The Imperial towns have a voice at the Diet of the Empire, that is held at Ratisbon; which is the Assembly of the Empire: thither the Electors, Princes, and Imperial towns, send their Deputies, to settle the affairs of the Empire, jointly with the Emperor; as our Parliament does in England. By this you may see that the Empire of Germany is a free State; in which no law can be made without the consent of the Emperor, the Electors, the Sovereign Princes, and the Imperial towns. You ought to know the different forms of government of the different coun-tries in Europe; and, when you read the histories of them, be-flow a particular attention upon that circumstance. Adieu, for this time.

LETTER

TO HIS SON,

145

LETTER LIX.

DEAR BOY,

Spa, the 25th July, N. S. 1741.

I Have often told you in my former letters (and it is most certainly true) that the firstest and most serpulous honour, and virtue, can alone make you esteemed and valued by mankind; that parts and learning can alone make you admired and celebrated by them; but that the possession of lesser talents was most absolutely necessary, towards making you liked, beloved, and fought after in private life. Of these lesser talents, good-breeding is the principal and most necessary one, not only as it is very important in itself; but as it adds great luftre to the more solid advantages both of the heart and the mind. I have often touched upon good-breeding to you before; so that this letter shall be upon the next necessary qualification to it, which is a genteel, easy manner, and carriage, wholly free from those odd tricks, ill habits, and awkwardness, which even many very worthy and senible people have in their behaviour. However trifling a genteel manner may found, it is of very great consequence towards pleasing in private life, especially the women; which, one time or other, you will think worth pleasing: and I have known many a man, from his awkwardness, give people such a dislike of him at first, that all his merit could not get the better of it afterwards. Whereas a genteel manner prepossesses people in your favour, bends them towards you, and makes them with you to like you. Awkwardness can proceed but from two causes; either from not having kept good company, or from not having attended to it. As for your keeping good company, I will take care of that; do you take care to observe their ways and manners, and to form your own upon

VOL. I.

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them.