letters to his son, 1752-第14章
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d not advise you； though you should be of the same opinion； to declare yourself too freely so。 Could the Elector Palatine be satisfied； which I confess will be difficult； considering the nature of his pretensions； the tenaciousness and haughtiness of the court of Vienna （and our inability to do； as we have too often done； their work for them）； I say； if the Elector Palatine could be engaged to give his vote； I should think it would be right to proceed to the election with a clear majority of five votes； and leave the King of Prussia and the Elector of Cologne； to protest and remonstrate as much as ever they please。 The former is too wise； and the latter too weak in every respect； to act in consequence of these protests。 The distracted situation of France； with its ecclesiastical and parliamentary quarrels； not to mention the illness and possibly the death of the Dauphin； will make the King of Prussia； who is certainly no Frenchman in his heart； very cautious how he acts as one。 The Elector of Saxony will be influenced by the King of Poland； who must be determined by Russia； considering his views upon Poland； which； by the by； I hope he will never obtain； I mean； as to making that crown hereditary in his family。 As for his sons having it by the precarious tenure of election； by which his father now holds it； 'a la bonne heure'。 But； should Poland have a good government under hereditary kings； there would be a new devil raised in Europe； that I do not know who could lay。 I am sure I would not raise him； though on my own side for the present。
I do not know how I came to trouble my head so much about politics today； which has been so very free from them for some years： I suppose it was because I knew that I was writing to the most consummate politician of this； and his age。 If I err； you will set me right； 'si quid novisti rectius istis； candidus imperti'； etc。
I am excessively impatient for your next letter； which I expect by the first post from Hanover； to remove my anxiety； as I hope it will； not only with regard to your health； but likewise to OTHER THINGS； in the meantime in the language of a pedant； but with the tenderness of a parent； 'jubeo te bene valere'。
Lady Chesterfield makes you many compliments； and is much concerned at your indisposition。
LETTER CLXXV
TO MONSIEUR DE VOLTAIRE； NOW STAYING AT BERLIN。
LONDON； August 27； O。 S。 1752。
SIR： As a most convincing proof how infinitely I am interested in everything which concerns Mr。 Stanhope； who will have the honor of presenting you this letter； I take the liberty of introducing him to you。 He has read a great deal； he has seen a great deal； whether or not he has made a proper use of that knowledge； is what I do not know： he is only twenty years of age。 He was at Berlin some years ago； and therefore he returns thither； for at present people are attracted toward the north by the same motives which but lately drew them to the south。
Permit me； Sir； to return you thanks for the pleasure and instruction I have received from your 'History of Lewis XIV'。 I have as yet read it but four times； because I wish to forget it a little before I read it a fifth； but I find that impossible： I shall therefore only wait till you give us the augmentation which you promised； let me entreat you not to defer it long。 I thought myself pretty conversant in the history of the reign of Lewis XIV。； by means of those innumerable histories； memoirs； anecdotes； etc。； which I had read relative to that period of time。 You have convinced me that I was mistaken； and had upon that subject very confused ideas in many respects； and very false ones in others。 Above all； I cannot but acknowledge the obligation we have to you； Sir； for the light which you have thrown upon the follies and outrages of the different sects； the weapons you employ against those madmen； or those impostors； are the only suitable ones； to make use of any others would be imitating them： they must be attacked by ridicule； and； punished with contempt。 'A propos' of those fanatics； I send you here inclosed a piece upon that subject； written by the late Dean Swift： I believe you will not dislike it。 You will easily guess why it never was printed： it is authentic； and I have the original in his own handwriting。 His ；Jupiter； at the Day of judgment； treats them much as you do； and as they deserve to be treated。
Give me leave； Sir； to tell you freely； that I am embarrassed upon your account； as I cannot determine what it is that I wish from you。 When I read your last history； I am desirous that you should always write history； but when I read your 'Rome Sauvee' （although ill…printed and disfigured）； yet I then wish you never to deviate from poetry； however； I confess that there still remains one history worthy of your pen； and of which your pen alone is worthy。 You have long ago given us the history of the greatest and most outrageous madman （I ask your pardon if I cannot say the greatest hero） of Europe； you have given us latterly the history of the greatest king； give us now the history of the greatest and most virtuous man in Europe； I should think it degrading to call him king。 To you this cannot be difficult； he is always before your eyes： your poetical invention is not necessary to his glory； as that may safely rely upon your historical candor。 The first duty of an historian is the only one he need require from his； 'Ne quid falsi dicere audeat； ne quid veri non audeat'。 Adieu； Sir！ I find that I must admire you every day more and more； but I also know that nothing ever can add to the esteem and attachment with which I am actually； your most humble and most obedient servant； CHESTERFIELD。
LETTER CLXXVI
LONDON； September 19； 1752；
MY DEAR FRIEND： Since you have been at Hanover； your correspondence has been both unfrequent and laconic。 You made indeed one great effort in folio on the 18th； with a postscript of the 22d August； N。 S。； and since that； 'vous avez rate in quarto'。 On the 3lst August； N。 S。； you give me no informations of what I want chiefly to know； which is； what Dr。 Hugo （whom I charged you to consult） said of your asthmatic complaint； and what he prescribed you to prevent the returns of it； and also what is the company that； you keep there； who has been kind and civil to you； and who not。
You say that you go constantly to the parade； and you do very well； for though you are not of that trade； yet military matters make so great a part both of conversation and negotiation； that it is very proper not to be ignorant of them。 I hope you mind more than the mere exercise of the troops you see； and that you inform yourself at the same time； of the more material details； such as their pay； and the difference of it when in and out of quarters； what is furnished them by the country when in quarters； and what is allowed them of ammunition； bread； etc。； when in the field； the number of men and officers in the several troops and companies； together with the non…commissioned officers； as 'caporals； frey…caporals； anspessades'； sergeants； quarter…masters； etc。； the clothing how frequent； how good； and how furnished； whether by the colonel； as here in England； from what we call the OFF…RECKONINGS； that is； deductions from the men's pay； or by commissaries appointed by the government for that purpose； as in France and Holland。 By these inquiries you will be able to talk military with military men； who； in every country in Europe； except England； make at least half of all the best companies。 Your attending the parades has also another good effect； which is； that it brings you； of course； acquainted with the officers； who； when of a certain rank and service； are generally very polite； well… bred people； 'et du bon ton'。 They have commonly seen a great deal of the world； and of courts； and nothing else can form a gentleman； let people say what they will of sense and learning； with both which a man may contrive to be a very disagreeable companion。 I dare say； there are very few captains of foot； who are not much better company than ever Descartes or Sir Isaac Newton were。 I honor and respect such superior geniuses； but I desire to converse with people of this world； who bring into company their share； at least； of cheerfulness； good…breeding； and knowledge of mankind。 In common life； one much oftener wants small money； and silver； than gold。 Give me a man who has ready cash about him for present expenses； sixpences； shillings； half…crowns； and crowns； which circulate easily： but a man who has only an ingot of gold about him； is much above common purposes； and his riches are not handy nor convenient。 Have as much gold as you please in one pocket； but take care always to keep change in the other； for you will much oftener have occasion for a shilling than for a guinea。 In this the French must be allowed to excel all people in the world： they have 'un certain entregent； un enjouement； un aimable legerete dans la conversation； une politesse aisee et naturelle； qui paroit ne leur rien couter'； which give society all its charms。 I am sorry to add； but it is too true； that the English and the Dutch are the farthest from this； of all the people in the world； I do by no means except even the Swiss。
Though you do not think proper to inform me； I know from other hands that you were to go to the Gohr with a Comte Schullemburg； for eight or ten days only； to see the reviews。 I know also that you had a blister upon your arm； which did you a great deal of good。 I know too； you have contracted a great friendship with Lord Essex； and that you two were inseparable at Hanover。 All these things I would rather have known from you than from others； and they are the sort of things that I am the most desirous of knowing； as they are more immediately relative to yourself。
I am very sorry for the Duchess of Newcastle's illness； full as much upon your as upon her account； as it has hindered you from being so much known to the Duke as I could have wished； use and habit going a great way with him； as indeed they do with most people。 I have known many people patronized； pushed up； and preferred by those who could have given no other reason for it； than that they were used to them。 We must never seek for motives by deep reasoning； but we must find them out by careful observation and attention； no matter what they should be； but the point is； what they are。 Trace them up； step by step； from the character of the person。 I have known 'de par le monde'； as Brantome says； great effects from causes too little ever to have been suspected。 Some things must be known； and can never be guessed。
God knows where this letter will find you； or follow you； not at Hanover； I suppose； but wherever it does； may it find you in health and pleasure！ Adieu。
LETTER CLXXVII
LONDON； September 22； O。 S。 1752
MY DEAR FRIEND： The day after the date of my last； I received your letter of the 8th。 I approve extremely of your intended progress； and am very glad that you go to the Gohr with Comte Schullemburg。 I would have you see everything with your own eyes； and hear everything with your own ears： for I know； by very long experience； that it is very unsafe to trust to other people's。 Vanity and interest cause
