letters to his son, 1752-第13部分

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；　when　wishes；　hopes；　fears；　and　doubts；　tumultuously　agitate；　please；　and　terrify　her。　　It　is　your　first　crisis：　the　character　which　you　will　acquire　there　will；　more　or　less；　be　that　which　will　abide　by　you　for　the　rest　of　your　life。　　You　will　be　tried　and　judged　there；　not　as　a　boy；　but　as　a　man；　and　from　that　moment　there　is　no　appeal　for　character；　it　is　fixed。　　To　form　that　character　advantageously；　you　have　three　objects　particularly　to　attend　to：　your　character　as　a　man　of　morality；　truth；　and　honor；　your　knowledge　in　the　objects　of　your　destination；　as　a　man　of　business；　and　your　engaging　and　insinuating　address；　air　and　manners；　as　a　courtier；　the　sure　and　only　steps　to　favor。

Merit　at　courts；　without　favor；　will　do　little　or　nothing；　favor；　without　merit；　will　do　a　good　deal；　but　favor　and　merit　together　will　do　everything。　　Favor　at　courts　depends　upon　so　many；　such　trifling；　such　unexpected；　and　unforeseen　events；　that　a　good　courtier　must　attend　to　every　circumstance；　however　little；　that　either　does；　or　can　happen；　he　must　have　no　absences；　no　DISTRACTIONS；　he　must　not　say；　〃I　did　not　mind　it；　who　would　have　thought　it？〃　　He　ought　both　to　have　minded；　and　to　have　thought　it。　　A　chamber…maid　has　sometimes　caused　revolutions　in　courts　which　have　produced　others　in　kingdoms。　　Were　I　to　make　my　way　to　favor　in　a　court；　I　would　neither　willfully；　nor　by　negligence；　give　a　dog　or　a　cat　there　reason　to　dislike　me。　　Two　'pies　grieches'；　well　instructed；　you　know；　made　the　fortune　of　De　Luines　with　Lewis　XIII。　Every　step　a　man　makes　at　court　requires　as　much　attention　and　circumspection；　as　those　which　were　made　formerly　between　hot　plowshares；　in　the　Ordeal；　or　fiery　trials；　which；　in　those　times　of　ignorance　and　superstition；　were　looked　upon　as　demonstrations　of　innocence　or　guilt。　Direct　your　principal　battery；　at　Hanover；　at　the　D　of　N　's：　there　are　many　very　weak　places　in　that　citadel；　where；　with　a　very　little　skill；　you　cannot　fail　making　a　great　impression。　　Ask　for　his　orders　in　everything　you　do；　talk　Austrian　and　Anti…gallican　to　him；　and；　as　soon　as　you　are　upon　a　foot　of　talking　easily　to　him；　tell　him　'en　badinant'；　that　his　skill　and　success　in　thirty　or　forty　elections　in　England　leave　you　no　reason　to　doubt　of　his　carrying　his　election　for　Frankfort；　and　that　you　look　upon　the　Archduke　as　his　Member　for　the　Empire。　　In　his　hours　of　festivity　and　compotation；　drop　that　he　puts　you　in　mind　of　what　Sir　William　Temple　says　of　the　Pensionary　De　Witt；who　at　that　time　governed　half　Europe；that　he　appeared　at　balls；　assemblies；　and　public　places；　as　if　he　had　nothing　else　to　do　or　to　think　of。　　When　he　talks　to　you　upon　foreign　affairs；　which　he　will　often　do；　say　that　you　really　cannot　presume　to　give　any　opinion　of　your　own　upon　those　matters；　looking　upon　yourself　at　present　only　as　a　postscript　to　the　corps　diplomatique；　but　that；　if　his　Grace　will　be　pleased　to　make　you　an　additional　volume　to　it；　though　but　in　duodecimo；　you　will　do　your　best　that　he　shall　neither　be　ashamed　nor　repent　of　it。　　He　loves　to　have　a　favorite；　and　to　open　himself　to　that　favorite。　　He　has　now　no　such　person　with　him；　the　place　is　vacant；　and　if　you　have　dexterity　you　may　fill　it。　　In　one　thing　alone　do　not　humor　him；　I　mean　drinking；　for；　as　I　believe；　you　have　never　yet　been　drunk；　you　do　not　yourself　know　how　you　can　bear　your　wine；　and　what　a　little　too　much　of　it　may　make　you　do　or　say；　you　might　possibly　kick　down　all　you　had　done　before。

You　do　not　love　gaming；　and　I　thank　God　for　it；　but　at　Hanover　I　would　have　you　show；　and　profess　a　particular　dislike　to　play；　so　as　to　decline　it　upon　all　occasions；　unless　where　one　may　be　wanted　to　make　a　fourth　at　whist　or　quadrille　；　and　then　take　care　to　declare　it　the　result　of　your　complaisance；　not　of　your　inclinations。　　Without　such　precaution　you　may　very　possibly　be　suspected；　though　unjustly；　of　loving　play；　upon　account　of　my　former　passion　for　it；　and　such　a　suspicion　would　do　you　a　great　deal　of　hurt；　especially　with　the　King；　who　detests　gaming。　　I　must　end　this　abruptly。　　God　bless　you！




LETTER　CLXXII

MY　DEAR　FRIEND：　Versatility　as　a　courtier　may　be　almost　decisive　to　you　hereafter；　that　is；　it　may　conduce　to；　or　retard　your　preferment　in　your　own　destination。　　The　first　reputation　goes　a　great　way；　and　if　you　fix　a　good　one　at　Hanover；　it　will　operate　also　to　your　advantage　in　England。　The　trade　of　a　courtier　is　as　much　a　trade　as　that　of　a　shoemaker；　and　he　who　applies　himself　the　most；　will　work　the　best：　the　only　difficulty　is　to　distinguish　（what　I　am　sure　you　have　sense　enough　to　distinguish）　between　the　right　and　proper　qualifications　and　their　kindred　faults；　for　there　is　but　a　line　between　every　perfection　and　its　neighboring　imperfection。　　As；　for　example；　you　must　be　extremely　well…bred　and　polite；　but　without　the　troublesome　forms　and　stiffness　of　ceremony。　　You　must　be　respectful　and　assenting；　but　without　being　servile　and　abject。　You　must　be　frank；　but　without　indiscretion；　and　close；　without　being　costive。　　You　must　keep　up　dignity　of　character；　without　the　least　pride　of　birth　or　rank。　　You　must　be　gay　within　all　the　bounds　of　decency　and　respect；　and　grave　without　the　affectation　of　wisdom；　which　does　not　become　the　age　of　twenty。　　You　must　be　essentially　secret；　without　being　dark　and　mysterious。　　You　must　be　firm；　and　even　bold；　but　with　great　seeming　modesty。

With　these　qualifications；　which；　by　the　way；　are　all　in　your　own　power；　I　will　answer　for　your　success；　not　only　at　Hanover；　but　at　any　court　in　Europe。　　And　I　am　not　sorry　that　you　begin　your　apprenticeship　at　a　little　one；　because　you　must　be　more　circumspect；　and　more　upon　your　guard　there；　than　at　a　great　one；　where　every　little　thing　is　not　known　nor　reported。

When　you　write　to　me；　or　to　anybody　else；　from　thence；　take　care　that　your　letters　contain　commendations　of　all　that　you　see　and　hear　there；　for　they　will　most　of　them　be　opened　and　read；　but；　as　frequent　couriers　will　come　from　Hanover　to　England；　you　may　sometimes　write　to　me　without　reserve；　and　put　your　letters　into　a　very　little　box；　which　you　may　send　safely　by　some　of　them。

I　must　not　omit　mentioning　to　you；　that　at　the　Duke　of　Newcastle's　table；　where　you　will　frequently　dine；　there　is　a　great　deal　of　drinking；　be　upon　your　guard　against　it；　both　upon　account　of　your　health；　which　would　not　bear　it；　and　of　the　consequences　of　your　being　flustered　and　heated　with　wine：　it　might　engage　you　in　scrapes　and　frolics；　which　the　King　（who　is　a　very　sober　man　himself）　detests。　　On　the　other　hand；　you　should　not　seem　too　grave　and　too　wise　to　drink　like　the　rest　of　the　company；　therefore　use　art：　mix　water　with　your　wine；　do　not　drink　all　that　is　in　the　glass；　and　if　detected；　and　pressed　to　drink　more　do　not　cry　out　sobriety；　but　say　that　you　have　lately　been　out　of　order；　that　you　are　subject　to　inflammatory　complaints；　and　that　you　must　beg　to　be　excused　for　the　present。　　A　young　fellow　ought　to　be　wiser　than　he　should　seem　to　be；　and　an　old　fellow　ought　to　seem　wise　whether　he　really'　be　so　or　not。

During　your　stay　at　Hanover　I　would　have　you　make　two　or　three　excursions　to　parts　of　that　Electorate：　the　Hartz；　where　the　silver　mines　are；　Gottingen；　for　the　University；　Stade；　for　what　commerce　there　is。　　You　should　also　go　to　Zell。　　In　short；　see　everything　that　is　to　be　seen　there；　and　inform　yourself　well　of　all　the　details　of　that　country。　　Go　to　Hamburg　for　three　or　four　days；　and　know　the　constitution　of　that　little　Hanseatic　Republic；　and　inform　yourself　well　of　the　nature　of　the　King　of　Denmark's　pretensions　to　it。

If　all　things　turn　out　right　for　you　at　Hanover；　I　would　have　you　make　it　your　head…quarters；　till　about　a　week　or　ten　days　before　the　King　leaves　it；　and　then　go　to　Brunswick；　which；　though　a　little；　is　a　very　polite；　pretty　court。　　You　may　stay　there　a　fortnight　or　three　weeks；　as　you　like　it；　and　from　thence　go　to　Cassel；　and　stay　there　till　you　go　to　Berlin；　where　I　would　have　you　be　by　Christmas。　　At　Hanover　you　will　very　easily　get　good　letters　of　recommendation　to　Brunswick　and　to　Cassel。　　You　do　not　want　any　to　Berlin；　however；　I　will　send　you　one　for　Voltaire。　'A　propos'　of　Berlin；　be　very　reserved　and　cautious　while　at　Hanover；　as　to　that　King　and　that　country；　both　which　are　detested；　because　feared　by　everybody　there；　from　his　Majesty　down　to　the　meanest　peasant；　but；　however；　they　both　extremely　deserve　your　utmost　attention　and　you　will　see　the　arts　and　wisdom　of　government　better　in　that　country；　now；　than　in　any　other　in　Europe。　　You　may　stay　three　months　at　Berlin；　if　you　like　it；　as　I　believe　you　will；　and　after　that　I　hope　we　shall　meet　there　again。

Of　all　the　places　in　the　world　（I　repeat　it　once　more）；　establish　a　good　reputation　at　Hanover；　'et　faites　vous　valoir　la；　autant　qu'il　est　possible；　par　le　brillant；　les　manieres；　et　les　graces'。　　Indeed　it　is　of　the　greatest　importance　to　you；　and　will　make　any　future　application　to　the　King　in　your　behalf　very　easy。　　He　is　more　taken　by　those　little　things；　than　any　man；　or　even　woman；　that　I　ever　knew　in　my　life：　and　I　do　not　wonder　at　him。　　In　short；　exert　to　the　utmost　all　your　means　and　powers　to　please：　and　remember　that　he　who　pleases　the　most；　will　rise　the　soonest　and　the　highest。　　Try　but　once　the　pleasure　and　advantage　of　pleasing；　and　I　will　answer　that　you　will　never　more　neglect　the　means。

I　send　you　herewith　two　letters；　the　one　to　Monsieur　Munchausen；　the　other　to　Monsieur　Schweigeldt；　an　old　friend　of　mine；　and　a　very　sensible　knowing　man。　　They　will　both　I　am　sure；　be　extremely　civil　to　you；　and　carry　you　into　the　best　company　；　and　then　it　is　your　business　to　please　that　company。　　I　never　was　more　anxious　about　any　period　of　your　life；　than　I　am　about　this；　your　Hanover　expedition；　it　being　of　so　much　more　consequence　to　you　than　any　other。　　If　I　hear　from　thence；　that　you　are　liked　and　loved　there；　for　your　air；　your　manners；　and　address；　as　well　as　esteemed　for　your　knowledge；　I　shall　be　the　happiest　man　in　the　world。　Judge　then　what　I　must　be；　if　it　happens　otherwise。　　Adieu。




LETTER　CLXXIII

LONDON；　July　21；　O。　S。　　1752

MY　DEAR　FRIEND：　By　my　calculation　this　letter　may　probably　arrive　at　H