<p><SPAN name="link2H_4_0047" id="link2H_4_0047"></SPAN></p>
<h2> LETTER XLV </h2>
<h3> LONDON, July, 20, O. S. 1748 </h3>
<p>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>
<p>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.</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>Make my compliments to Mr. Harte, at whose recovery I rejoice.</p>
<div style="break-after:column;"></div><br />
1 of 2
2 of 2
Previous
Next
Update Required
To play the media you will need to either update your browser to a recent version or update your Flash plugin.