letters to his son, 1752-第13节
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r the Marechal d'Harcourt Comte d'Harrach。 The Comte d'Estrades had； by 'ses manieres polies et liantes'； formed such connections； and gained such an interest in the republic of the United Provinces； that Monsieur De Witt； the then Pensionary of Holland； often applied to him to use his interest with his friend； both in Holland and the other provinces； whenever he （De Witt） had a difficult point which he wanted to carry。 This was certainly not brought about by his knowledge of books； but of men： dancing； fencing； and riding； with a little military architecture； were no doubt the top of his education； and if he knew that 'collegium' in Latin signified college in French； it must have been by accident。 But he knew what was more useful： from thirteen years old he had been in the great world； and had read men and women so long； that he could then read them at sight。
Talking the other day； upon this and other subjects； all relative to you； with one who knows and loves you very well； and expressing my anxiety and wishes that your exterior accomplishments； as a man of fashion； might adorn； and at least equal your intrinsic merit as a man of sense and honor； the person interrupted me； and said： Set your heart at rest； that never will or can happen。 It is not in character； that gentleness； that 'douceur'； those attentions which you wish him to have； are not in his nature； and do what you will； nay； let him do what he will； he can never acquire them。 Nature may be a little disguised and altered by care； but can by no means whatsoever be totally forced and changed。 I denied this principle to a certain degree； but admitting； however； that in many respects our nature was not to be changed； and asserting； at the same time； that in others it might by care be very much altered and improved； so as in truth to be changed； that I took those exterior accomplishments； which we had been talking of； to be mere modes； and absolutely depending upon the will； and upon custom； and that； therefore； I was convinced that your good sense； which must show you the importance of them； would make you resolve at all events to acquire them； even in spite of nature； if nature be in the case。 Our dispute； which lasted a great while； ended as Voltaire observes that disputes in England are apt to do； in a wager of fifty guineas； which I myself am to decide upon honor； and of which this is a faithful copy。 If you think I shall win it； you may go my halves if you please； declare yourself in time。 This I declare； that I would most cheerfully give a thousand guineas to win those fifty； you may secure them me if you please。
I grow very impatient for your future letters from the several courts of Manheim； Bonn； Hanover； etc。 And I desire that your letters may be to me； what I do not desire they should be to anybody else； I mean full of yourself。 Let the egotism； a figure which upon all other occasions I detest； be your only one to me。 Trifles that concern you are not trifles to me； and my knowledge of them may possibly be useful to you。 Adieu。 'Les graces； les graces； les graces'。
LETTER CLXX
LONDON； June 23； O。 S。 1752
MY DEAR FRIEND： I direct this letter to Mayence； where I think it is likely to meet you； supposing； as I do； that you stayed three weeks at Manheim； after the date of your last from thence； but should you have stayed longer at Manheim； to which I have no objection； it will wait for you at Mayence。 Mayence will not； I believe； have charms to detain you above a week； so that I reckon you will be at Bonn at the end of July； N。 S。 There you may stay just as little or as long as you please； and then proceed to Hanover。
I had a letter by the last post from a relation of mine at Hanover； Mr。 Stanhope Aspinwall； who is in the Duke of Newcastle's office； and has lately been appointed the King's Minister to the Dey of Algiers； a post which； notwithstanding your views of foreign affairs； I believe you do not envy him。 He tells me in that letter； there are very good lodgings to be had at one Mrs。 Meyers's； the next door to the Duke of Newcastle's； which he offers to take for you； I have desired him to do it； in case Mrs。 Meyers will wait for you till the latter end of August； or the beginning of September； N。 S。； which I suppose is about the time when you will be at Hanover。 You will find this Mr。 Aspinwall of great use to you there。 He will exert himself to the utmost to serve you； he has been twice or thrice at Hanover； and knows all the allures there： he is very well with the Duke of Newcastle； and will puff you there。 Moreover； if you have a mind to work there as a volunteer in that bureau； he will assist and inform you。 In short； he is a very honest； sensible； and informed man； 'mais me paye pas beaucoup de sa figure； il abuse meme du privilege qu'ont les hommes d'etre laids； et il ne sera pas en reste avec les lions et les leopards qu'il trouvera a Alger'。
As you are entirely master of the time when you will leave Bonn and go to Hanover； so are you master to stay at Hanover as long as you please； and to go from thence where you please； provided that at Christmas you are at Berlin； for the beginning of the Carnival： this I would not have you say at Hanover； considering the mutual disposition of those two courts； but when anybody asks you where you are to go next； say that you propose rambling in Germany； at Brunswick； Cassel； etc。； till the next spring； when you intend to be in Flanders； in your way to England。 I take Berlin； at this time； to be the politest； the most shining； and the most useful court in Europe for a young fellow to be at： and therefore I would upon no account not have you there； for at least a couple of months of the Carnival。 If you are as well received； and pass your time as well at Bonn as I believe you will； I would advise you to remain there till about the 20th of August； N。 S。； in four days you will be at Hanover。 As for your stay there； it must be shorter or longer； according to certain circumstances WHICH YOU KNOW OF； supposing them； at the best； then； stay within a week or ten days of the King's return to England； but supposing them at the worst； your stay must not be too short； for reasons which you also know； no resentment must either appear or be suspected； therefore； at worst； I think you must remain there a month； and at best； as long as ever you please。 But I am convinced that all will turn out very well for you there。 Everybody is engaged or inclined to help you； the ministers； English and German； the principal ladies； and most of the foreign ministers； so that I may apply to you； 'nullum numen abest； si sit prudentia'。 Du Perron will； I believe； be back there from Turin much about the time you get there： pray be very attentive to him； and connect yourself with him as much as ever you can； for； besides that he is a very pretty and well…informed man； he is very much in fashion at Hanover； is personally very well with the King and certain ladies； so that a visible intimacy and connection with him will do you credit and service。 Pray cultivate Monsieur Hop； the Dutch minister； who has always been very much my friend； and will； I am sure； be yours； his manners； it is true； are not very engaging； he is rough； but he is sincere。 It is very useful sometimes to see the things which one ought to avoid； as it is right to see very often those which one ought to imitate； and my friend Hop's manners will frequently point out to you； what yours ought to be by the rule of contraries。
Congreve points out a sort of critics； to whom he says that we are doubly obliged：
〃Rules for good writing they with pains indite； Then show us what is bad； by what they write。〃
It is certain that Monsieur Hop； with the best heart in the world； and a thousand good qualities； has a thousand enemies； and hardly a friend； simply from the roughness of his manners。
N。 B。 I heartily wish you could have stayed long enough at Manheim to have been seriously and desperately in love with Madame de Taxis； who； I suppose； is a proud； insolent； fine lady； and who would consequently have expected attentions little short of adoration： nothing would do you more good than such a passion； and I live in hopes that somebody or other will be able to excite such an one in you； your hour may not yet be come； but it will come。 Love has not been unaptly compared to the smallpox which most people have sooner or later。 Iphigenia had a wonderful effect upon Cimon； I wish some Hanover Iphigenia may try her skill upon you。
I recommend to you again； though I have already done it twice or thrice； to speak German； even affectedly； while you are at Hanover； which will show that you prefer that language； and be of more use to you there with SOMEBODY； than you can imagine。 When you carry my letters to Monsieur Munchausen and Monsieur Schwiegeldt； address yourself to them in German； the latter speaks French very well； but the former extremely ill。 Show great attention to Madame； Munchausen's daughter； who is a great favorite； those little trifles please mothers； and sometimes fathers； extremely。 Observe； and you will find； almost universally； that the least things either please or displease most； because they necessarily
