letters to his son, 1749-第18节
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w a footing in Italy； whenever they can agree upon the division of the bear's skin。 Pray inform yourself thoroughly of the history of the popes and the popedom； which； for many centuries； is interwoven with the history of all Europe。 Read the best authors who treat of these matters； and especially Fra Paolo； 'De Beneficiis'； a short； but very material book。 You will find at Rome some of all the religious orders in the Christian world。 Inform yourself carefully of their origin； their founders； their rules； their reforms； and even their dresses： get acquainted with some of all of them； but particularly with the Jesuits； whose society I look upon to be the most able and best governed society in the world。 Get acquainted； if you can； with their General； who always resides at Rome； and who； though he has no seeming power out of his own society； has （it may be） more real influence over the whole world； than any temporal prince in it。 They have almost engrossed the education of youth； they are； in general； confessors to most of the princes of Europe； and they are the principal missionaries out of it； which three articles give them a most extensive influence and solid advantages； witness their settlement in Paraguay。 The Catholics in general declaim against that society； and yet are all governed by individuals of it。 They have； by turns； been banished； and with infamy； almost every country in Europe； and have always found means to be restored； even with triumph。 In short； I know no government in the world that is carried on upon such deep principles of policy； I will not add morality。 Converse with them； frequent them； court them； but know them。
Inform yourself； too； of that infernal court； the Inquisition； which； though not so considerable at Rome as in Spain and Portugal； will； however； be a good sample to you of what the villainy of some men can contrive； the folly of others receive； and both together establish； in spite of the first natural principles of reason； justice； and equity。
These are the proper and useful objects of the attention of a man of sense； when he travels； and these are the objects for which I have sent you abroad； and I hope you will return thoroughly informed of them。
I receive this very moment Mr。 Harte's letter of the 1st October； N。 S。； but I never received his former； to which he refers in this； and you refer in your last； in which he gave me the reasons for your leaving Verona so soon； nor have I ever received that letter in which your case was stated by your physicians。 Letters to and from me have worse luck than other people's； for you have written to me； and I to you； for these last three months； by way of Germany； with as little success as before。
I am edified with your morning applications； and your evening gallantries at Venice； of which Mr。 Harte gives me an account。 Pray go on with both there； and afterward at Rome； where； provided you arrive in the beginning of December； you may stay at Venice as much longer as you please。
Make my compliments to Sir James Gray and Mr。 Smith； with my acknowledgments for the great civilities they show you。
I wrote to Mr。 Harte by the last post； October the 6th； O。 S。； and will write to him in a post or two upon the contents of his last。 Adieu！ 'Point de distractions'； and remember the GRACES。
LETTER LXXXVI
LONDON； October 17； O。 S。 1749。
DEAR BOY： I have at last received Mr。 Harte's letter of the 19th September； N。 S。； from Verona。 Your reasons for leaving that place were very good ones； and as you stayed there long enough to see what was to be seen； Venice （as a capital） is； in my opinion； a much better place for your residence。 Capitals are always the seats of arts and sciences； and the best companies。 I have stuck to them all my lifetime； and I advise you to do so too。
You will have received in my three or four last letters my directions for your further motions to another capital； where I propose that your stay shall be pretty considerable。 The expense； I am well aware； will be so too； but that； as I told you before； will have no weight when your improvement and advantage are in the other scale。 I do not care a groat what it is； if neither vice nor folly are the objects of it； and if Mr。 Harte gives his sanction。
I am very well pleased with your account of Carniola； those are the kind of objects worthy of your inquiries and knowledge。 The produce； the taxes； the trade； the manufactures； the strength； the weakness； the government of the several countries which a man of sense travels through； are the material points to which he attends； and leaves the steeples； the market…places； and the signs； to the laborious and curious researches of Dutch and German travelers。
Mr。 Harte tells me； that he intends to give you； by means of Signor Vicentini； a general notion of civil and military architecture； with which I am very well pleased。 They are frequent subjects of conversation； and it is very right that you should have some idea of the latter； and a good taste of the former； and you may very soon learn as much as you need know of either。 If you read about one…third of Palladio's book of architecture with some skillful person； and then； with that person； examine the best buildings by those rules； you will know the different proportions of the different orders； the several diameters of their columns； their intercolumniations； their several uses； etc。 The Corinthian Order is chiefly used in magnificent buildings； where ornament and decoration are the principal objects； the Doric is calculated for strength； and the Ionic partakes of the Doric strength； and of the Corinthian ornaments。 The Composite and the Tuscan orders are more modern； and were unknown to the Greeks； the one is too light； the other too clumsy。 You may soon be acquainted with the considerable parts of civil architecture； and for the minute and mechanical parts of it； leave them to masons； bricklayers； and Lord Burlington； who has； to a certain extent； lessened himself by knowing them too well。 Observe the same method as to military architecture； understand the terms； know the general rules； and then see them in execution with some skillful person。 Go with some engineer or old officer； and view with care the real fortifications of some strong place； and you will get a clearer idea of bastions； half…moons； horn…works； ravelins； glacis； etc。； than all the masters in the world could give you upon paper。 And thus much I would； by all means； have you know of both civil and military architecture。
I would also have you acquire a liberal taste of the two liberal arts of painting and sculpture； but without descending into those minutia； which our modern virtuosi most affectedly dwell upon。 Observe the great parts attentively； see if nature be truly represented； if the passions are strongly expressed； if the characters are preserved； and leave the trifling parts； with their little jargon； to affected puppies。 I would advise you also； to read the history of the painters and sculptors； and I know none better than Felibien's。 There are many in Italian； you will inform yourself which are the best。 It is a part of history very entertaining； curious enough； and not quite useless。 All these sort of things I would have you know； to a certain degree； but remember； that they must only be the amusements； and not the business of a man of parts。
Since writing to me in German would take up so much of your time； of which I would not now have one moment wasted； I will accept of your composition； and content myself with a moderate German letter once a fortnight； to Lady Chesterfield or Mr。 Gravenkop。 My meaning was only that you should not forget what you had already learned of the German language and character； but； on the contrary； that by frequent use it should grow more easy and familiar。 Provided you take care of that； I do not care by what means： but I do desire that you will every day of your life speak German to somebody or other （for you will meet with Germans enough）； and write a line or two of it every day to keep your hand in。 Why should you not （for instance） write your little memorandums and accounts in that language and character？ by which； too； you would have this advantage into the bargain； that； if mislaid； few but yourself could read them。
I am extremely glad to hear that you like the assemblies at Venice well enough to sacrifice some suppers to them； for I hear that you do not dislike your suppers neither。 It is therefore plain； that there is somebody or something at those assemblies； which you like better than your meat。 And as I know that there is none but good company at those assemblies； I am very glad to find that you like good company so well。 I already imagine that you are a little； smoothed by it； and that you have either reasoned yourself； or that they have laughed you out of your absences and DISTRACTIONS； for I cannot suppose that you go there to insult them。 I likewise imagine； that you wish to be welcome where you wish to go； and consequently； that you both present and behave yourself there 'en galant homme； et pas in bourgeois'。
If you have vowed to anybody there one of those eternal passions which I have sometimes known； b
