Letters to His Son 1748 | Page 6

Monsieur Coderc; but I think that you will do well to
read it again, as I know of no book that will form your taste better. The
other is, 'L'Art de plaire dans la Conversation', by the Abbe de
Bellegarde, and is by no means useless, though I will not pretend to say,
that the art of pleasing can be reduced to a receipt; if it could, I am sure
that receipt would be worth purchasing at any price. Good sense, and
good nature, are the principal ingredients; and your own observation,
and the good advice of others, must give the right color and taste to it.
Adieu! I shall always love you as you shall deserve.

LETTER XXVII

LONDON, February 9, O. S. 1748.
DEAR BOY: You will receive this letter, not from a Secretary of State
but from a private man; for whom, at his time of life, quiet was as fit,
and as necessary, as labor and activity are for you at your age, and for
many years yet to come. I resigned the seals, last Saturday, to the King;
who parted with me most graciously, and (I may add, for he said so
himself) with regret. As I retire from hurry to quiet, and to enjoy, at my
ease, the comforts of private and social life, you will easily imagine
that I have no thoughts of opposition, or meddling with business.
'Otium cum dignitate' is my object. The former I now enjoy; and I hope
that my conduct and character entitle me to some share of the latter. In
short, I am now happy: and I found that I could not be so in my former
public situation.
As I like your correspondence better than that of all the kings, princes,
and ministers, in Europe, I shall now have leisure to carry it on more
regularly. My letters to you will be written, I am sure, by me, and, I
hope, read by you, with pleasure; which, I believe, seldom happens,
reciprocally, to letters written from and to a secretary's office.
Do not apprehend that my retirement from business may be a hindrance
to your advancement in it, at a proper time: on the contrary, it will
promote it; for, having nothing to ask for myself, I shall have the better
title to ask for you. But you have still a surer way than this of rising,
and which is wholly in your own power. Make yourself necessary;
which, with your natural parts, you may, by application, do. We are in
general, in England, ignorant of foreign affairs: and of the interests,
views, pretensions, and policy of other courts. That part of knowledge
never enters into our thoughts, nor makes part of our education; for
which reason, we have fewer proper subjects for foreign commissions,
than any other country in Europe; and, when foreign affairs happen to
be debated in Parliament, it is incredible with how much ignorance.
The harvest of foreign affairs being then so great, and the laborers so
few, if you make yourself master of them, you will make yourself
necessary; first as a foreign, and then as a domestic minister for that
department.
I am extremely well pleased with the account which you give me of the
allotment of your time. Do but go on so, for two years longer, and I will
ask no more of you. Your labors will be their own reward; but if you

desire any other, that I can add, you may depend upon it.
I am glad that you perceive the indecency and turpitude of those of
your 'Commensaux', who disgrace and foul themselves with dirty
w----s and scoundrel gamesters. And the light in which, I am sure, you
see all reasonable and decent people consider them, will be a good
warning to you. Adieu.

LETTER XXVIII
LONDON, February 13, O. S. 1748
DEAR BOY: your last letter gave me a very satisfactory account of
your manner of employing your time at Leipsig. Go on so but for two
years more, and, I promise you, that you will outgo all the people of
your age and time. I thank you for your explanation of the
'Schriftsassen', and 'Amptsassen'; and pray let me know the meaning of
the 'Landsassen'. I am very willing that you should take a Saxon servant,
who speaks nothing but German, which will be a sure way of keeping
up your German, after you leave Germany. But then, I would neither
have that man, nor him whom you have already, put out of livery;
which makes them both impertinent and useless. I am sure, that as soon
as you shall have taken the other servant, your present man will press
extremely to be out of livery, and valet de chambre; which is as