The Entire PG Edition of Chesterfield | Page 8

safe. The reason why
you have not received letters either from me or from Grevenkop was
that we directed them to Lausanne, where we thought you long ago:
and we thought it to no purpose to direct to you upon your ROUTE,
where it was little likely that our letters would meet with you. But you
have, since your arrival at Lausanne, I believe, found letters enough
from me; and it may be more than you have read, at least with
attention.
I am glad that you like Switzerland so well; and am impatient to hear
how other matters go, after your settlement at Lausanne. God bless
you!

LETTER III
LONDON, December 2, O.S. 1746.
DEAR BOY: I have not, in my present situation,--[His Lordship was,
in the year 1746, appointed one of his Majesty's secretaries of state.]--

time to write to you, either so much or so often as I used, while I was in
a place of much more leisure and profit; but my affection for you must
not be judged of by the number of my letters; and, though the one
lessens, the other, I assure you, does not.
I have just now received your letter of the 25th past, N. S., and, by the
former post, one from Mr. Harte; with both which I am very well
pleased: with Mr. Harte's, for the good account which he gives me of
you; with yours, for the good account which you gave me of what I
desired to be informed of. Pray continue to give me further information
of the form of government of the country you are now in; which I hope
you will know most minutely before you leave it. The inequality of the
town of Lausanne seems to be very convenient in this cold weather;
because going up hill and down will keep you warm. You say there is a
good deal of good company; pray, are you got into it? Have you made
acquaintances, and with whom? Let me know some of their names. Do
you learn German yet, to read, write, and speak it?
Yesterday, I saw a letter from Monsieur Bochat to a friend of mine;
which gave me the greatest pleasure that I have felt this great while;
because it gives so very good an account of you. Among other things
which Monsieur Bochat says to your advantage, he mentions the tender
uneasiness and concern that you showed during my illness, for which
(though I will say that you owe it to me) I am obliged to you:
sentiments of gratitude not being universal, nor even common. As your
affection for me can only proceed from your experience and conviction
of my fondness for you (for to talk of natural affection is talking
nonsense), the only return I desire is, what it is chiefly your interest to
make me; I mean your invariable practice of virtue, and your
indefatigable pursuit of knowledge. Adieu! and be persuaded that I
shall love you extremely, while you deserve it; but not one moment
longer.

LETTER IV
LONDON, December 9, O. S. 1746.
DEAR BOY: Though I have very little time, and though I write by this
post to Mr. Harte, yet I cannot send a packet to Lausanne without a
word or two to yourself. I thank you for your letter of congratulation
which you wrote me, notwithstanding the pain it gave you. The

accident that caused the pain was, I presume, owing to that degree of
giddiness, of which I have sometimes taken the liberty to speak to you.
The post I am now in, though the object of most people's views and
desires, was in some degree inflicted upon me; and a certain
concurrence cf circumstances obliged me to engage in it. But I feel that
to go through with it requires more strength of body and mind than I
have: were you three or four years older; you should share in my
trouble, and I would have taken you into my office; but I hope you will
employ these three or four years so well as to make yourself capable of
being of use to me, if I should continue in it so long. The reading,
writing, and speaking the modern languages correctly; the knowledge
of the laws of nations, and the particular constitution of the empire; of
history, geography, and chronology, are absolutely necessary to this
business, for which I have always intended you. With these
qualifications you may very possibly be my successor, though not my
immediate one.
I hope you employ your whole time, which few people do; and that you
put every moment to, profit of some kind or other. I call company,
walking, riding, etc., employing one's time, and, upon proper occasions,
very usefully; but what