letters to his son, 1766-71-第1章
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Letters to His Son； 1766…71
by The Earl of Chesterfield
LETTERS TO HIS SON
By the EARL OF CHESTERFIELD
on the Fine Art of becoming a
MAN OF THE WORLD
and a
GENTLEMAN
LETTER CCLXXXIV
LONDON； February 11； 1766
MY DEAR FRIEND： I received two days ago your letter of the 25th past；
and your former； which you mention in it； but ten days ago； this may
easily be accounted for from the badness of the weather； and consequently
of the roads。 I hardly remember so severe a win ter； it has occasioned
many illnesses here。 I am sure it pinched my crazy carcass so much that；
about three weeks ago； I was obliged to be let blood twice in four days；
which I found afterward was very necessary； by the relief it gave to my
head and to the rheumatic pains in my limbs； and from the execrable kind
of blood which I lost。
Perhaps you expect from me a particular account of the present state of
affairs here； but if you do you will be disappointed； for no man living
（and I still less than anyone） knows what it is； it varies； not only
daily； but hourly。
Most people think； and I among the rest； that the date of the present
Ministers is pretty near out； but how soon we are to have a new style；
God knows。 This； however； is certain； that the Ministers had a contested
election in the House of Commons； and got it but by eleven votes； too
small a majority to carry anything； the next day they lost a question in
the House of Lords； by three。 The question in the House of Lords was； to
enforce the execution of the Stamp…act in the colonies 'vi et armis'。
What conclusions you will draw from these premises； I do not know； but I
protest I draw none； but only stare at the present undecipherable state
of affairs； which； in fifty years' experience； I have never seen anything
like。 The Stamp…act has proved a most pernicious measure； for； whether
it is repealed or not； which is still very doubtful； it has given such
terror to the Americans； that our trade with them will not be； for some
years； what it used to be； and great numbers of our manufacturers at home
will be turned a starving for want of that employment which our very
profitable trade to America found them： and hunger is always the cause of
tumults and sedition。
As you have escaped a fit of the gout in this severe cold weather； it is
to be hoped you may be entirely free from it； till next winter at least。
P。 S。 Lord having parted with his wife； now； keeps another w…e； at a
great expense。 I fear he is totally undone。
LETTER CCLXXXV
LONDON； March 17； 1766。
MY DEAR FRIEND： You wrong me in thinking me in your debt； for I never
receive a letter of yours； but I answer it by the next post； or the next
but one； at furthest： but I can easily conceive that my two last letters
to you may have been drowned or frozen in their way； for portents and
prodigies of frost； snow； and inundations； have been so frequent this
winter； that they have almost lost their names。
You tell me that you are going to the baths of BADEN； but that puzzles me
a little； so I recommend this letter to the care of Mr。 Larpent； to
forward to you； for Baden I take to be the general German word for baths；
and the particular ones are distinguished by some epithet； as Weissbaden；
Carlsbaden； etc。 I hope they are not cold baths； which I have a very ill
opinion of； in all arthritic or rheumatic cases； and your case I take to
be a compound of both； but rather more of the latter。
You will probably wonder that I tell you nothing of public matters； upon
which I shall be as secret as Hotspur's gentle Kate； who would not tell
what she did not know； but what is singular； nobody seems to know any
more of them than I do。 People gape； stare； conjecture； and refine。
Changes of the Ministry； or in the Ministry at least； are daily reported
and foretold； but of what kind； God only knows。 It is also very doubtful
whether Mr。 Pitt will come into the Administration or not； the two
present Secretaries are extremely desirous that he should； but the others
think of the horse that called the man to its assistance。 I will say
nothing to you about American affairs； because I have not pens； ink； or
paper enough to give you an intelligible account of them。 They have been
the subjects of warm and acrimonious debates； both in the Lords and
Commons； and in all companies。
The repeal of the Stamp…act is at last carried through。 I am glad of it；
and gave my proxy for it； because I saw many more inconveniences from the
enforcing than from the repealing it。
Colonel Browne was with me the other day； and assured me that he left you
very well。 He said he saw you at Spa； but I did not remember him； though
I remember his two brothers； the Colonel and the ravisher； very well。
Your Saxon colonel has the brogue exceedingly。 Present my respects to
Count Flemming； I am very sorry for the Countess's illness； she was a
most well…bred woman。
You would hardly think that I gave a dinner to the Prince of Brunswick；
your old acquaintance。 I glad it is over； but I could not avoid it。
'Il m'avait tabli de politesses'。 God bless you！
LETTER CCLXXXVI
BLACKHEATH； June 13； 1766。
MY DEAR FRIEND： I received yesterday your letter of the 30th past。
I waited with impatience for it； not having received one from you in six
weeks； nor your mother neither； who began to be very sure that you were
dead； if not buried。 You should write to her once a week； or at least
once a…fortnight； for women make no allowance either for business or
laziness； whereas I can； by experience； make allowances for both：
however； I wish you would generally write to me once a fortnight。
Last week I paid my midsummer offering； of five hundred pounds； to Mr。
Larpent； for your use； as I suppose he has informed you。 I am punctual；
you must allow。
What account shall I give you of ministerial affairs here？ I protest I
do not know： your own description of them is as exact a one as any I；
who am upon the place； can give you。 It is a total dislocation and
'derangement'； consequently a total inefficiency。 When the Duke of
Grafton quitted the seals； he gave that very reason for it； in a speech
in the House of Lords： he declared； 〃that he had no objection to the
persons or the measures of the present Ministers； but that he thought
they wanted strength and efficiency to carry on proper measures with
success； and that he knew but one man MEANING； AS YOU WILL EASILY
SUPPOSE； MR。 PITT who could give them strength and solidity； that； under
this person； he should be willing to serve in any capacity； not only as a
General Officer； but as a pioneer； and would take up a spade and a
mattock。〃 When he quitted the seals； they were offered first to Lord
Egmont； then to Lord Hardwicke； who both declined them； probably for the
same reasons that made the Duke of Grafton resign them； but after their
going a…begging for some time； the Duke of … begged them； and has
them 'faute de mieux'。 Lord Mountstuart was never thought of for Vienna；
where Lord Stormont returns in three months； the former is going to be
married to one of the Miss Windsors； a great fortune。 To tell you the
speculations； the reasonings； and the conjectures； either of the
uninformed； or even of the best…informed public； upon the present
wonderful situation of affairs； would take up much more time and paper
than either you or I can afford； though we have neither of us a great
deal of business at present。
I am in as good health as I could reasonably expect； at my age； and with
my shattered carcass； that is； from the waist upward； but downward it is
not the same： for my limbs retain that stiffness and debility of my long
rheumatism； I cannot walk half an hour at a time。 As the autumn； and
still more as the winter approaches； take care to keep yourself very
warm； especially your legs and feet。
Lady Chesterfield sends you her compliments； and triumphs in the success
of her plaster。 God bless you！
LETTER CCLXXXVII
BLACKHEAT
