letters to his son, 1766-71-第8章
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Poor Harte； who is here still； is in a most miserable condition： he has
entirely lost the use of his left side； and can hardly speak
intelligibly。 I was with him yesterday。 He inquired after you with
great affection； and was in the utmost concern when I showed him your
letter。
My own health is as it has been ever since I was here last year。 I am
neither well nor ill； but UNWELL。 I have in a manner lost the use of my
legs； for though I can make a shift to crawl upon even ground for a
quarter of an hour； I cannot go up or down stairs； unless supported by a
servant。 God bless you and grant you a speedy recovery！
NOTE。This is the last of the letters of Lord Chesterfield to his
son； Mr。 Philip Stanhope； who died in November； 1768。 The
unexpected and distressing intelligence was announced by the lady to
whom Mr。 Stanhope had been married for several years； unknown to his
father。 On learning that the widow had two sons； the issue of this
marriage； Lord Chesterfield took upon himself the maintenance of his
grandchildren。 The letters which follow show how happily the writer
adapted himself to the trying situation。
LETTER CCCXI
TO MRS。 STANHOPE； THEN AT PARIS
LONDON； March 16； 1769。
MADAM： A troublesome and painful inflammation in my eyes obliges me to
use another hand than my own to acknowledge the receipt of your letter
from Avignon； of the 27th past。
I am extremely surprised that Mrs。 du Bouchet should have any objection
to the manner in which your late husband desired to be buried； and which
you； very properly； complied with。 All I desire for my own burial is not
to be buried alive； but how or where； I think must be entirely
indifferent to every rational creature。
I have no commission to trouble you with； during your stay at Paris； from
whence； I wish you and the boys a good journey home； where I shall be
very glad to see you all； and assure you of my being； with great truth；
your faithful； humble servant；
CHESTERFIELD。
LETTER CCCXII
TO THE SAME； AT LONDON
MADAM： The last time that I had the pleasure of seeing you； I was so
taken up in playing with the boys that I forgot their more important
affairs。 How soon would you have them placed at school？ When I know
your pleasure as to that； I will send to Monsieur Perny； to prepare
everything for their reception。 In the meantime； I beg that you will
equip them thoroughly with clothes； linen； etc。； all good； but plain； and
give me the account； which I will pay； for I do not intend that； from；
this time forward the two boys should cost you one shilling。 I am； with
great truth； Madam； your faithful； humble servant；
CHESTERFIELD。
LETTER CCCXIII
MADAM： As some day must be fixed for sending the boys to school； do you
approve of the 8th of next month？ By which time the weather will
probably be warm and settled； and you will be able to equip them
completely。
I will upon that day send my coach to you； to carry you and the boys to
Loughborough House； with all their immense baggage。 I must recommend to
you； when you leave them there； to suppress； as well as you can； the
overgrowings of maternal tenderness； which would grieve the poor boys the
more； and give them a terror of their new establishment。 I am； with
great truth； Madam； your faithful； humble servant；
CHESTERFIELD。
LETTER CCCXIV
BATH； October 11； 1769。
MADAM： Nobody can be more willing and ready to obey orders than I am；
but then I must like the orders and the orderer。 Your orders and
yourself come under this description； and therefore I must give you an
account of my arrival and existence； such as it is； here。 I got hither
last Sunday； the day after I left London； less fatigued than I expected
to have been； and now crawl about this place upon my three legs； but am
kept in countenance by many of my fellow…crawlers； the last part of the
Sphinx's riddle approaches； and I shall soon end； as I began； upon all
fours。
When you happen to see either Monsieur or Madame Perny； I beg you will
give them this melancholic proof of my caducity； and tell them that the
last time I went to see the boys； I carried the Michaelmas quarterage in
my pocket； and when I was there I totally forgot it； but assure them；
that I have not the least intention to bilk them； and will pay them
faithfully the two quarters together； at Christmas。
I hope our two boys are well； for then I am sure you are so。 I am； with
great truth and esteem； your most faithful； humble servant；
CHESTERFIELD。
LETTER CCCXV
BATH； October 28； 1769。
MADAM： Your kind anxiety for my health and life is more than； in my
opinion； they are both worth； without the former the latter is a burden；
and； indeed； I am very weary of it。 I think I have got some benefit by
drinking these waters； and by bathing； for my old stiff； rheumatic limbs；
for； I believe； I could now outcrawl a snail； or perhaps even a tortoise。
I hope the boys are well。 Phil； I dare say； has been in some scrapes；
but he will get triumphantly out of them； by dint of strength and
resolution。 I am； with great truth and esteem； your most faithful；
humble servant；
CHESTERFIELD。
LETTER CCCXVI
BATH； November 5； 1769。
MADAM： I remember very well the paragraph which you quote from a letter
of mine to Mrs。 du Bouchet； and see no reason yet to retract that
opinion； in general； which at least nineteen widows in twenty had
authorized。 I had not then the pleasure of your acquaintance： I had seen
you but twice or thrice； and I had no reason to think that you would
deviate； as you have done； from other widows； so much as to put perpetual
shackles upon yourself； for the sake of your children。 But （if I may use
a vulgarism） one swallow makes no summer： five righteous were formerly
necessary to save a city； and they could not be found； so； till I find
four more such righteous widows as yourself； I shall entertain my former
notions of widowhood in general。
I can assure you that I drink here very soberly and cautiously； and at
the same time keep so cool a diet that I do not find the least symptom of
heat； much less of inflammation。 By the way； I never had that complaint；
in consequence of having drank these waters； for I have had it but four
times； and always in the middle of summer。 Mr。 Hawkins is timorous； even
to minutia； and my sister delights in them。
Charles will be a scholar； if you please； but our little Philip； without
being one； will be something or other as good； though I do not yet guess
what。 I am not of the opinion generally entertained in this country；
that man lives by Greek and Latin alone； that is； by knowing a great many
words of two dead languages； which nobody living knows perfectly； and
which are of no use in the common intercourse of life。 Useful knowledge
in my opinion consists of modern languages； history； and geography； some
Latin may be thrown into the bargain； in compliance with custom； and for
closet amusement。
You are； by this time； certainly tired with this long letter； which I
could prove to you from Horace's own words （for I am a scholar） to be a
bad one； he says； that water…drinkers can write nothing good： so I am；
with real truth and esteem； your most faithful； humble servant；
CHESTERFIELD。
LETTER CCCXVII
BATH； October 9； 1770。
MADAM： I am extremely obliged to you for the kind part which you take in
my； health and life： as to the latter； I am as indifferent myself as any
other body can be； but as to the former； I confess care and anxiety； for
while I am to crawl upon this planet； I would willingly enjoy the health
at least of an insect。 How far these waters will restore me to that；
moderate degree of health； which alone I aspire at； I have not yet given
them a fair trial； having drank them but one week ； the only difference I
hitherto find is； that I sleep better than I did。
I beg that you will neither give yourself； nor Mr。 Fitzhugh； much trouble
about the pine plants； for as it is three years before they fruit； I
might as well； at my age； plant oaks； and hope to have the advantage of
their timber： however； som
