letters to his son, 1749-第11章
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can yet imagine。 Great merit； or great failings； will make you be respected or despised； but trifles； little attentions； mere nothings； either done； or neglected； will make you either liked or disliked； in the general run of the world。 Examine yourself why you like such and such people； and dislike such and such others； and you will find； that those different sentiments proceed from very slight causes。 Moral virtues are the foundation of society in general； and of friendship in particular； but attentions； manners； and graces； both adorn and strengthen them。 My heart is so set upon your pleasing； and consequently succeeding in the world； that possibly I have already （and probably shall again） repeat the same things over and over to you。 However； to err； if I do err； on the surer side； I shall continue to communicate to you those observations upon the world which long experience has enabled me to make； and which I have generally found to hold true。 Your youth and talents； armed with my experience； may go a great way； and that armor is very much at your service； if you please to wear it。 I premise that it is not my imagination； but my memory； that gives you these rules： I am not writing pretty； but useful reflections。 A man of sense soon discovers； because he carefully observes； where； and how long； he is welcome； and takes care to leave the company； at least as soon as he is wished out of it。 Fools never perceive where they are either ill…timed or illplaced。
I am this moment agreeably stopped； in the course of my reflections； by the arrival of Mr。 Harte's letter of the 13th July； N。 S。； to Mr。 Grevenkop； with one inclosed for your Mamma。 I find by it that many of his and your letters to me must have miscarried； for he says that I have had regular accounts of you： whereas all those accounts have been only his letter of the 6th and yours of the 7th June； N。 S。； his of the 20th June； N。 S。； to me； and now his of the 13th July； N。 S。； to Mr。 Grevenkop。 However； since you are so well； as Mr。 Harte says you are； all is well。 I am extremely glad that you have no complaint upon your lungs； but I desire that you will think you have； for three or four months to come。 Keep in a course of asses' or goats' milk； for one is as good as the other； and possibly ；the latter is the best； and let your common food be as pectoral as you can conveniently make it。 Pray tell Mr。 Harte that； according to his desire； I have wrote a letter of thanks to Mr。 Firmian。 I hope you write to him too； from time to time。 The letters of recommendation of a man of his merit and learning will； to be sure； be of great use to you among the learned world in Italy； that is； provided you take care to keep up to the character he gives you in them； otherwise they will only add to your disgrace。
Consider that you have lost a good deal of time by your illness； fetch it up now that you are well。 At present you should be a good economist of your moments； of which company and sights will claim a considerable share； so that those which remain for study must be not only attentively； but greedily employed。 But indeed I do not suspect you of one single moment's idleness in the whole day。 Idleness is only the refuge of weak minds； and the holiday of fools。 I do not call good company and liberal pleasures； idleness； far from it： I recommend to you a good share of both。
I send you here inclosed a letter for Cardinal Alexander Albani； which you will give him； as soon as you get to Rome； and before you deliver any others； the Purple expects that preference； go next to the Duc de Nivernois； to whom you are recommended by several people at Paris； as well as by myself。 Then you may carry your other letters occasionally。
Remember to pry narrowly into every part of the government of Venice： inform yourself of the history of that republic； especially of its most remarkable eras； such as the Ligue de eambray； in 1509； by which it had like to have been destroyed； and the conspiracy formed by the Marquis de Bedmar； the Spanish Ambassador； to subject it to the Crown of Spain。 The famous disputes between that republic and the Pope are worth your knowledge； and the writings of the celebrated and learned Fra Paolo di Sarpi； upon that occasion； worth your reading。 It was once the greatest commercial power in Europe； and in the 14th and 15th centuries made a considerable figure； but at present its commerce is decayed； and its riches consequently decreased； and； far from meddling now with the affairs of the Continent； it owes its security to its neutrality and inefficiency； and that security will last no longer than till one of the great Powers in Europe engrosses the rest of Italy； an event which this century possibly may； but which the next probably will see。
Your friend Comte d'Ensiedlen and his governor； have been with me this moment； and delivered me your letter from Berlin； of February the 28th； N。 S。 I like them both so well that I am glad you did； and still gladder to hear what they say of you。 Go on； and continue to deserve the praises of those who deserve praises themselves。 Adieu。
I break open this letter to acknowledge yours of the 30th June； N。 S。； which I have but this instant received； though thirteen days antecedent in date to Mr。 Harte's last。 I never in my life heard of bathing four hours a day； and I am impatient to hear of your safe arrival at Venice； after so extraordinary an operation。
LETTER LXXVI
LONDON； July 30； O。 S。 1749。
DEAR BOY： Mr。 Harte's letters and yours drop in upon me most irregularly； for I received； by the last post； one from Mr。 Harte； of the 9th； N。 S。； and that which Mr。 Grevenkop had received from him； the post before； was of the 13th； at last； I suppose； I shall receive them all。
I am very glad that my letter； with Dr。 Shaw's opinion； has lessened your bathing； for since I was born； I never heard of bathing four hours a…day； which would surely be too much； even in Medea's kettle； if you wanted （as you do not yet） new boiling。
Though； in that letter of mine； I proposed your going to Inspruck； it was only in opposition to Lausanne； which I thought much too long and painful a journey for you； but you will have found； by my subsequent letters； that I entirely approved of Venice； where I hope you have now been some time； and which is a much better place for you to reside at； till you go to Naples； than either Tieffer or Laubach。 I love capitals extremely； it is in capitals that the best company is always to be found； and consequently； the best manners to be learned。 The very best provincial places have some awkwardness； that distinguish their manners from those of the metropolis。 'A propos' of capitals； I send you here two letters of recommendation to Naples； from Monsieur Finochetti； the Neapolitan Minister at The Hague； and in my next I shall send you two more； from the same person； to the same place。
I have examined Comte d'Einsiedlen so narrowly concerning you； that I have extorted from him a confession that you do not care to speak German； unless to such as understand no other language。 At this rate； you will never speak it well； which I am very desirous that you should do； and of which you would； in time； find the advantage。 Whoever has not the command of a language； and does not speak it with facility； will always appear below himself when he converses in that language； the want of words and phrases will cramp and lame his thoughts。 As you now know German enough to express yourself tolerably； speaking it very often will soon make you speak it very well： and then you will appear in it whatever you are。 What with your own Saxon servant and the swarms of Germans you will meet with wherever you go； you may have opportunities of conversing in that language half the day； and I do very seriously desire that you will； or else all the pains that you have already taken about it are lost。 You will remember likewise； that； till you can write in Italian； you are always to write to me in German。
Mr。 Harte's conjecture concerning your distemper seems to be a very reasonable one； it agrees entirely with mine； which is the universal rule by which every man judges of another man's opinion。 But； whatever m
