letters to his son, 1749-第27章
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ope： therefore； take great care to put it out of the power of Ridicule itself to give you any of these ridiculous epithets； for； if you get one； it will stick to you； like the envenomed shirt。 The very first day that I see you； I shall be able to tell you； and certainly shall tell you； what degree of danger you are in； and I hope that my admonitions； as censor； may prevent the censures of the public。 Admonitions are always useful； is this one or not？ You are the best judge； it is your own picture which I send you； drawn； at my request； by a lady at Venice： pray let me know how far； in your conscience； you think it like； for there are some parts of it which I wish may； and others； which I should be sorry were。 I send you； literally； the copy of that part of her letter； to her friend here； which relates to you。 ＇In compliance to your orders； I have examined young Stanhope carefully； and think I have penetrated into his character。 This is his portrait； which I take to be a faithful one。 His face is pleasing； his countenance sensible； and his look clever。 His figure is at present rather too square； but if he shoots up； which he has matter and years for； he will then be of a good size。 He has； undoubtedly； a great fund of acquired knowledge； I am assured that he is master of the learned languages。 As for French； I know he speaks it perfectly； and； I am told； German as well。 The questions he asks are judicious； and denote a thirst after knowledge。 I cannot say that he appears equally desirous of pleasing； for he seems to neglect attentions and the graces。 He does not come into a room well； nor has he that easy； noble carriage； which would be proper for him。 It is true； he is as yet young and inexperienced； one may therefore reasonably hope that his exercises； which he has not yet gone through； and good company； in which he is still a novice； will polish； and give all that is wanting to complete him。 What seems necessary for that purpose； would； be an attachment to some woman of fashion； and who knows the world。 Some Madame de l'Ursay would be the proper person。 In short； I can assure you； that he has everything which Lord Chesterfield can wish him； excepting that carriage； those graces； and the style used in the best company； which he will certainly acquire in time； and by frequenting the polite world。 If he should not； it would be great pity； since he so well deserves to possess them。 You know their importance。 My Lord； his father； knows it too； he being master of them all。 To conclude； if little Stanhope acquires the graces； I promise you he will make his way； if not； he will be stopped in a course； the goal of which he might attain with honor。＇
Tell Mr。 Harte that I have this moment received his letter of the 22d； N。 S。； and that I approve extremely of the long stay you have made at Venice。 I love long residences at capitals； running post through different places is a most unprofitable way of traveling； and admits of no application。 Adieu。
You see； by this extract； of what consequence other people think these things。 Therefore； I hope you will no longer look upon them as trifles。 It is the character of an able man to despise little things in great business： but then he knows what things are little； and what not。 He does not suppose things are little； because they are commonly called so： but by the consequences that may or may not attend them。 If gaining people's affections； and interesting their hearts in your favor； be of consequence； as it undoubtedly is； he knows very well that a happy concurrence of all those； commonly called little things； manners； air； address； graces； etc。； is of the utmost consequence； and will never be at rest till he has acquired them。 The world is taken by the outside of things； and we must take the world as it is； you nor I cannot set it right。 I know； at this time； a man of great quality and station； who has not the parts of a porter； but raised himself to the station he is in； singly by having a graceful figure； polite manners； and an engaging address； which； by the way； he only acquired by habit； for he had not sense enough to get them by reflection。 Parts and habit should conspire to complete you。 You will have the habit of good company； and you have reflection in your power。
LETTER XCIII
LONDON； December 5； O。 S。 1749。
DEAR BOY： Those who suppose that men in general act rationally； because they are called rational creatures； know very little of the world； and if they act themselves upon that supposition； will nine times in ten find themselves grossly mistaken。 That man is； 'animal bipes； implume； risibile'； I entirely agree； but for the 'rationale'； I can only allow it him 'in actu primo' （to talk logic） and seldom in 'actu secundo'。 Thus； the speculative； cloistered pedant； in his solitary cell； forms systems of things as they should be； not as they are； and writes as decisively and absurdly upon war； politics； manners； and characters； as that pedant talked； who was so kind as to instruct Hannibal in the art of war。 Such closet politicians never fail to assign the deepest motives for the most trifling actions； instead of often ascribing the greatest actions to the most trifling causes； in which they would be much seldomer mistaken。 They read and write of kings； heroes； and statesmen； as never doing anything but upon the deepest principles of sound policy。 But those who see and observe kings； heroes； and statesmen； discover that they have headaches； indigestions； humors； and passions； just like other people； everyone of which； in their turns； determine their wills； in defiance of their reason。 Had we only read in the 〃Life of Alexander；〃 that he burned Persepolis； it would doubtless have been accounted for from deep policy： we should have been told； that his new conquest could not have been secured without the destruction of that capital； which would have been the constant seat of cabals； conspiracies； and revolts。 But； luckily； we are informed at the same time； that this hero； this demi…god； this son and heir of Jupiter Ammon； happened to get extremely drunk with his w…e； and； by way of frolic； destroyed one of the finest cities in the world。 Read men； therefore； yourself； not in books but in nature。 Adopt no systems； but study them yourself。 Observe their weaknesses； their passions； their humors； of all which their understandings are； nine times in ten； the dupes。 You will then know that they are to be gained； influenced； or led； much oftener by little things than by great ones； and； consequently； you will no longer think those things little； which tend to such great purposes。
Let us apply this now to the particular object of this letter； I mean； speaking in； and influencing public assemblies。 The nature of our constitution makes eloquence more useful； and more necessary； in this country than in any other in Europe。 A certain degree of good sense and knowledge is requisite for that； as well as for everything else； but beyond that； the purity of diction； the elegance of style； the harmony of periods； a pleasing elocution； and a graceful action； are the things which a public speaker should attend to the most； because his audience certainly does； and understands them the best； or rather indeed understands little else。 The late Lord Chancellor Cowper's strength as an orator lay by no means in his reasonings； for he often hazarded very weak ones。 But such was the purity and elegance of his style； such the propriety and charms of his elocution； and such the gracefulness of his action； that he never spoke without universal applause； the ears and the eyes gave him up the hearts and the understandings of the audience。 On the contrary； the late Lord Townshend always spoke materially； with argument and knowledge； but never pleased。 Why？ His diction was not only inelegant； but frequently ungrammatical； always vulgar； his cadences false； his voice unharmonious； and his action ungraceful。 Nobody heard him with patience； and the young fellows used to joke upon him； and repeat his inaccuracies。 The late Duke of Argyle； though the weakest reasoner； was the most pleasing speaker I ever knew in my life。 He charmed； he warmed； he forcibly ravished the
