letters to his son, 1766-71-第6章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


immediately　thought　that　I　had　a　dropsy；　but　the　Faculty　assured　me；　that
my　complaint　was　only　the　effect　of　my　fever；　and　would　soon　be　cured；
and　they　said　true。　　Pray　let　your　amanuensis；　whoever　he　may　be；　write
an　account　regularly　once　a…week；　either　to　Grevenkop　or　myself；　for　that
is　the　same　thing；　of　the　state　of　your　health。

I　sent　you；　in　four　successive　letters；　as　much　of　the　Duchess　of
Somerset's　snuff　as　a　letter　could　well　convey　to　you。　　Have　you　received
all　or　any　of　them？　and　have　they　done　you　any　good？　　Though；　in　your
present　condition；　you　cannot　go　into　company；　I　hope　that　you　have　some
acquaintances　that　come　and　sit　with　you；　for　if　originally　it　was　not
good　for　man　to　be　alone；　it　is　much　worse　for　a　sick　man　to　be　so；　he
thinks　too　much　of　his　distemper；　and　magnifies　it。　　Some　men　of　learning
among　the　ecclesiastics；　I　dare　say；　would　be　glad　to　sit　with　you；　and
you　could　give　them　as　good　as　they　brought。

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；　somebody　or　other；　God　knows　who；　will　eat　them；
as　somebody　or　other　will　fell　and　sell　the　oaks　I　planted　five…and…forty
years　ago。

I　hope　our　boys　are　well　；　my　respects　to　them　both。　　I　am；　with　the
greatest　truth；　your　faithful　and　humble　servant；

CHESTERFIELD。




LETTER　CCCXVIII

BATH；　November　4；1770

MADAM：　　The　post　has　been　more　favorable　to　you　than　I　intended　it
should；　for；　upon　my　word；　I　answered　your　former　letter　the　post　after　I
had　received　it。　　However　you　have　got　a　loss；　as　we　say　sometimes　in
Ireland。

My　friends　from　time　to　time　require　bills　of　health　from　me　in　these
suspicious　times；　when　the　plague　is　busy　in　some　parts　of　Europe。
All　I　can　say；　in　answer　to　their　kind　inquiries；　is；　that　I　have　not　the
distemper　properly　called　the　plague；　but　that　I　have　all　the　plague　of
old　age　and　of　a　shattered　carcass。　　These　waters　have　done　me　what
little　good　I　expected　from　them；　though　by　no　means　what　I　could　have
wished；　for　I　wished　them　to　be　'les　eaux　de　Jouvence'。

I　had　a　letter；　the　other　day；　from　our　two　boys；　Charles'　was　very
finely　written；　and　Philip's　very　prettily：　they　are　perfectly　well；
and　say　that　they　want　nothing。　　What　grown…up　people　will　or　can　say　as
much？　　I　am；　with　the　truest　esteem；　Madam；　your　most　faithful　servant。

CHESTERFIELD。




LETTER　CCCXIX

BATH；　October　27；1771。

MADAM：　Upon　my　word；　you　interest　yourself　in　the　state　of　my　existence
more　than　I　do　myself；　for　it　is　worth　the　care　of　neither　of　us。　　I
ordered　my　valet　de　chambre；　according　to　your　orders；　to　inform　you　of
my　safe　arrival　here；　to　which　I　can　add　nothing；　being　neither　better
nor　worse　than　I　was　then。

I　am　very　glad　that　our　boys　are　well。　　Pray　give　them　the　inclosed。

I　am　not　at　all　surprised　at　Mr。　's　conversion；　for　he　was；
at　seventeen；　the　idol　of　old　women；　for　his　gravity；　devotion；　and
dullness。　　I　am；　Madam；　your　most　faithful；　humble　servant；

CHESTERFIELD。




LETTER　CCCXX

TO　CHARLES　AND　PHILIP　STANHOPE

I　RECEIVED　a　few　days　ago　two　the　best　written　lette