letters to his son, 1750-第16章
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ll tell those solid gentlemen； that all these trifling things； as they think them； collectively； form that pleasing 'je ne sais quoi'； that ensemble； which they are utter strangers to both in themselves and others。 The word aimable is not known in their language； or the thing in their manners。 Great usage of the world； great attention； and a great desire of pleasing； can alone give it； and it is no trifle。 It is from old people's looking upon these things as trifles； or not thinking of them at all； that so many young people are so awkward and so ill…bred。 Their parents； often careless and unmindful of them； give them only the common run of education； as school； university； and then traveling； without examining； and very often without being able to judge； if they did examine； what progress they make in any one of these stages。 Then； they carelessly comfort themselves； and say； that their sons will do like other people's sons； and so they do； that is； commonly very ill。 They correct none of the childish nasty tricks； which they get at school； nor the illiberal manners which they contract at the university； nor the frivolous and superficial pertness； which is commonly all that they acquire by their travels。 As they do not tell them of these things； nobody else can； so they go on in the practice of them； without ever hearing； or knowing； that they are unbecoming； indecent； and shocking。 For； as I have often formerly observed to you； nobody but a father can take the liberty to reprove a young fellow； grown up； for those kinds of inaccuracies and improprieties of behavior。 The most intimate friendship； unassisted by the paternal superiority； will not authorize it。 I may truly say； therefore； that you are happy in having me for a sincere； friendly； and quick…sighted monitor。 Nothing will escape me： I shall pry for your defects； in order to correct them； as curiously as I shall seek for your perfections； in order to applaud and reward them； with this difference only； that I shall publicly mention the latter； and never hint at the former； but in a letter to； or a tete…d…tete with you。 I will never put you out of countenance before company； and I hope you will never give me reason to be out of countenance for you； as any one of the above…mentioned defects would make me。 'Praetor non； curat de minimis'； was a maxim in the Roman law； for causes only of a certain value were tried by him but there were inferior jurisdictions； that took cognizance of the smallest。 Now I shall try you； not only as 'praetor' in the greatest； but as 'censor' in lesser； and as the lowest magistrate in the least cases。
I have this moment received Mr。 Harte's letter of the 1st November； N。 S。； by which I am very glad to find that he thinks of moving toward Paris； the end of this month； which looks as if his leg were better； besides； in my opinion； you both of you only lose time at Montpelier； he would find better advice； and you better company； at Paris。 In the meantime； I hope you go into the best company there is at Montpelier； and there always is some at the Intendant's； or the Commandant's。 You will have had full time to learn 'les petites chansons Languedociennes'； which are exceedingly pretty ones； both words and tunes。 I remember； when I was in those parts； I was surprised at the difference which I found between the people on one side； and those on the other side of the Rhone。 The Provencaux were； in general； surly； ill…bred； ugly； and swarthy； the Languedocians the very reverse： a cheerful； well…bred； handsome people。 Adieu！ Yours most affectionately。
P。 S。 Upon reflection； I direct this letter to Paris； I think you must have left Montpelier before it could arrive there。
LETTER CXXIV
LONDON； November 19； O。 S。 1750
MY DEAR FRIEND： I was very glad to find by your letter of the 12th； N。 S。； that you had informed yourself so well of the state of the French marine at Toulon； and of the commerce at Marseilles； they are objects that deserve the inquiry and attention of every man who intends to be concerned in public affairs。 The French are now wisely attentive to both； their commerce is incredibly increased within these last thirty years； they have beaten us out of great part of our Levant trade； their East India trade has greatly affected ours； and； in the West Indies； their Martinico establishment supplies； not only France itself； but the greatest part of Europe； with sugars whereas our islands； as Jamaica； Barbadoes； and the Leeward； have now no other market for theirs but England。 New France； or Canada； has also greatly lessened our fur and skin trade。 It is true （as you say） that we have no treaty of commerce subsisting （I do not say WITH MARSEILLES） but with France。 There was a treaty of commerce made between England and France； immediately after the treaty of Utrecht； but the whole treaty was conditional； and to depend upon the parliament's enacting certain things which were stipulated in two of the articles； the parliament； after a very famous debate； would not do it； so the treaty fell to the ground： however； the outlines of that treaty are； by mutual and tacit consent； the general rules of our present commerce with France。 It is true； too； that our commodities which go to France； must go in our bottoms； the French having imitated in many respects our famous Act of Navigation； as it is commonly called。 This act was made in the year 1652； in the parliament held by Oliver Cromwell。 It forbids all foreign ships to bring into England any merchandise or commodities whatsoever； that were not of the growth and produce of that country to which those ships belonged； under penalty of the forfeiture of such ships。 This act was particularly leveled at the Dutch； who were at that time the carriers of almost all Europe； and got immensely by freight。 Upon this principle； of the advantages arising from freight； there is a provision in the same act； that even the growth and produce of our own colonies in America shall not be carried from thence to any other country in Europe； without first touching in England； but this clause has lately been repealed； in the instances of some perishable commodities； such as rice； etc。； which are allowed to be carried directly from our American colonies to other countries。 The act also provides； that two…thirds； I think； of those who navigate the said ships shall be British subjects。 There is an excellent； and little book； written by the famous Monsieur Huet Ev6que d'Avranches； 'Sur le Commerce des Anciens'； which is very well worth your reading； and very soon read。 It will give you a clear notion of the rise and progress of commerce。 There are many other books； which take up the history of commerce where Monsieur d'Avranches leaves it； and bring it down to these times。 I advise you to read some of them with care； commerce being a very essential part of political knowledge in every country； but more particularly in that which owes all its riches and power to it。
I come now to another part of your letter； which is the orthography； if I may call bad spelling ORTHOGRAPHY。 You spell induce； ENDUCE； and grandeur； you spell grandURE； two faults of which few of my housemaids would have been guilty。 I must tell you that orthography； in the true sense of the word； is so absolutely necessary for a man of letters； or a gentleman； that one false spelling may fix ridicule upon him for the rest of his life； and I know a man of quality； who never recovered the ridicule of having spelled WHOLESOME without the w。
Reading with care will secure everybody from false spelling； for books are always well spelled； according to the orthography of the times。 Some words are indeed doubtful； being spelled differently by different authors of equal authority； but those are few； and in those cases every man has his option； because he may plead his authority either way； but where there is but one right way； as in the two words above mentioned； it is unpardonable and ridiculous for a gentleman to miss it； even a woman of a tolerable education would despise and laugh； at ；a lover； who should send her an ill…spelled billet…doux。 I fear and suspect； that you have taken it into your head； in most cases； that the matter is all； and the manner little or nothing。 If you have； undeceive yourself； and be convinced that； in everything； the manner is full as important as the matter。 If you speak the sense of an angel； in bad words and with a disagreeable utterance； nobody will hear you twice； who can help it。 If you write epistles as well as Cicero； but in a very bad hand； and very ill…spelled； whoever receives will laugh at them； and if you had the figure of Adonis； with an awkward air and motions； it will disgust instead of pleasing。 Study manner； therefore； in everything； if you would be anything。 My principal inquiries of my friends at Paris； concerning you； will be relative to your manner of doing whatever you do。 I shall not inquire whether you understand Demosthenes； Tacitus； or the 'Jus Publicum Imperii'； but I shall inquire； whether your utterance is pleasing； your style not only pure； but elegant； your manners noble and easy； your air and address engaging in short； whether you are a gentleman； a man of fashion； and fit to keep good company； or not； for； till I am satisfied in these particulars； you and I must by no means meet； I could not possibly stand it。 It is in your power to become all this at Paris； if you please。 Consult with Lady Hervey and Madame Monconseil upon all these matters； and they will speak to you； and advise you freely。 Tell them； that 'bisogna compatire ancora'； that you are utterly new in the world； that you are desirous to form yourself； that you beg they will reprove； advise； and correct you； that you know that none can do it so well； and that you will implicitly follow their directions。 This； together with your careful observation of the manners of the best company； will really form you。
Abbe Guasco； a friend of mine； will come to you as soon as he knows of your arrival at Paris； he is well received in the best companies there； and will introduce you to them。 He will be desirous to do you any service he can； he is active and curious； and can give you information upon most things。 He is a sort of 'complaisant' of the President Montesquieu； to whom you have a letter。
I imagine that this letter will not wait for you very long at Paris； where I reckon you will be in about a fortnight。 Adieu。
LETTER CXXV
LONDON； December 24； 1750
DEAR FRIEND： At length you are become a Parisian； and consequently must be addressed in French； you will also answer me in the same language； that I may be able to judge of the degree in which you possess the elegance； the delicacy； and the orthography of that language which is； in a manner； become the universal one of Europe。 I am assured that you speak it well； but in that well there are gradations。 He； who in the provinces might be reckoned to speak correctly； would at Paris be looked upon as an ancient Gaul。 In that country of mode； even language is subservient to fashion； which varies almost as often as their clothes。
The AFFECTED； the REFINED； the NEOLOGICAL； OR NEW FASHIONABLE STYLE are at present too much in vogue at Paris。 Know； observe； a
