第72章 LETTER LII(3)

Your letters,except when upon a given subject,are exceedingly laconic,and neither answer my desires nor the purpose of letters;which should be familiar conversations,between absent friends.As I desire to live with you upon the footing of an intimate friend,and not of a parent,I could wish that your letters gave me more particular accounts of yourself,and of your lesser transactions.When you write to me,suppose yourself conversing freely with me by the fireside.In that case,you would naturally mention the incidents of the day;as where you had been,who you had seen,what you thought of them,etc.Do this in your letters:

acquaint me sometimes with your studies,sometimes with your diversions;tell me of any new persons and characters that you meet with in company,and add your own observations upon them:in short,let me see more of you in your letters.How do you go on with Lord Pulteney,and how does he go on at Leipsig?Has he learning,has he parts,has he application?Is he good or ill-natured?In short,What is he?at least,what do you think him?You may tell me without reserve,for I promise you secrecy.

You are now of an age that I am desirous to begin a confidential correspondence with you;and as I shall,on my part,write you very freely my opinion upon men and things,which I should often be very unwilling that anybody but you and Mr.Harte should see,so,on your part,if you write me without reserve,you may depend upon my inviolable secrecy.If you have ever looked into the "Letters"of Madame de Sevigne to her daughter,Madame de Grignan,you must have observed the ease,freedom,and friendship of that correspondence;and yet,I hope and Ibelieve,that they did not love one another better than we do.Tell me what books you are now reading,either by way of study or amusement;how you pass your evenings when at home,and where you pass them when abroad.

I know that you go sometimes to Madame Valentin's assembly;What do you do there?Do you play,or sup,or is it only 'la belle conversation?'

Do you mind your dancing while your dancing-master is with you?As you will be often under the necessity of dancing a minuet,I would have you dance it very well.Remember,that the graceful motion of the arms,the giving your hand,and the putting on and pulling off your hat genteelly,are the material parts of a gentleman's dancing.But the greatest advantage of dancing well is,that it necessarily teaches you to present yourself,to sit,stand,and walk,genteelly;all of which are of real importance to a man of fashion.

I should wish that you were polished before you go to Berlin;where,as you will be in a great deal of good company,I would have you have the right manners for it.It is a very considerable article to have 'le ton de la bonne compagnie',in your destination particularly.The principal business of a foreign minister is,to get into the secrets,and to know all 'les allures'of the courts at which he resides;this he can never bring about but by such a pleasing address,such engaging manners,and such an insinuating behavior,as may make him sought for,and in some measure domestic,in the best company and the best families of the place.

He will then,indeed,be well informed of all that passes,either by the confidences made him,or by the carelessness of people in his company,who are accustomed to look upon him as one of them,and consequently are not upon their guard before him.For a minister who only goes to the court he resides at,in form,to ask an audience of the prince or the minister upon his last instructions,puts them upon their guard,and will never know anything more than what they have a mind that he should know.

Here women may be put to some use.A king's mistress,or a minister's wife or mistress,may give great and useful informations;and are very apt to do it,being proud to show that they have been trusted.But then,in this case,the height of that sort of address,which,strikes women,is requisite;I mean that easy politeness,genteel and graceful address,and that 'exterieur brilliant'which they cannot withstand.There is a sort of men so like women,that they are to be taken just in the same way;I mean those who are commonly called FINE MEN;who swarm at all courts;who have little reflection,and less knowledge;but,who by their good breeding,and 'train-tran'of the world,are admitted into all companies;and,by the imprudence or carelessness of their superiors,pick up secrets worth knowing,which are easily got out of them by proper address.Adieu.