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than offend； rather be well than ill spoken of； rather be loved than
hated； remember to have that constant attention about you which flatters
every man's little vanity； and the want of which； by mortifying his
pride； never fails to excite his resentment； or at least his ill will。
For instance； most people （I might say all people） have their weaknesses；
they have their aversions and their likings； to such or such things； so
that； if you were to laugh at a man for his aversion to a cat； or cheese
（which are common antipathies）； or； by inattention and negligence； to let
them come in his way； where you could prevent it； he would； in the first
case； think himself insulted； and； in the second； slighted； and would
remember both。 Whereas your care to procure for him what he likes； and
to remove from him what he hates； shows him that he is at least an object
of your attention； flatters his vanity； and makes him possibly more your
friend； than a more important service would have done。 With regard to
women； attentions still below these are necessary； and； by the custom of
the world； in some measure due； according to the laws of good…breeding。
My long and frequent letters； which I send you； in great doubt of their
success； put me in mind of certain papers； which you have very lately；
and I formerly； sent up to kites； along the string； which we called
messengers； some of them the wind used to blow away； others were torn by
the string； and but few of them got up and stuck to the kite。 But I will
content myself now； as I did then； if some of my present messengers do
but stick to you。 Adieu！
LETTER II
DEAR BOY： You are by this time （I suppose） quite settled and at home at
Lausanne； therefore pray let me know how you pass your time there； and
what your studies； your amusements； and your acquaintances are。 I take
it for granted； that you inform yourself daily of the nature of the
government and constitution of the Thirteen Cantons； and as I am ignorant
of them myself； must apply to you for information。 I know the names； but
I do not know the nature of some of the most considerable offices there；
such as the Avoyers； the Seizeniers； the Banderets； and the Gros Sautier。
I desire； therefore； that you will let me know what is the particular
business； department； or province of these several magistrates。 But as
I imagine that there may be some； though； I believe； no essential
difference； in the governments of the several Cantons； I would not give
you the trouble of informing yourself of each of them； but confine my
inquiries； as you may your informations； to the Canton you reside in；
that of Berne； which I take to be the principal one。 I am not sure
whether the Pays de Vaud； where you are； being a conquered country； and
taken from the Dukes of Savoy； in the year 1536； has the same share in
the government of the Canton； as the German part of it has。 Pray inform
yourself and me about it。
I have this moment received yours from Berne； of the 2d October； N。 S。
and also one from Mr。 Harte； of the same date； under Mr。 Burnaby's cover。
I find by the latter； and indeed I thought so before； that some of your
letters and some of Mr。 Harte's have not reached me。 Wherefore； for the
future； I desire； that both he and you will direct your letters for me；
to be left ches Monsieur Wolters； Agent de S。 M。 Britanique； a Rotterdam；
who will take care to send them to me safe。 The reason why you have not
received letters either from me or from Grevenkop was that we directed
them to Lausanne； where we thought you long ago： and we thought it to no
purpose to direct to you upon your ROUTE； where it was little likely that
our letters would meet with you。 But you have； since your arrival at
Lausanne； I believe； found letters enough from me； and it may be more
than you have read； at least with attention。
I am glad that you like Switzerland so well； and am impatient to hear how
other matters go； after your settlement at Lausanne。 God bless you！
LETTER III
LONDON； December 2； O。S。 1746。
DEAR BOY： I have not； in my present situation； ＇His Lordship was； in
the year 1746； appointed one of his Majesty's secretaries of state。＇
time to write to you； either so much or so often as I used； while I was
in a place of much more leisure and profit； but my affection for you must
not be judged of by the number of my letters； and； though the one
lessens； the other； I assure you； does not。
I have just now received your letter of the 25th past； N。 S。； and； by the
former post； one from Mr。 Harte； with both which I am very well pleased：
with Mr。 Harte's； for the good account which he gives me of you； with
yours； for the good account which you gave me of what I desired to be
informed of。 Pray continue to give me further information of the form of
government of the country you are now in； which I hope you will know most
minutely before you leave it。 The inequality of the town of Lausanne
seems to be very convenient in this cold weather； because going up hill
and down will keep you warm。 You say there is a good deal of good
company； pray； are you got into it？ Have you made acquaintances； and
with whom？ Let me know some of their names。 Do you learn German yet； to
read； write； and speak it？
Yesterday； I saw a letter from Monsieur Bochat to a friend of mine； which
gave me the greatest pleasure that I have felt this great while； because
it gives so very good an account of you。 Among other things which
Monsieur Bochat says to your advantage； he mentions the tender uneasiness
and concern that you showed during my illness； for which （though I will
say that you owe it to me） I am obliged to you： sentiments of gratitude
not being universal； nor even common。 As your affection for me can only
proceed from your experience and conviction of my fondness for you （for
to talk of natural affection is talking nonsense）； the only return I
desire is； what it is chiefly your interest to make me； I mean your
invariable practice of virtue； and your indefatigable pursuit of
knowledge。 Adieu！ and be persuaded that I shall love you extremely；
while you deserve it； but not one moment longer。
LETTER IV
LONDON； December 9； O。 S。 1746。
DEAR BOY： Though I have very little time； and though I write by this post
to Mr。 Harte； yet I cannot send a packet to Lausanne without a word or
two to yourself。 I thank you for your letter of congratulation which you
wrote me； notwithstanding the pain it gave you。 The accident that caused
the pain was； I presume； owing to that degree of giddiness； of which I
have sometimes taken the liberty to speak to you。 The post I am now in；
though the object of most people's views and desires； was in some degree
inflicted upon me； and a certain concurrence cf circumstances obliged me
to engage in it。 But I feel that to go through with it requires more
strength of body and mind than I have： were you three or four years
older； you should share in my trouble； and I would have taken you into my
office； but I hope you will employ these three or four years so well as
to make yourself capable of being of use to me； if I should continue in
it so l