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to make yourself capable of being of use to me； if I should continue in
it so long。 The reading； writing； and speaking the modern languages
correctly； the knowledge of the laws of nations； and the particular
constitution of the empire； of history； geography； and chronology； are
absolutely necessary to this business； for which I have always intended
you。 With these qualifications you may very possibly be my successor；
though not my immediate one。
I hope you employ your whole time； which few people do； and that you put
every moment to； profit of some kind or other。 I call company； walking；
riding； etc。； employing one's time； and； upon proper occasions； very
usefully； but what I cannot forgive in anybody is sauntering； and doing
nothing at all； with a thing so precious as time； and so irrecoverable
when lost。
Are you acquainted with any ladies at Lausanne？ and do you behave
yourself with politeness enough to make them desire your company？
I must finish： God bless you！
LETTER V
LONDON； February 24； O。 S。 1747
SIR： In order that we may； reciprocally； keep up our French； which； for
want of practice； we might forget； you will permit me to have the honor
of assuring you of my respects in that language： and be so good to answer
me in the same。 Not that I am apprehensive of your forgetting to speak
French： since it is probable that two…thirds of our daily prattle is in
that language； and because； if you leave off writing French； you may
perhaps neglect that grammatical purity； and accurate orthography； which；
in other languages； you excel in； and really； even in French； it is
better to write well than ill。 However； as this is a language very
proper for sprightly； gay subjects； I shall conform to that； and reserve
those which are serious for English。 I shall not therefore mention to
you； at present； your Greek or Latin； your study of the Law of Nature； or
the Law of Nations； the Rights of People； or of Individuals； but rather
discuss the subject of your Amusements and Pleasures； for； to say the
truth； one must have some。 May I be permitted to inquire of what nature
yours are？ Do they consist in little commercial play at cards in good
company？ are they little agreeable suppers； at which cheerfulness and
decency are united？ or； do you pay court to some fair one； who requires
such attentions as may be of use in contributing to polish you？ Make me
your confidant upon this subject； you shall not find a severe censor： on
the contrary； I wish to obtain the employment of minister to your
pleasures： I will point them out； and even contribute to them。
Many young people adopt pleasures； for which they have not the least
taste； only because they are called by that name。 They often mistake so
totally； as to imagine that debauchery is pleasure。 You must allow that
drunkenness； which is equally destructive to body and mind； is a fine
pleasure。 Gaming； that draws you into a thousand scrapes； leaves you
penniless； and gives you the air and manners of an outrageous madman；
is another most exquisite pleasure； is it not？ As to running after
women； the consequences of that vice are only the loss of one's nose；
the total destruction of health； and； not unfrequently； the being run
through the body。
These； you see； are all trifles； yet this is the catalogue of pleasures
of most of those young people； who never reflecting themselves； adopt；
indiscriminately； what others choose to call by the seducing name of
pleasure。 I am thoroughly persuaded you will not fall into such errors；
and that； in the choice of your amusements； you will be directed by
reason； and a discerning taste。 The true pleasures of a gentleman are
those of the table； but within the bound of moderation； good company；
that is to say； people of merit； moderate play； which amuses； without any
interested views； and sprightly gallant conversations with women of
fashion and sense。
These are the real pleasures of a gentleman； which occasion neither
sickness； shame； nor repentance。 Whatever exceeds them； becomes low
vice； brutal passion； debauchery； and insanity of； mind； all of which；
far from giving satisfaction； bring on dishonor and disgrace。 Adieu。
LETTER VI
LONDON； March 6； O。 S。 1747
DEAR BOY： Whatever you do； will always affect me； very sensibly； one way
or another； and I am now most agreeably affected； by two letters； which I
have lately seen from Lausanne； upon your subject； the one from Madame
St。 Germain； the other from Monsieur Pampigny： they both give so good an
account of you； that I thought myself obliged； in justice both to them
and； to you； to let you know it。 Those who deserve a good character；
ought to have the satisfaction of knowing that they have it； both as a
reward and as an encouragement。 They write； that you are not only
'decrotte；' but tolerably well…bred； and that the English crust of
awkward bashfulness； shyness； and roughness （of which； by the bye； you
had your share） is pretty well rubbed off。 I am most heartily glad of
it； for； as I have often told you； those lesser talents； of an engaging；
insinuating manner； an easy good…breeding； a genteel behavior and
address； are of infinitely more advantage than they are generally thought
to be； especially here in England。 Virtue and learning； like gold； have
their intrinsic value but if they are not polished； they certainly lose a
great deal of their luster； and even polished brass will pass upon more
people than rough gold。 What a number of sins does the cheerful； easy
good…breeding of the French frequently cover？ Many of them want common
sense； many more common learning； but in general； they make up so much by
their manner； for those defects； that frequently they pass undiscovered：
I have often said； and do think； that a Frenchman； who； with a fund of
virtue； learning and good sense； has the manners and good…breeding of his
country； is the perfection of human nature。 This perfection you may； if
you please； and I hope you will； arrive at。 You know what virtue is： you
may have it if you will； it is in every man's power； and miserable is the
man who has it not。 Good sense God has given you。 Learning you already
possess enough of； to have； in a reasonable time； all that a man need
have。 With this； you are thrown out early into the world； where it will
be your own fault if you do not acquire all； the other accomplishments
necessary to complete and adorn your character。 You will do well to make
your compliments to Madame St。 Germain and Monsieur Pampigny； and tell
them； how sensible you are of their partiality to you； in the advantageous
testimonies which； you are informed； they have given of you here。
Adieu。 Continue to deserve such testimonies； and then you will not only
deserve； but enjoy my truest affection。
LETTER VII
LONDON； March 27； O。 S。 1747。
DEAR BOY： Pleasure is the rock which most young people split upon： they
launch out with crowded sails in quest of it； but without a compass to
direct their course； or reason sufficient to steer the vessel； for want
of which； pain and shame； instead of pleasure； are the returns of their
voyage。 Do not t