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ais quoi qui plait'。 Desire her to reprove and correct any； and every； the least error and in…； accuracy in your manners； air； address； etc。 No woman in Europe can do it so well； none will do it more willingly； or in a more proper and obliging manner。 In such a case she will not put you out of countenance； by telling you of it in company； but either intimate it by some sign； or wait for an opportunity when you are alone together。 She is also in the best French company； where she will not only introduce but PUFF you； if I may use so low a word。 And I can assure you that it is no little help； in the 'beau monde'； to be puffed there by a fashionable woman。 I send you the inclosed billet to carry her； only as a certificate of the identity of your person； which I take it for granted she could not know again。
You would be so much surprised to receive a whole letter from me without any mention of the exterior ornaments necessary for a gentleman； as manners； elocution； air； address； graces； etc。； that； to comply with your expectations； I will touch upon them； and tell you； that when you come to England； I will show you some people； whom I do not now care to name； raised to the highest stations singly by those exterior and adventitious ornaments； whose parts would never have entitled them to the smallest office in the excise。 Are they then necessary； and worth acquiring； or not？ You will see many instances of this kind at Paris； particularly a glaring one； of a person ＇M。 le Marechal de Richelieu＇ raised to the highest posts and dignities in France； as well as to be absolute sovereign of the 'beau monde'； simply by the graces of his person and address； by woman's chit…chat； accompanied with important gestures； by an imposing air and pleasing abord。 Nay； by these helps； he even passes for a wit； though he hath certainly no uncommon share of it。 I will not name him； because it would be very imprudent in you to do it。 A young fellow； at his first entrance into the 'beau monde'； must not offend the king 'de facto' there。 It is very often more necessary to conceal contempt than resentment； the former forgiven； but the latter sometimes forgot。
There is a small quarto book entitled； 'Histoire Chronologique de la France'； lately published by Le President Henault； a man of parts and learning； with whom you will probably get acquainted at Paris。 I desire that it may always lie upon your table； for your recourse as often as you read history。 The chronology； though chiefly relative to the history of France； is not singly confined to it； but the most interesting events of all the rest of Europe are also inserted； and many of them adorned by short； pretty； and just reflections。 The new edition of 'Les Memoires de Sully'； in three quarto volumes； is also extremely well worth your reading； as it will give you a clearer； and truer notion of one of the most interesting periods of the French history； than you can yet have formed from all the other books you may have read upon the subject。 That prince； I mean Henry the Fourth； had all the accomplishments and virtues of a hero； and of a king； and almost of a man。 The last are the most rarely seen。 May you possess them all！ Adieu。
Pray make my compliments to Mr。 Harte； and let him know that I have this moment received his letter of the 12th； N。 S。； from Antibes。 It requires no immediate answer； I shall therefore delay mine till I have another from him。 Give him the inclosed； which I have received from Mr。 Eliot。
LETTER CXX
LONDON； November 1； O。 S。 1750
MY DEAR FRIEND： I hope that this letter will not find you still at Montpelier； but rather be sent after you from thence to Paris； where； I am persuaded； that Mr。 Harte could find as good advice for his leg as at Montpelier； if not better； but if he is of a different opinion； I am sure you ought to stay there； as long as he desires。
While you are in France； I could wish that the hours you allot for historical amusement should be entirely devoted to the history of France。 One always reads history to most advantage in that country to which it is relative； not only books； but persons being ever at hand to solve doubts and clear up difficulties。 I do by no means advise you to throw away your time in ransacking； like a dull antiquarian； the minute and unimportant parts of remote and fabulous times。 Let blockheads read what blockheads wrote。 And a general notion of the history of France； from the conquest of that country by the Franks； to the reign of Louis the Eleventh； is sufficient for use； consequently sufficient for you。 There are； however； in those remote times； some remarkable eras that deserve more particular attention； I mean those in which some notable alterations happened in the constitution and form of government。 As； for example； in the settlement of Clovis in Gaul； and the form of government which he then established； for； by the way； that form of government differed in this particular from all the other Gothic governments； that the people； neither collectively nor by representatives； had any share in it。 It was a mixture of monarchy and aristocracy： and what were called the States General of France consisted only of the nobility and clergy till the time of Philip le Bel； in the very beginning of the fourteenth century； who first called the people to those assemblies； by no means for the good of the people； who were only amused by this pretended honor； but； in truth； to check the nobility and clergy； and induce them to grant the money he wanted for his profusion； this was a scheme of Enguerrand de Marigny； his minister； who governed both him and his kingdom to such a degree as to； be called the coadjutor and governor of the kingdom。 Charles Martel laid aside these assemblies； and governed by open force。 Pepin restored them； and attached them to him； and with them the nation； by which means he deposed Childeric and mounted the throne。 This is a second period worth your attention。 The third race of kings； which begins with Hugues Capet； is a third period。 A judicious reader of history will save himself a great deal of time and trouble by attending with care only to those interesting periods of history which furnish remarkable events； and make eras； and going slightly over the； common run of events。 Some people read history as others read the 〃Pilgrim's Progress〃； giving equal attention to； and indiscriminately loading their memories with every part alike。 But I would have you read it in a different manner； take the shortest general history you can find of every country； and mark down in that history the most important periods； such as conquests； changes of kings； and alterations of the form of government； and then have recourse to more extensive histories or particular treatises； relative to those great points。 Consider them well； trace up their causes； and follow their consequences。 For instance； there is a most excellent； though very short history of France； by Le Gendre。 Read that with attention； and you will know enough of the general history； but when you find there such remarkable periods as are above mentioned； consult Mezeray； and other of the best and minutest historians； as well as