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everybody； though fairly。 understood by very few。 There are two very puerile affectations which I wish this book had been free from； the one is； the total subversion of all the old established French orthography； the other is； the not making use of any one capital letter throughout the whole book； except at the beginning of a paragraph。 It offends my eyes to see rome； paris； france； Caesar； I henry the fourth； etc。； begin with small letters； and I do not conceive that there can be any reason for doing it； half so strong as the reason of long usage is to the contrary。 This is an affectation below Voltaire； who； I am not ashamed to say； that I admire and delight in； as an author； equally in prose and in verse。
I had a letter a few days ago from Monsieur du Boccage； in which he says； 'Monsieur Stanhope s'est jete dans la politique； et je crois qu'il y reussira'： You do very well； it is your destination； but remember that； to succeed in great things； one must first learn to please in little ones。 Engaging manners and address must prepare the way for superior knowledge and abilities to act with effect。 The late Duke of Marlborough's manners and address prevailed with the first king of Prussia； to let his troops remain in the army of the Allies； when neither their representations； nor his own share in the common cause could do it。 The Duke of Marlborough had no new matter to urge to him； but had a manner； which he could not； nor did not； resist。 Voltaire； among a thousand little delicate strokes of that kind； says of the Duke de la Feuillade； 'qu'il etoit l'homme le plus brillant et le plus aimable du royaume； et quoique gendre du General et Ministre； il avoit pour lui la faveur publique'。 Various little circumstances of that sort will often make a man of great real merit be hated； if he hath not address and manners to make him be loved。 Consider all your own circumstances seriously； and you will find that； of all arts； the art of pleasing is the most necessary for you to study and possess。 A silly tyrant said； 'oderint modo timeant'； a wise man would have said； 'modo ament nihil timendum est mihi'。 Judge from your own daily experience； of the efficacy of that pleasing 'je ne sais quoi'； when you feel； as you and everybody certainly does； that in men it is more engaging than knowledge； in women than beauty。
I long to see Lord and Lady … （who are not yet arrived）； because they have lately seen you； and I always fancy； that I can fish out something new concerning you； from those who have seen you last： not that I shall much rely upon their accounts； because I distrust the judgment of Lord and Lady …； in those matters about which I am most inquisitive。 They have ruined their own son by what they called and thought loving him。 They have made him believe that the world was made for him； not he for the world； and unless he stays abroad a great while； and falls into very good company； he will expect； what he will never find； the attentions and complaisance from others； which he has hitherto been used to from Papa and Mamma。 This； I fear； is too much the case of Mr。； who； I doubt； will be run through the body； and be near dying； before he knows how to live。 However you may turn out； you can never make me any of these reproaches。 I indulged no silly； womanish fondness for you； instead of inflicting my tenderness upon you； I have taken all possible methods to make you deserve it； and thank God you do； at least； I know but one article； in which you are different from what I could wish you； and you very well know what that is I want： That I and all the world should like you； as well as I love you。 Adieu。
LETTER CLXV
LONDON； April 30； O。 S。 1752。
MY DEAR FRIEND： 'Avoir du monde' is； in my opinion； a very just and happy expression for having address； manners； and for knowing how to behave properly in all companies； and it implies very truly that a man who hath not those accomplishments is not of the world。 Without them； the best parts are inefficient； civility is absurd； and freedom offensive。 A learned parson； rusting in his cell； at Oxford or Cambridge； will season admirably well upon the nature of man； will profoundly analyze the head； the heart； the reason； the will； the passions； the senses； the sentiments； and all those subdivisions of we know not what； and yet； unfortunately； he knows nothing of man； for he hath not lived with him； and is ignorant of all the various modes； habits； prejudices； and tastes； that always influence and often determine him。 He views man as he does colors in Sir Isaac Newton's prism； where only the capital ones are seen； but an experienced dyer knows all their various shades and gradations； together with the result of their several mixtures。 Few men are of one plain； decided color； most are mixed； shaded； and blended； and vary as much； from different situations； as changeable silks do form different lights。 The man 'qui a du monde' knows all this from his own experience and observation： the conceited； cloistered philosopher knows nothing of it from his own theory； his practice is absurd and improper； and he acts as awkwardly as a man would dance； who had never seen others dance； nor learned of a dancing…master； but who had only studied the notes by which dances are now pricked down as well as tunes。 Observe and imitate； then； the address； the arts； and the manners of those 'qui ont du monde'： see by what methods they first make； and afterward improve impressions in their favor。 Those impressions are much oftener owing to little causes than to intrinsic merit； which is less volatile； and hath not so sudden an effect。 Strong minds have undoubtedly an ascendant over weak ones； as Galigai Marachale d'Ancre very justly observed； when； to the disgrace and reproach of those times； she was executed for having governed Mary of Medicis by the arts of witchcraft and magic。 But then ascendant is to be gained by degrees； and by those arts only which experience and the knowledge of the world teaches； for few are mean enough to be bullied； though most are weak enough to be bubbled。 I have often seen people of superior； governed by people of much inferior parts； without knowing or even suspecting that they were so governed。 This can only happen when those people of inferior parts have more worldly dexterity and experience； than those they govern。 They see the weak and unguarded part； and apply to it they take it； and all the rest follows。 Would you gain either men or women； and every man of sense desires to gain both； 'il faut du monde'。 You have had more opportunities than ever any man had； at your age； of acquiring 'ce monde'。 You have been in the best companies of most countries； at an age when others have hardly been in any company at all。 You are master of all those languages； which John Trott seldom speaks at all； and never well； consequently you need be a stranger nowhere。 This is the way； and the only way； of having 'du monde'； but if you have it not； and have still any coarse rusticity about you； may not one apply to you the 'rusticus expectat' of Horace？
This knowledge of the world teaches us more particularly two things； both which are of infinite consequence； and