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men that he would have you observe to prevent the returns of this complaint； and； in case of any returns； the immediate applications； whether external or internal； that he would have you make use of。 Consider； it is very worth your while to submit at present to any course of medicine or diet； to any restraint or confinement； for a time； in order to get rid； once for all； of so troublesome and painful a distemper； the returns of which would equally break in upon your business or your pleasures。 Notwithstanding all this； which is plain sense and reason； I much fear that； as soon as ever you are got out of your present distress； you will take no preventive care； by a proper course of medicines and regimen； but； like most people of your age； think it impossible that you ever should be ill again。 However； if you will not be wise for your own sake； I desire you will be so for mine； and most scrupulously observe Dr。 Hugo's present and future directions。
Hanover； where I take it for granted you are； is at present the seat and centre of foreign negotiations； there are ministers from almost every court in Europe； and you have a fine opportunity of displaying with modesty； in conversation； your knowledge of the matters now in agitation。 The chief I take to be the Election of the King of the Romans； which； though I despair of； heartily wish were brought about for two reasons。 The first is； that I think it may prevent a war upon the death of the present Emperor； who； though young and healthy； may possibly die； as young and healthy people often do。 The other is； the very reason that makes some powers oppose it； and others dislike it； who do not openly oppose it； I mean； that it may tend to make the imperial dignity hereditary in the House of Austria； which I heartily wish； together with a very great increase of power in the empire： till when； Germany will never be anything near a match for France。 Cardinal Richelieu showed his superior abilities in nothing more； than in thinking no pains or expense too great to break the power of the House of Austria in the empire。 Ferdinand had certainly made himself absolute； and the empire consequently formidable to France； if that Cardinal had not piously adopted the Protestant cause； and put the empire； by the treaty of Westphalia； in pretty much the same disjointed situation in which France itself was before Lewis the Eleventh ； when princes of the blood； at the head of provinces； and Dukes of Brittany； etc。； always opposed； and often gave laws to the crown。 Nothing but making the empire hereditary in the House of Austria； can give it that strength and efficiency； which I wish it had； for the sake of the balance of power。 For； while the princes of the empire are so independent of the emperor； so divided among themselves； and so open to the corruption of the best bidders； it is ridiculous to expect that Germany ever will； or can act as a compact and well…united body against France。 But as this notion of mine would as little please SOME OF OUR FRIENDS； as many of our enemies； I would not advise you； though you should be of the same opinion； to declare yourself too freely so。 Could the Elector Palatine be satisfied； which I confess will be difficult； considering the nature of his pretensions； the tenaciousness and haughtiness of the court of Vienna （and our inability to do； as we have too often done； their work for them）； I say； if the Elector Palatine could be engaged to give his vote； I should think it would be right to proceed to the election with a clear majority of five votes； and leave the King of Prussia and the Elector of Cologne； to protest and remonstrate as much as ever they please。 The former is too wise； and the latter too weak in every respect； to act in consequence of these protests。 The distracted situation of France； with its ecclesiastical and parliamentary quarrels； not to mention the illness and possibly the death of the Dauphin； will make the King of Prussia； who is certainly no Frenchman in his heart； very cautious how he acts as one。 The Elector of Saxony will be influenced by the King of Poland； who must be determined by Russia； considering his views upon Poland； which； by the by； I hope he will never obtain； I mean； as to making that crown hereditary in his family。 As for his sons having it by the precarious tenure of election； by which his father now holds it； 'a la bonne heure'。 But； should Poland have a good government under hereditary kings； there would be a new devil raised in Europe； that I do not know who could lay。 I am sure I would not raise him； though on my own side for the present。
I do not know how I came to trouble my head so much about politics today； which has been so very free from them for some years： I suppose it was because I knew that I was writing to the most consummate politician of this； and his age。 If I err； you will set me right； 'si quid novisti rectius istis； candidus imperti'； etc。
I am excessively impatient for your next letter； which I expect by the first post from Hanover； to remove my anxiety； as I hope it will； not only with regard to your health； but likewise to OTHER THINGS； in the meantime in the language of a pedant； but with the tenderness of a parent； 'jubeo te bene valere'。
Lady Chesterfield makes you many compliments； and is much concerned at your indisposition。
LETTER CLXXV
TO MONSIEUR DE VOLTAIRE； NOW STAYING AT BERLIN。
LONDON； August 27； O。 S。 1752。
SIR： As a most convincing proof how infinitely I am interested in everything which concerns Mr。 Stanhope； who will have the honor of presenting you this letter； I take the liberty of introducing him to you。 He has read a great deal； he has seen a great deal； whether or not he has made a proper use of that knowledge； is what I do not know： he is only twenty years of age。 He was at Berlin some years ago； and therefore he returns thither； for at present people are attracted toward the north by the same motives which but lately drew them to the south。
Permit me； Sir； to return you thanks for the pleasure and instruction I have received from your 'History of Lewis XIV'。 I have as yet read it but four times； because I wish to forget it a little before I read it a fifth； but I find that impossible： I shall therefore only wait till you give us the augmentation which you promised； let me entreat you not to defer it long。 I thought myself pretty conversant in the history of the reign of Lewis XIV。； by means of those innumerable histories； memoirs； anecdotes； etc。； which I had read relative to that period of time。 You have convinced me that I was mistaken； and had upon that subject very confused ideas in many respects； and very false ones in others。 Above all； I cannot but acknowledge the obligation we have to you； Sir； for the light which you have thrown upon the follies and outrages of the different sects； the weapons you employ against those madmen； or those impostors； are the only suitable ones； to make use of any others would be imitating them： they must be attacked by ridicule； and； punished with contempt。 'A propos' of those fanatics； I send you here inclosed a piece upon that subject； written by the late Dean Swift： I believe you will not disl