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n the finest rhymes in the world。
As for Operas； they are essentially too absurd and extravagant to mention； I look upon them as a magic scene； contrived to please the eyes and the ears； at the expense of the understanding； and I consider singing； rhyming； and chiming heroes； and princesses； and philosophers； as I do the hills； the trees； the birds； and the beasts； who amicably joined in one common country dance； to the irresistible turn of Orpheus's lyre。 Whenever I go to an opera； I leave my sense and reason at the door with my half guinea； and deliver myself up to my eyes and my ears。
Thus I have made you my poetical confession； in which I have acknowledged as many sins against the established taste in both countries； as a frank heretic could have owned against the established church in either； but I am now privileged by my age to taste and think for myself； and not to care what other people think of me in those respects； an advantage which youth； among its many advantages； hath not。 It must occasionally and outwardly conform； to a certain degree； to establish tastes； fashions； and decisions。 A young man may； with a becoming modesty； dissent； in private companies； from public opinions and prejudices： but he must not attack them with warmth； nor magisterially set up his own sentiments against them。 Endeavor to hear； and know all opinions； receive them with complaisance； form your own with coolness； and give it with modesty。
I have received a letter from Sir John Lambert； in which he requests me to use my interest to procure him the remittance of Mr。 Spencer's money； when he goes abroad and also desires to know to whose account he is to place the postage of my letters。 I do not trouble him with a letter in answer； since you can execute the commission。 Pray make my compliments to him； and assure him that I will do all I can to procure him Mr。 Spencer's business； but that his most effectual way will be by Messrs。 Hoare； who are Mr。 Spencer's cashiers； and who will undoubtedly have their choice upon whom they will give him his credit。 As for the postage of the letters； your purse and mine being pretty near the same； do you pay it； over and above your next draught。
Your relations； the Princes B…； will soon be with you at Paris； for they leave London this week： whenever you converse with them； I desire it may be in Italian； that language not being yet familiar enough to you。
By our printed papers； there seems to be a sort of compromise between the King and the parliament； with regard to the affairs of the hospitals； by taking them out of the hands of the Archbishop of Paris； and placing them in Monsieur d'Argenson's： if this be true； that compromise； as it is called； is clearly a victory on the side of the court； and a defeat on the part of the parliament； for if the parliament had a right； they had it as much to the exclusion of Monsieur d'Argenson as of the Archbishop。 Adieu。
LETTER CLVIII
LONDON； February 6； O。 S。 1752。
MY DEAR FRIEND： Your criticism of Varon is strictly just； but； in truth； severe。 You French critics seek for a fault as eagerly as I do for a beauty： you consider things in the worst light； to show your skill； at the expense of your pleasure； I view them in the best； that I may have more pleasure； though at the expense of my judgment。 A 'trompeur trompeur et demi' is prettily said； and； if you please； you may call 'Varon； un Normand'； and 'Sostrate； un Manceau； qui vaut un Normand et demi'； and； considering the 'denouement' in the light of trick upon trick； it would undoubtedly be below the dignity of the buskin； and fitter for the sock。
But let us see if we cannot bring off the author。 The great question upon which all turns； is to discover and ascertain who Cleonice really is。 There are doubts concerning her 'etat'； how shall they be cleared？ Had the truth been extorted from Varon （who alone knew） by the rack； it would have been a true tragical 'denouement'。 But that would probably not have done with Varon； who is represented as a bold； determined； wicked； and at that time desperate fellow； for he was in the hands of an enemy who he knew could not forgive him； with common prudence or safety。 The rack would； therefore； have extorted no truth from him； but he would have died enjoying the doubts of his enemies； and the confusion that must necessarily attend those doubts。 A stratagem is therefore thought of to discover what force and terror could not； and the stratagem such as no king or minister would disdain； to get at an important discovery。 If you call that stratagem a TRICK； you vilify it； and make it comical； but call that trick a STRATAGEM； or a MEASURE； and you dignify it up to tragedy： so frequently do ridicule or dignity turn upon one single word。 It is commonly said； and more particularly by Lord Shaftesbury； that ridicule is the best test of truth； for that it will not stick where it is not just。 I deny it。 A truth learned in a certain light； and attacked in certain words； by men of wit and humor； may； and often doth； become ridiculous； at least so far that the truth is only remembered and repeated for the sake of the ridicule。 The overturn of Mary of Medicis into a river； where she was half…drowned； would never have been remembered if Madame de Vernuel； who saw it； had not said 'la Reine boit'。 Pleasure or malignity often gives ridicule a weight which it does not deserve。 The versification； I must confess； is too much neglected and too often bad： but； upon the whole； I read the play with pleasure。
If there is but a great deal of wit and character in your new comedy； I will readily compound for its having little or no plot。 I chiefly mind dialogue and character in comedies。 Let dull critics feed upon the carcasses of plays； give me the taste and the dressing。
I am very glad you went to Versailles to see the ceremony of creating the Prince de Conde 'Chevalier de l' Ordre'； and I do not doubt but that upon this occasion you informed yourself thoroughly of the institution and rules of that order。 If you did； you were certainly told it was instituted by Henry III。 immediately after his return； or rather his flight from Poland； he took the hint of it at Venice； where he had seen the original manuscript of an order of the 'St。 Esprit； ou droit desir'； which had been instituted in 1352； by Louis d'Anjou； King of Jerusalem and Sicily； and husband to Jane； Queen of Naples； Countess of Provence。 This Order was under the protection of St。 Nicholas de Bari； whose image hung to the collar。 Henry III。 found the Order of St。 Michael prostituted and degraded； during the civil wars； he therefore joined it to his new Order of the St。 Esprit； and gave them both together； for which reason every knight of the St。 Esprit is now called Chevalier des Ordres du Roi。 The number of the knights hath been different； but is now fixed to ONE HUNDRED； exclusive of the sovereign。 There； are many officers who wear the riband of this Order； like the other knights； and what is very singular is； that these officers frequently sell their employments； but obtain leave to wear the blue riband still； though the purchasers of those offices wear it also。
As you will have been a gr