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ake care of yourself； a little more prudence might probably have prevented it。 Your blood is young； and consequently hot； and you naturally make a great deal by your good stomach and good digestion； you should； therefore； necessarily attenuate and cool it； from time to time； by gentle purges； or by a very low diet； for two or three days together； if you would avoid fevers。 Lord Bacon； who was a very great physician in both senses of the word； hath this aphorism in his 〃Essay upon Health；〃 'Nihil magis ad Sanitatem tribuit quam crebrae et domesticae purgationes'。 By 'domesticae'； he means those simple uncompounded purgatives which everybody can administer to themselves； such as senna…tea； stewed prunes and senria； chewing a little rhubarb； or dissolving an ounce and a half of manna in fair water； with the juice of a lemon to make it palatable。 Such gentle and unconfining evacuations would certainly prevent those feverish attacks to which everybody at your age is subject。
By the way； I do desire； and insist； that whenever； from any indisposition； you are not able to write to me upon the fixed days； that Christian shall； and give me a TRUE account how you are。 I do not expect from him the Ciceronian epistolary style； but I will content myself with the Swiss simplicity and truth。
I hope you extend your acquaintance at Paris； and frequent variety of companies； the only way of knowing the world； every set of company differs in some particulars from another； and a man of business must； in the course of his life； have to do with all sorts。 It is a very great advantage to know the languages of the several countries one travels in； and different companies may； in some degree； be considered as different countries； each hath its distinctive language； customs； and manners： know them all； and you will wonder at none。
Adieu； child。 Take care of your health； there are no pleasures without it。
LETTER CLX
LONDON； February 20； O。 S。 1752。
MY DEAR FRIEND： In all systems whatsoever； whether of religion； government； morals； etc。； perfection is the object always proposed； though possibly unattainable； hitherto； at least； certainly unattained。 However； those who aim carefully at the mark itself； will unquestionably come nearer it； than those who from despair； negligence； or indolence； leave to chance the work of skill。 This maxim holds equally true in common life； those who aim at perfection will come infinitely nearer it than those desponding or indolent spirits； who foolishly say to themselves： Nobody is perfect； perfection is unattainable； to attempt it is chimerical； I shall do as well as others； why then should I give myself trouble to be what I never can； and what； according to the common course of things； I need not be； PERFECT？
I am very sure that I need not point out to you the weakness and the folly of this reasoning； if it deserves the name of reasoning。 It would discourage and put a stop to the exertion of any one of our faculties。 On the contrary； a man of sense and spirit says to himself： Though the point of perfection may （considering the imperfection of our nature） be unattainable； my care； my endeavors； my attention； shall not be wanting to get as near it as I can。 I will approach it every day； possibly； I may arrive at it at last； at least； what I ；am sure is in my own power； I will not be distanced。 Many fools （speaking of you） say to me： What！ would you have him perfect？ I answer： Why not？ What hurt would it do him or me？ O； but that is impossible； say they； I reply； I am not sure of that： perfection in the abstract； I admit to be unattainable； but what is commonly called perfection in a character I maintain to be attainable； and not only that； but in every man's power。 He hath； continue they； a good head； a good heart； a good fund of knowledge； which would increase daily： What would you have more？ Why； I would have everything more that can adorn and complete a character。 Will it do his head； his heart； or his knowledge any harm； to have the utmost delicacy of manners； the most shining advantages of air and address； the most endearing attentions； and the most engaging graces？ But as he is； say they； he is loved wherever he is known。 I am very glad of it； say I ； but I would have him be liked before he is known； and loved afterward。 I would have him； by his first abord and address； make people wish to know him； and inclined to love him： he will save a great deal of time by it。 Indeed； reply they； you are too nice； too exact； and lay too much stress upon things that are of very little consequence。 Indeed； rejoin I； you know very little of the nature of mankind； if you take those things to be of little consequence： one cannot be too attentive to them； it is they that always engage the heart； of which the understanding is commonly the bubble。 And I would much rather that he erred in a point of grammar； of history； of philosophy； etc。； than in point of manners and address。 But consider； he is very young； all this will come in time。 I hope so； but that time must be when he is young； or it will never be at all； the right 'pli' must be taken young； or it will never be easy or seem natural。 Come； come； say they （substituting； as is frequently done； assertion instead of argument）； depend upon it he will do very well： and you have a great deal of reason to be satisfied with him。 I hope and believe he will do well； but I would have him do better than well。 I am very well pleased with him； but I would be more； I would be proud of him。 I would have him have lustre as well as weight。 Did you ever know anybody that reunited all these talents？ Yes； I did； Lord Bolingbroke joined all the politeness； the manners； and the graces of a courtier； to the solidity of a statesman； and to the learning of a pedant。 He was 'omnis homo'； and pray what should hinder my boy from being so too； if he 'hath； as I think he hath； all the other qualifications that you allow him？ Nothing can hinder him； but neglect of or inattention to； those objects which his own good sense must tell him are； of infinite consequence to him； and which therefore I will not suppose him capable of either neglecting or despising。
This （to tell you the whole truth） is the result of a controversy that passed yesterday； between Lady Hervey and myself； upon your subject； and almost in the very words。 I submit the decision of it to yourself； let your own good sense determine it； and make you act in consequence of that determination。 The receipt to make this composition is short and infallible； here I give it to you：
Take variety of the best company； wherever you are； be minutely attentive to every word and action； imitate respectively those whom you observe to be distinguished and considered for any one accomplishment； then mix all those several accomplishments together； and serve them up yourself to others。
I hope your fair； or rather your brown AMERICAN is well。 I hear that she makes very handsome presents； if she is not so herself。 I am told there are people at Paris who expect； from this secret connection； to see in time a volume of letters； superior to Madame de Graffiny's Peruvian ones； I lay in my claim to one of the f