being not so numerous as to swell into a volume, especially in times of peace (for in times of war all the terms of fortifications are included), I thought fit to extract them in the same manner for the benefit of young practitioners as a famous author has compiled his learned treatise of the law, called the ‘Doctor and Student.’  I have not made any great progress in this piece; but, however, I will give you a specimen of it, which will make you in the same manner a judge of the design and nature of this treatise.

“Politician:  What are the necessary tools for a Prince to work with?

“Student:  Ministers of State.

“Politician:  What are the two great qualities of a Minister of State?

“Student:  Secrecy and despatch.

“Politician:  Into how many parts are the Ministers of State divided?

“Student:  Into two.  First, Ministers of State at home; secondly, Ministers of State abroad, who are called Foreign Ministers.

“Politician:  Very right.  Now as I design you for the latter of these employments I shall waive saying anything about the first of these.  What are the different degrees of Foreign Ministers?

“Student:  The different degrees of Foreign Ministers are as follows:  First, Plenipotentiaries; second, Ambassadors-Extraordinary; third, Ambassadors in ordinary; fourth, Envoys-Extraordinary; fifth, Envoys-in-ordinary; sixth, Residents; seventh, Consuls; and eighth, Secretaries.

“Politician:  How is a Foreign Minister to be known?

“Student:  By his credentials.

“Politician:  When are a Foreign Minister’s credentials to be delivered?

“Student:  Upon his first admission into the presence of the Prince to whom he is sent, otherwise called his first audience.

“Politician:  How many kinds of audience are there?

“Student:  Two, which are called a public audience and a private audience.

“Politician:  What should a Foreign Minister’s behaviour be when he has his first audience?

“Student:  He should bow profoundly, speak deliberately, and wear both sides of his long periwig before, etc.

“By these few questions and answers you may be able to make some judgment of the usefulness of this politic treatise.  Wicquefort, it is true, can never be sufficiently admired for his elaborate treatise of the conduct of an Ambassador in all his negotiations; but I design this only as a compendium, or the Ambassador’s Manual, or vade mecum.

“I have writ so far of this letter, and do not know who to send it to; but I have now determined to send it either to Dr. Arbuthnot, the Dean of St. Patrick’s, or to both.  My Lord Clarendon is very much approved of at Court, and I believe is not dissatisfied with his reception.  We have not very much variety of divisions; what we did yesterday and to-day we shall do to-morrow, which is to go to Court and walk in the gardens at Herrenhausen.  If I write any more my letter will be just like my diversion, the same thing over and over again."[11]