I am very glad that Mr. Lyttelton approves of my new house, and particularly of my canonical—­[James Brydges, duke of Chandos, built a most magnificent and elegant house at cannons, about eight miles from London.  It was superbly furnished with fine pictures, statues, etc., which, after his death, were sold, by auction.  Lord Chesterfield purchased the hall-pillars, the floor; and staircase with double flights; which are now in Chesterfield House, London.]—­pillars.  My bust of Cicero is a very fine one, and well preserved; it will have the best place in my library, unless at your return you bring me over as good a modern head of your own, which I should like still better.  I can tell you, that I shall examine it as attentively as ever antiquary did an old one.

Make my compliments to Mr. Harte, at whose recovery I rejoice.

LETTER XLVI

London, August 2, O. S. 1748.

Dear boy:  Duval the jeweler, is arrived, and was with me three or four days ago.  You will easily imagine that I asked him a few questions concerning you; and I will give you the satisfaction of knowing that, upon the whole, I was very well pleased with the account he gave me.  But, though he seemed to be much in your interest, yet he fairly owned to me that your utterance was rapid, thick, and ungraceful.  I can add nothing to what I have already said upon this subject; but I can and do repeat the absolute necessity of speaking distinctly and gracefully, or else of not speaking at all, and having recourse to signs.  He tells me that you are pretty fat for one of your age:  this you should attend to in a proper way; for if, while very young; you should grow fat, it would be troublesome, unwholesome, and ungraceful; you should therefore, when you have time, take very strong exercise, and in your diet avoid fattening things.  All malt liquors fatten, or at least bloat; and I hope you do not deal much in them.  I look upon wine and water to be, in every respect; much wholesomer.

Duval says there is a great deal of very good company at Madame Valentin’s and at another lady’s, I think one Madame Ponce’s, at Leipsig.  Do you ever go to either of those houses, at leisure times?  It would not, in my mind, be amiss if you did, and would give you a habit of attentions; they are a tribute which all women expect; and which all men, who would be well received by them; must pay.  And, whatever the mind may be, manners at least are certainly improved by the company of women of fashion.