LETTER LXII

London, January 10, O. S. 1749.

Dear boy:  I have received your letter of the 31st December, N. S. Your thanks for my present, as you call it, exceed the value of the present; but the use, which you assure me that you will make of it, is the thanks which I desire to receive.  Due attention to the inside of books, and due contempt for the outside, is the proper relation between a man of sense and his books.

Now that you are going a little more into the world; I will take this occasion to explain my intentions as to your future expenses, that you may know what you have to expect from me, and make your plan accordingly.  I shall neither deny nor grudge you any money, that may be necessary for either your improvement or your pleasures:  I mean the pleasures of a rational being.  Under the head of improvement, I mean the best books, and the best masters, cost what they will; I also mean all the expense of lodgings, coach, dress; servants, etc., which, according to the several places where you may be, shall be respectively necessary to enable you to keep the best company.  Under the head of rational pleasures, I comprehend, first, proper charities, to real and compassionate objects of it; secondly, proper presents to those to whom you are obliged, or whom you desire to oblige; thirdly, a conformity of expense to that of the company which you keep; as in public spectacles; your share of little entertainments; a few pistoles at games of mere commerce; and other incidental calls of good company.  The only two articles which I will never supply, are the profusion of low riot, and the idle lavishness of negligence and laziness.  A fool squanders away, without credit or advantage to himself, more than a man of sense spends with both.  The latter employs his money as he does his time, and never spends a shilling of the one, nor a minute of the other, but in something that is either useful or rationally pleasing to himself or others.  The former buys whatever he does not want, and does not pay for what he does want.  He cannot withstand the charms of a toyshop; snuff-boxes, watches, heads of canes, etc., are his destruction.  His servants and tradesmen conspire with his own indolence to cheat him; and, in a very little time, he is astonished, in the midst of all the ridiculous superfluities, to find himself in want of all the real comforts and necessaries of life.  Without care and method, the largest fortune will not, and with them, almost the smallest will, supply all necessary expenses.  As far as you can possibly, pay ready money for everything you buy and avoid bills.  Pay that money, too, yourself, and not through the hands of any servant, who always either stipulates poundage, or requires a present for his good word, as they call it.  Where you must have bills (as for meat and drink, clothes, etc.), pay them regularly every month, and with