It is this alone that can give all your other talents their full lustre and value; and, consequently, it is this which should now be thy principal object of your attention.  Observe minutely, wherever you go, the allowed and established models of good-breeding, and form yourself upon them.  Whatever pleases you most in others, will infallibly please others in you.  I have often repeated this to you; now is your time of putting it in practice.

Pray make my compliments to Mr. Harte, and tell him I have received his letter from Vienna of the 16th N. S., but that I shall not trouble him with an answer to it till I have received the other letter which he promises me, upon the subject of one of my last.  I long to hear from him after your settlement at Turin:  the months that you are to pass there will be very decisive ones for you.  The exercises of the Academy, and the manners of courts must be attended to and acquired; and, at the same time, your other studies continued.  I am sure you will not pass, nor desire, one single idle hour there:  for I do not foresee that you can, in any part of your life, put out six months to greater interest, than those next six at Turin.

We will talk hereafter about your stay at Rome and in other parts of Italy.  This only I will now recommend to you; which is, to extract the spirit of every place you go to.  In those places which are only distinguished by classical fame, and valuable remains of antiquity, have your classics in your hand and in your head; compare the ancient geography and descriptions with the modern, and never fail to take notes.  Rome will furnish you with business enough of that sort; but then it furnishes you with many other objects well deserving your attention, such as deep ecclesiastical craft and policy.  Adieu.

LETTER LXIX

London, April 27, O. S. 1749.

Dear boy:  I have received your letter from Vienna, of the 19th N. S., which gives me great uneasiness upon Mr. Harte’s account.  You and I have reason to interest ourselves very particularly in everything that relates to him.  I am glad, however, that no bone is broken or dislocated; which being the case, I hope he will have been able to pursue his journey to Venice.  In that supposition I direct this letter to you at Turin; where it will either find, or at least not wait very long for you, as I calculate that you will be there by the end of next month, N. S. I hope you reflect how much you have to do there, and that you are determined to employ every moment of your time accordingly.  You have your classical and severer studies to continue with Mr. Harte; you have your exercises to learn; the turn and manners of a court to acquire; reserving always some time for the decent amusements and pleasures of a gentleman.  You see I am never against pleasures; I loved them myself when I was of your age, and it is as reasonable that you should love them now.