I remember a gentleman who had read history in this thoughtless and undistinguishing manner, and who, having traveled, had gone through the Valtelline.  He told me that it was a miserable poor country, and therefore it was, surely, a great error in Cardinal Richelieu to make such a rout, and put France to so much expense about it.  Had my friend read history as he ought to have done, he would have known that the great object of that great minister was to reduce the power of the House of Austria; and in order to that, to cut off as much as he could the communication between the several parts of their then extensive dominions; which reflections would have justified the Cardinal to him, in the affair of the Valtelline.  But it was easier to him to remember facts, than to combine and reflect.

One observation I hope you will make in reading history; for it is an obvious and a true one.  It is, that more people have made great figures and great fortunes in courts by their exterior accomplishments, than by their interior qualifications.  Their engaging address, the politeness of their manners, their air, their turn, hath almost always paved the way for their superior abilities, if they have such, to exert themselves.  They have been favorites before they have been ministers.  In courts, an universal gentleness and ‘douceur dans les manieres’ is most absolutely necessary:  an offended fool, or a slighted valet de chambre, may very possibly do you more hurt at court, than ten men of merit can do you good.  Fools, and low people, are always jealous of their dignity, and never forget nor forgive what they reckon a slight:  on the other hand, they take civility and a little attention as a favor; remember, and acknowledge it:  this, in my mind, is buying them cheap; and therefore they are worth buying.  The prince himself, who is rarely the shining genius of his court, esteems you only by hearsay but likes you by his senses; that is, from your air, your politeness, and your manner of addressing him, of which alone he is a judge.  There is a court garment, as well as a wedding garment, without which you will not be received.  That garment is the ‘volto sciolto’; an imposing air, an elegant politeness, easy and engaging manners, universal attention, an insinuating gentleness, and all those ‘je ne sais quoi’ that compose the graces.

I am this moment disagreeably interrupted by a letter; not from you, as I expected, but from a friend of yours at Paris, who informs me that you have a fever which confines you at home.  Since you have a fever, I am glad you have prudence enough in it to stay at home, and take 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