The electorate of Hanover

The revenue is about L500,000 a year.

The military establishment, in time of war, may be about 25,000 men;
but that is the utmost.

The trade is chiefly linens, exported from Stade.

There are coarse woolen manufactures for home-consumption.

   The mines of Hartz produce about L100,000 in silver, annually.

Such informations you may very easily get, by proper inquiries, of every state in Germany if you will but prefer useful to frivolous conversations.

There are many princes in Germany, who keep very few or no troops, unless upon the approach of danger, or for the sake of profit, by letting them out for subsidies, to great powers:  In that case, you will inform yourself what number of troops they could raise, either for their own defense, or furnish to other powers for subsidies.

There is very little trouble, and an infinite use, in acquiring of this knowledge.  It seems to me even to be a more entertaining subject to talk upon, than ‘la pluie et le beau tens’.

Though I am sensible that these things cannot be known with the utmost exactness, at least by you yet, you may, however, get so near the truth, that the difference will be very immaterial.

Pray let me know if the Roman Catholic worship is tolerated in Saxony, anywhere but at Court; and if public mass-houses are allowed anywhere else in the electorate.  Are the regular Romish clergy allowed; and have they any convents?

Are there any military orders in Saxony, and what?  Is the White Eagle a Saxon or a Polish order?  Upon what occasion, and when was it founded?  What number of knights?

Adieu!  God bless you; and may you turn out what I wish!

LETTER XXXII

Bath, March 9, O. S. 1748.

Dear boy:  I must from time to time, remind you of what I have often recommended to you, and of what you cannot attend to too much; sacrifice to the graces.  The different effects of the same things, said or done, when accompanied or abandoned by them, is almost inconceivable.  They prepare the way to the heart; and the heart has such an influence over the understanding, that it is worth while to engage it in our interest.  It is the whole of women, who are guided by nothing else:  and it has so much to say, even with men, and the ablest men too, that it commonly triumphs in every struggle with the understanding.  Monsieur de Rochefoucault, in his “Maxims,” says, that ’l’esprit est souvent la dupe du coeur.’  If he had said, instead of ‘souvent, tresque toujours’, I fear he would have been nearer the truth.  This being the case, aim at the heart.  Intrinsic merit alone will not do; it will gain you the general esteem of all; but not the particular affection, that is, the heart of any.  To engage the affections of any particular person,