publics, aussi bien qu’amis personels’.  To which he will probably ask, Why, or how?  You will reply, Because you know that Mr. Keith is gone to his Court with instructions, which you think must necessarily be agreeable there.  And throw out to him that nothing but a change of their present system can save Livonia to Russia; for that he cannot suppose that, when the Swedes shall have recovered Pomerania they will long leave Russia in quiet possession of Livonia.

If he is so much a Frenchman as you say, he will make you some weak answers to this; but, as you will have the better of the argument on your side, you may remind him of the old and almost uninterrupted connection between France and Sweden, the inveterate enemy of Russia.  Many other arguments will naturally occur to you in such a conversation, if you have it.  In this case, there is a piece of ministerial art, which is sometimes of use; and that is, to sow jealousies among one’s enemies, by a seeming preference shown to some one of them.  Monsieur Hecht’s reveries are reveries indeed.  How should his Master have made the golden arrangements which he talks of, and which are to be forged into shackles for General Fermor?  The Prussian finances are not in a condition now to make such expensive arrangements.  But I think you may tell Monsieur Hecht, in confidence, that you hope the instructions with which you know that Mr. Keith is gone to Petersburg, may have some effect upon the measures of that Court.

I would advise you to live with that same Monsieur Hecht in all the confidence, familiarity, and connection, which prudence will allow.  I mean it with regard to the King of Prussia himself, by whom I could wish you to be known and esteemed as much as possible.  It may be of use to you some day or other.  If man, courage, conduct, constancy, can get the better of all the difficulties which the King of Prussia has to struggle with, he will rise superior to them.  But still, while his alliance subsists against him, I dread ‘les gros escadrons’.  His last victory, of the 5th, was certainly the completest that has been heard of these many years.  I heartily wish the Prince of Brunswick just such a one over Monsieur de Richelieu’s army; and that he may take my old acquaintance the Marechal, and send him over here to polish and perfume us.

I heartily wish you, in the plain, home-spun style, a great number of happy new years, well employed in forming both your mind and your manners, to be useful and agreeable to yourself, your country, and your friends!  That these wishes are sincere, your secretary’s brother will, by the time of your receiving this, have remitted you a proof, from Yours.

LETTERS TO HIS SON

LETTER CCXVI

London, February 8, 1758.