open to answers that put them in confusion.  Do not then be discouraged by the first difficulties, but ‘contra audentior ito’; and resolve to go to the bottom of all those things which every gentleman ought to know well.  Those arts or sciences which are peculiar to certain professions, need not be deeply known by those who are not intended for those professions.  As, for instance; fortification and navigation; of both which, a superficial and general knowledge, such as the common course of conversation, with a very little inquiry on your part, will give you, is sufficient.  Though, by the way, a little more knowledge of fortification may be of some use to you; as the events of war, in sieges, make many of the terms, of that science occur frequently in common conversation; and one would be sorry to say, like the Marquis de Mascarille in Moliere’s ‘Precieuses Ridicules’, when he hears of ’une demie lune, Ma foi! c’etoit bien une lune toute entiere’.  But those things which every, gentleman, independently of profession, should know, he ought to know well, and dive into all the depth of them.  Such are languages, history, and geography ancient and modern, philosophy, rational logic; rhetoric; and, for you particularly, the constitutions and the civil and military state of every country in Europe:  This, I confess; is a pretty large circle of knowledge, attended with some difficulties, and requiring some trouble; which, however; an active and industrious mind will overcome; and be amply repaid.  The trifling and frivolous mind is always busied, but to little purpose; it takes little objects for great ones, and throws away upon trifles that time and attention which only important things deserve.  Knick-knacks; butterflies; shells, insects, etc., are the subjects of their most serious researches.  They contemplate the dress, not the characters of the company they keep.  They attend more to the decorations of a play than the sense of it; and to the ceremonies of a court more than to its politics.  Such an employment of time is an absolute loss of it.  You have now, at most, three years to employ either well or ill; for, as I have often told you, you will be all your life what you shall be three years hence.  For God’s sake then reflect.  Will you throw this time away either in laziness, or in trifles?  Or will you not rather employ every moment of it in a manner that must so soon reward you with so much pleasure, figure, and character?  I cannot, I will not doubt of your choice.  Read only useful books; and never quit a subject till you are thoroughly master of it, but read and inquire on till then.  When you are in company, bring the conversation to some useful subject, but ‘a portee’ of that company.  Points of history, matters of literature, the customs of particular countries, the several orders of knighthood, as Teutonic, Maltese, etc., are surely better subjects of conversation, than the weather, dress, or fiddle-faddle stories, that carry no information