first opening, and prepare it to receive the early impressions of learning, and of morality. Of these, many entire letters, and some parts of others, are lost; which, considering the tender years of Mr. Stanhope, at that time, cannot be a matter of surprise, but will always be one of regret. Wherever a complete sense could be made out, I have ventured to give the fragment.

To each of the French letters, throughout the work, an English translation is annexed: in which I have endeavoured to adhere, as much as possible, to the sense of the original: I wish the attempt may have proved successful.

As to those Repetitions, which sometimes occur, that many may esteem Inaccuracies, and think they had been better retrenched they are so varied, and their significancy thrown into such, and so many different lights, that they could not be altered without mutilating the work. In the course of which, the Reader will also observe his Lordship often expressly declaring, that such repetitions are purposely intended, to inculcate his instructions more forcibly. So good a reason urged by the author for using them, made me think it indispensably requisite not to deviate from the original.

The Letters written from the time that Mr. Stanhope was employed as one of his Majesty's Ministers abroad, although not relative to Education, yet as they continue the series of Lord

Chesterfield's Letters to his Son, and discover his sentiments on various interesting subjects, of public as well as private concern, it is presumed they cannot fail of being acceptable to the Public. To these are added some few detached pieces, which the Reader will find at the end of the fourth volume*. The Originals of those, as well as of all the Letters, are in my possession, in the late Earl of Chesterfield's handwriting, and sealed with his own seal.

I beg leave to add, that if the following work proves of as much utility to the Youth of these Kingdoms, as the Letters were to the person for whose immediate instruction they were written, my utmost wishes will be gratified; and I shall esteem myself happy in reflecting, that, though a Woman, I have had the most real of all satisfactions,—that of being of some use to my Country.

* The Letters were originally printed in four volumes.

LORD CHESTERFIELD'S

LETTERS TO HIS SON.

LETTER I*.

De

ON me dit, Monsieur! que vous vous disposez à voyager, et que vous débutez par la Hollande. sorte que j'ai crû de mon devoir, de vous souhaiter un bon voyage, et des vents favorables. Vous aurez la bonté, j'espère, de me faire part de votre arrivée à la Haye; et si après cela, dans le cours de vos voyages, vous faites quelques remarques curieuses, vous voudrez bien me les communiquer.

La Hollande, où vous allez, est de beaucoup la plus belle, et la plus riche des Sept Provinces-Unies, qui toutes ensemble, forment la République. Les autres sont celles de Gueldres, Zélande, Frise, Utrecht, Groningue, et Over-Yssel. Les Sept Provinces composent, ce qu'on appelle les Etats Généraux des Provinces-Unies, et font une République très-puissante, et très-considérable.

Une République, au reste, veut dire un gouverne. ment tout-à-fait libre, où il n'y a point de Roi. La Haye, où vous irez d'abord, est le plus beau village du monde, car ce n'est pas une ville. La ville d'Amsterdam, censée la capitale des Provinces

* Cette Lettre est un pur badinage, Mr. Stanhope ayant fait un voyage en Hollande à l'âge d'environ cinq ans.

VOL. I.

B

Unies, est très-belle, et très-riche. Il y a encore plusieurs villes fort considérables en Hollande, comme Dordrecht, Haerlem, Leyde, Delft, Rotterdam, &c. Vous verrez par toute la Hollande, une extrême propreté : les rues mêmes y sont plus propres que nos maisons ne le sont ici. La Hollande fait un très-grand commerce, surtout à la Chine, au Japon, et au reste des Indes Orientales.

Voici bien des fêtes de suite, que vous allez avoir, profitez-en, divertissez vous bien, et à votre retour, il faudra regagner le tems perdu, en apprenant mieux que jamais. Adieu.

TRANSLATION*.

I AM told, Sir, you are preparing to travel, and that you begin by Holland; I therefore thought it my duty to wish you a prosperous journey, and favourable winds. I hope you will be so good as to acquaint me with your arrival at the Hague; and if, in the course of your travels, you should make any curious observations, be so kind to communicate them to me.

Holland, where you are going, is, by far, the finest and richest of the Seven United Provinces, which, altogether, form the Republic. The other Provinces are, Guelderland, Zealand, Friesland, Utrecht, Groningen, and Overyssel; these Seven provinces form what is called the States General of the United Provinces: this is a very powerful, and a very considerable Republic. I must tell you, that a Republic is a free State, without any King. You will go first to the Hague, which is the most beautiful village in the world; for it is not a town. Amsterdam,

*This Letter is a mere pleasantry, Mr. Stanhope having been carried to Holland when he was but about five years of age.

reckoned the capital of the United Provinces, is a very fine, rich city; there are, besides, in Holland, several considerable towns, such as Dort, Haerlem, Leyden, Delft, and Rotterdam.

You will observe, throughout Holland, the greatest cleanliness; the very streets are cleaner than our houses are here. Holland carries on a very great trade, particularly to China, Japan, and all over the East Indies.

You are going to have a great many holidays all together; make the best use of them, by diverting yourself well. At your return hither, you must regain the lost time, by learning better than ever. Adieu.

LETTER II.

MON CHER ENFANT, A Isleworth. COMME, avec le tems, vous lirez les anciens Poëtes Grecs et Latins, il est bon d'avoir premièrement quelque teinture des fondemens de la poësie, et de savoir en général les histoires auxquelles les Poëtes font le plus souvent allusion. Vous avez déjà lu l'Histoire Poëtique, et j'espère que vous vous en souvenez: vous y aurez trouvé celle des Dieux, et des Déesses, dont les Poëtes parlent à tous momens. Même les Poëtes modernes, c'est à dire, les Poëtes d'aujourdhui, ont aussi adopté toutes ces histoires des Anciens. Par exemple; un Poëte Anglois ou François invoque, au commencement de son ouvrage, Apollon le Dieu des vers, il invoque aussi les neuf Muses, qui sont les Déesses de la Poësie, il les prie de lui être propices ou favorables, et de lui inspirer leur génie. C'est pourquoi je vous envoie ici l'histoire d'Apollon, et celle des neuf Muses, ou neuf Sœurs, comme on les nomme souvent. Apollon est aussi quelquefois appellé le Dieu du Parnasse,