Here end the letters to Mr. Stanhope, as he died the 16th of
November following.
_To Mrs. Stanhope, then at Paris._
MADAM:--A troublesome and painful inflammation in my eyes obliges me to
use another hand than my own to acknowledge the receipt of your letter
from Avignon, of the 27th past.
I am extremely surprised that Mrs. du Bouchet should have any objection
to the manner in which your late husband desired to be buried, and
which you, very properly, complied with. All I desire for my own burial
is not to be buried alive; but how or where, I think, must be entirely
indifferent to every rational creature.
I have no commission to trouble you with during your stay at Paris,
from whence I wish you and the boys a good journey home, where I shall
be very glad to see you all, and assure you of my being, with great
truth, your faithful, humble servant, CHESTERFIELD. [_March 16, 1769._]
_To the same, at London._
MADAM:--The last time I had the pleasure of seeing you I was so
taken up in playing with the boys that I forgot their more important
affairs. How soon would you have them placed at school? When I know
your pleasure as to that, I will send to Monsieur Perny to prepare
everything for their reception. In the meantime, I beg that you will
equip them thoroughly with clothes, linen, etc., all good, but plain,
and give me the account, which I will pay, for I do not intend that
from this time forward, the two boys should cost you one shilling.
I am, with great truth, madam, your faithful, humble servant,
CHESTERFIELD. [_Wednesday._]
STANHOPE’S CHILDREN.--Charles will be a scholar, if you please, but
our little Philip, without being one, will be something or other as
good, though I do not yet guess what. I am not of the opinion generally
entertained in this country, that man lives by Greek and Latin alone;
that is, by knowing a great many words of two dead languages, which
nobody living knows perfectly, and which are of no use in the common
intercourse of life. Useful knowledge, in my opinion, consists of
modern languages, history, and geography; some Latin may be thrown into
the bargain, in compliance with custom, and for closet amusement.
You are by this time certainly tired with this long letter, which I
could prove to you from Horace’s own words (for I am a _scholar_) to
be a bad one; he says that water drinkers can write nothing good, so
I am, with real truth and esteem, your most faithful, humble servant,
CHESTERFIELD. [_Nov. 4, 1770._]
_To Charles and Philip Stanhope._
THE LAST LETTER.--I received, a few days ago, two, the best-written
letters that I ever saw in my life: the one signed Charles Stanhope,
the other Philip Stanhope. As for you, Charles, I do not wonder at
it; for you will take pains, and are a lover of letters: but you idle
rogue, you Phil, how came you to write so well, that one can almost
say of you two, _et cantare pares et respondere parati_? Charles will
explain this Latin to you.
I am told, Phil, that you have got a nickname at school, from your
intimacy with Master _Strangeways_; and that they call you Master
Strangerways; for, to be sure, you are a strange boy. Is this true?
Tell me what you would have me bring you both from hence, and I will
bring it to you when I come to town. In the meantime, God bless you
both!--CHESTERFIELD. [BATH, OCT. 27, 1771.]