The one was, that now you are upon the borders of wedlock, as I may say,
and all your wild oats will be sown, I would give you some instructions
as to your public as well as private behaviour in life; which, intending
you so much good as I do, you ought to hear; and perhaps would never have
listened to, on any less extraordinary occasion.
The second is, that your dear lady-elect (who is it seems herself so fine
and so sententious a writer) will see by this, that it is not our faults,
nor for want of the best advice, that you was not a better man than you
have hitherto been.
And now, in a few words, for the conduct I would wish you to follow in
public, as well as in private, if you would think me worthy of advising.
--It shall be short; so be not uneasy.
As to the private life: Love your lady as she deserves. Let your actions
praise you. Be a good husband; and so give the lie to all your enemies;
and make them ashamed of their scandals. And let us have pride in
saying, that Miss Harlowe has not done either herself or family any
discredit by coming among us. Do this; and I, and Lady Sarah, and Lady
Betty, will love you for ever.
As to your public conduct: This as follows is what I could wish: but I
reckon your lady's wisdom will put us both right--no disparagement, Sir;
since, with all your wit, you have not hitherto shown much wisdom, you
know.
Get into parliament as soon as you can: for you have talons to make a
great figure there. Who so proper to assist in making new holding laws,
as those whom no law in being could hold?
Then, for so long as you will give attendance in St. Stephen's chapel--
its being called a chapel, I hope, will not disgust you: I am sure I have
known many a riot there--a speaker has a hard time of it! but we peers
have more decorum--But what was I going to say?--I must go back.
For so long as you will give your attendance in parliament, for so long
will you be out of mischief; out of private mischief, at least: and may
St. Stephen's fate be your's, if you wilfully do public mischief!
When a new election comes, you will have two or three boroughs, you know,
to choose out of:--but if you stay till then, I had rather you were for
the shire.
You will have interest enough, I am sure; and being so handsome a man,
the women will make their husbands vote for you.
I shall long to read your speeches. I expect you will speak, if occasion
offer, the very first day. You want no courage, and think highly enough
of yourself, and lowly enough of every body else, to speak on all
occasions.
As to the methods of the house, you have spirit enough, I fear, to be too
much above them: take care of that.--I don't so much fear your want of
good-manners. To men, you want no decency, if they don't provoke you: as
to that, I wish you would only learn to be as patient of contradiction
from others, as you would have other people be to you.
Although I would not have you to be a courtier; neither would I have you
to be a malcontent. I remember (for I have it down) what my old friend
Archibald Hutcheson said; and it was a very good saying--(to Mr.
Secretary Craggs, I think it was)--'I look upon an administration, as
entitled to every vote I can with good conscience give it; for a house of
commons should not needlessly put drags upon the wheels of government:
and when I have not given it my vote, it was with regret: and, for my
country's sake, I wished with all my heart the measure had been such as I
could have approved.'
And another saying he had, which was this: 'Neither can an opposition,
neither can a ministry, be always wrong. To be a plumb man therefore
with either, is an infallible mark, that that man must mean more and
worse than he will own he does mean.'
Are these sayings bad, Sir? are they to be despised?--Well, then, why
should I be despised for remembering them, and quoting them, as I love to
do? Let me tell you, if you loved my company more than you do, you would
not be the worse for it. I may say so without any vanity; since it is
other men's wisdom, and not my own, that I am so fond of.
But to add a word or two more on this occasion; and I may never have such
another; for you must read this through--Love honest men, and herd with
them, in the house and out of the house; by whatever names they be
dignified or distinguished: Keep good men company, and you shall be out
of their number. But did I, or did I not, write this before?--Writing,
at so many different times, and such a quantity, one may forget.
You may come in for the title when I am dead and gone--God help me!--So I
would have you keep an equilibrium. If once you get the name of being a
fine speaker, you may have any thing: and, to be sure, you have naturally
a great deal of elocution; a tongue that would delude an angel, as the
women say--to their sorrow, some of them, poor creatures!--A leading man
in the house of commons is a very important character; because that house
has the giving of money: and money makes the mare to go; ay, and queens
and kings too, sometimes, to go in a manner very different from what they
might otherwise choose to go, let me tell you.
However, methinks, I would not have you take a place neither--it will
double your value, and your interest, if it be believed, that you will
not: for, as you will then stand in no man's way, you will have no envy;
but pure sterling respect; and both sides will court you.
For your part, you will not want a place, as some others do, to piece up
their broken fortunes. If you can now live reputably upon two thousand
pounds a year, it will be hard if you cannot hereafter live upon seven or
eight--less you will not have, if you oblige me; as now, by marrying so
fine a lady, very much you will--and all this, and above Lady Betty's and
Lady Sarah's favours! What, in the name of wonder, could possibly
possess the proud Harlowes!--That son, that son of theirs!--But, for his
dear sister's sake, I will say no more of him.
I never was offered a place myself: and the only one I would have taken,
had I been offered it, was master of the buckhounds; for I loved hunting
when I was young; and it carries a good sound with it for us who live in
the country. Often have I thought of that excellent old adage; He that
eats the king's goose, shall be choked with his feathers. I wish to the
Lord, this was thoroughly considered by place-hunters! it would be better
for them, and for their poor families.
I could say a great deal more, and all equally to the purpose. But
really I am tired; and so I doubt are you. And besides, I would reserve
something for conversation.
My nieces Montague, and Lady Sarah and Lady Betty, join in compliments to
my niece that is to be. If she would choose to have the knot tied among
us, pray tell her that we shall all see it securely done: and we will
make all the country ring and blaze for a week together. But so I
believe I said before.
If any thing further may be needful toward promoting your reciprocal
felicity, let me know it; and how you order about the day; and all that.
The enclosed bill is very much at your service. 'Tis payable at sight,
as whatever else you may have occasion for shall be.
So God bless you both; and make things as convenient to my gout as you
can; though, be it whenever it will, I will hobble to you; for I long to
see you; and still more to see my niece; and am (in expectation of that
happy opportunity)
Your most affectionate Uncle
M.