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My Lord Bacon says； that a pleasing figure is a perpetual letter of
recommendation。 It is certainly an agreeable forerunner of merit； and
smoothes the way for it。
Remember that I shall see you at Hanover next summer； and shall expect
perfection； which if I do not meet with； or at least something very near
it； you and I shall； not be very well together。 I shall dissect and
analyze you with a microscope； so that I shall discover the least speck
or blemish。 This is fair warning； therefore take your measures
accordingly。 Yours。
LETTER XIII
LONDON； August 21； O。 S。 1747。
DEAR BOY： I reckon that this letter has but a bare chance of finding you
at Lausanne； but I was resolved to risk it； as it is the last that I
shall write to you till you are settled at Leipsig。 I sent you by the
last post； under cover to Mr。 Harte； a letter of recommendation to one of
the first people at Munich； which you will take care to present to him in
the politest manner； he will certainly have you presented to the
electoral family； and I hope you will go through that ceremony with great
respect； good breeding； and ease。 As this is the first court that ever
you will have been at； take care to inform yourself if there be any
particular； customs or forms to be observed； that you may not commit any
mistake。 At Vienna men always make courtesies； instead of bows； to the
emperor； in France nobody bows at all to the king； nor kisses his hand；
but in Spain and England； bows are made； and hands are kissed。 Thus
every court has some peculiarity or other； of which those who go to them
ought previously to inform themselves； to avoid blunders and
awkwardnesses。
I have not time to say any more now； than to wish you good journey to
Leipsig； and great attention； both there and in going there。 Adieu。
LETTER XIV
LONDON； September 21； O。 S。 1747
DEAR BOY： I received； by the last post； your letter of the 8th； N。 S。；
and I do not wonder that you are surprised at the credulity and
superstition of the Papists at Einsiedlen； and at their absurd stories of
their chapel。 But remember； at the same time； that errors and mistakes；
however gross； in matters of opinion； if they are sincere； are to be
pitied； but not punished nor laughed at。 The blindness of the
understanding is as much to be pitied as the blindness of the eye；
and there is neither jest nor guilt in a man's losing his way in either
case。 Charity bids us set him right if we can； by arguments and
persuasions； but charity； at the same time； forbids； either to punish or
ridicule his misfortune。 Every man's reason is； and must be； his guide；
and I may as well expect that every man should be of my size and
complexion； as that he should reason just as I do。 Every man seeks for
truth； but God only knows who has found it。 It is； therefore； as unjust
to persecute； as it is absurd to ridicule； people for those several
opinions； which they cannot help entertaining upon the conviction of
their reason。 It is the man who tells； or who acts a lie； that is
guilty； and not he who honestly and sincerely believes the lie。
I really know nothing more criminal； more mean； and more ridiculous than
lying。 It is the production either of malice； cowardice； or vanity；
and generally misses of its aim in every one of these views； for lies are
always detected sooner or later。 If I tell a malicious lie； in order to
affect any man's fortune or character； I may indeed injure him for some
time； but I shall be sure to be the greatest sufferer myself at last；
for as soon as ever I am detected （and detected I most certainly shall
be）； I am blasted for the infamous attempt； and whatever is said
afterward； to the disadvantage of that person； however true； passes for
calumny。 If I lie； or equivocate （for it is the same thing）； in order to
excuse myself for something that I have said or done； and to avoid the
danger and the shame that I apprehend from it； I discover at once my fear
as well as my falsehood； and only increase； instead of avoiding； the
danger and the shame； I show myself to be the lowest and the meanest of
mankind； and am sure to be always treated as such。 Fear； instead of
avoiding； invites danger； for concealed cowards will insult known ones。
If one has had the misfortune to be in the wrong； there is something
noble in frankly owning it； it is the only way of atoning for it； and the
only way of being forgiven。 Equivocating； evading； shuffling； in order
to remove a present danger or inconveniency； is something so mean； and
betrays so much fear； that whoever practices them always deserves to be；
and often will be kicked。 There is another sort of lies； inoffensive
enough in themselves； but wonderfully ridiculous； I mean those lies which
a mistaken vanity suggests； that defeat the very end for which they are
calculated； and terminate in the humiliation and confusion of their
author； who is sure to be detected。 These are chiefly narrative and
historical lies； all intended to do infinite honor to their author。
He is always the hero of his own romances； he has been in dangers from
which nobody but himself ever escaped； he has seen with his own eyes；
whatever other people have heard or read of： he has had more 'bonnes
fortunes' than ever he knew women； and has ridden more miles post in one
day； than ever courier went in two。 He is soon discovered； and as soon
becomes the object of universal contempt and ridicule。 Remember； then；
as long as you live； that nothing but strict truth can carry you through
the world； with either your conscience or your honor unwounded。 It is
not only your duty； but your interest； as a proof of which you may always
observe； that the greatest fools are the greatest liars。 For my own
part； I judge of every man's truth by his degree of understanding。
This letter will； I suppose； find you at Leipsig； where I expect and
require from you attention and accuracy； in both which you have hitherto
been very deficient。 Remember that I shall see you in the summer； shall
examine you most narrowly； and will never forget nor forgive those
faults； which it has been in your own power to prevent or cure； and be
assured that I have many eyes upon you at Leipsig； besides Mr。 Harte's。
Adieu！
LETTER XV
LONDON； October 2； O。 S。 1747
DEAR BOY： By your letter of the 18th past； N。 S。； I find that you are a
tolerably good landscape painter； and can present the several views of
Switzerland to the curious。 I am very glad of it； as it is a proof of
some attention； but I hope you will be as good a portrait painter； which
is a much more noble science。 By portraits； you will easily judge； that
I do not mean the outlines and the coloring of the human figure； but the
inside of the heart and mind of man。 This science requires more
attention； observation； and penetration； than the other； as indeed it is
infinitely more useful。 Search； therefore； with the greatest care； into
the characters of those whom you converse with； endeavor to discover
their predominant passions； their prevailing weaknesses； their vanities；
their follies； and their humors； with all the right and wrong； wise and
silly springs of human actions； which make such inconsistent and
whimsical beings of us rational creatures。 A moderate share of
penetration； with great attention； will infallibly make these necessary
discoveries。 This is the true knowledge of the world； and the world is
a country which nobody ever yet knew by description； one must travel
through it one's self to be acquainted with it。 The scholar； who in the
dust of his closet talks or writes of the world； knows no more of it；
than that orator did of war； who judiciously endeavored to instruct
Hannibal in it。 Courts and camps are the only places to learn the world
in。 There alone all kinds of characters resort； and human nature is seen
in all the various shapes and modes； which education； custom； and habit
give it； whereas； in all other places； one local mode generally prevails；
and producing a seeming though not a real sameness of character。 For
example； one general mode distinguishes an university； another a trading
town； a third a seaport town； and so on； whereas； at a capital； where the
Prince or the Supreme Power resides； some of all these various modes are
to be seen and seen in action too； exerting their utmost skill in pursuit
of their several objects。 Human nature is the same all over the world；
but its operations are so varied by education and habit； that one must
see it in all its dresses in order to be intimately acquainted with it。
The passion of ambition； for instance； is the same in a courtier；
a soldier； or an ecclesiastic； but； from their different educations and
habits； they will take very different methods to gratify it。 Civility；
which is a disposition to accommodate and oblige others； is essentially
the same in every country； but good…breeding； as it is called； which is
the manner of exerting that disposition； is different in almost every
country； and merely local； and every man of sense imitates and conforms
to that local good…breeding of the place which he is at。 A conformity
and flexibility of manners is nec