ready done； I desire that you will have it done forthwith before you leave Venice； and inclose it in a letter to me； which letter； for greater security； I would have you desire Sir James Gray to inclose in his packet to the office； as I； for the same； reason； send this under his cover。 If the picture be done upon vellum； it will be the most portable。 Send me； at the same time； a thread of silk of your own length exactly。 I am solicitous about your figure； convinced； by a thousand instances； that a good one is a real advantage。 'Mens sana in corpore sano'； is the first and greatest blessing。 I would add 'et pulchro'； to complete it。 May you have that and every other！ Adieu。
Have you received my letters of recommendation to Cardinal Albani and the Duke de Nivernois； at Rome？
LETTER LXXXV
LONDON； October 9； O。 S。 1749。
DEAR BOY： If this letter finds you at all； of which I am very doubtful； it will find you at Venice； preparing for your journey to Rome； which； by my last letter to Mr。 Harte； I advised you to make along the coast of the Adriatic； through Rimini； Loretto； Ancona； etc。； places that are all worth seeing； but not worth staying at。 And such I reckon all places where the eyes only are employed。 Remains of antiquity； public buildings； paintings； sculptures； etc。； ought to be seen； and that with a proper degree of attention； but this is soon done； for they are only outsides。 It is not so with more important objects； the insides of which must be seen； and they require and deserve much more attention。 The characters； the heads； and the； hearts of men； are the useful science of which I would have you perfect master。 That science is best taught and best learned in capitals； where every human passion has its object； and exerts all its force or all its art in the pursuit。 I believe there is no place in the world； where every passion is busier； appears in more shapes； and is conducted with more art； than at ；Rome。 Therefore； when you are there； do not imagine that the Capitol； the Vatican； and the Pantheon； are the principal objects of your curiosity。 But for one minute that you bestow upon those； employ ten days in informing yourself of the nature of that government； the rise and decay of the papal power； the politics of that court； the 'Brigues' of the cardinals； the tricks of the Conclaves； and； in general； everything that relates to the interior of that extraordinary government； founded originally upon the ignorance and superstition of mankind； extended by the weakness of some princes； and the ambition of others； declining of late in proportion as knowledge has increased； and owing its present precarious security； not to the religion； the affection； or the fear of the temporal powers； but to the jealousy of each other。 The Pope's excommunications are no longer dreaded； his indulgences little solicited； and sell very cheap； and his territories formidable to no power； are coveted by many； and will； most undoubtedly； within a century； be scantled out among the great powers； who have now a footing in Italy； whenever they can agree upon the division of the bear's skin。 Pray inform yourself thoroughly of the history of the popes and the popedom； which； for many centuries； is interwoven with the history of all Europe。 Read the best authors who treat of these matters； and especially Fra Paolo； 'De Beneficiis'； a short； but very material book。 You will find at Rome some of all the religious orders in the Christian world。 Inform yourself carefully of their origin； their founders； their rules； their reforms； and even their dresses： get acquainted with some of all of them； but particularly with the Jesuits； whose society I look upon to be the most able and best governed society in the world。 Get acquainted； if you can； with their General； who always resides at Rome； and who； though he has no seeming power out of his own society； has （it may be） more real influence over the whole world； than any temporal prince in it。 They have almost engrossed the education of youth； they are； in general； confessors to most of the princes of Europe； and they are the principal missionaries out of it； which three articles give them a most extensive influence and solid advantages； witness their settlement in Paraguay。 The Catholics in general declaim against that society； and yet are all governed by individuals of it。 They have； by turns； been banished； and with infamy； almost every country in Europe； and have always found means to be restored； even with triumph。 In short； I know no government in the world that is carried on upon such deep principles of policy； I will not add morality。 Converse with them； frequent them； court them； but know them。
Inform yourself； too； of that infernal court； the Inquisition； which； though not so considerable at Rome as in Spain and Portugal； will； however； be a good sample to you of what the villainy of some men can contrive； the folly of others receive； and both together establish； in spite of the first natural principles of reason； justice； and equity。
These are the proper and useful objects of the attention of a man of sense； when he travels； and these are the objects for which I have sent you abroad； and I hope you will return thoroughly informed of them。
I receive this very moment Mr。 Harte's letter of the 1st October； N。 S。； but I never received his former； to which he refers in this； and you refer in your last； in which he gave me the reasons for your leaving Verona so soon； nor have I ever received that letter in which your case was stated by your physicians。 Letters to and from me have worse luck than other people's； for you have written to me； and I to you； for these last three months； by way of Germany； with as little success as before。
I am edified with your morning applications； and your evening gallantries at Venice； of which Mr。 Harte gives me an account。 Pray go on with both there； and afterward at Rome； where； provided you arrive in the beginning of December； you may stay at Venice as much longer as you please。
Make my compliments to Sir James Gray and Mr。 Smith； with my acknowledgments for the great civilities they show you。
I wrote to Mr。 Harte by the last post； October the 6th； O。 S。； and will write to him in a post or two upon the contents of his last。 Adieu！ 'Point de distractions'； and remember the GRACES。
LETTER LXXXVI
LONDON； October 17； O。 S。 1749。
DEAR BOY： I have at last received Mr。 Harte's letter of the 19th September； N。 S。； from Verona。 Your reasons for leaving that place were very good ones； and as you stayed there long enough to see what was to be seen； Venice （as a capital） is； in my opinion； a much better place for your residence。 Capitals are always the seats of arts and sciences； and the best companies。 I have stuck to them all my lifetime； and I advise you to do so too。
You will have received in my three or four last letters my directions for your further motions to another capital； where I propose that your stay shall be pretty considerable。 The expense； I am well aware； will be so too； but that； as I told you before； will have no weight when your improvement and advantage are in the other scale。 I do not care a groat what it is； if neither vice nor folly are the objects of it； and if Mr。 Harte gives his sanction。
I am very well pleased with your account of Carniola； those are the kind of objects worthy of your inquiries and knowledge。 The produce； the taxes； the trade； the manufactures； the strength； the weakness； the government of the several countries which a man of sense travels through； are the material points to which he attends； and leaves the steeples； the market…places； and the signs； to the laborious and curious researches of Dutch and German travelers。
Mr。 Harte tells me； that he intends to give you； by means of Signor Vicentini； a general notion of civil and military architecture； with which I am very well pleased。 They are frequent subjects of conversation； and it is very right that you should have some idea of the latter； and a good taste of the former； and you may very soon learn as much as you need know of either。 If you read about one…third of Palladio's book of architecture with some skillful person； and then； with that person； examine the best buildings by those rules； you will know the different proportions of the different orders； the several diameters of their columns； their intercolumniations； their several uses； etc。 The Corinthian Order is chiefly used in magnificent buildings； where ornament and decoration are the principal objects； the Doric is calculated for strength； and the Ionic partakes of the Doric strength； and of the Corinthian ornaments。 The Composite and the Tuscan orders are more modern； and were unknown to the Greeks； the one is too light； the other too clumsy。 You may soon be acquainted with the considerable parts of civil architecture； and for the minute and mechanical parts of it； leave them to masons； bricklayers； and Lord Burlington； who has； to a certain extent； lessened himself by knowing them too well。 Observe the same method as to military architecture； understand the terms； know the general rules； and then see them in execution with some skillful person。 Go with some engineer or old officer； and view with care the real fortifications of some strong place； and you will get a clearer idea of bastions； half…moons； horn…works； ravelins； glacis； etc。； than all the masters in the world could give you upon paper。 And thus much I would； by all means； have you know of both civil and military architecture。
I would also have you acquire a liberal taste of the two liberal arts of painting and sculpture； but without descending into those minutia； which our modern virtuosi most affectedly dwell upon。 Observe the great parts attentively； see if nature be truly represented； if the passions are strongly expressed； if the characters are preserved； and leave the trifling parts； with their little jargon； to affected puppies。 I would advise you also； to read the history of the painters and sculptors； and I know none better than Felibien's。 There are many in Italian； you will inform yourself which are the best。 It is a part of history very entertaining； curious enou