analyzed the characters he applies to； and adapted his address and his arguments to them： but a man； of what is called plain good sense； who hath only reasoned by himself； and not acted with mankind； mistimes； misplaces； runs precipitately and bluntly at the mark； and falls upon his nose in the way。 In the common manners of social life； every man of common sense hath the rudiments； the A B C of civility； he means not to offend； and even wishes to please： and； if he hath any real merit； will be received and tolerated in good company。 But that is far from being enough； for； though he may be received； he will never be desired； though he does not offend； he will never be loved； but； like some little； insignificant； neutral power； surrounded by great ones； he will neither be feared nor courted by any； but； by turns； invaded by all； whenever it is their interest。 A most contemptible situation！ Whereas； a man who hath carefully attended to； and experienced； the various workings of the heart； and the artifices of the head； and who； by one shade； can trace the progression of the whole color； who can； at the proper times； employ all the several means of persuading the understanding； and engaging the heart； may and will have enemies； but will and must have friends： he may be opposed； but he will be supported too； his talents may excite the jealousy of some； but his engaging arts will make him beloved by many more； he will be considerable； he will be considered。 Many different qualifications must conspire to form such a man； and to make him at once respectable and amiable； the least must be joined to the greatest； the latter would be unavailing without the former； and the former would be futile and frivolous； without the latter。 Learning is acquired by reading books； but the much more necessary learning； the knowledge of the world； is only to be acquired by reading men； and studying all the various editions of them。 Many words in every language are generally thought to be synonymous； but those who study the language attentively will find； that there is no such thing； they will discover some little difference； some distinction between all those words that are vulgarly called synonymous； one hath always more energy； extent； or delicacy； than another。 It is the same with men； all are in general； and yet no two in particular； exactly alike。 Those who have not accurately studied； perpetually mistake them； they do not discern the shades and gradations that distinguish characters seemingly alike。 Company； various company； is the only school for this knowledge。 You ought to be； by this time； at least in the third form of that school； from whence the rise to the uppermost is easy and quick； but then you must have application and vivacity； and you must not only bear with； but even seek restraint in most companies； instead of stagnating in one or two only； where indolence and love of ease may be indulged。
In the plan which I gave you in my last；＇That letter is missing。＇ for your future motions； I forgot to tell you； that； if a king of the Romans should be chosen this year； you shall certainly be at that election； and as； upon those occasions； all strangers are excluded from the place of the election； except such as belong to some ambassador； I have already eventually secured you a place in the suite of the King's Electoral Ambassador； who will be sent upon that account to Frankfort； or wherever else the election may be。 This will not only secure you a sight of the show； but a knowledge of the whole thing； which is likely to be a contested one； from the opposition of some of the electors； and the protests of some of the princes of the empire。 That election； if there is one； will； in my opinion； be a memorable era in the history of the empire； pens at least； if not swords； will be drawn； and ink； if not blood； will be plentifully shed by the contending parties in that dispute。 During the fray； you may securely plunder； and add to your present stock of knowledge of the 'jus publicum imperii'。 The court of France hath； I am told； appointed le President Ogier； a man of great abilities； to go immediately to Ratisbon； 'pour y souffler la discorde'。 It must be owned that France hath always profited skillfully of its having guaranteed the treaty of Munster； which hath given it a constant pretense to thrust itself into the affairs of the empire。 When France got Alsace yielded by treaty； it was very willing to have held it as a fief of the empire； but the empire was then wiser。 Every power should be very careful not to give the least pretense to a neighboring power to meddle with the affairs of its interior。 Sweden hath already felt the effects of the Czarina's calling herself Guarantee of its present form of government； in consequence of the treaty of Neustadt； confirmed afterward by that of Abo； though； in truth； that guarantee was rather a provision against Russia's attempting to alter the then new established form of government in Sweden； than any right given to Russia to hinder the Swedes from establishing what form of government they pleased。 Read them both； if you can get them。 Adieu。
LETTER CLXIV
LONDON； April 73； O。 S。 1752
MY DEAR FRIEND： I receive this moment your letter of the 19th； N。 S。； with the inclosed pieces relative to the present dispute between the King and the parliament。 I shall return them by Lord Huntingdon； whom you will soon see at Paris； and who will likewise carry you the piece； which I forgot in making up the packet I sent you by the Spanish Ambassador。 The representation of the parliament is very well drawn； 'suaviter in modo； fortiter in re'。 They tell the King very respectfully； that； in a certain case； WHICH THEY SHOULD THINK IT CRIMINAL To SUPPOSE； they would not obey him。 This hath a tendency to what we call here revolution principles。 I do not know what the Lord's anointed； his vicegerent upon earth； divinely appointed by him； and accountable to none but him for his actions； will either think or do； upon these symptoms of reason and good sense； which seem to be breaking out all over France： but this I foresee； that； before the end of this century； the trade of both king and priest will not be half so good a one as it has been。 Du Clos； in his 〃Reflections；〃 hath observed； and very truly； 'qu'il y a un germe de raison qui commence a se developper en France'； a developpement that must prove fatal to Regal and Papal pretensions。 Prudence may； in many cases； recommend an occasional submission to either； but when that ignorance； upon which an implicit faith in both could only be founded； is once removed； God's Vicegerent； and Christ's Vicar； will only be obeyed and believed； as far as what the one orders； and the other says； is conformable to reason and to truth。
I am very glad （to use a vulgar expression） that You MAKE AS IF YOU WERE NOT WELL； though you really are； I am sure it is the likeliest way to keep so。 Pray leave off entirely your greasy； heavy pastry； fat creams； and indigestible dumplings ； and then you need not confine yourself to white meats； which I do not take to be one jot wholesomer than beef； mutton； and partridge。
Voltaire sent me； from Berlin； his 'History du Siecle de Louis XIV。 It came at a very proper time； Lord Bolingbroke had just taught me how history should be read； Voltaire shows me how it should be written。 I am sensible that it will meet with almost as many critics as readers。 Voltaire must be criticised； besides； every man's favorite is attacked： for every prejudice is exposed； and our prejudices are our mistresses； reason is at best our wife； very often heard indeed； but seldom minded。 It is the history of the human understanding； written by a man of parts； for the use of men of parts。 Weak minds will not like it； even though they do not understand it； which is commonly the measure of their admiration。 Dull ones will want those minute and uninteresting details with which most other histories are encumbered。 He tells me all I want to know； and nothing more。 His reflections are short； just； and produce others in his readers。 Free from religious； philosophical； political and national prejudices； beyond any historian I ever met with； he relates all those matters as truly and as impartially； as certain regards； which must always be to some degree observed； will allow him； for one sees plainly that he often says much less than he would say； if he might。 He hath made me much better acquainted with the times of Lewis XIV。； than the innumerable volumes which I had read could do； and hath suggested this reflection to me； which I have never made beforeHis vanity； not his knowledge； made him encourage all； and introduce many arts and sciences in his country。 He opened in a manner the human understanding in France； and brought it to its utmost perfection； his age equalled in all； and greatly exceeded in many things （pardon me； Pedants！） the Augustan。 This was great and rapid； but still it might be done； by the encouragement； the applause； and the rewards of a vain； liberal； and magnificent prince。 What is much more surprising is； that he stopped the operations of the human mind just where he pleased； and seemed to say； 〃Thus far shalt thou go； and no farther。〃 For； a bigot to his religion； and jealous of his power； free and rational thoughts upon either； never entered into a French head during his reign； and the greatest geniuses that ever any age produced； never entertained a doubt of the divine right of Kings； or the infallibility of the Church。 Poets； Orators； and Philosophers； ignorant of their natural rights； cherished their chains； and blind； active faith triumphed； in those great minds； over silent and passive reason。 The reverse of this seems now to be the case in France： reason opens itself； fancy and invention fade and decline。
I will send you a copy of this history by Lord Huntingdon； as I think it very probable that it is not allowed to be published and sold at Paris。 Pray read it more than once； and with attention； particularly the second volume； which contains short； but very clear accounts of many very interesting things； which are talked of by everybody； though fairly。 understood by very few。 There are two very puerile affectations which I