LONDON,February 4,O.S.1751
MY DEAR FRIEND:The accounts which I receive of you from Paris grow every day more and more satisfactory.Lord Albemarle has wrote a sort of panegyric of you,which has been seen by many people here,and which will be a very useful forerunner for you.Being in fashion is an important point for anybody anywhere;but it would be a very great one for you to be established in the fashion here before you return.Your business will be half done by it,as I am sure you would not give people reason to change their favorable presentiments of you.The good that is said of you will not,I am convinced,make you a coxcomb;and,on the other hand,the being thought still to want some little accomplishments,will,I am persuaded,not mortify you,but only animate you to acquire them:I will,therefore,give you both fairly,in the following extract of a letter which I lately received from an impartial and discerning friend:--"Permit me to assure you,Sir,that Mr.Stanhope will succeed.He has a great fund of knowledge,and an uncommonly good memory,although he does not make any parade of either the one or the other.He is desirous of pleasing,and he will please.He has an expressive countenance;his figure is elegant,although little.He has not the least awkwardness,though he has not as yet acquired all-the graces requisite;which Marcel and the ladies will soon give him.In short,he wants nothing but those things,which,at his age,must unavoidably be wanting;I mean,a certain turn and delicacy of manners,which are to be acquired only by time,and in good company.Ready as he is,he will soon learn them;particularly as he frequents such companies as are the most proper to give them."By this extract,which I can assure you is a faithful one,you and I have both of us the satisfaction of knowing how much you have,and how little you want.Let what you have give you (if possible)rather more SEEMINGmodesty,but at the same time more interior firmness and assurance;and let what you want,which you see is very attainable,redouble your attention and endeavors to acquire it.You have,in truth,but that one thing to apply to and a very pleasing application it is,since it is through pleasures you must arrive at it.Company,suppers,balls,spectacles,which show you the models upon which you should form yourself,and all the little usages,customs,and delicacies,which you must adopt and make habitual to you,are now your only schools and universities;in which young fellows and fine women will give you the best lectures.
Monsieur du Boccage is another of your panegyrists;and he tells me that Madame Boccage 'a pris avec vous le ton de mie et de bonne';and that you like it very well.You are in the right of it;it is the way of improving;endeavor to be upon that footing with every woman you converse with;excepting where there may be a tender point of connection;a point which I have nothing to do with;but if such a one there is,I hope she has not 'de mauvais ni de vilains bras',which I agree with you in thinking a very disagreeable thing.