This Order was under the protection of St.Nicholas de Bari,whose image hung to the collar.Henry III.found the Order of St.Michael prostituted and degraded,during the civil wars;he therefore joined it to his new Order of the St.Esprit,and gave them both together;for which reason every knight of the St.Esprit is now called Chevalier des Ordres du Roi.The number of the knights hath been different,but is now fixed to ONE HUNDRED,exclusive of the sovereign.There,are many officers who wear the riband of this Order,like the other knights;and what is very singular is,that these officers frequently sell their employments,but obtain leave to wear the blue riband still,though the purchasers of those offices wear it also.
As you will have been a great while in France,people will expect that you should be 'au fait'of all these sort of things relative to that country.But the history of all the Orders of all countries is well worth your knowledge;the subject occurs often,and one should not be ignorant of it,for fear of some such accident as happened to a solid Dane at Paris,who,upon seeing 'L'Ordre du St.Esprit',said,'Notre St.
Esprit chez nous c'est un Elephant'.Almost all the princes in Germany have their Orders too;not dated,indeed,from any important events,or directed to any great object,but because they will have orders,to show that they may;as some of them,who have the 'jus cudendae monetae',borrow ten shillings worth of gold to coin a ducat.However,wherever you meet with them,inform yourself,and minute down a short account of them;they take in all the colors of Sir Isaac Newton's prisms.N.B:
When you inquire about them,do not seem to laugh.
I thank you for le Mandement de Monseigneur l'Archeveyue;it is very well drawn,and becoming an archbishop.But pray do not lose sight of a much more important object,I mean the political disputes between the King and the parliament,and the King and the clergy;they seem both to be patching up;but,however,get the whole clue to them,as far as they have gone.
I received a letter yesterday from Madame Monconseil,who assures me you have gained ground 'du cote des maniires',and that she looks upon you to be 'plus qu'a moitie chemin'.I am very glad to hear this,because,if you are got above half way of your journey,surely you will finish it,and not faint in the course.Why do you think I have this affair so extremely at heart,and why do I repeat it so often?Is it for your sake,or for mine?You can immediately answer yourself that question;you certainly have--I cannot possibly have any interest in it.If then you will allow me,as I believe you may,to be a judge of what is useful and necessary to you,you must,in consequence,be convinced of the infinite importance of a point which I take so much pains to inculcate.
I hear that the new Duke of Orleans 'a remercie Monsieur de Melfort,and I believe,'pas sans raison',having had obligations to him;'mais il ne l'a pas remercie en mari poli',but rather roughly.Il faut que ce soit un bourru'.I am told,too,that people get bits of his father's rags,by way of relies;I wish them joy,they will do them a great deal of good.See from hence what weaknesses human nature is capable of,and make allowances for such in all your plans and reasonings.Study the characters of the people you have to do with,and know what they are,instead of thinking them what they should be;address yourself generally to the senses,to the heart,and to the weaknesses of mankind,but very rarely to their reason.
Good-night or good-morrow to you,according to the time you shall receive this letter from,Yours.