mil

free in every cafe where the law does not oblige; and, therefore, the law, to reach all cafes, and not be arbitrary by conftruction, muft, in its nature, be voluminous.

But a number of laws, if they are evidence of corruption, are made, at the fame time, to check its progrefs, and to fecure us from its effects.'

We entirely agree with the Author, that there is no way more effectual to restrain vice, than by good education of children, and good examples of parents:

Without the latter, fays he, the beft impreffions acquired from the former may be foon effaced: where it prevails, its influence will extend to the utmost verge of domestic authority. And can it be doubted, whether that fubordination and regularity that grace a family are most likely to be ferviceable to a State? Let every one, therefore, in his own house, have a kind of Perfian School of Justice. Let the foundations be laid early for making a good Man, and a good Chriftian; which will, in due time, form the moft perfect character in this world, (as comprehending thofe two, or rather giving full scope to the latter, by enlarging the sphere of virtue to its utmoft) in compleating that of a good Citizen. Then the laws will have the best effect, that can even be wifhed for in theory, that of being a rule in all cafes, rather than a restraint in a few.'

The whole fourth volume confifts of notes and references, in confirmation of the doctrines advanced in the courfe of the dialogues.

With regard to the general character of the work before us, our Readers will perceive that its merit is of a mixed kind. In fome refpects, it breathes a fpirit of liberty in others, it is rather favourable to high notions both in Church and State. The Author poffeffes confiderable vigour of imagination, and very extenfive learning. His compofition is free, eafy, and manly; but, at the fame time, greatly deficient in elegance and correctnefs. It is even frequently defective in point of purity. The abominable Londonism, of using the active verb lay, instead of the neutral verb lie, often occurs; and other improprieties, of a filar nature, might readily be specified.

If the Writer of these Dialogues fhould hereafter lay afide certain prejudices of education and profeffion, and make fome improvement in the article of ftyle, it will undoubtedly be in his power to appear in public, with the highest degree of advantage.

K.

ART, V. Lord Chesterfield's Letters continued: See our laft Month's

Review.

E now open the fecond volume of these elegant and entertaining letters; which, like the firft, abounds with fuch a variety of tempting flowers, that we are bewildered in the multiplicity, and at a lofs which to felect for the nofegay of the prefent month.

This literary collection is not, however, in all refpects, to be compared to thofe beautiful gardens in which we meet only with the moft valuable flowers, and the choiceft fruits. On a clofer inspection, we are forry to obferve among them, fome of the rankeft weeds, and most noxious plants †, which we cannot but view with difguft and furprize: for how fhall we account for their appearance among those admirable productions to which they are in their nature fo heterogeneous, and fo difgraceful? That Lord Chefterfield fhould happen to diffeminate the feeds of this baleful crop, may not feem altogether strange to those who knew him to have been, what a witty Lady once farcaftically styled him," a Gentleman of eafy virtue;" but that the Fair Gardener who undertook the care and culture of the foil fhould fuffer them to grow in it, is matter of amazement to us, and, furely, will not reflect honour upon her!

The exceptionable paffages here chiefly alluded to, are thofe in which Lord C. in the excefs of his folicitude left his fon fhould be unnaturally infenfible to the calls of pleasure, and too much addicted to books or to bufinefs, advifes, nay preffes him to female attachments. We have not the least objection to any of thofe agreeable attentions to the Fair, which perhaps equally contribute to the polifhing and refinement of both fexes; nor are we at all inclined to contravert his lordship's maxim—that "the concurrence of the two fexes is as neceffary to the perfection of our being, as to the formation of it." But when this noble, modern Ariftippus comes to recommend to his young difciple fo unreftrained an indulgence of his inclinations as the invafion of another man's bed, we start with astonishment, and view the feductive, licentious Counsellor with horror. The Reader fhall fee that we have but too much ground for this Leverity of stricture.

A propos, I am affured that Madam de Blot-is exceffively pretty, and yet has been fcrupulously conftant to her husband, though he has now been married above a year. Surely fhe does not reflect, that woman wants polishing. I would have you polish one another reciprocally. Force, affiduities, attentions, tender looks, and paffionate declarations, on your fide, will produce fome irrefolute wishes, at leaft, on hers; and when even the flightest wishes arife, the rest will foon follow.' Lett. xxx. addreffed to Mr. Stanhope at Paris, 1751.

Let not the prevailing modes of gallantry in France be urged in excufe for this fatherly piece of advice to a young man of fashion, fent thither to complete his education, and acquire les maniéres, les agrémens, les graces, to perfection.—Are

+ The richer the foil, the more fruitful of weeds, is a trite but true obfervation.

Mrs. Stanhope, who committed thefe Letters to the prefs.

CHASTITY, HONOUR, and VIRTUE to be facrificed to fuch refinements? rather perish, for ever, the agrémens and the graces of Lord Chesterfield, and his lordship's fame and memory with them!

Left it fhould be thought that we have ungenerously taken advantage of a single, a cafual, and poffibly a problematical paffage, in order to detract from the praise which his Lordship has fo deservedly acquired, by the more juft, and sensible, and moral parts of his letters, we could produce a number of fimilar extracts, which would put the guilt of Lord C. beyond all doubt, and all exculpation: but one more will fuffice:

I hope you have been thanked by the Ladies, if not paid in money, for the Mohairs †, which I fent by a Courier to Paris. Do they like you the better for getting them? La petite Blot devroit au moins paier de fa perfonne. As for Madame de Polignac, I believe you will very willingly hold her excufed from perfonal payment.'

There are more hints of this fort; but we have cited enough. It is with real regret that we have pointed out these grofs imperfections in the fyftem of fo very ingenious, fenfible, and pleafing a Writer; but, for Virtue's fake, we could not fuffer his Lordship's libertinifm to pafs uncenfured, -nor for our own fakes, left our filence fhould be conftrued into an approbation of what no friend to human fociety (religion out of the queftion) could poffibly approve.-Nor muft we omit to remark the abfurdity, as well as the immorality, of the Preceptor who prompts his pupil to debauch his female acquaintance, even without fuppofing the natural inducement of pain, to plead in pal liation of the crime.

After this act of juftice, to fhew that we are not cynically, or as Lord C. in one of thefe letters, has it, parfonically disposed to damn this noble finner beyond all hope of redemption, we will now (as in our two former articles) give fome more agreeable as well as ufeful fpecimens, of what may be called Lord Chesterfield's Councels of Prudence. And now, grave and gentle Readers, what fay ye to a fermon?' A Sermon !' Yes, and an admirable, though not a pious difcourfe it is! There will be no occafion to call for night-caps. Attend!

LETTER XXV.

My dear Friend,

I mentioned to you, fome time ago, a fentence; which I would moft earnestly wish you always to retain in your thoughts, and ob ferve in your conduct. It is fuaviter in modo, fortiter in re. Ido not know any one rule fo unexceptionably useful and neceffary in every part of life. I shall therefore take it for my text to day; and, as old men love preaching, and I have fome right to preach to you, I

By Mohairs we fuppofe his Lordship means Tabbies. Editor's note. * See Reviews for May and June.

here

here prefent you with my fermon upon these words. To proceed then regularly and pulpitically; I will first fhow you, my beloved, the necessary connection of the two members of my text, fuaviter in modo; fortiter in re In the next place, I fhall fet forth the advantages and utility refulting from a ftrict observance of the precept contained in my text; and conclude with an application of the whole. The fuaviter in modo alone would degenerate and fink into a mean, timid complaifance, and paffivenefs, if not fupported and dignified by the fortiter in re; which would alfo run into impetuofity and brutality, if not tempered and foftened, by the fuaviter in modo: however, they are feldom united. The warm, choleric man, with ftrong animal fpirits, defpifes the fuaviter in modo, and thinks to carry all before him by the fortiter in re. He may poffibly, by great accident, now and then fucceed, when he has only weak and timid people to deal with; but his general fate will be, to fhock, offend, be hated, and fail. On the other hand, the cunning, crafty man, thinks to gain all his ends by the fuaviter in modo only: be becomes all things ta all men; he feems to have no opinion of his own, and fervilely adopts the prefent opinion of the prefent perfon: he infinuates himself only into the esteem of fools, but is foon detected, and furely difpifed by every body else. The wife man (who differs as much from the cunning, as from the choleric man) alone joins the fuaviter in modo with the fortiter in re. Now to the advantages arising from the ftrict obfervance of this precept.

If you are in authority, and have a right to command, your commands delivered fuaviter in modo will be willingly, chearfully, and confequently well obeyed; whereas, if given only fortiter, that is brutally, they will rather, as Tacitus fays, be interpreted than executed. For my own part, if I bid my footman bring me a glass of wine, in a rough infulting manner, I should expect, that in obeying me, he would contrive to fpill fome of it upon me; and I am fure I fhould deferve it. A cool fteady resolution should show, that where you have a right to command, you will be obeyed; but, at the fame time, a gentlenefs in the manner of enforcing that obedience, fhould make it a chearful one, and foften, as much as poffible, the mortifying confcioufnefs of inferiority. If you are to alk a favour, or even to folicit your due, you must do it suaviter in modo, or you will give thofe, who have a mind to refufe you either, a pretence to do it, by refenting the manner; but, on the other hand, you must, by a steady perfeverance and decent tenacioufnefs, fhow the fortiter in re. The right motives are feldom the true ones, of men's actions, especially of kings, minifters, and people in high ftations; who often give to importunity and fear, what they would refufe to juice or to merit. By the fuaviter in modo engage their hearts, if you can; at least, prevent the pretence of offence: but take care to fhow enough of the fortiter in re to extort from their love of ease, or their fear, what you might in vain hope for from their justice or good-nature. People in high life are hardened to the wants and diftreffes of mankind, as furgeons are to their bodily pains; they fee and hear of them all day long, and even of fo many fimuJated ones, that they do not know which are real, and which not. Other fentiments are therefore to be applied to, than thofe of mere

justice

justice and humanity; their favour must be captivated by the fuaviter in modo: their love of eafe difturbed by unwearied importunity, or their fears wrought upon by a decent intimation of implacable, cool, refentment; this is the true fortiter in re. This precept is the only way I know in the world, of being loved without being defpifed, and feared without being hated. It conftitutes the dignity of character, which every wife man muft endeavour to establish.

Now to apply what has been faid, and fo conclude.

If you find that you have a hastiness in your temper, which unguardedly breaks out into indiscreet fallies, or rough expreffions, to either your fuperiors, your equals, or your inferiors, watch it narrowly, check it carefully, and call the fuaviter in modo to your affiftance: at the first impulfe of paffion, be filent, till you can be foft. Labour even to get the command of your countenance fo well, that thofe emotions may not be read in it: a moft unspeakable advantage in business! On the other hand, let no complaifance, no gentleness of temper, no weak defire of pleasing on your part, no wheedling, coaxing, nor flattery, on other people's, make you recede one jot from any point that reafon and prudence have bid you purfue; but return to the charge, perfift, perfevere, and you will find moft things attainable that are poffible. A yielding timid meekness is always abused and infulted by the unjust and the unfeeling; but when fuftained by the fortiter in re, is always refpected, commonly fuccessful. In your friendships and connections, as well as in your enmities, this rule is particularly ufeful; let your firmnefs and vigour, preserve and invite attachments to you; but, at the fame time, let your manner hinder the enemies of your friends and dependants from becoming yours: let your enemies be difarmed by the gentleness of your manner; but let them feel, at the fame time, the fteadiness of your juft refentment; for there is great difference between bearing malice, which is always ungenerous, and a refolute felf-defence, which is always prudent and juftifiable. In negociations with foreign minifters, remember the fortiter in re; give up no point, accept of no expedient, till the utmost neceffity reduces you to it, and even then dispute the ground inch by inch; but then, while you are contending with the minifter fortiter in re, remember to gain the man by the fuaviter in modo. If you engage his heart, you have a fair chance for impofing upon his understanding, and determining his will. Tell him, in a frank gallant manner, that your ministerial wrangles do not leffen your perfonal regard for his merit; but that, on the contrary, his zeal and ability, in the fervice of his mafter, increase it; and that, of all things, you defire to make a good friend of fo good a fervant. By these means you may and will very often be a gainer, you never can be a lofer. Some people cannot gain upon themselves to be eafy and civil to thofe who are either their rivals, competitors, or oppofers, though, independently of those accidental circumftances, they would like and efteem them. They betray a fhynefs and an aukwardnefs in company with them, and catch at any little thing to expose them; and fo, from temporary and only occafional opponents, make them their personal enemies. This is exceedingly weak and detrimental, as, indeed, is all humour in bufinefs; which can only be carried on fuccessfully, by unadul

terated