letters to his son, 1756-58-第4节
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are none of them the true ones。 It is said that the King reproached him with having exceeded his powers in making the Hanover Convention； which his R。 H。 absolutely denied； and threw up thereupon。 This is certain； that he appeared at the drawing…room at Kensington； last Sunday； after having quitted； and went straight to Windsor； where； his people say； that he intends to reside quietly； and amuse himself as a private man。 But I conjecture that matters will soon be made up again； and that he will resume his employments。 You will easily imagine the speculations this event has occasioned in the public； I shall neither trouble you nor myself with relating them； nor would this sheet of paper； or even a quire more； contain them。 Some refine enough to suspect that it is a concerted quarrel； to justify SOMEBODY TO SOMEBODY； with regard to the Convention； but I do not believe it。
His R。 H。's people load the Hanover Ministers； and more particularly our friend Munchausen here； with the whole blame； but with what degree of truth I know not。 This only is certain； that the whole negotiation of that affair was broached and carried on by the Hanover Ministers and Monsieur Stemberg at Vienna； absolutely unknown to the English Ministers； till it was executed。 This affair combined （for people will combine it） with the astonishing return of our great armament； not only 're infecta'； but even 'intentata'； makes such a jumble of reflections； conjectures； and refinements； that one is weary of hearing them。 Our Tacituses and Machiavels go deep； suspect the worst； and； perhaps； as they often do； overshoot the mark。 For my own part； I fairly confess that I am bewildered； and have not certain 'postulata' enough； not only to found any opinion； but even to form conjectures upon： and this is the language which I think you should hold to all who speak to you； as to be sure all will； upon that subject。 Plead； as you truly may； your own ignorance； and say； that it is impossible to judge of those nice points； at such a distance； and without knowing all circumstances； which you cannot be supposed to do。 And as to the Duke's resignation； you should； in my opinion； say； that perhaps there might be a little too much vivacity in the case； but that； upon the whole； you make no doubt of the thing's being soon set right again； as； in truth； I dare say it will。 Upon these delicate occasions； you must practice the ministerial shrugs and 'persiflage'； for silent gesticulations； which you would be most inclined to； would not be sufficient： something must be said； but that something； when analyzed； must amount to nothing。 As for instance； 'Il est vrai qu'on s'y perd； mais que voulez…vous que je vous dise？il y a bien du pour et du contre； un petit Resident ne voit gueres le fond du sac。Il faut attendre。 Those sort of expletives are of infinite use； and nine people in ten think they mean something。 But to the Landgrave of Hesse I think you would do well to say； in seeming confidence； that you have good reason to believe that the principal objection of his Majesty to the convention was that his Highness's interests； and the affair of his troops； were not sufficiently considered in it。 To the Prussian Minister assert boldly that you know 'de science certaine'； that the principal object of his Majesty's and his British Ministry's intention is not only to perform all their present engagements with his Master； but to take new and stronger ones for his support； for this is trueAT LEAST AT PRESENT。
You did very well in inviting Comte Bothmar to dine with you。 You see how minutely I am informed of your proceedings； though not from yourself。 Adieu。
I go to Bath next Saturday； but direct your letters； as usual； to London。
LETTER CCXI
BATH； October 26； 1757。
MY DEAR FRIEND： I arrived here safe； but far from sound； last Sunday。 I have consequently drunk these waters but three days； and yet I find myself something better for them。 The night before I left London。 I was for some hours at Newcastle House； where the letters； which came that morning； lay upon the table： and his Grace singled out yours with great approbation； and； at the same time； assured me of his Majesty's approbation； too。 To these two approbations I truly add my own； which； 'sans vanite'； may perhaps be near as good as the other two。 In that letter you venture 'vos petits raisonnemens' very properly； and then as properly make an excuse for doing so。 Go on so； with diligence； and you will be； what I began to despair of your ever being； SOMEBODY。 I am persuaded； if you would own the truth； that you feel yourself now much better satisfied with yourself than you were while you did nothing。
Application to business； attended with approbation and success； flatters and animates the mind： which； in idleness and inaction； stagnates and putrefies。 I could wish that every rational man would； every night when he goes to bed； ask himself this question； What have I done to…day？ Have I done anything that can be of use to myself or others？ Have I employed my time； or have I squandered it？ Have I lived out the day； or have I dozed it away in sloth and laziness？ A thinking being must be pleased or confounded； according as he can answer himself these questions。 I observe that you are in the secret of what is intended； and what Munchausen is gone to Stade to prepare； a bold and dangerous experiment in my mind； and which may probably end in a second volume to the 〃History of the Palatinate；〃 in the last century。 His Serene Highness of Brunswick has； in my mind； played a prudent and saving game； and I am apt to believe that the other Serene Highness； at Hamburg； is more likely to follow his example than to embark in the great scheme。
I see no signs of the Duke's resuming his employments； but on the contrary I am assured that his Majesty is coolly determined to do as well as he can without him。 The Duke of Devonshire and Fox have worked hard to make up matters in the closet； but to no purpose。 People's self…love is very apt to make them think themselves more necessary than they are： and I shrewdly suspect； that his Royal Highness has been the dupe of that sentiment； and was taken at his word when he least suspected it； like my predecessor； Lord Harrington； who when he went into the closet to resign the seals； had them not about him： so sure he thought himself of being pressed to keep them。
The whole talk of London； of this place； and of every place in the whole kingdom； is of our great； expensive； and yet fruitless expedition； I have seen an officer who was there； a very sensible and observing man： who told me that had we attempted Rochfort； the day after we took the island of Aix； our success had been infallible； but that； after we had sauntered （God knows why） eight or ten days in the island； he thinks the attempt would have been impracticable； because the French had in that time got together all the troops in that neighborhood； to a very considerable number。 In short； there must have been some secret in that whole affair that has not yet transpired； and I cannot help suspecting that it came from Stade。 WE had not been successful there； and perhaps WE were not desirous that an expedition； in which WE had neither been concerned nor consulted； should prove so； Mt was OUR creature； and a word to the wise will sometimes go a great way。 Mt is to have a public trial； from which the public expects great discoveries Not I。
Do you visit Soltikow； the Russian Minister； whose house； I am told； is the great scene of pleasures at Hamburg？ His mistress； I take for granted； is by this time dead； and he wears some other body's shackles。 Her death comes with regard to the King of Prussia； 'comme la moutarde apres diner'。 I am curious to see what tyrant will succeed her； not by divine； but by military right； for； barbarous as they are now； and still more barbarous as they have been formerly； they have had very little regard to the more barbarous notion of divine； indefeasible； hereditary right。
The Praetorian bands； that is； the guards； I presume； have been engaged in the interests of the Imperial Prince； but still I think that little John of Archangel will be heard upon this occasion； unless prevented by a quieting draught of hemlock or nightshade； for I suppose they are not arrived to the politer and genteeler poisons of Acqua Tufana； ＇Acqua Tufana； a Neapolitan slow poison； resembling clear water； and invented by a woman at Naples； of the name of Tufana。＇ sugar…plums； etc。
Lord Halifax has accepted his old employment； with the honorary addition of the Cabinet Council。 And so we heartily wish you a goodnight。
LETTER CCXII
BATH； November 4； 1757
MY DEAR FRIEND： The Sons of Britain； like those of Noah； must cover their parent's shame as well as they can； for to retrieve its honor is now too late。 One would really think that our ministers and generals were all as drunk as the Patriarch was。 However； in your situation； you must not be Cham； but spread your cloak over our disgrace； as far as it will go。 Mt calls aloud for a public trial； and in that； and that only； the public agree with him。 There will certainly be one； but of what kind is not yet fixed。 Some are for a parliame
