The Letters of Phillip Dormer Stanhope, 4th Earl of Chesterfield [2]

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THE LETTERS OF LORD CHESTERFIELD VOL. TWO

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% THE LETTERS OF

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PHILIP DORMER STANHOPE EARL OF

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CHESTERFIELD EDITED, WITH AN INTRODUCTION, BY

BONAMY DOBR£E ★

IN SIX VOLUMES

Volume letters:

1

i

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Two

1712-1745

93 2

AMS PRESS • NEW YORK

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Reprinted with the permission of Eyre & Spottiswoode From the edition of 1932, London & New York First AMS EDITION published 1968 Manufactured in the United States of America

Reprinted from a copy in the collections of the Harvard College Library.

Library of Congress Catalogue Card Number: 68-59007

AMS PRESS, INC. New York, N.Y. 10003

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THE LETTERS OF PHILIP DORMER STANHOPE FOURTH EARL OF CHESTERFIELD Nos. i—818 22nd

August,

1712-27^

April,

1745

(L A _X. r-»

£

IJ12 No. i A M.

JOUNEAU1

{Maty, I. i)

,

,

Trin. Hall Cambridge ce 22 aout Monsieur,

1712

J’ai eu un sensible plaisir en lisant la lettre, que vous avez eu la bonte de m’ecrire; il me semblait que vous me parliez vous-meme, et que j’etais dans la compagnie de l’homme du monde que j’estime le plus, et a qui je souhaite le plus ardemment de pouvoir faire plaisir. J’y aurais repondu plutot, n’eut ete que j’ai passe cette semaine chez l’Eveque d’Ely,2 qui demeure a quinze milles d’ici. J’ai, dans ce peu de temps, vu plus de la campagne que je n’avais vu auparavant dans toute ma vie, et qui ici-autour est tres agreable. Je continue bien ferme dans mes etudes, qui ne sont encore que le latin et le grec, a cause que la foire, qui va venir en dix jours, les aurait interrompues, mais apres que ce divertissement sera fini, je dois commencer le droit civil, la philosophic, et un peu de mathematiques; mais pour l’anatomie, je ne la pourrai point apprendre; car, quoiqu’il y ait eu un pauvre pendu, le chirurgien, qui avait coutume de faire ces operations, n’en a point voulu faire cette fois, 1M. Jouneau was one of the French Protestants whom the Revocation of the Edict of Nantes, in 1685, drove from their native country. He became minister of a French congregation in Berwick Street, Soho. Lord Chesterfield was put under his care by his grandmother, Lady Halifax, and received from him his first instruction in languages and history.—Maty. 2Dr. John Moore (translated from Norwich) was Bishop of Ely from 1707 to 1713.—M.

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parceque c’etait un homme, et alors il dit que les ecoliers ne veulent point venir. Je trouve ce college, dans lequel je suis, infiniment le meilleur de toute 1’universite, car c’est le plus petit, et il est rempli d’avocats, qui ont ete dans le monde, et qui savent vivre. Nous n’avons qu’un ministre, qui est aussi le seul ivrogne du college. Quoiqu’on en dise, il y a fort peu de debauche dans cette universite, et surtout parmi les gens de condition; car il faudrait avoir un gout de portefaix ou de crocheteur, pour la pouvoir souffrir ici. Il me semble que nous sommes fort mal dans nos affaires, mais, ne pouvant les empecher, je ne me mele guere de politique: seulement je me fais un plaisir d’aller voir quelquefois au cafe les batailles rangees qui s’y donnent, entre les heros de chaque cote, avec une bravoure inconcevable, et qui ne se terminent qu’apres l’entiere defaite de quelques tasses de the des deux cotes. Je crains de vous avoir deja trop ennuye; au moins de peur de le faire, il est bien temps de vous dire que je suis, etc.

No. 2 A M.

JOUNEAU

(Maty, /. it) Ce 21 septembre [1712] Monsieur

Je n’ai pas voulu perdre la premiere occasion de vous envoyer cette bagatelle, ce que j’aurais honte de faire, si je ne vous assurais en meme temps, que je voudrais bien que ce fut dix fois autant. Je vins en ville hier au soir, pour quelques jours, et j’espere qu’il ne se passera pas longtemps avant que j’aie le plaisir de vous voir. Je suis, etc.

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i y 12,

No. 3 A M.

JOUNEAU

{Maty I. ii) Ce

21

octobre

1712

Monsieur,

Les divertissements de Newmarket, oil je fus trois ou quatre jours, m’ont empeche de vous ecrire sitot que j’avais intention; outre que j’ai ete dans un embarras furieux en changeant de chambres. J’espere que me voici accommode pour le temps que je demeurerai ici. C’est a cette heure, Monsieur, que j’ai bien des affaires sur les bras, car j’emploie plus d’une heure par jour au droit civil, et tout autant a la philosophic; et la semaine qui vient, l’aveugle1 commencera ses lemons de mathematiques; de sorte que me voici bien occupe. Croiriez-vous bien aussi que je lis Lucien et Xenophon en grec? ce qui m’est rendu assez aise, car je ne m’embarrasse point d’apprendre toutes les regies de la grammaire: mais l’homme qui est avec moi, et qui est une grammaire vivante,2 me les enseigne en lisant. Je me reserve du temps pour jouer a la paume, car je souhaite aussi bien le corpus sanum que le mens sana; il me semble que l’un ne vaut guere sans l’autre. Depuis mon arrivee ici, j’ai regu la lettre que vous envoyates a Oxford, quelqu’un l’ayant change pour Cam¬ bridge; et je trouve votre memoire (dont vous vous plaignez tant) excellente, car elle est, a quelques petits mots pres, justement la meme que l’autre que vous envoyates apres, mais que je n’eus pas pour cela moins de plaisir en lisant. Decies repetita placebit— Nicholas Saunderson (1682-1739), Lucasian Professor of Mathematics; he had been blinded by smallpox. 2The Rev. Dr. Crow, Chesterfield’s private tutor; he afterwards became one of the Chaplains of King George the Second.

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ce qui est la devise qu’un ministre ici (qui epousa l’autre jour une tres jolie fille) mit dans la bague de noce. Ecrivez-moi done souvent, Monsieur, je vous en prie, quand vous n’aurez rien autre chose a faire, et vous obligerez infiniment, Monsieur, votre, etc.

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l7l3 No. 4 A M.

JOUNEAU

(Maty, I. iv) Ce Jeudi Saint [1713]

Je vous demande mille pardons, Monsieur, de n’avoir pas plutot rendu reponse a votre derniere lettre, mais il y a quelque temps que j’ai ete fort occupe a l’anatomie, outre mes exercices ordinaires, ou bien j’aurais ete en ville avant ce temps ici. Je ne m’etonne guere de l’honnetete que votre fils, avec les enfants de Sir George Byng,1 trouva de la part des Fran^ais. En verite ils nous en doivent de reste, et c’est une pauvre recompense pour tout ce que nous leur avons donne.2 Je suis fort oblige a Mr. Chasseloup du bien qu’il dit de moi, et ce n’est pas pour lui rendre la pareille, que je vous dis que c’est un fort joli gar$on. II ne faut pas que vous attendiez des nouvelles d’ici, de sorte que je finirai, en vous assurant que je ne manquerai pas de faire ce que vous me demandez, quand je serai a Londres, ce qui sera en peu de temps, et que cependant je suis, etc. XM. Jouneau’s son had been bred a physician, and travelled with Sir George Byng’s sons.—M. *By the Peace of Utrecht.—M.

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No. 5 To

the Hon. George Berkeley1

(.Ad y. 0

84

JrPh

No. 134. To

l J2C) ^ ^

Lord Townshend

The Hague, 11 January N.S. 1729

Oostfrize. A letter for the King from the Duke of Gotta, delivered by ‘a sort of a minister.’ ‘The Utrecht Gazetteer having lately thought fit to trans¬ late and publish in his Gazettes extracts out of the Craftsman, and other seditious libels, I have taken measures to prevent his doing the like for the future.’ (S.P. Holland. 303, f 13)

No. 135 To

Lord Townshend

(S.P. Holland. 303, f ij) PRIVATE

The Hague, 11 January N.S. 1729

My Lord,

Last week a poor Frenchman of a good character, whose trade is writing and copying, brought me the enclosed papers, and gave me the following account of them. A gentleman, well dressed, and whom, by his speaking French very well, he takes to be a Frenchman, came to him on Tuesday was sevennight, in the afternoon, and bid him with all possible despatch copy the paper No. 1, and that he would call again for it in an hour; the fellow, finding there was some mystery in it, took two copies, and kept one for himself. The man came back at the time appointed, gave the copier a florin, and took away his letter in great haste, enjoining secrecy. When he was gone the copier endea¬ voured to decipher the letter, which he easily did, the letters being only transposed, No. 2.1 I immediately sent an agent to Rotterdam, to inquire who this John Cromwell might be. He informed me that he 1 A la Haye, ce 28 Decembre 1728 Mon Cher Ami, Depuis huit jours que je suis arrive ici de Bruxelles j’ai reju deux lettres, l’une de Paris et l’autre de Soissons, par lesquelles on me confirme comme il n’y a

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could hear of no such body as John Cromwell, but that there was one John Cranwell, Captain of a sloop, who went from thence for England about ten days agone, and who, I suppose, is the same person, the mistake between Cromwell and Cranwell being natural for a foreigner to make in an English name. The papers intended to be dis¬ persed, I imagine, are concerning Gibraltar. This is all I have been able to find out of this affair, notwithstanding the most diligent inquiries I have been able to make. If your Lordship thinks it deserves any attention, you will easily find out this John Cranwell in the river, who will be able to inform your Lordship who that Jourdain mentioned in the paper is. The Prince of Orange’s coming here is put off for a fort¬ night longer, upon account of the illness of his governor, Mons. Du Parc, who is really very ill; but as the Prince’s enemies here have given out that this is only a feigned illness, and that the Prince dared not come, Monsieur de Linden and I have agreed that he shall come at all events in a fortnight; thinking it may be of ill consequence to let anybody suppose the least timidity on his part, or on the part of those who direct him. rien de plus vrai qu’on a propose au Roi de faire en sorte que Gibraltar fut surpris par les Espagnols en lui donnant une grosse somme d’argent, ceux-ci, ne voulant rien conclure sans la restitution de cette place, et que le Roi a tenu plusieurs conseils secrets sur cette affaire-la. Cela me fait ressouvenir de plusieurs coups de langues qui m’ont 6t£ donnes k Soissons par le maitre d’hotel de Monsieur de Bournonville; un jour il me dit que Gibraltar avait couff bien du monde aux Espagnols pendant le siege, mais qu’on saurait bien trouver le secret de le ravoir sans qu’il en couta tant; exhortez nos bons amis des Communes a veiller sur cette affaire, et ne perdez pas du temps. Car cette place est trop importante a la nation, et tous ceux qui donneraient un pareil conseil au Roi mdriteraient un chatiment exemplaire. Les billets seront bientot imprimis, il y en a huit mille en trois langues. Le Capitaine Jean Cromvel m’a promis k Rotterdam de les passer et de les faire porter en toute surety chez le Sieur Jourdain suivant votre memoire, mais il m’a demands dix guinees; je suis sur mon depart pour Middelbourg, les affaires regleront mon retour, mais je ne crois pas de vous voir, avant la fin de fevrier; mes compliments je vous prie k tous nos bons amis sans oublier ma ch£re bellesceur. Adieu, mon ami, je suis a mon ordinaire tout a vous. P.S. J’ai 6t6 voir k Amsterdam le marchand qui livra les armes au Sieur Jourdain il y a deux armies, mais il ne veut pas les donner au meme prix; je verrai ailleurs. (S.P. Holland. 303,/20. The cypher letter is/19.)

86

General Keppell informed me, in confidence, that Mon¬ sieur Reichembach, the Prussian Agent at London, writes very impertinent and malicious accounts to his own Court, of that of England; of this your Lordship may find means to be better informed. I am, with the greatest truth, etc. No. 136. To

Lord Townshend

The Hague, 14 January N.S. 1729

Embden. (S.P. Holland.

No. 137. To

3035/29)

Lord Townshend

The Hague, 18 January N.S. 1729 Private. Sinzendorf approaches the Pensionary with a view

to the private settlement of the Ostend trade. The Pensionary remains firm. Sinzendorf cuts rather a ridiculous figure as a diplomat. The Pensionary thinks that Ripperda should be made to speak out. {S.P. Holland.

3035/35)

Nos. 138 and 139. {Note.) The next two letters to Townshend, of the 21st and

25 th, folios 41 and 43 respectively, contain no information.

No.

140.

To

Lord Townshend

The Hague, 28 January N.S. 1729

The Duke of Mecklenburg advised to apply to the Diet in the usual way. {S.P. Holland.

No. 141. To

3035/45)

Lord Townshend

The Hague, 28 January N.S. 1729 Very private. The Mecklenburg affair: the Pensionary un¬

willing

to

move. Bergues and

Juliers. Oostfrize. Count

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Sinzendorf declares the Empress to be with child; but he is not to be depended upon. (S.P. Holland.

3035/47)

No. 142. To George Tilson. The Hague, 28 January N.S. 1729 Holograph. Thanks for the packet from the Duke of Dorset

enclosed in his letter. Comments on Mr. Hop’s strange behaviour. (S.P. Holland. 303,/51)

No. 143. To

Lord Townshend

The Hague, 1 February N.S. 1729 Private. Vienna and Madrid not likely to speak what they

mean until they have adjusted their private differences. Vienna and Oostfrize: a temporary deadlock over the phras¬ ing referring to the Dutch garrison in Embden. (S.P. Holland. 303,/53) No. 144. To

Lord Townshend

The Hague, 4 February N.S. 1729

Information to hand that the Emperor will try to borrow money on the security of Silesia either from the States or from the Duchess of Marlborough. The first will not, but the second might, agree. (S.P. Holland.

No. 145. To

3035/69)

Lord Townshend

The Hague, 8 February N.S. 1729

The Pensionary will no doubt be pleased with the King’s speech, and the support of both Houses. (S.P. Holland.

No. 146. To

3035/71)

Lord Townshend

The Hague, 11 February N.S. 1729

The complaints of the West India Co. given to the Pensionary. Discovery of the leakage of secrets in the Republic.

88

(S.P. Holland. 303,/75)

IJ2.£)

No.

147.

To

Lord Townshend

The Hague, 11 February N.S. 1729 Private. The Dutch are pleased with the King’s speech and

the support of both Houses. Extraordinary behaviour of Mr. Hop. (.S.P. Holland. 303, f 7 8) No. 148. To

George Tilson.

The Hague, 11 February N.S. 1729 Holograph. Gunsenotti (referred to in the ‘Private’ letter to

Townshend) ‘is one of those little inquisitive ministers, who in order to have something to write about to his own Court, writes a great deal to everybody else; and becomes all things to all men, to gain a few. He is certainly by no means to be trusted, but it is worth while to save appearances with him; for I may tell you in confidence that he has often given me very good informations.’ {S.P. Holland. 303, f 79) No. 149 To

Lord Townshend

(S.P. Holland. 303,/89) HOLOGRAPH

The Hague, 15 February N.S. 1729

My Lord,

I received on Saturday the honour of your Lordship’s very secret letter of the 28th Jan., with the enclosed letter from Prince Eugene to Count Kinski, which I communi¬ cated in confidence to the Pensionary and Greffier, who desired me to return your Lordship their thanks for that communication. Lady Portland’s1 being sent for so suddenly into England, has raised various speculations here, and the more, because xJane, daughter of Sir John Temple, of East Sheen, Bart., and widow since 1709 of William, first Earl of Portland. She had been governess to the Princesses, daughters of George the Second.—M.

89

IJ2C)

/^s.

it happens unluckily, just at the time that the Prince of Orange is to come, who will be here next Thursday. I must upon this occasion take the liberty of suggesting to your Lordship, that although I am thoroughly convinced of Lady Portland’s zeal and attachment for the Princess Royal, and of her good intentions for the Prince of Orange; yet her strict intimacy with Count Obdam and his family, from whom I am persuaded she conceals nothing, makes her a very improper person to be talked to upon that subject. This I only hint provisionally to your Lordship, not know¬ ing, nor enquiring, upon what account she is really gone. Since I have mentioned the Prince of Orange, I will trouble your Lordship with a short account of what has passed here concerning him, since I wrote last to your Lordship upon that subject. He was to have come here about three weeks ago, but the Pensionary desired M. de Linden that it might be put off till March, without giving any reason for that request. Upon which M. de Linden came and consulted me whether it should be complied with or no. I told him I thought it was necessary to please the Pensionary as much as possible, and to soften him at least (if he was not to be gained) by all imaginable deference to his opinion. M. de Linden accordingly went to Utrecht to put off the Prince’s journey for six weeks; but while he was there I received a letter from Prince William of Hesse, wherein he told me he should come to the Hague the first week in March. As I thought it highly improper these two Princes should be here together, knowing very well the ill disposition of the uncle towards the nephew, I immediately wrote to M. de Linden to inform him of it, and to advise him to bring the Prince of Orange here time enough for him to return before the arrival of his uncle; and to think of some excuse to make to the Pensionary upon that occa¬ sion. Upon this M. de Linden settled the Prince’s journey here for Tuesday next, the 17th instant, and returned here the next day, and excused it to the Pensionary upon pretence

90

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that the Prince of Orange’s house here was not big enough to hold him and his uncle at the same time. The Pensionary, to M. de Linden’s great surprise, seemed not only satisfied, but pleased that the Prince was to come so soon; which I can only ascribe to this—that as all his projects meet with very strong opposition in the Assembly of the States of Holland, and especially from the town of Amsterdam and the anti-Stadthouder party, he is not sorry to have the Prince of Orange here to frighten them with a little. I mentioned to your Lordship some time ago that measures were taking in a certain province to get the Prince declared Stadthouder; that province was Zealand, where there has been lately a considerable revolution in favour of the Stadthouder party in the Magistracy of Flessingue and Tervere; and I hope something more may be done in about two months’ time. I am, etc. I hope I may depend upon those letters that I trouble your Lordship with, in my own hand, being kept secret.

No.

150.

To

Lord Townshend

The Hague, 15 February N.S. 1729 Private. Treaty of the four Electors. Bergues and Juliers and the Palatine. Hanover wants a quid pro quo. The Pension¬

ary’s difficulty with Dutch lethargy.

(S.P. Holland.

No. 151. To

3035/87)

Lord Townshend

The Hague,

18

February N.S. 1729

Private. Oostfrize: the States wish for a more explicit state¬

ment of the Empress’s intentions with relation to the Dutch garrison. “The Prince of Orange arrived here last night. I went to wait upon him, and, as far as I am able to judge from half an

91

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hour’s conversation only, I think he has extreme good parts. He is perfectly well-bred, and civil to everybody, and with an ease and freedom that is seldom acquired but by a long know¬ ledge of the world. His face is handsome; his shape is not so advantageous as could be wished, though not near so bad as I had heard it represented. The acclamations of the people were loud and universal. He assumes not the least dignity, but has all the affability and insinuation that is necessary for a person who would raise himself in a popular Government.’ (S.P. Holland. 303,/191)1

No. 152. To Lord Townshend The Hague, 22 February N.S. 1729 Private. The King of Prussia’s extraordinary behaviour over the projected marriages. The Imperial decree concerning Mecklenburg very moderate. Private information from Paris of a secret paragraph in a letter, which reveals the intention of opposing H.M. should he try to keep possession of any part of that Duchy pending the payment of claims. {S.P. Holland. 3035/99)

No. 153. To Lord Townshend The Hague, 25 February N.S. 1729 Excitement over the trial of the state prisoners (for leakage of secrets: see letters above). Popularity of Prince of Orange. {S.P. Holland. 303,/101)

No. 154. To Lord Townshend The Hague, 25 February N.S. 1729 Very Private. Absurdities of Mons. Hop: the Pensionary pays little attention to them. English debts to the Republic; both to be pressed now. Mr. Hop’s brother at Paris is as absurd as Mr. Hop is in England. {S.P. Holland. 303,/103)

92

1Partly printed by Maty, I, 293.

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