LETTERS

WRITTEN BY THE

EARL OF CHESTERFIELD

TO

HIS SON.

NEW YORK:

DERBY & JACKSON, 119 NASSAU ST.,

CINCINNATI-H. W. DERBY & CO.

1857.

INTRODUCTION.

THE death of the late Earl of Chesterfield is so recent, his family, his character, and his talents so well known, that it would be unnecessary to attempt any account of his lordship's life. But as these Letters will probably descend to posterity, it may not be improper to explain the general scope of them, and the reason that induced him to write on the subject of education. It is well known, that the late Earl of Chesterfield had a natural son, whom he loved with the most unbounded affection, and whose education was, for many years, the chief engagement of his life. After furnishing him with the most valuable treasures of ancient and modern learning, to those acquisitions he was desirous of adding that knowledge of men and things, which he himself had acquired by long and great experience. With this view were written the following Letters; which, the reader will observe, begin with those dawnings of instruction adapted to the capacity of a boy, and rising gradually by precepts and monitions, calculated to direct and guard the age of incautious youth, finish with the advice and knowledge requisite to form the man, ambitious to shine as an accomplished courtier, an orator in the senate, or a minister at foreign courts.

In order to effect these purposes, his lordship, ever anxious to fix in his son a scrupulous adherence to the strictest morality, appears to have thought it the first, and most indispensable object—to lay, in the earliest period of life, a firm foundation in good principles and sound religion. His next point was, to give him a perfect knowledge of the dead languages, and all the different branches of solid learning, by the study of the best ancient authors: and also such a general idea of the sciences as it is a disgrace to a gentleman not to possess. The article of instruction with which he concludes his system of education, and which he more particularly enforces throughout the whole work, is the study of that useful and extensive science, the knowledge of mankind; in the course of which, appears the nicest investigation of the human heart, and the springs of human actions. From hence we find him

induced to lay so great a stress on what are generally called accomplishments, as most indispensably requisite to finish the amiable and brilliant part of a complete character.

It would be unnecessary to expatiate on the merits of such a work, executed by so great a master. They cannot but be obvious to every person of sense; the more, as nothing of this sort has, I believe, ever been produced in the English language. The candour of the public, to which these letters appeal, will determine the amusement and instruction they afford. I flatter myself, they will be read with general satisfaction; as the principal, and by far the greater part of them, were written when the late Earl of Chesterfield was in the full vigour of his mind, and possessed all those qualifications for which he was so justly admired in England, revered in Ireland, and esteemed wherever known.

Celebrated all over Europe for his superior talents as an epistolary writer, for the brilliancy of his wit, and the solidity of his extensive knowledge, will it be too presumptuous to assert, that he exerted all those faculties to their utmost, upon his favourite subject-Education? and that, in order to form the mind of his darling son, he even exhausted those powers which he was so universally allowed to possess.

I do not doubt but those who were much connected with the author, during that series of years in which he wrote the following Letters, will be ready to vouch the truth of the above assertion. What I can, and do ascertain is, the authenticity of this publication; which comprises not a single line, that is not the late Earl of Chesterfield's.

Some, perhaps, may be of opinion that the first Letters in this collection, intended for the instruction of a child, then under seven years of age, were too trifling to merit publication. They are, however, inserted by the advice of several gentlemen of learning and re judgment, who considered the whole as absolutely necessary to form a complete System of Education. And, indeed, the reader will find his lordship repeatedly telling his son, that his affection for him makes him look upon no instruction, which may be of service to him, as too trifling or too low. I, therefore, did not think myself authorised to suppress what, to so experienced a man, appeared so requisite to the completion of his undertaking. And, upon this point, I may appeal more particularly to those, who, being fathers themselves, know how to value instructions, of which their tenderness and anxiety for their children will undoubtedly make them feel the necessity. The instructions scattered throughout those Letters are happily calculated

"To teach the young idea how to shoot;"

to form and enlighten the infant mind upon its first opening, and prepare it to receive the early impressions of learning and of morality. Of these, many

entire letters,* and some parts of others, are lost, which, considering the tender years of Mr. Stanhope at that time, cannot be a matter of surprise, but will always be one of regret. Wherever a complete sense could be made out, I have ventured to give the fragment.

As to those repetitions, which sometimes occur, that many may esteem inaccuracies, and think they had been better retrenched: they are so varied, and their significancy thrown into such, and so many different lights, that they could not be altered without mutilating the work. In the course of which, the reader will also observe his lordship often expressly declaring, that such repetitions are purposely intended to inculcate his instructions more forcibly. So good a reason, urged by the author for using them, made me think it indispensably requisite not to deviate from the original.

The Letters written from the time that Mr. Stanhope was employed as one of his majesty's ministers abroad, although not relative to education, yet, as they continue the series of Lord Chesterfield's Letters to his Son, and discover his sentiments on various interesting subjects of public as well as private concern, it is presumed they cannot fail of being acceptable to the public.

I beg leave to add, that if the following work proves of as much utility to the youth of this day, as the Letters were to the person for whose immediate instruction they were written, my utmost wishes will be gratified; and I shall esteem myself happy in reflecting, that, though a woman, I have had the most real of all satisfactions-that of being of some use to my country.

* Most of these Letters are recovered, and in this edition are inserted in their proper places.