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There was a law in one of the ancient governments, I have forgot which*, that empowered a man to kill his wife if she smelt of wine. I most sincerely wish that there was a law in Ireland, and better executed than most laws are, to empower the wives to kill their husbands in the like case; it would promote sobriety extremely, if the effects of conjugal affection were fully considered.

Do you grow fat? Are Mrs. Chenevix and your children all well? Are you as cheerful and as happy as your good conscience ought to make you? I hope them all; for, upon my word, nobody loves and values you more than your faithful friend and servant, &c.

LETTER XXI.

LORD CHESTERFIELD TO DR. R. C

MY DEAR LORD,

1747 +.

I AM very glad to hear of your safe arrival upon Irish ground, after your distresses upon the Irish seas: escapes always make people either much bolder or more timid than they were before; yours, I hope, will have the former of these effects, and

* It was that of the ancient Romans. That law, indeed, did not subsist long in all its severity; but even when the ladies had obtained the permission of drinking wine, they were pu nished for abusing that indulgence; and the wife of a senator having been convicted of drunkenness, was deprived of her marriage portion.

+ This date is not in the hand of lord Chesterfield, and I suspect it to be faulty.

encourage you rather to visit your friends in Eng

lund.

I have been a country gentleman a great while, for me, that is; for I have now been a fortnight together at Blackheath, and stay there three or four days longer. The furor hortensis (garden madness) has seized me, and my acre of ground here affords me more pleasure than kingdoms do to kings; for my object is not to extend, but to enrich it. My gardener calls me, and I must obey. Be as well and as cheerful as you can; and believe me most faithfully and truly yours, &c.

LETTER XXII.

LORD CHESTERFIELD TO SOLOMON DAYROLLES, ESQ. AT THE HAGUE.

DEAR DAYROlles,

London, Jan. 26, O. S. 1748. THIS letter goes to you, in that confidence which I always shall, and know that I safely may, place in you and you will therefore not let one word of it transpire.

What *** wrote to *** I believe will; nay, I am sure must, prove true.

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I tell you very truly, I long for rest and quiet, equally necessary to my present state, both of body and mind. Could I do any good, I would sacrifice some more quiet to it; but, convinced as I am that I can do none, will indulge my ease, and preserve my character. I have gone through

pleasures, while my constitution and my spirits would allow me. Business succeeded them; and I have now gone through every part of it, without liking it at all the better for being acquainted with it. Like many other things, it is most admired by those who know it the least. And this one consideration would alone disgust one of it, even if one had the sole power; which is, that in this country one must, for political reasons, frequently prefer the most unworthy to the most worthy; and prostitute to importunity and undeserving greediness the rewards of merit. Thus weary of business, you will easily imagine, that in retiring from my present business, I shall not engage in any other; but far from embarking upon any account in cabals and opposition, whenever I do take any part in the House of Lords, it shall be in support of the Government. Do not think neither that I mean a sullen retirement from the world: on the contrary, my retreat from business will give me both more time and better spirits for the enjoyment of social life, from which I will never withdraw myself. What day I shall resign the seals is not yet fixed therefore, I desire that you will not, upon any account, mention one word of this letter, or give the least intimation to any one living, that you know any thing of this resolution. As I know the warmth of your friendship for me, and at the same time the warmth of your temper, I most earnestly recommend to you, nay, I insist upon I your being discreet, when this event shall become

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public. There are those at the Hague, who will be glad to lay hold of any little slip of yours, in order to do you an injury: disappoint them by your

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discretion, and say nothing more upon it, than that you knew that my health required exercise, and my temper quiet; and that you know too, that whenever I can, as a private man, be of any use to the king or to the public, I shall act the same out of place as I should have done in. This conduct I shall look upon as a proof of your friendship, and not of your coolness for me. As I shall always have a satisfaction in hearing from you, write to me, from time to time, as usual.

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Adieu for this time, my dear Dayrolles; and be convinced that, knowing as I do your merit, your good heart, your truth, and your affection, I shall, though hereafter a very useless one, be ever your very faithful friend.

LETTER XXIII.

LORD CHESTERFIELD TO SOLOMON DAYROLLES, ESQ. AT THE HAGUE.

DEAR DAYROLLES,

London, Feb. 9, O. S. 1748. LE sort est jetté (the die is cast): you receive this letter from a sincere friend, but not from a secretary of state; and I know you to be so true a friend too, that I am sure you value it more in the former character than in the latter. Last Saturday I resigned the seals into the king's hands, who parted with me in the most gracious manner possible. My health, my spirits, and my character, all concurred in this measure, and made it absolutely necessary for me. I retire without any per

sonal quarrel with any man whatsoever; and if I disapproved of measures, it was by no means upon account of their authors. Far from engaging in Opposition, as resigning ministers too commonly do, I shall, to the utmost of my power, support the king and his government; which I can do with more advantage to them, and more honour to myself, when I do not receive five thousand pounds a-year for doing it. I shall now, for the first time in my life, enjoy that philosophical quiet, which, upon my word, I have long wished for. While I was able, that is, while I was young, I lived in a constant dissipation and tumult of pleasures: the hurry and plague of business, either in or out of court, succeeded, and continued till now. And it is now time to think of the only real comforts in the latter end of life,-quiet, liberty, and health. Do not think, by the way, that by quiet and retirement I mean solitude and misanthropy: far from it; my philosophy, as you know, is of a cheerful and social nature. My horse, my books, and my friends, will divide my time pretty equally; I shall not keep less company, but only better, for I shall choose it. Therefore do not fear finding me, whenever you take a little turn here, morose and cynical: on the contrary, you will find me as gentle as a dove; but, alas! not so amorous. At least, whatever else you find me, you will always find me with the truest affection, yours, &c.

P. S. Pray make my compliments to my baron, and thank him both for his books and his letters; I will do it myself very soon.

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