brings him into a great deal of bad company; and takes up a great deal of time, which might be much better employed. Few things would mortify me more than to see you bearing a part in a concert, with a fiddle under your chin, or a pipe in your mouth. [Same date.]
Manières.—By manières, I do not mean bare
common civility; everybody must have that, who
would not be kicked out of company; but I mean
engaging, insinuating, shining manners; a distinguished
politeness, an almost irresistible address; a
superior gracefulness in all you say and do. It is
this alone that can give all your other talents their
full lustre and value; and consequently, it is this
which should now be the principal object of your
attention. Observe minutely, wherever you go, the
allowed and established morals of good breeding,
and form yourself upon them. Whatever pleases
you most, in others, will infallibly please others, in
you. I have often repeated this to you; now is your
time of putting it in practice. [Same date.]
Little Princes.—In general, I believe that little
princes are more likely to be great men than those
whose more extensive dominions, and superior
strength, flatter them with security; which commonly
produces negligence and indolence. A little
