cause; and the courage arising from reflection is of a much superior nature to the animal and constitutional courage of a foot-soldier. The former is steady and unshaken, where the nodus is dignus vindice; the latter is oftener improperly than properly exerted, but always brutally. [Dec. 12, 1749.]
Things of Consequence—Bolingbroke.—He
thought all these things of consequence, and he
thought right; pray do you think so too? It is of
the utmost consequence to you to be of that opinion.
If you have the least defect in your elocution, take
the utmost care and pains to correct it. Do not neglect
your style, whatever language you speak in,
or whomever you speak to, were it your footman.
Seek always for the best words and the happiest
expressions you can find. Do not content yourself
with being barely understood; but adorn your
thoughts, and dress them as you would your person;
which, however well proportioned it might be, it
would be very improper and indecent to exhibit
naked, or even worse dressed than people of your
sort are.
I have sent you, in a packet which your Leipsic acquaintance, Duval, sends to his correspondent at Rome, Lord Bolingbroke's book,[1] which he pub-*
- ↑ "Letters on the Spirit of Patriotism, on the Idea of a Patriot King."
