conjecture at least six hours, for I found the day broke in two hours after I awaked. It was a clear night. I eat my breakfast before the sun was up; and heaving anchor, the wind being favorable, I steered the same course that I had done the day before, wherein I was directed by my pocket-compass. My intention was to reach, if possible, one of those islands which I had reason to believe lay on the northeast of Van Diemen's Land. I discovered nothing all that day; but upon the next, about three in the afternoon, when I had by my computation made twenty-four leagues from Blefuscu, I descried a sail steering to the southeast; my course was due east. I hailed her, but could get no answer; yet I found I gained upon her, for the wind slackened. I made all the sail I could, and in half an hour she spied me, then hung out her ancient,1 and discharged a gun. It is not easy to express the joy I was in, upon the unexpected hope of once more seeing my beloved country, and the dear pledges I had left in it. The ship slackened her sails, and I came up with her between five and six in the evening, September 26; but my heart leaped within me to see her English colors. I put my cows and sheep into my coat-pockets, and got on board. with all my little cargo of provisions. The vessel was an English merchantman, returning from Japan by the North and South seas; the Captain, Mr. John Biddel of Deptford, a very civil man and an excellent sailor. We were now in the latitude of 30 degrees south; there were about fifty men in the ship; and here I met an old comrade of mine, one Peter Williams, who gave me a good character to the Captain. This gentleman treated. me with kindness, and desired I would let him know what place I came from last, and whither I was bound; which I did in a few words, but he thought I 1 flag was raving, and that the dangers I had underwent had disturbed my head; whereupon I took my black cattle and sheep out of my pocket, which, after great astonishment, clearly convinced him of my veracity. I then showed him the gold given me by the Emperor of Blefuscu, together with his Majesty's picture at full length, and some other rarities of that country. I gave him two purses of two hundred sprugs each, and promised, when we arrived in England, to make him a present of a cow, and a sheep big with young. I shall not trouble the reader with a particular account of this voyage, which was very prosperous for the most part. We arrived in the Downs on the 13th of April, 1702. I had only one misfortune, that the rats on board carried away one of my sheep; I found her bones in a hole, picked clean from the flesh. The rest of my cattle I got safe ashore, and set them a-grazing in a bowling-green at Greenwich, where the fineness of the grass made them feed very heartily, though I had always feared the contrary: neither could I possibly have preserved them in so long a voyage, if the captain had not allowed me some of his best biscuit, which, rubbed to powder, and mingled with water, was their constant food. The short time I continued in England, I made a considerable profit by showing my cattle to many persons of quality and others: and before I began my second voyage I sold them for six hundred pounds. Since my last return I find the breed is considerably increased, especially the sheep, which I hope will prove much to the advantage of the woollen manufacture, by the fineness of the fleeces. I stayed but two months with my wife and family; for my insatiable desire of seeing foreign countries would suffer me to continue no longer. I left fifteen hundred pounds with my wife, and fixed her in a good house at Redriff.1 My remaining stock I carried with me, part in money and part in goods, in hopes to improve my fortunes. My eldest uncle John had left me an estate in land near Epping of about thirty pounds a year; and I had a long lease of the Black Bull in Fetter-lane, which yielded me as much more; so that I was not in any danger of leaving my family upon the parish. My son Johnny, named so after his 1 On the Thames, just below London. uncle, was at the Grammar School, and a towardly child. My daughter Betty (who is now well married, and has children) was then at her needlework. I took leave of my wife and boy and girl, with tears on both sides, and went on board the Adventure, a merchant ship of three hundred tons, bound for Surat, Captain John Nicholas, of Liverpool, Commander. But my account of this voyage must be referred to the second part of my Travels THE LETTER: CHESTERFIELD'S LETTERS THE letter as a distinct literary form has the advantages of the familiar essay in its most informal guise. It affords the writer free range to discuss a topic as informally as he please and to comment upon what he has experienced of life frankly from his own prejudices and opinions. Whether or not it be written with a view to publication, it sets up confidential relations with the person to whom it is addressed that permit of the freest expression of ideas. To make interesting reading for others, however, it must be above the commonplace, must contain observations of value, and must, above all else, be phrased with distinction and with lightness of touch. It is not strange that such a literary form should have flourished in the leisurely eighteenth century, with its intense interest in things that lay ready to hand. Literary taste then demanded, not imagination or emotion, but the rational qualities of common sense, proportion, taste, and elegance of form: "What oft was thought but ne'er so well expressed." Numerous poets, from Pope to Robert Burns, expressed themselves in rimed epistles; Richardson, in his feeling for realism, used the letter form for unfolding the story of Pamela (1740), the first modern novel of character. And a group of brilliant figures in the world of letters of that time revealed themselves and their age in series of letters: Lady Mary Montagu, Horace Walpole, and Philip Stanhope, fourth Earl of Chesterfield (1694-1773). Chesterfield was an able statesman, an orator with a reputation for both wit and eloquence, and a social figure who was well known as a shrewd man of the world, exceedingly well mannered, and clever. He wrote his famous Letters to His Son (published in 1774) without any intention of giving them to the world. They were addressed to his illegitimate son Philip Stanhope, to whom he was devoted, and were wholly confidential. They start when the boy was but five years old and continue throughout his young manhood, changing in style and tone as the youth grew in understanding. Although a habit of repetition, noticeable even in selections, becomes at times a little annoying, there is much information on geography and history, much interesting reflection on the customs of the day, much advice on living. Dress, etiquette, and manners are emphasized as matters of importance, but beneath all is found a philosophy that to be happy one must be considerate of the feelings of others and must make his conduct square with his sense of what is right. PHILIP STANHOPE, EARL OF CHESTERFIELD (1694-1773) LETTERS TO HIS SON Letter V I told you, my dear, that I would send you some stories to amuse you; I therefore now give you the history of the siege of Troy, which is very entertaining. Homer, an ancient Greek poet, has wrote upon this subject the finest epic poem. that ever was. By the way, you are to know that an epic poem is a long poem upon some great event, or upon the actions of some great man. The siege of Troy is so very famous for having lasted ten years, and also upon account of the great number of heroes who were there, that one must by no means be ignorant of such an event. When you are older, you will read it all in the Greek of Homer. Adieu! you are the best child in the world. I return you your letter corrected; for though it had but few faults, it is, however, proper that you should know them. Letter VI Cause of the war between the Greeks and Trojans and of the besieging and taking of Troy Heaven and earth were at peace, and the gods and goddesses enjoyed the most perfect tranquillity; when the goddess Discord, who delights in confusion and quarrels, displeased at this universal calm, resolved to excite dissensions. In order to effect this, she threw among the goddesses a golden apple, upon which these words were written, "To the fairest." Immediately each of the goddesses wanted to have the apple, and each said she was the handsomest, for goddesses are as anxious about their beauty as mere mortal ladies. The strife was, however, more particularly between Juno, the wife of Jupiter, Venus, the goddess of love; and Pallas, the goddess of arts and sciences. At length they agreed to be judged by a shepherd, named Paris, who fed his flocks. upon Mount Ida, and was, however, son of Priam, king of Troy. They appeared all three before Paris, and quite naked; for, in order to judge critically, and to determine equitably, it is requisite that all should be seen. Juno offered him the grandeurs of the world, if he would decide in her favor; Pallas promised him and sciences; but Venus, who tempted him with the most beautiful woman in the universe, prevailed, and he gave her the apple. were. You may easily imagine how glad Venus was, and how angry Juno and Pallas Venus, in order to perform her promise ordered him to go to Menelaus, in Greece, whose wife, named Helena, would fall in love with him: accordingly he went, and was kindly entertained by Menelaus; but soon after, Paris ran away with Helena, and carried her off to Troy. Menelaus, irritated at this injurious breach of hospitality, complained to his brother Agamemmon, king of Mycene, who engaged the Greeks to avenge the affront. Ambassadors were sent to Troy, to demand the restitution of Helena, and, in case of denial, to declare war. Paris refused to restore her, upon which war was declared. It lasted ten years. I shall very soon send you the history of it. Letter L Dear Boy: I send you here a few more Latin roots, though I am not sure you will like my roots so well as those that grow in your garden; however, if you will attend to them, they may save you a great deal of trouble. These few will naturally point out many others to your own observation; and enable you, by comparison, to find out most derived and compound words, when once you know the original root of them. You are old enough now to make observations upon what you learn; which, if you would be pleased to do, you cannot imagine how much time and trouble it would save you. Remember you are now very near nine years old; an age at which all boys ought to know a great deal, but you, particularly, a great deal more, considering the care and pains that have been employed about you; and, if you do not answer those expectations, you will lose your character, which is the most mortifying thing that can happen to a generous mind. Everybody has ambition of some kind or other, and is vexed when that ambition is disappointed: the difference is, that the ambition of silly people is a silly and mistaken ambition; and the ambition of people of sense is a right and commendable one. For instance, the ambition of a silly boy of your age would be to have fine clothes, and money to throw away in idle follies: which, you plainly see, would be no proofs of merit in him, but only a folly in his parents, in dressing him out like a jackanapes, and giving him money to play the fool with. Whereas, a boy of good sense places his ambition in excelling other boys of his own age, and even older, in virtue and knowledge. His glory is in being known always to speak the truth, in showing good nature and compassion, in learning quicker, and applying himself more than other boys. These are real proofs of merit in him, and consequently proper objects of ambition; and will acquire him a solid reputation and character. This holds true in men as well as in boys; the ambition of a silly fellow will be to have, a fine equipage, a fine house, and fine clothes; things which anybody that has as much money may have as well as he, for they are all to be bought; but the ambition of a man of sense and honor is, to be distinguished by a character and reputation of knowledge, truth, and virtue; things which are not to be bought, and that can only be acquired by a good head and a good heart. Such was the ambition of the Lacedemonians and the Romans, when they made the greatest figure; and such, I hope, yours will always be. Adieu. Letter LV Wednesday. Dear Boy: You behaved yourself so well at Mr. Boden's last Sunday, that you justly deserve commendation: besides, you encourage me to give you some rules of politeness and good breeding, being persuaded that you will observe them. Know then, that as learning, honor, and virtue, are absolutely necessary to gain you the esteem and admiration of mankind; politeness and good-breeding are equally necessary to make you welcome and agreeable in conversation and common life. Great talents, such as honor, virtue, learning, and parts, are above the generality of the world; who neither possess them themselves, nor judge of them rightly in others; but all people are judges of the lesser talents such as civility, affability, and an obliging, agreeable address and manner; because they feel the good effects of them, as making society easy and pleasing. Good sense, must, in many cases, determine goodbreeding; because the same thing that would be civil at one time, and to one person, may be quite otherwise at another time, and to another person; but there are some general rules of good-breeding, that hold always true, and in all cases. As, for example, it is always extremely rude, to answer only yes, or no, to any |