CORRESPONDENCE OF THE EARL OF CHATHANI,

ALTHOUGH the first volume of this Correspondence will not have much attraction for the general—that is, for the idle and the lane rant reader, and is likely to disappoint persons who have had their expectations raised by the name of CHATHAM, the ha* possesses considerable value in various points of view. It will furnish the historical student with some curious information um the facts and motive-springs of contemporary events; it indicates new and unsuspected features in the character of CHATHAM; it displays, under their own hands, some of the marked petitions of the time, and often in that most trying crisis of a politician's life, when he is trying to " get its," to " keep in," or to " get on;' It also shows the formal and measured courtesy of the time evert between the most intimate equals ; and marks the mean, sordid, and personal objects tbr which the great contend whilst they make the public—" the King and the Country "—their stalking-horse. The Correspondence of the present volume commences in1746,* and closes in 175U : but, to make the intermediate period more in. telligible to the reader, it may be well to note the epochs of CHAT. HAM'S life. WILLIAM PITT was born in 1708 ; in 1735 he took his seat for the notorious Oid Sarum, a family borough; some time after his eloquence had contributed to drive WALPOLE from office in 1742, he was made (1746) Vice-Treasurer of Ireland and Paymaster of the Forces ; which he resigned in 1755, in conse- quence of Fox being preferred. In December 1756, the Ministry could no longer go on without him ; the King (GEORGE the Second) was obliged to swallow his antipathies, anti PITT was appointed Secretory of State. In the following April, however, the Court plucked up spirit, and dismissed him. But the nation rose in his defence; petitions and remonstrances frightened both King and courtiers ; lie was reinstated with greater influence, with the consciousness a f areater power, and with the spirit to use it. Ile began those bold and energetic measures, which, though sometimes failing in part, succeeded upon the whole; stripped France of the Canadas, broke her navy, checked in conjunction with FREDERICK of Prussia her triumphs on land, and raised England from the lowest pitch of gloom and despondency to a height of renown unexampled since the victories of MARLED. ROUGH. The chronology of this volume may therefore be said to embrace the struggles and the triumph of CHATHAM as a Minister. The letters it contains are both private and public. Except a few to his wife, which exhibit him as a very affectionate hus- band and father, the most important private letters are those to his nephew, published by Lord GRENVILLE in 1S01, and embo- died in this collection. The public letters are various in their nature, and from various correspondents. The earlier ones (1746- 1750) chiefly relate to the strength and expenses of the troops employed in the war then raging, addressed to the Paymaster; or to confidential particulars respecting the negotiations going on with lbreign powers, communicated by his colleagues. The next two years (1751-2) are blank. With 1754 commences the embar- rassment of the Ministry in consequence of the death of HENRY PELHAM, W110 led t he Commons ; the determination of GEORGE the Second to bar PITT'S advancement, owing to a grudge for oppo- sition thunders against Hanover and German connexions; the negotiations of Fox, manly and open, it' skilful and selfish ; and their partial success, which finally led to Par's withdrawal. The latter part of 1756 shows the feeble disjointed Ministry tottering to its full; whisperr, as POTTER writes to PITT, fly absut that they cannot go on without being strengthened ; friends proffer advice and service to the minister expectant ; the negotiation begins, and is concluded. The next three years exhibit a more varied and extensive correspondence, forming in fact more than ballot' the volume ; embracing letters from ambassadors, solicitors, soldiers, and politicians—some upon public affairs, others upon their own, whilst many manaue to mingle I lie two.

It will of course be understood that the subjects we have enu- merated are not brought out in a regular narrative, leaving no- thing for the reader to supply. Some events arc treated of more fully than others, and the existing correspondence varies from single letters to a regular concatenation : but, in spite of the fre- quent and very judicious notes, the reader who has no knowledge of the period will sometimes be at a loss, and without that know- ledge may be apt to think much of the volume barren of interest.

To those who possess the requisites for its advantageous perusal, one pleasant feature of the book is the number of inferior lus-

we have said, unconsciously limn themselves. Amongst tl‘tvell°fUraes- torical personages who will pass in review before him, and most of these, is the Duke of NEWCASTLE; a nobleman who, by (lint of his own rank and bustling activity, and the abilities of his brother HENRY PELHAM, filled ollice for nearly forty years, " There are two letters to Cu ES rEapiPLD in 1711, when PITT was Groom of the Bedchamber to the Prince of WALES. end eras nominal head minister for a time. .His capacity was -,,ecce; and neither high statton, with greater minds, --oc connexion with great events, could expand it. Ever busy and liver meddling, he applied himself with the same zest to a treaty which was to influence the fortunes of Europe, or to a negotiation fur the disposal of some petty place ; being perhaps scarcely ea- nesle of comprehending any difference .between them, and en- iaging in politics from some vague notion that they were the proper employment of a man of his station. His contemporaries, plain in speaking of people, charged him with shuttlima, intrigue, and double dealing. And such was, no doubt, the effect of his aiconduct: but his behaviour was probably more owing to the weakness of his mind and the necessities of his position than to any innate treachery. In manners, if SMOLLETT is to be trusted, be was familiar to contemptible grotesqueness ; and he had much good-tempered easiness of disposition, if not good-nature. His culmination, too, marked an aim in our political history : no man before or after him possessed so much influence and attained such high station, merely by his rank and connexion. But, with all his faults and fooleries, he could scarcely he called mean or mer- cenary ; and his last political speech might have brightened a dallier fame. On his retirement, his means were understood to be straitened, and he was oftered a pension : he is said to have replied, "that lie had spent a princely fortune in the service of his country, and rather than be a burden to it at last, he would make bin old Dutchess a washerwoman." Of his subordinate, PI rr, the Duke appears to have stood in ace; mingled, if his letters are to be received as evidence, wit h a goal deal of regard, and gratitude for his services as peace- maker between himself and HENRY PELeAm, with whom he was constantly quarrelling. Still, the ruling passion of the nnunnzer peeps out; and it is clear that NEWCASTLE thought himself a match in this way ffir the modern DE MOsT E NES. Here is a short letter of compliment, characteristic both of the minister and the

DAM

"P.S. I believe the :21.1 of October, 0.S., his Majesty will leave this place on his return to England."

Notwithstanding the Duke's efforts, when it came to the pinch, it appears that they were" thrown away." The King would not allow of Prer's advancement : and the great statesman sent a letter of remonstrance. Though neither original nor copy has been found, its nature may be guessed at from the Duke's reply ; which is quite a pattern for Premiers who leave their colleagues in the lurch. Lord MELBOURNE, or Lord JOHN, might take a hint from the opening, for their peccuvi to Lord Demi:sm.

" Newcastle !louse, $1 April 1751.

"Dear Sir—The great load of business, which at present I am forced to go through as well as I cats, must be my excuse for not having sooner returned you may thanks for the honour of your letter of the `9.1th of March. It adds much to my painful situation to see the uneasiness that you are tinder, which I own I have long lamented fur the sake of the public and your friends; but it tomes more home to me, and affects me in the most sensible manner, whenever I perceive the least indication that any part of it could, in your 'opinion, have been removed or alleviated by any thing that has depended upon me. When- ever I have the honour of one quarter of au hour's conversation with you, I am certain I shall convince you of the contrary, and that in the late arrangements I have had all the regard and attention to your connexions which it was possible for me to show ; and that if I !lad attempted more, I should have exposed my own weakness, !mortified those whom I meant to serve, prevented even what I have been able to obtain, :toed the part which those who wish us ill had laid for me, given them great cause of triumph over us, and perhaps have flung every thing into their hands. " These facts cannot be explained by letter. May I therefore beg your pa. tience and a suspension of your judgment till I have the lioneur to see you ? honour, esteem, and, if you will allow me to sav sm most sincerely love you ; and upon this principle I think I have acted. I ant sure my intention was to do se. Feel the melancholy ;it'd distressed situation that 1 WaS in—forced by tli` con mands of the King and the entreaties of toy ft iends to part with au on- ployment which I loved, was in sonic degree master of, and where I had gained some little reputation, to go to one where I was entirely unacquainted, exposed to envy and reproach, without lotting sure of any tith; but the comfort of an honest heart, and a serious design to do my best for the service of the King, my country, and my friends."

PITT, however, eas not to be persuaded. lie writes a letter just and sensible in its views,—though, like the Duke of Wet. LINGTON'S " madness" his ill-health was forgotten when power really came ; and it seems strange that the man whose eye awed the House of Commons into silence, whose notions of dignity were such that he would not allow his Under Secretaries to sit in his presence, and who, according to a statement in the Edin- burgh Review, compelled ANSON, when First Lord of the Ad- miralty, to sign orders which he was not permitted to read, should write in this strain to the Duke of NEWCASTLE. " Hanover, September 9-20. 1750. "Dear Sir—The kind applobation you have been pleased to give of the success of my endeavours for the public service, has made all the impression that must arise to one who knows the value of your friendship, and the weight end consequence of your opinion, ■15 well as I do. I have not failed to acqmont the King with that proper arid, satisfaction, and regard for his Majesty's honour and service, which is showed in your letter: and I may say, it was not thrown away. "I have had further difficulties with Bavaria. I think they will all be got over by to-morrow night, and the ratifications exchanged. I think our affairs at home will take a very lucky turn. The King proposes himself, and from himself, an alteration ; and I have some reason to hope that such a one may be found out as may be accepted with pleasure, at least seemingly so. My brother will explain this further to you, more fully than I have time to do at the pre. sent, the messenger being just setting out. I take most kindly the part you take homy late inexpressible loss, and in every thing that concerns me. The Dutehess of Newcastle begs her most sincere thanks for your concern for her.

" I am ever, dear Sir, most affectionately yours, " Hottes NEWCASTLE.

The subject hinted at in closing, is alluded to more plainly in a letter to the Chancellor, HARDWICKE ; who had like- wise vainly tried his hand at mollifying. The extract we take certainly represents PITT as more lachrymose upon the subject of Court favour than he has been supposed; and the passage marked in Italics indicates a prudential eye of which he has never been suspected, and of which we do not remember that any other trace exists.

" Your Lordship is pleased kindly to say, that some way is made, and that some flame occasion may be favourable fur me. I am not able to conceive any such occasion possible. Coll forbid the wants of his Majesty's Government should ever become more urgent ! Such au unhappy distress can only arise from au event SO fatal to this country, and whirl' must deprive me of one of the two meat protectors whose friendship constitutes the only honour of my public life, that I will not tarry my views or reasonings forward to that melee- choly day. I might likewise add (I conceive not unreasonably), that every acquiescence to his Majesty's negative (necessary as I am couvinced it was to aequiesce) must confirm and render more insurmountable the resolution taken for my perpetual exclusion. "'This, I colifess, continues to be strongly my view of my situation. It is very kited and generous in your Lordship to suggest a ray of distant, general hope, to a man you see despairing, and to turn his view forward from the pre- sent scene to a future. but, my Lord, after having set out under suggestions of this general hope ten years ago, and bearing long a load of obloquy for sup- potting the King's measures, and never obtaining in recompense the smallest remission of that displeasure I vainly laboured to soften, all ardour for public business is teally extinguished in my mind, and I am totally deprived of all consideration by which ahem I could have been of any nee. The weight of irremoveable Royal displeasure is a load too great to move under : it must crush any man ; it has sunk and broke me. I succumb; and wish for molting but a decent and innocent retreat, wherein I limy no longer, by continniug in the public stream of in-emotion, for ever stick fast aground, and afford to the world the ridiculous spectaele of being passed by every boat that navigates the same river. To without a figure, I will presume upon your Lordship's great goodness to me, to tell my utmost wish : it is, Mat a retreat not void of taro/dope, t»c iLrogotory to the look of the "thee I hold, might, as soon as practicable., be opened to oe. In this view, I take the libel ty to recommend myself to your Lordship's friendship, as I Lave done to the Duke of Newcastle's. Out of his Grace's immediate province accommodations qf this kind "rise; Ind to your joint protection, and to that unly, I wish to owe the future Lail- faction of my life."

After all, this tone might merely be the suaviter in mode ; he certainly never lacked the fortiter in re. And mark the moral of honourable boldness. In eighteen months, he had achieved all he contended for. Within two years, backed by the People, he dictated his will to Court and Parliament, in despite of Kings, rotten boroughs, " old lords, and younger ones." One of the best letter-writers is POTTER, a son of the Archbishop of CANTERBURY. He was a Member of Parliament of some note, and acted for several years as Private Secretary to the Prince of WALES, lather of GEORGE the Third. PITT insisted on bringing him into oflice; with some unwillingness, apparently, on the part of his colleagues, who wanted all the places they could clutch. His health appears to have been bad; and he thud two years after his friend's triumph. The following extract from a letter, telling what news lie could pick up, when difficulties were thickening " Both, 5th April 1754. "My Lord Duke—I received the honour of your Grace's letter of the 2d instant yesterday evening ; and 1 take this opportunity of the post to return to you my sincerest, humblest thanks, for the great condescension and very kind manner in which it is written. I should make a very ill return to your Grace's goodness, if I were to go far back into the disagreeable subject that has ocea• stoned you the trouble of writing a Ling and very obliging letter. Amidst all your business, I should be eshamed to te me your Grace's good-nature with much repetition of an uneasy subject, and necessarily so stuffed with imperti- nent egotisins. Whatever my sensations are and must be of tiny situation, it is sufficient that I have once openly exposed them to yuur view, as I thought I owed it to your Grace and to myself to du.

" As to the Chancellor of the Exchequer, I hope your Grace does not think me filled with so impertinent a vanity as to imagine it any disparagement to myself to serve under your Grace as the head of the Treasury. Iltit, my Lord, had I been proposed fur that honour, and the King reconciled to the thought of tile, my honour would have been saved ; and I should have declined it with plea- sure in favour of Mr. Legge, from considerations of true regard fur his Majesty's service. My health at the best is too unsettled to expose his M ijesry's business in Parliament to depend upon so precarious a thing, and to stop short perhaps in the middle of a session. The case is not the store as to the other officer though very high and important, from many circumstances. uninterrupted health is not so essentially necessary ; and were 1 to fail in it hum want of health. or, what is still more likely, from want of abilities and proper knowledge of foreign affairs, a fitter person might be substituted at all !bore, without in. convenience to the King's business.

" 1 promised y Grace not to enter again far into a disagreeable subject; but though your Grace has very obligingly suggested, as a consolation to me, that I Might It lee been tome mortified under another arrangement than I am limier the present. I will OlVla very freely, I should have thought myself much less nee tilled as to toy own pet son if Mr. Fox had been put at the head of the Illon-e of C.1111111011s by the King's favour, than I mu at present. I should in that ease 11.AT been f n. your Chace and for my Lord Chancellor—very little Mt. in% self. Idol Nil. Murray a situation been such that he might have been placsai at the head or the House of Commons, I should have served with pleasure tinder hi as I acknowledge his superiority in every respect. .3Iy mortaleation at present arises not from a silly pride, but from being manifestly excluded in au arrangement by a negative personal to me—the effect of displea- sure not removable.

" As for the re-t, be assurvd my attachment to Government shall ever be found as unalterable as my inability to be of service to it is become manifest to all the world. The suffrage of the party in one instance, and a higher nomina- tion in another, operating to the eternal exclusion of a man, can leave him (under a resolution not to distuth Government) no wish but that of retreat—not a retreat of resentment, but of respect, nod of despair of being ever accepted to equal tertits with others, be his poor endeavours what they may. Very few have been the advantages and honours of my life; but among the first of them I shall ever esteem the honotur of your Grace's favourable opinion. You have tried me, and have not found me deceive you : to this y our Grace's favourable opinion, and to your protection I recommend myself; but hope that seine retreat neither dishonourable our disagreeable may (when it is practicable) be opened to me.

" I am, with the most constant attachment, your Grace's devoted and most faithful, humble servant, "W. Par."

round the Administration, and men's minds were expecting its downial unless it could be strengthened, will give a notion of the spirit and judgment of the man.

"Upon the death of the Chief Justice, (Ryder, Lord Harrowby,) the into ligence he sent was, that all the Attorney-General's (Murray, Lord Mansfield) private friends thought the office on every account so fit for him, that it would be infatuatinn to decline it ; and that the Attorney himself was of the same opinion ; but the Duke of Newcastle was frightened at the thoughts of what was to become of the House of Commons. In one letter, there were these particular words: The disposition of the Chief Justice and the Solicitor-General (to Charles Yorke) will, I vetily believe, be as I mentioned ; though as yet nothing is fixed. If the first of these promotions takes place, Mr. Pitt will be invited in ; for they have no notion that the loss can be re- paired any other way. Then, to be sure, the Chancellor of the Exchequer goes out, and something will be found for the noble secretary (Lord Holdernesse); a blue riband is found for him already.' "Charles Yorke, who has long had a wish to quit the profession, has taken advantage of this opportunity. and has sternly insisted with his father, that un- less he makes .him Solicitor-General now, he will immediately pull off his gown. The Chancellor yields, and has promised either to make'him Solicitor, or to consent that he shall quit the profession and he a Lord of the Admiralty. I think I know which side of the alternative the Chancellor will take. On Mutray's leaving the bar, and Charles Yoike's becoming Solicitor-General, he would get at least 4,000/. per annum. The Chancellor will compute how much that exceed, the salary of a Lord of the Admiralty ; and the vice of the family will probably operate so as to keep poor Charles in the only train in which he can be of eny consequence.

"I thought it was fit that you should know what were the dispositions of the Duke of Newcastle, This man has it from the fountain-head. As to the part you will act, if an opening is made to you, it becomes me to leave it to yourself; but permit me to make two observations—that the fright of the Duke of New- castle, like the rest of his frights, proceed+ from his ignorance : such is the ton- per of the House of Commons, that if the whole business rested on Sir George Lyttleton and Lord Duplin, the debates on the Court side would be shorter, but there would not be a single vote less. The next is a mortifying consideration— that whatever sacrifices have been made to opinion, the reputation of those who made them is increased in the minds only of a few. Hanover treaties and Hanover troops are popular throughout every country. The almost universal language is, opposition must be wrong, when we are ready to be eat up by the French."

The "family vice" alluded to, is avarice, or rather parsi- mony. CHESTERFIELD notes HARDWICKES failing, but he also praises his incorruptibility. The CHARLES YORKE of the letter was, in 1770, persuaded by the personal solicitations of GEORGE the Third to accept the Chancellorship, under circumstances involving great political apostacy. When he came out of the closet after accepting the office, none of his friends would speak to him : he drove to his brother's, and was refused admittance; he went home, and was found dead in his bed, with a laudanum- battle on his dressing-table. There are two good letters from CLIVE, which we do not remem- ber to have seen before; and they are both highly characteristic of the man. One is a copy to the Chairman of the East India Company, just after the battle of Plassy,—telling that be has made his fortune, that his health is broken, and that he is coming home as soon as he can settle matters ; after which, he proceeds to volunteer his criticism and advice on the past, present, and future government of his conquest, with a pithy plainness, rising occa- sionally to general principles, and forming a strong contrast to the politeness of courtiers and the rotundity or turgidity of placemen. The other is a private letter to PITT, as he seemed to think the subject above the comprehension of his masters; and certainly shows that he very early meditated schemes of territo- rial aggrandizement in India. It was a plan, which circum- stances compelled or induced subsequent Governors to act upon, for seizing the territory of our allies. There are a few rather interesting letters from Mrs. WOLFS, and several from WOLFE himself; one four days before the attack on Quebec, written in doubt of success and the depression of illness. There are also some from BECKFORD, (the father of the author of Vathek, &c. and) the Lord Mayor whose statue stands in Guildhall, with his celebrated rejoinder to the King's reply to the City Petition and Remonstrance engraven on its pedestal,—although some right-divine men did say that BECK- FORD, with his train of Aldermen and Common Councilmen, was thrown into confusion by GEORGE the Third's rebuke, and that W micas concocted the respectful but firm and dignified reply, when the discomfited citizens got back again. Been- FORD, however, had strength of character enough to "stand at bold defiance with his Prince" even in the presence ; and his letters show his capacity. He most have been a valuable par- tisan of Peres; and if the following letter really suggested or even decided the mode of the expedition against Canada, he had the mind of a War Minister. At all events, the coincidence is curious. The attempt seems to have been decided on very shortly after the date of the epistle.

Foothill, 18th December 1758.

"Dear Sir—I have taken the liberty to enclose these few lines under cover to my agent Captain Thomas Cullett, lest the curiosity of impertinent people

should open my letter, if directed to the Secretaty of State. Ever since I ar- rived at this place I have been constantly ruminating on our present situation, and am confident we have it in our power to put an end in one campaign to the MI in North America, by undertaking, as soon as the season will permit, the siege of Quebec, with a sufficient number of men sod a good train of artillery, under able and zealous engineers. If this be done, I will venture my head the conquest will be found as easy of that of Louisburg ; fur the navigation of the river St. Lawrence is very open, and practicable at a proper season ; and it' I mistake not, every blundering French navigator ventures up as far as the island of Orleans without a pilot, and we can have as many as we want, in case we look out in time.

" While the siege of Quebec is undertaking, a large body of provincials mixed with soma regulars shoutd remain at Fort William Henry on Lake George, within thirty miles of Ticonderoga, in order to bridle that &atrium, and pra• vent their going to the assistance of Quebec ; and small parties, of eightit, men each, may be detached from Fort William Henry, to watch the motiOrran-1 the French, and give timely notice, if soy thing is to be attempted sow Crown Point.

" After Quebec is taken, Montreal is to be attempted. It is but a bens„,1 miles distant, and water carriage for vessels of a hundred and fifty tuns burd,', the whole distance; by which means the fatigue of marching in a rugged er woody country will be avoided. This has been unfortunately the case mallow late fruitless attempts ; when, if success had attended our North America are destroyed undertakings, takeinognsseq been ,atioetalitireir decisive would have en the consequence ; but we must in the end, after at our expense of men and money, have been obliged to have ended where weeulit to have begun. By taking of Quebec and Montreal, the twogreat heads of ti,„ nada and the French power in the limbs of that body must wither and decay without any further figheec'' And thus you will make an end of the war in North America, and for wit establish the good opinion mankind have of your abilities and public spirit, " Dear Sir, let no persuasion or plausible reason determine you to legal the plan of operations by the river St. Lawrence. To go by the Lakes, through wild and almost inaccessible forests, has already proved dangerous, tedium, and expensive, will prolong the war, and at the same time enrich your commaatle, and contractors. What is more, we have seen that our regulars du not tale well in woods ; the Indian yell is horrid to their ears, and soon throws them into confusion. If France had the superiority at sea we now enjoy. they would not leave us a single province or colony in all North and South America. There is a brave, gallant officer, by name Winslow, who has acted as General in North America, and done signal service. This man is in England, andil only a Captain on half pay. I wish you would think of hire; he might filo nigh you with useful hints.

" If I had not tired your patience, If would hint some ideas that occur to me concerning the island of Corsica ; but I am sure you are as much fatigued with reading as I am with writing. I shall therefore Ind you ad,ieltiv. B;bezieic o

being, dear " Most faithfully and affectionately yours, ,

We could run on much longer, setting extracts with sketches of their authors ; but the space obliges us to stop. We will there. fore close with a few ana from Pirr's letters to his nephew, which although not new to the world, are probably new to the reader : and show the attention which such a man gave to seeming trifles : another proof that great minds think nothing unworthy of notice, whilst the frivolous really notice nothing. We may say that the reprinted letters have this value in the present collec- tion—they show how PITT could turn from the contentions of politics and placemen to the indulgence of the family affections.

CHATHAM ON MANNERS AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS.

" I will now, my dear nephew, say a few things to you upon a matter where you have surprisingly little to learn, considering you have seen nothing but Boconnock—I mean behaviour. Behaviour is of infinite advantage UT pre- judiee to a man, as he happens to have formed it to a graceful, noule, engag. ing, and proper manner, or to a vulgar, coarse, ill-bred, or awkward and urges.

teel one. Behaviour, though an external thing, which seems rather to belong to the body than to the mind, is certainly founded in considerable virtues; though I have known instances of good men, with something very revolting and offensive in their manner of behaviour, especially when they have the mile fortune to be naturally very awkward and ungenteel, and which their mistaken friends have helped to confirm them in, by telling them they were above such trifles as being genteel, dancing, fencing, riding, and doing all manly exercises with grace and vigour,--se if the body, because inferior, were not a part of the composition of man; and the proper, easy, ready, and graceful use of himself, both in mind and limb, did not go to make up the character of an accom- plished man. You are in no danger of falling into this preposterous error; and I had a great pleasure in finding you, when I first saw you in London, so well disposed by nature, and so properly attentive to make yourself genteel in person and well-bred in behaviour.

" I am very glad you have taken a fencing-master; that exercise will give you some manly, firm, and graceful attitudes, open your chest, place your head upright, and plant you well upon your legs. As to the use of the sword, it is well to know it ; but remember, my dearest nephew, it is a science of defence, and that a sword can never be employed by the hand of a man of virtue in say other cause. As to the carriage of your person, be particularly careful, as you are tall and thin, not to get a habit of stooping ; nothing has so poor a look. Above all things, avoid contracting any peculiar gesticulations of the body, or movements of the muscles of the face. It is rare to see in any one a graceful laughter ; it is generally better to senile than laugh out, especially to contract a habit of laughing at small or no jokes. Sometimes it would be affectation or worse, mere moroseness, not to laugh heartily, when the truly ridiculous cis; cuaustances of an incident, or the true pleasantry and wit of a thing, call for and justify it ; but the trick of laughing frivolously is by all means to be avoided; risu inepto, sea ineptior nulls est."

CHATHAM ON COMMONPLACE.BOOCS.

" First, with regard to the opinion you desire concerning a commonplace- book : in general, I much disapprove the use of it. It is chiefly intended for persons who mean to be authors ; and tends to impair the memory, and to de- prive you of a ready, extempore use of your reading, by accustoming the mind to discharge itself of its reading on paper, instead of relying on its natural power of retention, aided and fortified by frequent revisions of its ideas and materials. Some things must be eommemplaced, in order to be of any use— dates, chronological order, and the like; for instance, Nathaniel Bacon ought to be extracted in the beat method you can. But, in general, my advice to you i+, not to commonplace upon paper, but, as an equivalent to it, to endeavour to range and methodize in your head what you read, and by so doing frequently and habitually to fix matter in the memory."

HINTS ON LETTERS.

" Pardon an observation on style. ' I received yours,' is vulgar and met- entire; ' your letter' is the way of writing. Enclose your letters in a cover; it is more polite."

After all, CHESTERFIELD was not an original genius, but the formation of his age. In taking leave of this volume, it is proper to notice the pains with which it is edited. A sketch of CHATHAM'S life is prefixed, with a list of the different men who filled the leading offices of state during the period to which the letters refer. Notes are added upon many events, and upon many names ; the latter, in- deed, somewhat meagre, dealing mostly with dates. It would. however, have been an improvement to have marked more die tinctly the commencement of each year, and to have commenced every one with annals political and private of the hero's life.