Letters to His Son, Complete / On the Fine Art of Becoming a Man of the World and a Gentleman
PG Editor’s Notes:
O. S. and N. S.: On consultation with several specialists I have learned that the abbreviations O. S. and N. S. relate to the difference between the old Julian calender used in England and the Gregorian calender which was the standard in Europe. In the mid 18th century it is said that this once amounted to a difference of eleven days. To keep track of the chronology of letters back and forth from England to France or other countries in mainland Europe, Chesterfield inserted in dates the designation O. S. (old style) and N. S. (new style).
Chesterfield demonstrates his classical education by frequent words and sometimes entire paragraphs in various languages. In the 1901 text these were in italics; in this etext edition I have substituted single quotation marks around these, as in ‘bon mot’, and not attempted to include the various accent marks of all the languages.
Only obvious typographical errors have been corrected. The original and occasionally variable spelling is retained throughout. D.W.
The proud Lord Chesterfield would have turned in his grave had he known that he was to go down to posterity as a teacher and preacher of the gospel of not grace, but—“the graces, the graces, the graces.” Natural gifts, social status, open opportunities, and his ambition, all conspired to destine him for high statesmanship. If anything was lacking in his qualifications, he had the pluck and good sense to work hard and persistently until the deficiency was made up. Something remained lacking, and not all his consummate mastery of arts could conceal that conspicuous want,—the want of heart.
Teacher and preacher he assuredly is, and long will be, yet no thanks are his due from a posterity of the common people whom he so sublimely despised. His pious mission was not to raise the level of the multitude, but to lift a single individual upon a pedestal so high that his lowly origin should not betray itself. That individual was his, Lord Chesterfield’s, illegitimate son, whose inferior blood should be given the true blue hue by concentrating upon him all the externals of aristocratic education.
Earl of Philip Dormer Stanhope Chesterfield
LETTERS TO HIS SON
SPECIAL INTRODUCTION
1746-1747
LETTER II
LETTER III
LONDON, December 2, O.S. 1746.
LETTER IV
LONDON, December 9, O. S. 1746.
LETTER V
LONDON, February 24, O. S. 1747
LETTER VI
LONDON, March 6, O. S. 1747
LETTER VII
LONDON, March 27, O. S. 1747.
LETTER VIII
LONDON, April 3, O. S. 1747
LETTER IX
LONDON, April 14, O. S. 1747.
LETTER X
LONDON, June 30, O. S. 1747
LETTER XI
LONDON, July 20, O. S. 1747
LETTER XII
LONDON, July 30, O. S. 1747
LETTER XIII
LONDON, August 21, O. S. 1747.
LETTER XIV
LONDON, September 21, O. S. 1747
LETTER XV
LONDON, October 2, O. S. 1747
LETTER XVI
LONDON, October 9, O. S. 1747.
LETTER XVII
LONDON, October 16, O. S. 1747
LETTER XVIII
LONDON, October 30, O. S. 1747
LETTER XIX
LONDON, November 6, O. S. 1747
LETTER XX
LONDON, November 24, O. S. 1747
LETTER XXI
LONDON, December 15, O. S. 1747
LETTER XXII
LONDON, December 18, O. S. 1747.
LETTER XXIII
LONDON, December 29, O. S. 1747
1748
LETTER XXV
LONDON, January 15, O. S. 1748.
LETTER XXVI
LONDON, January 29, O. S. 1748.
LETTER XXVII
LONDON, February 9, O. S. 1748.
LETTER XXVIII
LONDON, February 13, O. S. 1748
LETTER XXIX
BATH, February 18, O. S. 1748.
LETTER XXX
BATH, February 22, O. S. 1748.
LETTER XXXI
BATH, March 1, O. S. 1748.
LETTER XXXII
BATH, March 9, O. S. 1748.
LETTER XXXIII
LONDON, March 25, O. S. 1748.
LETTER XXXIV
LONDON, March 27, O. S. 1748.
LETTER XXXV
LONDON, April 1, O. S. 1748.
LETTER XXXVI
LONDON, April 15, O. S. 1748
LETTER XXXVII
LONDON, April 26, O. S. 1748.
LETTER XXXVIII
LONDON, May 10, O. S. 1748.
LETTER XXXIX
LONDON, May 31, O. S. 1748.
LETTER XL
LONDON, May 27, O. S. 1748.
LETTER XLI
LONDON, May 31, O. S. 1748
LETTER XLII
LONDON, June 21, O. S. 1748.
LETTER XLIII
LONDON, July 1, O. S. 1748.
LETTER XLIV.
CHELTENHAM, July 6, O. S. 1748.
LETTER XLV
LONDON, July, 20, O. S. 1748
LETTER XLVI
LONDON, August 2, O. S. 1748.
LETTER XLVII
LONDON, August 23, O. S. 1748.
LETTER XLVIII
LONDON, August 30, O. S. 1748
LETTER XLIX
LONDON, September 5, O. S. 1748.
LETTER L
LONDON, September 13, O. S. 1748.
LETTER LI
LONDON, September 20, O. S. 1748.
LETTER LII
LONDON, September 27, O. S. 1748.
LETTER LIII
BATH, October 12, O. S. 1748.
LETTER LIV
BATH, October 19, O. S. 1748.
LETTER LV
BATH, October 29, O. S. 1748.
LETTER LVI
LONDON, November 18, O. S. 1748.
LETTER LVII
LONDON, November 29, O. S. 1748.
LETTER LVIII
LONDON, December 6, O. S. 1748.
LETTER LIX
LONDON, December 13, O. S. 1748.
LETTER LX
LONDON, December 20, O. S. 1748.
LETTER LXI
LONDON, December 30, O. S. 1748.
1749
LETTER LXIII
LONDON, January 24, O. S. 1749.
LETTER LXIV
LONDON, February 7, O. S. 1749.
LETTER LXV
LONDON, February 28, O. S. 1749.
LETTER LXVI
LETTER LXVII
LONDON, April 12, O. S. 1749.
LETTER LXVIII
LONDON, April 19, O. S. 1749.
LETTER LXIX
LONDON, April 27, O. S. 1749.
LETTER LXX
LONDON, May 15, O. S. 1749.
LETTER LXXI
LONDON, May 22, O. S. 1749.
LETTER LXXII
LONDON, June 16, O. S. 1749.
LETTER LXXIII
LONDON, June 22, O. S. 1749.
LETTER LXXIV
LONDON, July 6, O. S. 1749.
LETTER LXXV
LONDON, July 20, O. S. 1749.
LETTER LXXVI
LONDON, July 30, O. S. 1749.
LETTER LXXVII
LONDON, August 7, O. S. 1749.
LETTER LXXVIII
LONDON, August 20, O. S. 1749.
LETTER LXXIX
LONDON, August 21, O. S. 1749.
LETTER LXXX
LONDON, September 5, O. S. 1749.
LETTER LXXXI
LONDON, September 12, O. S. 1749.
LETTER LXXXII
LONDON, September 22, O. S. 1749.
LETTER LXXXIII
LONDON, September 27, O. S. 1749.
LETTER LXXXIV
LONDON, October 2, O. S. 1749.
LETTER LXXXV
LONDON, October 9, O. S. 1749.
LETTER LXXXVI
LONDON, October 17, O. S. 1749.
LETTER LXXXVII
LONDON, October 24, O. S. 1749.
LETTER LXXXVIII
LONDON, November 3, O. S. 1749.
LETTER LXXXIX
LONDON, November 14, O. S. 1749.
LETTER XC
LETTER XCI
LONDON, November 24, O. S. 1749.
LETTER XCII
LONDON, November 27, O. S. 1749.
LETTER XCIII
LONDON, December 5, O. S. 1749.
LETTER XCIV
LONDON, December 9, O. S. 1749.
LETTER XCV
LONDON; December 12, O. S. 1749.
LETTER XCVI
LONDON, December 16, O. S. 1749.
LETTER XCVII
LONDON, December 19, O. S. 1749.
LETTER XCVIII
LETTER XCIX
LONDON, December 26, O. S. 1749.
1750
LETTER CI
LONDON, January 11, O. S. 1750
LETTER CII
LONDON, January 18, O. S. 1750
LETTER CIII
LONDON, January 25, O. S. 1750
LETTER CIV
LONDON, February 5, O. S. 1750
LETTER CV
LONDON, February 8, O. S. 1750
LETTER CVI
LONDON, February 22, O. S. 1750
LETTER CVII
LONDON, March 8, O. S. 1750
LETTER CVIII
LONDON, March 19, O. S. 1750.
LETTER CIX
LONDON, March 29, O. S. 1750
LETTER CX
LONDON, April 26, O. S. 1756.
LETTER CXI
LONDON, April 30, O. S. 1750
LETTER CXII
LONDON, May 8, O. S. 1750
LETTER CXIII
LONDON, May 17, O. S. 1750
LETTER CXIV
LONDON, May 24., O. S. 1750
LETTER CXV
LONDON, June 5, O. S. 1750
LETTER CXVI
LONDON, June 11, O. S. 1750
LETTER CXVII
LONDON, July 9, O. S. 1750.
LETTER CXVIII.
LONDON, August 6, O. S. 1750
LETTER CXIX
LONDON, October 22, O. S. 1750
LETTER CXX
LONDON, November 1, O. S. 1750
LETTER CXXI
LONDON, November 8, O. S. 1750
LETTER CXXII
LETTER CXXIII
LONDON, November 12, O. S. 1750
LETTER CXXIV
LONDON, November 19, O. S. 1750
LETTER CXXV
LONDON, December 24, 1750
1751
LETTER CXXVII
LONDON, January 14, O. S. 1751
LETTER CXXVIII
LONDON, January 21, O. S.. 1751
LETTER CXXIX
LONDON, August 28, O. S. 1751
LETTER CXXX
LONDON, February 4, O. S. 1751
LETTER CXXXI
LONDON, February 11, O. S. 1751
LETTER CXXXII
LONDON, February 28, O. S. 1751.
LETTER CXXXIII
LETTER CXXXIV
LONDON, March 11, O. S. 1751.
LETTER CXXXV
LONDON, March 18, O. S. 1751.
LETTER CXXXVI
LONDON, March 25, O. S. 1751.
LETTER CXXXVII
LONDON, April 7, O. S. 1751
LETTER CXXXVIII
LONDON, April 15, O. S. 1751
LETTER CXXXIX
LONDON, April 22, O. S. 1751
LETTER CXL
LONDON, May 2, O. S. 1751
LETTER CXLI
LONDON, May 6, O. S. 1751.
LETTER CXLII
LONDON, May 10, O. S. 1751.
LETTER CXLIII
LONDON, May 16, O. S. 1751.
LETTER CXLIV
LONDON, May 23, O. S. 1751.
LETTER CXLV
GREENWICH, June 6, O. S. 1751.
LETTER CXLVI
GREENWICH, June 10, O. S. 1751
LETTER CXLVII
GREENWICH, June 13, O. S. 1751.
LETTER CXLVIII
GREENWICH, June 20, O. S. 1751
LETTER CXLIX
LONDON, June 24, O. S. 1751
LETTER CL
GREENWICH, June 30, O. S. 1751.
LETTER CLI
GREENWICH, July 8, O. S. 1751.
LETTER CLII
GREENWICH, July 15, O. S. 1751
LETTER CLIII
LETTER CLIV
LONDON, December 30, O. S. 1751
1752
LETTER CLVI
LETTER CLVII
LONDON, January 23, O. S. 1752.
LETTER CLVIII
LONDON, February 6, O. S. 1752.
LETTER CLIX
LONDON, February 14, O. S. 1752.
LETTER CLX
LONDON, February 20, O. S. 1752.
LETTER CLXI
LONDON, March 2, O. S. 1752.
LETTER CLXII
LONDON, March 5, O. S. 1752
LETTER CLXIII
LONDON, March 16, O. S. 1752
LETTER CLXIV
LONDON, April 73, O. S. 1752
LETTER CLXV
LONDON, April 30, O. S. 1752.
LETTER CLXVI
LONDON, May 11, O. S. 1752.
LETTER CLXVII
LONDON, May 27, O. S. 1752
LETTER CLXVIII
LONDON, May 31, O. S. 1752
LETTER CLXIX
LONDON, June, O. S. 1752.
LETTER CLXX
LONDON, June 23, O. S. 1752
LETTER CLXXI
LONDON, June 26, O. S. 1752.
LETTER CLXXII
LETTER CLXXIII
LONDON, July 21, O. S. 1752
LETTER CLXXIV
LONDON, August 4, O. S. 1752
LETTER CLXXV
TO MONSIEUR DE VOLTAIRE, NOW STAYING AT BERLIN.
LETTER CLXXVI
LONDON, September 19, 1752,
LETTER CLXXVII
LONDON, September 22, O. S. 1752
LETTER CLXXVIII
LONDON, September 26, 1752
LETTER CLXXIX
LONDON, September 29, 1752.
LETTER CLXXX
BATH, October 4, 1752
LETTER CLXXXI
BATH, November 11, O. S. 1752
LETTER CLXXXII
BATH, November 16, O. S. 1752.
LETTER CLXXXIII
BATH, November 28, 1752
LETTER CLXXXIV
Christmas Day, 1752
1753-1754
LETTER CLXXXVI
LONDON, January 15, 1753
LETTER CLXXXVII
LONDON, May 27, O. S. 1753.
LETTER CLXXXVIII
BATH, October 3, 1753
LETTER CLXXXIX
BATH, October 19, 1753
LETTER CXC
LONDON, November 20, 1753
LETTER CXCI
LONDON, November 26, 1753
LETTER CXCII
LONDON, December 25, 1753
LETTER CXCIII
LONDON, January 15, 1754
LETTER CXCIV
LONDON, February 1, 1754
LETTER CXCV
LONDON, February 12, 1754.
LETTER CXCVI
LONDON, February 15, 1754
LETTER CXCVII
LONDON, February 26, 1754.
LETTER CXCVIII
LONDON, March 8, 1754
LETTER CXCIX
LONDON, March 15, 1754
LETTER CC
LONDON, March 26, 1754
LETTER CCI
LONDON, April 5, 1754
LETTER CCII
BATH, November 27, 1754
1756-1758
LETTER CCIV
BATH, December 14, 1756.
LETTER CCV
BATH, January 12, 1757
LETTER CCVI
BLACKHEATH, September 17, 1757
LETTER CCVII
BLACKHEATH, September 23, 1757
LETTER CCVIII
BLACKHEATH, September 30, 1757
LETTER CCIX
BLACKHEATH, October 10, 1757
LETTER CCX
LONDON, October 17, 1757.
LETTER CCXI
BATH, October 26, 1757.
LETTER CCXII
BATH, November 4, 1757
LETTER CCXIII
BATH, November 20, 1757
LETTER CCXIV
BATH, November 26, 1757
LETTER CCXV
BATH, December 31, 1757
LETTER CCXVI
LONDON, February 8, 1758.
LETTER CCXVII
LONDON, February 24, 1758
LETTER CCXVIII
LONDON, March 4, 1758.
LETTER CCXIX
LONDON, March 22, 1758
LETTER CCXX
LONDON, April 25, 1758.
LETTER CCXXI
BLACKHEATH, May 18, O. S. 1758.
LETTER CCXXII
BLACKHEATH, May 30, 1758.
LETTER CCXXIII
BLACKHEATH, June 13, 1758.
LETTER CCXXIV
BLACKHEATH, June 27, 1758.
LETTER CCXXV
BLACKHEATH, June 30, 1758.
LETTER CCXXVI
BLACKHEATH, July 18, 1758.
LETTER CCXXVII
BLACKHEATH, August 1, 1758
LETTER CCXXVIII
BLACKHEATH, August 29, 1758.
LETTER CCXXIX
BLACKHEATH, September 5, 1758
LETTER CCXXX
BLACKHEATH, September 8, 1758.
LETTER CCXXXI
BLACKHEATH, September 22, 1758
LETTER CCXXXII
LONDON, September 26, 1758
LETTER CCXXXIII
BATH, October 18, 1758.
LETTER CCXXXIV
BATH, October 28, 1758.
LETTER CCXXXV
LONDON, November 21, 1758.
LETTER CCXXXVI
LONDON, December 15, 1758.
1759-1765
LETTER CCXXXVIII
LONDON, February 2, 1759
LETTER CCXXXIX
LONDON, February 27, 1759
LETTER CCXL
LONDON, March 16, 1759
LETTER CCXLI
LONDON, March 30, 1759
LETTER CCXLII
LONDON, April 16, 1759
LETTER CCXLIII
LONDON, April 27, 1759
LETTER CCXLIV
BLACKHEATH, May 16, 1759
LETTER CCXLV
BLACKHEATH, June 15, 1759
LETTER CCXLVI
BLACKHEATH, June 25, 1759
LETTER CCXLVIII
BATH, November 21, 1761.
LETTER CCXLIX
BATH, December 6, 1761.
LETTER CCL
BATH, November 2, 1762.
LETTER CCLI
BATH, November 13, 1762.
LETTER CCLII
BATH, November 27, 1762.
LETTER CCLIII
BATH, December 13, 1762.
LETTER CCLIV
BATH, December 13, 1762.
LETTER CCLV
BLACKHEATH, June 14, 1763
LETTER CCLVI
BLACKHEATH, July 14, 1763
LETTER CCLVII
BLACKHEATH, August 1, 1763.
LETTER CCLVIII
BLACKHEATH, August 22, 1763
LETTER CCLIX
BLACKHEATH, September 1, 1763
LETTER CCLX
BLACKHEATH, September 30, 1763
LETTER CCLXI
BLACKHEATH, October 17, 1763
LETTER CCLXII
BATH, November 24, 1763
LETTER CCLXIII
BATH, December 3, 1763.
LETTER CCLXIV
BATH, December 18, 1763
LETTER CCLXV
BATH, December 24, 1763.
LETTER CCLXVI
BATH, December 31, 1763
LETTER CCLXVII
BLACKHEATH, July 20, 1764.
LETTER CCLXVIII
BLACKHEATH, July 27,1764
LETTER CCLXIX
BLACKHEATH, September 3, 1764.
LETTER CCLXX
BLACKHEATH, September 14, 1764
LETTER CCLXXI
BLACKHEATH, October 4, 1764.
LETTER CCLXXII
LONDON, October 19, 1764.
LETTER CCLXXIII
BATH, November 10, 1764.
LETTER CCLXXIV
LONDON, February 26, 1765
LETTER CCLXXV
LONDON, April 22, 1765
LETTER CCLXXVI
BLACKHEATH, July 2, 1765
LETTER CCLXXVII
BLACKHEATH, July 15, 1765
LETTER CCLXXVIII
BLACKHEATH, August 17, 1765
LETTER CCLXXIX
BLACKHEATH, August 25, 1765
LETTER CCLXXX
LETTER CCLXXXI
LONDON, October 25, 1765
LETTER CCLXXXII
BATH, November 28, 1765
LETTER CCLXXXIII
LONDON, December 27, 1765.
1766-1771
LETTER CCLXXXV
LONDON, March 17, 1766.
LETTER CCLXXXVI
BLACKHEATH, June 13, 1766.
LETTER CCLXXXVII
BLACKHEATH, July 11, 1766.
LETTER CCLXXXVIII
BLACKHEATH, August 1, 1766.
LETTER CCLXXXIX
BLACKHEATH, August 14, 1766.
LETTER CCXC
BLACKHEATH, September 12, 1766.
LETTER CCXCI
BLACKHEATH, September 30, 1766.
LETTER CCXCII
LONDON, October 29, 7766.
LETTER CCXCIII
BATH, November 15, 1766.
LETTER CCXCIV
BATH, December 9, 1766.
LETTER CCXCV
LONDON, February 13, 1767.
LETTER CCXCVI
LONDON, March 3, 1767
LETTER CCXCVII
LONDON, April 6, 1767.
LETTER CCXCVIII
LONDON, May 5, 1767,
LETTER CCXCIX
LONDON, June 1, 1767.
LETTER CCC
BLACKHEATH, JULY 2, 1767.
LETTER CCCI
BLACKHEATH, July 9, 1767.
LETTER CCCII
LONDON, October 30, 1767.
LETTER CCCIII
LONDON, November 3, 1767.
LETTER CCCIV
BATH, September 19, 1767.
LETTER CC
BATH, December 27, 1767. ‘En nova progenies’!
LETTER CCCVI
LONDON, January 29, 1768.
LETTER CCCVII
LONDON, March 12, 1768.
LETTER CCCVIII
LONDON, March 15, 1768.
LETTER CCCIX
LONDON, April 12, 1768.
LETTER CCCX
BATH, October 17, 1768.
LETTER CCCXI
TO MRS. STANHOPE, THEN AT PARIS
LETTER CCCXII
TO THE SAME, AT LONDON
LETTER CCCXIII
LETTER CCCXIV
BATH, October 11, 1769.
LETTER CCCXV
BATH, October 28, 1769.
LETTER CCCXVI
BATH, November 5, 1769.
LETTER CCCXVII
BATH, October 9, 1770.
LETTER CCCXVIII
BATH, November 4,1770
LETTER CCCXIX
BATH, October 27,1771.
LETTER CCCXX
TO CHARLES AND PHILIP STANHOPE