MADAM:--The last time I had the pleasure of seeing you I was so taken up in playing with the boys that I forgot their more important affairs. How soon would you have them placed at school? When I know your pleasure as to that, I will send to Monsieur Perny to prepare everything for their reception. In the meantime, I beg that you will equip them thoroughly with clothes, linen, etc., all good, but plain, and give me the account, which I will pay, for I do not intend that from this time forward, the two boys should cost you one shilling. I am, with great truth, madam, your faithful, humble servant, CHESTERFIELD. [_Wednesday._] STANHOPE’S CHILDREN.--Charles will be a scholar, if you please, but our little Philip, without being one, will be something or other as good, though I do not yet guess what. I am not of the opinion generally entertained in this country, that man lives by Greek and Latin alone; that is, by knowing a great many words of two dead languages, which nobody living knows perfectly, and which are of no use in the common intercourse of life. Useful knowledge, in my opinion, consists of modern languages, history, and geography; some Latin may be thrown into the bargain, in compliance with custom, and for closet amusement. You are by this time certainly tired with this long letter, which I could prove to you from Horace’s own words (for I am a _scholar_) to be a bad one; he says that water drinkers can write nothing good, so I am, with real truth and esteem, your most faithful, humble servant, CHESTERFIELD. [_Nov. 4, 1770._] _To Charles and Philip Stanhope._ THE LAST LETTER.--I received, a few days ago, two, the best-written letters that I ever saw in my life: the one signed Charles Stanhope, the other Philip Stanhope. As for you, Charles, I do not wonder at it; for you will take pains, and are a lover of letters: but you idle rogue, you Phil, how came you to write so well, that one can almost say of you two, _et cantare pares et respondere parati_? Charles will explain this Latin to you. I am told, Phil, that you have got a nickname at school, from your intimacy with Master _Strangeways_; and that they call you Master Strangerways; for, to be sure, you are a strange boy. Is this true? Tell me what you would have me bring you both from hence, and I will bring it to you when I come to town. In the meantime, God bless you both!--CHESTERFIELD. [BATH, OCT. 27, 1771.] MAXIMS.[56] A proper secrecy is the only mystery of able men; mystery is the only secrecy of weak and cunning ones. A man who tells nothing, or who tells all, will equally have nothing told him. If a fool knows a secret, he tells it because he is a fool; if a knave knows one, he tells it wherever it is his interest to tell it. But women and young men are very apt to tell what secrets they know, from the vanity of having been trusted. Trust none of these, whenever you can help it.