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very awkward air。 When you are once well dressed for the day think no more of it afterward; and; without any stiffness for fear of discomposing that dress; let all your motions be as easy and natural as if you had no clothes on at all。 So much for dress; which I maintain to be a thing of consequence in the polite world。
As to manners; good…breeding; and the Graces; I have so often entertained you upon those important subjects; that I can add nothing to what I have formerly said。 Your own good sense will suggest to you the substance of them; and observation; experience; and good company; the several modes of them。 Your great vivacity; which I hear of from many people; will be no hindrance to your pleasing in good company: on the contrary; will be of use to you; if tempered by good…breeding and accompanied by the Graces。 But then; I suppose your vivacity to be a vivacity of parts; and not a constitutional restlessness; for the most disagreeable composition that I know in the world; is that of strong animal spirits; with a cold genius。 Such a fellow is troublesomely active; frivolously busy; foolishly lively; talks much with little meaning; and laughs more; with less reason whereas; in my opinion; a warm and lively genius with a cool constitution; is the perfection of human nature。
Do what you will at Berlin; provided you do but do something all day long。 All that I desire of you is; that you will never slattern away one minute in idleness and in doing of nothing。 When you are (not)in company; learn what either books; masters; or Mr。 Harte; can teach you; and when you are in company; learn (what company can only teach you) the characters and manners of mankind。 I really ask your pardon for giving you this advice; because; if you are a rational creature and thinking being; as I suppose; and verily believe you are; it must be unnecessary; and to a certain degree injurious。 If I did not know by experience; that some men pass their whole time in doing nothing; I should not think it possible for any being; superior to Monsieur Descartes' automatons; to squander away; in absolute idleness; one single minute of that small portion of time which is allotted us in this world。
I have lately seen one Mr。 Cranmer; a very sensible merchant; who told me that he had dined with you; and seen you often at Leipsig。 And yesterday I saw an old footman of mine; whom I made a messenger; who told me that he had seen you last August。 You will easily imagine; that I was not the less glad to see them because they had seen you; and I examined them both narrowly; in their respective departments; the former as to your mind; the latter; as to your body。 Mr。 Cranmer gave me great satisfaction; not only by what he told me of himself concerning you; but by what he was commissioned to tell me from Mr。 Mascow。 As he speaks German perfectly himself; I asked him how you spoke it; and he assured me very well for the time; and that a very little more practice would make you perfectly master of it。 The messenger told me that you were much grown; and; to the best of his guess; within two inches as tall as I am; that you were plump; and looked healthy and strong; which was all that I could expect; or hope; from the sagacity of the person。
I send you; my dear child (and you will not doubt it); very sincerely; the wishes of the season。 May you deserve a great number of happy New… years; and; if you deserve; may you have them。 Many New…years; indeed; you may see; but happy ones you cannot see without deserving them。 These; virtue; honor; and knowledge; alone can merit; alone can procure; 'Dii tibi dent annos; de te nam cetera sumes'; was a pretty piece of poetical flattery; where it was said: I hope that; in time; it may be no flattery when said to you。 But I assure you; that wherever I cannot apply the latter part of the line to you with truth; I shall neither say; think; or wish the former。 Adieu!
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