LETTER XI.
Georgetown, Jan. 8, 1807.
My dear Theodore,
I have just received your letter of the 4th, and wait,
with great anxiety, for one from Dr. Haller, on the same subject.
Let me recommend to you another perusal of Lord Chatham's
letters to his nephew. Attend to his precepts respecting
deportment to inferiors, equals, and superiors. Let these
words, also, be engraven on your mind—"Whatever you
take from pleasure, amusement, or indolence, for these first
few years of your life, will repay you a hundred fold in the
pleasures, honours, and advantages, of all your remaining
days." The candour with which you confess your indiscretion
towards Dr. H., and your determination to avoid giving
him future cause of displeasure, prevent my saying any thing
on that subject, except to caution you against any indulgence
of sudden suggestions of your feelings. Some impulse of
this kind, I must persuade myself, and not boyish conceit,
would have impelled you to lay down a regular exercise of
your school. Remember that labour is necessary to excellence.
This is an eternal truth, although vanity cannot be
brought to believe, or indolence to heed it. I am deeply interested
in seeing you turn out a respectable man, in every
point of view; and, as far as I could, have endeavoured to
furnish you with the means of acquiring knowledge and correct
principles, and manners, at the same time. Self-conceit
and indifference are unfriendly, in an equal degree, to the attainment
of knowledge, or the forming of an amiable character.
The first is more offensive, but does not more completely
mar all excellence than the last; and it is truly deplorable
that both flourish in Virginia, as if it were their native
soil. A petulant arrogance, or supine, listless indifference,
marks the character of too many of our young men.
They early assume airs of manhood; and these premature men
remain children for the rest of their lives. Upon the credit
of a smattering of Latin, drinking grog, and chewing tobacco,
these striplings set up for legislators and statesmen; and seem
to deem it derogatory from their manhood to treat age and
experience with any degree of deference. They are loud,
boisterous, overbearing, and dictatorial: profane in speech,
low and obscene in their pleasures. In the tavern, the stable,
or the gaming-house, they are at home; but, placed in
the society of
real gentlemen, and men of letters, they are
awkward and uneasy: in all situations, they are contemptible.
The vanity of excelling in pursuits, where excellence does
not imply merit, has been the ruin of many a young man. I
should, therefore, be under apprehensions for a young fellow,
who danced uncommonly well, and expect more hereafter
from his heels than from his head. Alexander, I think, was
reproached with singing well, and very justly. He must
have misapplied the time which he devoted to the acquisition
of so great a proficiency in that art. I once knew a
young fellow who was remarkably handsome; he was highly
skilled in dancing and fencing—an exceedingly good skater,
and one of the most dexterous billiard players and marksmen
that I ever saw:—he sang a good song, and was the envy
of every foolish fellow, and the darling of every silly girl,
who knew him. He was, nevertheless, one of the most ignorant
and conceited puppies whom I ever beheld. Yet, it
is highly probable, that if he had not been enamoured of the
rare qualities which I have enumerated, he might have made
a valuable and estimable man. But he was too entirely gratified
with his superficial and worthless accomplishments to
bestow a proper cultivation on his mind.
Farewell, my dear Theodore. I am almost blind. May
you, my son, prove all that can be desired by your sincere
friend, and affectionate kinsman,
JOHN RANDOLPH.
P. S.—Have you read all Miss Edgeworth's tales? Do
you remember the story of Lame Jervas? It is hardly romance.
I mean in this respect, that temperance, fidelity,
and industry, have raised many a man, from as low beginnings,
to respectability and affluence. The Lottery, too, is an
admirable story, and, perhaps, a true one, except as to the
happy conclusion. The little sketch which I have sent Buona,
will serve to give you a rude idea of the waters of the
Missouri. I hope you have not forgotten your geography.
Do not neglect that amusing and useful study. Write to me
often, and continue to send copies of your translations and
exercises in French, as well as Latin.
