To Colonel Mandeville.
Belmont, August 10, 1752.
My dear Col.
BY a clause in the patent, which has
been hitherto kept secret in our part
of the family, it is provided, that, on default
of heirs male in the younger branch,
the title of Earl of Belmont should go to
the elder: in favor also of this disposition,
the greatest part of the estate then in our
possession, which is about half what I now
enjoy, is, by a deed, in which, however,
my lawyer tells me there is a flaw which
makes it of no effect, annexed to the title
for ever. Julia being the only child we
ever had, it is very probable the estate and
title will be yours: Heaven having blest
you with a son, it would be infinitely agreeable
to me, and would keep up the splendor
of our name, to agree on an inter-marriage
between our children. I would have you
educate your son with this view, and at an
expence becoming the heir of the titles and
possessions of our family: but, as it is possible
I may yet have a son; in that case, Lady
Mary, our relation, whose heart is greatly
set on this marriage, will settle her estate on
yours, and I will give him my daughter,
with twenty thousand pounds.
I insist on being at the whole expence of
his education as my heir; as the estate will
probably be his own, it is only anticipating
his rents a few years, and does not lay him
under the shadow of an obligation.
I have mentioned above, that there is a
defect in the deed, which puts it in my
power to rob you of your right in the
estate: but, as the design of our ancestor is
clear, I take no merit to myself from not
being the most infamous of mankind, which
I should be, were I capable of making use
of such a circumstance to your disadvantage.
But, could I reconcile so base an action to
myself in a private light, no consideration
could make it easy to me in a public one:
I know nothing so dangerous to our happy
constitution as an indigent nobility, chained
down to a necessity of court-dependence, or
tempted, by making faction the tool of ambition,
to disturb the internal peace of their
country. Men who are at ease in their fortunes
are generally good subjects; the preservation
of what they have is a powerful
tie of obedience: it is the needy, the dissolute,
the Cæsars, the Catilines of the world,
who raise the storms which shake the foundation
of government.
You will imagine, my dear friend, I
only intend this alliance to take place, if
their sentiments, when of age to judge for
themselves, correspond with our intentions
for their happiness. That this may be the
case, let us educate them, with the utmost
care, in every accomplishment of mind and
person, which can make them lovely in the
eyes of each other.
Let me, my dear Colonel, hear immediately
if this proposal is as agreeable to you
as to
Your faithful and affectionate
Belmont.
TO the Earl of Belmont.
My Lord,
I AM greatly obliged to your Lordship
for a proposal which does my son such
honor; and for a conduct towards us both
so noble and worthy your character.
The disposition you mention is what I
have sometimes hoped, but knew your
Lordship's honor and integrity too well to
think it necessary to make any enquiry;
convinced, if a settlement was made in my
favor, you would in due time make me acquainted
with it: till some probability appeared
of its taking place, it was, perhaps,
better concealed than disclosed.
The alliance your Lordship proposes, if
it ever takes place, will make me the happiest
of mankind: having, however, observed
marriages made by parents in the
childhood of the parties, to be generally
disagreeable to the latter, whether from the
perverseness of human nature, or the free
spirit of love impatient of the least controll,
will intreat our design may be kept secret
from all the world, and in particular from
the young people themselves: all we can
do is, to give them such an education as
will best improve the gifts of nature, and
render them objects of that lively and delicate
affection, which alone can make such
a connexion happy. Perhaps it may be best
to separate them till the time when the
heart is most susceptible of tenderness; least
an habitual intercourse should weaken that
impression, which we wish their perfections
to make on each other. Both at present
promise to be lovely; and, if we guard
against other attachments, the charm of
novelty, added to what nature has done
for them, and those acquired graces which
it is our part to endeavor to give the, can
scarce fail of inspiring a mutual passion,
which ones seeming to desire it would probably
prevent.
If I am so happy as to have your Lordship's
concurrence in these sentiments, I
will remove my son immediately from your
neighbourhood, and educate him in town;
at a proper time he shall go, with a private
tutor of birth and merit, to the university,
and from thence make the tour of Europe,
whilst Lady Julia is advancing in every
charm, under the eye of the most excellent
of mothers.
Men, who act a conspicuous part on the
stage of life, and who require a certain audacity
and self-possession to bring their talents
into full light, cannot, in my opinion,
have too public an education: but women,
whose loveliest charm is the rosy blush of
native modesty, whose virtues blossom fairest
in the vale, should never leave their household
gods, the best protectors of innocence.
It is also my request, that my son may
be educated in a total ignorance of the settlement
in our favor, both because the effect
of it may possibly be destroyed by your
Lordship's having a son, and because he
will taste the pleasures of a distinguished
station, if he ever arrives at it, with double
relish, if bred with more moderate expectations.
He will by this means too escape
the pernicious snares of flattery, the servile
court of interested inferiors, and all the various
mischiefs which poison the minds of
young men bred up as heirs to great estates
and titles: he will see the hatefulness of pride
and arrogance in others, before he is tempted
to be guilty of them himself; he will learn
to esteem virtue, without those trappings of
wealth and greatness which he will never
hope to be possessed of; he will see the
world as it is, by not being of consequence
enough to be flattered or deceived.
His education, his company, his expences,
shall, however, be suited to the rank he
may one day possibly fill; my acquaintance
with foreign courts enables me to introduce
him every where to those of the first rank
and merit; his equipage and attendance
shall be such as may secure him general
respect.
Your Lordship's generous offer of bearing
the expence of his education deserves
my sincerest gratitude; but œconomy will
enable me to support it without the least inconvenience
to my affairs; half my income,
which I will spare to him, with his mother's
fortune, which shall all be devoted
to this purpose, will be sufficient to give
him an education becoming of the heir of your
Lordship's fortune and honors.
May Heaven prosper a design, which has
so laudable an end in view, as the future
happiness of our children.
I am, my Lord,
Your Lordship's
Affectionate and
Obedient Servant,
J. Mandeville.
