第271章 LETTER CLXXIV(1)

LONDON,August 4,O.S.1752

MY DEAR FRIEND:I am extremely concerned at the return of your old asthmatic complaint,of which your letter from Cassel of the 28th July,N.S.,in forms me.I believe it is chiefly owing to your own negligence;for,notwithstanding the season of the year,and the heat and agitation of traveling,I dare swear you have not taken one single dose of gentle,cooling physic,since that which I made you take at Bath.

I hope you are now better,and in better hands.I mean in Dr.Hugo's at Hanover:he is certainly a very skillful physician,and therefore Idesire that you will inform him most minutely of your own case,from your first attack in Carniola,to this last at Marpurgh;and not only follow his prescriptions exactly at present,but take his directions,with regard to the regimen that he would have you observe to prevent the returns of this complaint;and,in case of any returns,the immediate applications,whether external or internal,that he would have you make use of.Consider,it is very worth your while to submit at present to any course of medicine or diet,to any restraint or confinement,for a time,in order to get rid,once for all,of so troublesome and painful a distemper;the returns of which would equally break in upon your business or your pleasures.Notwithstanding all this,which is plain sense and reason,I much fear that,as soon as ever you are got out of your present distress,you will take no preventive care,by a proper course of medicines and regimen;but,like most people of your age,think it impossible that you ever should be ill again.However,if you will not be wise for your own sake,I desire you will be so for mine,and most scrupulously observe Dr.Hugo's present and future directions.

Hanover,where I take it for granted you are,is at present the seat and centre of foreign negotiations;there are ministers from almost every court in Europe;and you have a fine opportunity of displaying with modesty,in conversation,your knowledge of the matters now in agitation.

The chief I take to be the Election of the King of the Romans,which,though I despair of,heartily wish were brought about for two reasons.

The first is,that I think it may prevent a war upon the death of the present Emperor,who,though young and healthy,may possibly die,as young and healthy people often do.The other is,the very reason that makes some powers oppose it,and others dislike it,who do not openly oppose it;I mean,that it may tend to make the imperial dignity hereditary in the House of Austria;which I heartily wish,together with a very great increase of power in the empire:till when,Germany will never be anything near a match for France.Cardinal Richelieu showed his superior abilities in nothing more,than in thinking no pains or expense too great to break the power of the House of Austria in the empire.