A LETTER TO THE MARQUIS DE CRÉQUI
having lived in the constraint of Courts,ÉvremondtotheMarquisdeCré I take up with the comfort of ending my days in the freedom of a Commonwealth, where if nothing is to be hoped for, there’s at least nothing to be fear’d. It would be scandalous for a young man not to enter the world, with a design to make his fortune. But when we are upon the decline, Nature calls us back to our selves; and the sentiments of Ambition yielding to the love of our Repose, we find it a blessing to live in a Country, where the Laws guard us against the wills of men; and where, to be secure of all, we need only be secure of our selves.
To this blessing we may add, That the Magistrates have a great sway in their Offices for the interest of the Publick; but are little distinguish’d in their Persons, by private advantages; so that there are no odious Distinctions offensive to men of breeding; no needless Dignities; no cumbersom Greatness, which cramps Liberty, without enlarging one’s Fortune. Here men in authority procure our Repose, without expecting any acknowledgment, or even any respect for the services they do us. They are severe in the execution of the orders of the State; stiff in the management of the interest of their Country with foreign Nations; mild and tractable with their Fellow-burghers; easy with all sorts of private Persons. The bottom of equality still remains, notwithstanding Power; and therefore credit never makes a man insolent, and the Governors never bear hard on those that are govern’d.
As for Taxes, they are indeed very great; but they are faithfully laid out for the publick good, and leave every one the comsort of contributing only for himself. Therefore the love people have here for their Country is not to be wonder’d at, since, properly speaking, ’tis no more than Self-love. But I dwell too long on the Government, without mentioning him who seems to have the greatest share in it. To do him justice, nothing equals his Capacity but his Disinterestedness and Spirit.
Spiritual matters are managed with the like moderation. The difference of Religion, which in other places raises so many commotions, does not, in the least, ruffle here the minds of people : every one seeks Heaven after his own way; and those who are thought to go astray, are more pitied than hated, and bespeak from others a pure Charity, free from the indiscretion of mistaken Zeal.
As there is nothing perfect every way in this World, we find here fewer polite persons than men fit for business; and more good sense in the management of affairs than delicacy in conversation. The Ladies are very civil, and the Men are so easy as not to take it ill of one, if he prefers their Wives company to theirs. The latter are sociable enough for an amusement; but have not vivacity enough to disturb a man’s repose. Not but some of them are very lovely; but then there is nothing to be expected from them; which may be ascrib’d either to their discretion, or to their natural coldness, which serves them instead of virtue. Whatever may be the reason of it, we find in Holland a certain reservedness generally establish’d, and I know not what tradition of Chastity, which passes from Mother to Daughter, like an Article of Faith.
’Tis true, they do not find fault with the Gallantry of young Women, who are honestly allow’d to use all innocent helps to get Husbands. Some conclude the course of their Gallantry in a happy Marriage; while others, more unfortunate, feed themselves with vain hopes of a condition, which is daily put off, and never comes. These long amusements, however, ought not to be imputed to any meditated design of infidelity. A man finds himself disgusted at long run; and a disgust for his Mistress breaks his resolutions of making her his Wife : thus fearing to pass for a deceiver, he has not courage enough to break off, at the same time, when he is not willing to come to a conclusion; and so what by the power of habit and long acquaintance, what out of a foolish vanity of being thought constant, a man makes a shift to keep up languishingly the miserable remains of a worn-out passion. Some examples of this nature, have put very serious reflections into the heads of some young Women, who consider Marriage as an amorous Adventure, and their natural condition as the true state in which they ought to continue.