you may yourself perceive, your early attain"ment to fo great a dignity is not obferved with"out envy, and those who could not prevent

your receiving that honour will fecretly en"deavour to diminish it, by inducing you to "forfeit the good estimation of the public;

thereby precipitating you into that gulf intó " which they have themselves fallen; in which "attempt the confideration of your youth will

give them a confidence of fuccefs. To these "difficulties you ought to oppose yourself with "the greater firmness, as there is at prefent less "virtue amongst your brethren of the College. "I acknowledge indeed that feveral of them are "good and learned men, whofe lives are exem

plary, and whom I would recommend to you "as patterns of your conduct. By emulating "them you will be fo much the more known " and esteemed, in proportion as your age, and "the peculiarity of your fituation, will distin

guish you from your colleagues. Avoid how

ever, as you would Scylla or Charibdis, the "imputation of hypocrify; guard against all " oftentation, either in your conduct or your "difcourfe; affect not aufterity, nor even appear too ferious. This advice you will, I hope, "in time understand and practise better than I "can exprefs it.

VOL. III.

"You

ce

"You are not unacquainted with the great

importance of the character which you have to "fuftain; for you well know that all the Chrift"ian world would profper if the Cardinals were " what they ought to be; because in fuch a cafe "there would always be a good Pope, upon "which the tranquillity of Christendom so ma"terially depends. Endeavour then to render

cr

yourself fuch, that if all the rest resembled you, "we might expect this univerfal bleffing. To "give you particular directions as to your beha«viour and converfation would be a matter of

no fmall difficulty. I fhall therefore only re"commend, that in your intercourse with the "Cardinals, and other men of rank, your language be unaffuming and refpectful, guiding yourself however by your own reafon, and not fubmitting to be impelled by the paffions of others, who, actuated by improper motives, may pervert the ufe of their reason. Let it fatisfy your conscience that your converfation "is without intentional offence; and if, through impetuofity of temper, any one fhould be offended, as his enmity is without just cause, fo "it will not be very lafting. On this your first "vifit to Rome, it will however be more advif

"able for you to listen to others than to speak << much yourself.

"You

"You are now devoted to God and the "Church; on which account you ought to aim

cr

at being a good Ecclefiaftic, and to fhew that

you prefer the honour and state of the Church "and of the Apoftolic See to every other con"fideration. Nor, while you keep this in view, "will it be difficult for you to favour your family, and your native place. On the contrary, you should be the link to bind this city "closer to the Church, and our family with the "city; and although it be impoffible to foresee "what accidents may happen, yet I doubt not "but this may be done with equal advantage to "all; obferving, however, that you are always "to prefer the interests of the Church.

"You are not only the youngest Cardinal in "the College, but the youngest person that ever "was raised to that rank; and you ought there"fore to be the most vigilant and unaffuming, "not giving others occafion to wait for you, « either in the Chapel, the Confistory, or upon deputations. You will foon get a fufficient infight into the manners of your brethren. With "those of less respectable character, converfe not "with too much intimacy; not merely on ac"count of the circumftance in itself, but for the "fake of public opinion. Converse on general "topics with all. On public occafions let your equipage and dress be rather below than above

mediocrity. A handfome house and a well"ordered family will be preferable to a great re"tinue and a fplendid refidence. Endeavour to "live with regularity, and gradually to bring << your expences within those bounds which in a new establishment cannot perhaps be expected. "Silk and jewels are not suitable for persons in your ftation. Your taste will be better fhewn " in the acquifition of a few elegant remains of antiquity, or in the collecting of handsome "books, and by your attendants being learned " and well bred rather than numerous. Invite "others to your houfe oftener than you receive "invitations. Practise neither too frequently. "Let your own food be plain, and take fufficient " exercise, for those who wear your habit are soon "liable, without great caution, to contract in"firmities. The ftation of a Cardinal is not lefs "fecure than elevated; on which account those "who arrive at it too frequently become negli

gent, conceiving that their object is attained, "and that they can preferve it with little trouble. "This idea is often injurious to the life and "character of those who entertain it. Be at"tentive, therefore, to your conduct, and confide "in others too little rather than too much. "There is one rule which I would recommend to

your attention in preference to all others: Rife "early in the morning. This will not only con"tribute

"tribute to your health, but will enable you to arrange and expedite the business of the day;. "and as there are various duties incident to your

station, fuch as the performance of divine fer"vice, studying, giving audience, &c. you will "find the obfervance of this admonition pro"ductive of the greateft utility. Another very "neceffary precaution, particularly on your en

trance into public life, is to deliberate every " evening on what you have to perform the following day, that you may not be unprepared for "whatever may happen. With respect to your speaking in the Confiftory, it will be most be"coming for you at prefent to refer the matters "in debate to the judgment of his Holinefs, al"leging as a reason your own youth and inex"perience. You will probably be defired to in"tercede for the favours of the Pope on particu"lar occafions. Be cautious, however, that you "trouble him not too often; for his temper "leads him to be moft liberal to those who "" weary him least with their folicitations. This

you must observe, left you fhould give him "offence, remembering alfo at times to converfe "with him on more agreeable topics; and if you "fhould be obliged to request fome kindness "from him, let it be done with that modesty and humility which are fo pleafing to his difpofition, "Farewell."