DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.70031#0057
EARL OF CHESTERFIELD.
Philip Dormer Stanhope, Earl of Chesterfield,
born in 1694, and who received bis education at
Trinity Hall, Cambridge, was no less celebrated for his
talents as a statesman and distinguished orator, than
for his taste for the Belles Lettres, and his amiable per-
sonal qualities. He manifested from his youth a desire
of pleasing and of rendering himself conspicuous ; and
this disposition, carried to excess, was the spring of all
his actions, and frequently productive of the happiest
effects. Naturally hasty, and of a temper extremely
irascible, he was so highly affected at some words
which escaped him at an early age, in a moment of
passion, that he resolved to restrain his impetuosity;
and from that instant had such an ascendency
over himself, that in whatever circumstance he was
placed, he never betrayed the smallest emotion. He
took his seat in the House of Peers in 1726, was
chosen a member of the administration in the following
year, upon the accession of George IL (with whom he
was a particular favourite) in conjunction with Sir
Robert Walpole, and sent ambassador to Holland in
1728. He then acquired so much influence by his
wit and address, that the king conceived it to his in-
terest to suffer him to remain there for several years.
Compelled at length to return to his native country, by
reason of indisposition, the earl signalized himself in
the House of Peers by his oratory, and in the council
by his talents and sagacity. He enjoyed for a time
Philip Dormer Stanhope, Earl of Chesterfield,
born in 1694, and who received bis education at
Trinity Hall, Cambridge, was no less celebrated for his
talents as a statesman and distinguished orator, than
for his taste for the Belles Lettres, and his amiable per-
sonal qualities. He manifested from his youth a desire
of pleasing and of rendering himself conspicuous ; and
this disposition, carried to excess, was the spring of all
his actions, and frequently productive of the happiest
effects. Naturally hasty, and of a temper extremely
irascible, he was so highly affected at some words
which escaped him at an early age, in a moment of
passion, that he resolved to restrain his impetuosity;
and from that instant had such an ascendency
over himself, that in whatever circumstance he was
placed, he never betrayed the smallest emotion. He
took his seat in the House of Peers in 1726, was
chosen a member of the administration in the following
year, upon the accession of George IL (with whom he
was a particular favourite) in conjunction with Sir
Robert Walpole, and sent ambassador to Holland in
1728. He then acquired so much influence by his
wit and address, that the king conceived it to his in-
terest to suffer him to remain there for several years.
Compelled at length to return to his native country, by
reason of indisposition, the earl signalized himself in
the House of Peers by his oratory, and in the council
by his talents and sagacity. He enjoyed for a time