Lord Chesterfield was known for his temper and discrimination. Many felt this was as a result of his anxiety. He was also viewed as calculating and selfish. This of course meant he lacked generosity too.
But Lord Chesterfield was a ‘distinguished gentleman’. He was was a seasoned and hardworking British ambassador in The Hague. One of his biggest successes was his tactful negotiations to conclude the second Treaty of Vienna in 1731. He was also an effective and respected civil servant in his role as administrator of Ireland. He was known for being a ‘brilliant and eloquent orator’ when he stood up to debate in the Upper House.
Patron of Literature
Chesterfield was a proud, professed patron of literature. His relationship with Samuel Johnson was described as ‘interesting’.
Samual Johson put together the first English Dictionary and hoped Lord Chesterfield (his patron) would support his ambitious project. Johnson admired Chesterfield and referred to his manners as ‘exquisitely elegant’. The literary joke, at the time, was that Johson probably did not have the best manners himself.
Johnson set one of the first copies of the unpublished dictionary to Lord Chesterfield. But sadly Chesterfield showed little interest in the dictionary. But, the hype around Johnson’s dictionary grew. Just before it was published, Chesterfield spoke publically about it and praised it in a prominent publication called The World.
Johnson was not happy
He wrote:
“My Lord, I have been lately informed, by the proprietor of The World, that two papers, in which my Dictionary is recommended to the public, were written by your lordship. To be so distinguished is an honour which, being very little accustomed to favours from the great, I know not well how to receive, or in what terms to acknowledge.”
Johnson was fuming! He felt that Chesterfield was taking credit for the support he gave Johnson for his work. And yet, there had been none.
He made an appointment to meet with Chesterfield. When he arrived at the house and was impressed with the building. He later wrote in a letter to Chesterfield:
“I was overpowered, like the rest of mankind, by the enchantment of your address”.
There was no meeting
Chesterfield was not available to meet with Johnson. He had received other guests and made no attempt to keep his appointment.
Samuel Johnson instead wrote to Chesterfield:
“I have been pushing on my work through difficulties, of which it is useless to complain, and have brought it, at last, to the verge of publication, without one act of assistance, one word of encouragement, or one smile of favour. Such treatment I did not expect, for I never had a patron before.
The notice which you have been pleased to take of my labours, had it been early, had been kind; but it has been delayed till I am indifferent, and cannot enjoy it: till I am solitary, and cannot impart it; till I am known, and do not want it.
My Lord,
Your lordship’s most humble,
most obedient servant,
SAM. JOHNSON.”
Chesterfield’s Legacy
As Chesterfield’s health and hearing deteriorated, he withdrew from politics and social engagements. He spent most of his time writing. He produced his famous letters of advice to his illegitimate son Philip Stanhope from of a brief liaison with Mlle du Bouchet in 1732. The Letters included some wonderful thoughts and life instruction such as:
“Whatever is worth doing at all, is worth doing well.”
Chesterfield had no legitimate heir, as his marriage to an illegitimate daughter of George I, Melusina von Schulemberg, did not produce any children. He thus adopted his godson (a third cousin, once removed), also called Philip Stanhope, as his heir to his estates and title.
Lord Chesterfield wanted to leave a legacy of a clever essayist, a protector of literary men and letters. But most of his work was not intended for publication. So, when it published, much of it was received with mixed review. His most famous ‘Letters to his Son’ and ‘Letters to his Godson’ were elegant, witty and written with brilliant observation.
The successful legacy he did leave was that Chesterfield County in Virginia, and Chesterfield County in South Carolina, both in the United States were named in the honour of Lord Chesterfield, the man who possibly didn’t laugh very much,
“Frequent and loud laughter is the characteristic of folly and ill-manners”
Letter to his Son (Bath – 9 March 1748)
