Letters to his Son, 1766-1771

Letters to His Son, 1766-1771, covers the late years of the correspondence of Philip Stanhope, fourth Earl of Chesterfield (1694-1773), written as the old statesman’s deafness closed him off from the world he had mastered. The worldly instruction of the earlier letters gives way to reflections on retirement, health, and the son’s diplomatic career, ending only with the younger Philip’s early death in 1768 and continuing to his memory. The whole correspondence, published in 1774, remains the classic English school of manners. Free PDF download available on BDeBooks.