If the religious and moral principles of this society are to be detested,as they justly are,the wisdom of their political principles is as justly to be admired.Suspected,collectively as an order,of the greatest crimes,and convicted of many,they have either escaped punishment,or triumphed after it;as in France,in the reign of Henry IV.They have,directly or indirectly,governed the consciences and the councils of all the Catholic princes in Europe;they almost governed China in the reign of Cangghi;and they are now actually in possession of the Paraguay in America,pretending,but paying no obedience to the Crown of Spain.
As a collective body they are detested,even by all the Catholics,not excepting the clergy,both secular and regular,and yet,as individuals,they are loved,respected,and they govern wherever they are.
Two things,I believe,contribute to their success.The first,that passive,implicit,unlimited obedience to their General (who always resides at Rome),and to the superiors of their several houses,appointed by him.This obedience is observed by them all to a most astonishing degree;and,I believe,there is no one society in the world,of which so many individuals sacrifice their private interest to the general one of the society itself.The second is the education of youth,which they have in a manner engrossed;there they give the first,and the first are the lasting impressions;those impressions are always calculated to be favorable to the society.I have known many Catholics,educated by the Jesuits,who,though they detested the society,from reason and knowledge,have always remained attached to it,from habit and prejudice.
The,Jesuits know,better than any set of people in the world,the importance of the art of pleasing,and study it more;they become all things to all men in order to gain,not a few,but many.In Asia,Africa,and America they become more than half pagans,in order to convert the pagans to be less than half Christians.In private families they begin by insinuating themselves as friends,they grow to be favorites,and they end DIRECTORS.Their manners are not like those of any other regulars in the world,but gentle,polite,and engaging.They are all carefully bred up to that particular destination,to which they seem to have a natural turn;for which reason one sees most Jesuits excel in some particular thing.They even breed up some for martyrdom in case of need;as the superior of a Jesuit seminary at Rome told Lord Bolingbroke.'E abbiamo anche martiri per il martirio,se bisogna'.
Inform yourself minutely of everything concerning this extraordinary establishment;go into their houses,get acquainted with individuals,hear some of them preach.The finest preacher I ever heard in my life is le Pere Neufville,who,I believe,preaches still at Paris,and is so much in the best company,that you may easily get personally acquainted with him.
If you would know their 'morale'read Pascal's 'Lettres Provinciales',in which it is very truly displayed from their own writings.
Upon the whole,this is certain,that a society of which so little good is said,and so much ill believed,and that still not only subsists,but flourishes,must be a very able one.It is always mentioned as a proof of the superior abilities of the Cardinal Richelieu,that,though hated by all the nation,and still more by his master,he kept his power in spite of both.
I would earnestly wish you to do everything now,which I wish,that I had done at your age,and did not do.Every country has its peculiarities,which one can be much better informed of during one's residence there,than by reading all the books in the world afterward.While you are in Catholic countries,inform yourself of all the forms and ceremonies of that tawdry church;see their converts both of men and women,know their several rules and orders,attend their most remarkable ceremonies;have their terms of art explained to you,their 'tierce,sexte,nones,matines;vepres,complies';their 'breviares,rosaires,heures,chapelets,agnus',etc.,things that many people talk of from habit,though few people know the true meaning of anyone of them.Converse with,and study the characters of some of those incarcerated enthusiasts.
Frequent some 'parloirs',and see the air and manners of those Recluse,who are a distinct nation themselves,and like no other.
I dined yesterday with Mrs.F----d,her mother and husband.He is an athletic Hibernian,handsome in his person,but excessively awkward and vulgar in his air and manner.She inquired much after you,and,Ithought,with interest.I answered her as a 'Mezzano'should do:'Et je pronai votre tendresse,vos soins,et vos soupirs'.
When you meet with any British returning to their own country,pray send me by them any little 'brochures,factums,theses',etc.,'qui font du bruit ou du plaisir a Paris'.Adieu,child.