, in his
opinion, was too short to read all sorts of books, and to burden
one's memory with a multitude of things, at the expense of one's
judgment. He did not apply himself to the most learned writings, in
order to acquire knowledge, but to the most rational, to fortify his
reason: he sometimes chose the most delicate, to give delicacy to
his own taste, and sometimes the most agreeable, to give the same to
his own genius. It remains that he should be described, such as he
was, in friendship and in religion. In friendship he was more
constant than a philosopher, and more sincere than a young man of
good nature without experience. With regard to religion, his piety
consisted more in justice and charity than in penance or
mortification. He placed his confidence in God, trusting in His
goodness, and hoping that in the bosom of His providence he should
find his repose and his felicity."--He was buried in Westminster
Abbey.]

The Chevalier was from that time his hero: they had each of them
attained to all the advantages which a knowledge of the world, and
the society of people of fashion, could add to the improvement of good
natural talents. Saint Evremond, less engaged in frivolous pursuits,
frequently gave little lectures to the Chevalier, and by making
observations upon the past, endeavoured to set him right for the
present, or to instruct him for the future. "You are now," said he, "in
the most agreeable way of life a man of your temper could wish for: you
are the delight of a youthful, sprightly, and gallant court: the king
has never a party of pleasure to which you are not admitted. You
play from morning to night, or, to speak more properly, from night to
morning, without knowing what it is to lose. Far from losing the money
you brought hither, as you have done in other places, you have doubled
it, trebled it, multiplied it almost beyond your wishes, notwithstanding
the exorbitant expenses you are imperceptibly led into. This, without
doubt, is the most desirable situation in the world: stop here,
Chevalier, and do not ruin your affairs by returning to your old sins.
Avoid love, by pursuing other pleasures: love has never been favourable
to you.

["Saint Evremond and Bussi-Rabutin, who have also written on the
life of the Count de Grammont, agree with Hamilton in representing
him as a man less fortunate in love than at play; not seeking for
any other pleasure