,digital ,library47 ,,an ,,essay ,,on ,,the ,government of ,children1 ,under ,three ,general ,heads1 ,,viz4 ,health1 ,manners1 and ,education4 ,by ,,james ,,nelson1 ,apothecary4 ,,the ,,third ,,edition4 ,just as the ,twig is bent1 the ,tree's inclin'd4 ,,pope4 ,illustration ,,london3 ,printed for ,r4 and ,j4 ,,dodsley1 in ,pall-mall2 ,and ,sold by ,j4 ,,hinxman in ,pater-noster-row4 #agfc4 ,,to ,,the ,,right ,,honourable ,,the ,countess of ---- ,,madam1 ,happiness being the grand ,object of human ,pursuit1 it may1 ,i imagine1 be modestly presumed1 that every ,attempt1 however ineffectual1 to render ,that universal1 must be universally well received4 ,and yet1 conscious as ,i am that the following ,essay aims solely at this ,point1 the ,fear of it's being too feeble to stand alone1 makes me desirous of procuring it the additional ,strength of your ,ladyship's ,countenance and ,protection4 ,the ,subject is undoubtedly of great ,moment1 namely1 the proper ,government of ,children2 which being ranged under the ,heads of ,,health1 ,,manners1 and ,,education1 affords not only the ,opportunity of exposing many ,errors1 too generally adopted1 but also of pointing out a more natural and rational ,method of attaining the ,end proposed1 than is usually pursued4 ,and ,i cannot but think1 that1 if this ,method were seriously attended to1 the ,happiness of all ,mankind would be built on a more solid ,basis1 than it has in common hitherto been4 ,works of this ,kind naturally calling on the ,great and ,good for ,patronage2 it cannot be thought strange that ,i aspire to the ,honour of your ,ladyship's ,protection is the ,privilege of the ,powerful3 ,and therefore1 where ,power is happily joined with ,goodness1 the ,recourse of the ,weak to it's beneficent ,influence1 is but a just ,tribute of that ,homage which is due to superior ,merit3 ,and such is the unfeigned ,respect ,i mean to pay your ,ladyship by this ,address4 ,i have yet another ,motive for presuming to offer this ,performance to your ,ladyship2 namely1 the ,hopes that it's ,use may1 by this ,means1 be farther extended4 ,the ,world1 ,madam1 has it's ,eyes upon ,you3 ,the many ,excellencies of ,mind and ,heart so conspicuous in ,yourself2 and the uncommon ,lustre of every eminent ,virtue in the noble ,lord1 with whom you have wisely chosen to share the ,dignity and ,duties of the ,matrimonial and ,parental ,state1 have justly gained you1 not only general ,admiration1 but general ,esteem4 ,when the ,world shall behold you declining many of it's ,allurements1 to yield to the stronger ,attraction of ,parental ,affection2 when it shall see you often decline the ,assemblies of the ,great1 and retreat from the ,splendor of a ,court1 to take upon you the ,office of a tender ,mother1 by cherishing1 watching over1 and instructing your ,offspring2 when the ,world1 ,i say1 shall behold you employed in ,actions like these1 it will not only be charmed with the pleasing ,task you have undertaken1 but be powerfully animated to pursue the same ,measures2 which alone can procure that solid ,happiness all seek1 or seem to seek1 yet so few find4 ,that nothing may ever interrupt your present ,felicity2 but that it may be augmented to the most exalted ,degree1 by the additional ,blessing of wise and virtuous ,children1 is the sincere and fervent ,wish of1 ,madam1 ,your ,ladyship's most obliged1 and most obedient humble ,servant1 ,james ,nelson4 ,red-lion-street1 ,,holborn1 ,dec4 #a1 #agee4 ,,advertisement4 ,the important ,business of the ,management of ,children1 thro' every ,stage of our ,dominion over them1 has led many ,writers to handle the ,subject3 but on this1 as on other ,occasions1 each has had some particular ,point in ,view2 and each has directed his ,steps to that ,end4 ,one has considered only the ,state of ,infancy1 and1 with an ,eye to their ,health chiefly1 laboured to point out the ,means of preserving it3 another has passed over that ,state1 as if of no ,consequence2 and1 while nobly aiming at regulating the ,passions1 has inadvertently suffered them to be too deeply rooted from an ,inattention to their first ,appearance3 a third has made it his principal ,business to conduct their ,education2 and has either omitted altogether the forming their ,manners1 or has supposed1 what is very far from being generally true1 that the one is a necessary ,consequence of the other2 or in other ,words1 that good ,education will always produce good ,manners4 ,others have confined themselves to one ,species of ,education2 or1 if they aimed at a perfect ,piece1 it was for an ,individual only1 or at most1 for one ,class of a whole ,kingdom4 ,yet1 of the many excellent ,performances on these ,heads1 no one1 that can here be recollected1 has either been extended to general ,life1 or has comprehended the ,whole of a ,parent's ,care for their ,offspring4 ,in one we see delineated the ,education of a ,prince2 in another1 of an able ,statesman2 in a third1 of a great ,commander2 and so on3 but these are too narrow to instruct the ,whole1 and too confined to become general ,rules4 ,they resemble1 if the ,comparison may be allowed1 some great ,masters in ,painting2 one is happy in hitting the ,likeness2 another gives an exquisite ,softness and ,ease to the ,fall of the ,arms2 a third has a peculiar ,grace in his ,attitudes2 yet all1 perhaps1 are obliged to a fourth for the ,delicacy of the ,drapery3 while he too1 who excels in this1 is unable to reach any ,degree of ,perfection in the rest4 ,but here the ,reader is presented with a more extensive ,plan on the ,government of ,children2 a ,plan adapted to general ,use2 calculated for familiar ,life3 and which1 without a ,thought of ,arrogance1 or once supposing it perfect1 aims at the ,good of all4 ,the first ,part treats of the general ,means of preserving ,health2 in which every one is equally concerned4 ,the next relates to forming the ,mind2 that is1 shews the ,use of ,manners1 and points out the most rational ,method of acquiring them3 to the ,end1 not only that good ,habits may be obtained1 but that ,reason may always have the ,ascendant of the ,passions4 ,the last ,part treats of ,education2 which1 tho' here it makes a distinct ,head from ,manners1 yet are they to be considered as very strictly connected2 because the more exalted the one is1 the mere conspicuous should the other be4 ,as in every ,state or ,kingdom there are many ,degrees of ,rank and ,fortune2 so great ,pains have been taken to consider the ,propriety of ,education2 and to point out a judicious ,degree of it for each ,individual4 ,thus it is to be observed1 that the ,piece here presented is not designed to direct the ,fathers1 and exclude the ,mothers2 to govern the ,boys1 and neglect the ,girls2 nor to address the ,great1 and disregard the ,little2 by no ,means3 it aspires at offering ,advice to all2 and1 with equal ,zeal1 aims at giving ,aid to ,parents of every ,rank1 ,sex and ,degree4 ,it regards the ,care of ,children as long as the ,dominion of ,parents may be said to last2 and neither neglects the ,infant of a ,day1 nor gives up unconcernedly1 a ,youth of either ,sex1 at twenty ,years old4 ,the ,point most laboured at is indeed that of ,manners2 not only because they are of the utmost ,consequence in themselves1 and furnish the surest ,means of being happy1 and excelling in ,life1 but because the present too general ,depravity of them stands publicly confessed4 ,should it be urged1 that as a great deal has already been wrote on the same ,topics1 and in a masterly ,manner too1 all farther ,attempts of the like ,nature seem needless2 it may be answered1 7besides what has already been observed7 that so fertile a ,subject cannot easily be exhausted2 and being ,points of the most weighty ,concern1 they will undoubtedly always furnish thinking ,men with ,matter to expatiate on4 ,the ,thoughts here given are the ,result of ,reason1 ,observation and ,experience2 and should it be said that they are not new1 still it is hoped they have a ,claim to some ,degree of ,regard1 as there is always both ,use and ,entertainment in displaying even the same ,sentiments in a different ,manner4 ,,introduction4 ,nothing is more evident1 than that a ,love of our ,children is a great ruling ,principle in human ,nature2 and that it makes a large ,part of that ,self-love which sticks so closely to us4 ,for them we aim at ,wealth1 ,power1 and ,dignity2 for them our ,views are endless1 our ,desires boundless4 ,nor do we stop here2 for1 eager as we are in pursuing the real or seeming ,good of our ,children1 we extend our ,views still farther1 even to their ,children4 ,and it is certain1 that ,mankind in general do not think the great ,business of ,life compleat1 unless they live 7as it is usually termed7 to see their ,children settled1 and in a ,way of contributing to the great ,family of the ,world4 ,but were none to engage in a ,state of ,wedlock in order to become ,parents1 till their ,abilities to train up their little ,offspring were try'd and approv'd1 ,i am of ,opinion the ,number of ,marriage ,licences would be greatly abridg'd4 ,many run precipitately into this important ,state1 without any ,fore-thought at all2 but even among the wary1 the discreet1 and the wise1 how very few are there who reflect on the ,duty of first acquiring such a ,degree of ,knowledge as may serve to make their ,children happy in them1 and themselves happy in their ,children8 ,it is this general ,defect in human ,life1 which has induced me to offer my own ,thoughts on the ,government of ,children2 and my ,aim herein is1 to point out the ,errors committed in this important ,work1 and propose some ,means of preventing them for the future4 ,a learned ,writer on the ,art of ,medicine#a says1 that he who advances the ,knowledge of it1 tho' but a ,step1 deserves the ,thanks of the whole ,species2 if then ,i am but happy enough to give one useful ,hint1 one helping ,hand for the ,public ,good1 ,i shall esteem my ,labours abundantly rewarded4 ,but before ,i go any farther1 let me be understood3 ,i am not giving ,laws1 but ,counsel4 ,the ,experience ,i have gained in the tutoring seven ,children of my own1 joined to the ,observations ,i have made on the ,management of others of every ,age and ,degree1 seem to give me some ,title to hope my ,thoughts may prove useful2 if so1 my ,end is answered4 ,mr4 ,pope1 in his moral ,essays1 tells us1 that all ,happiness lies in three ,words2 ,health1 ,peace1 and ,competence4 ,may we not then hope1 that an ,endeavour to point out the ,way to ,health1 ,manners1 and ,education1 will help us in the ,pursuit of this great ,object8 ,for these rightly understood and well conducted1 ,peace and ,competence will seldom fail to follow4 ,manners however is the grand ,point ,i aim at2 every thing else is secondary to that4 ,health1 it may not be in our ,power to secure2 and ,school ,education1 all cannot reach to in any considerable ,degree4 ,the ,government of our ,children is indeed an universal ,obligation2 but all ,men are not therefore obliged to be ,physicians or ,pedagogues4 ,still1 as neither ,health nor liberal ,instruction1 where proper1 are to be neglected1 ,i shall in their due ,place speak of both1 so far as seems necessary for every ,parent to know4 ,by ,manners ,i do not mean that external ,shew of good ,breeding1 which consists only in a ,bow1 or ,curtsy1 or other personal ,carriage1 tho' this too is of ,importance2 but ,i mean1 such a uniform ,deportment1 such a ready engaging ,behaviour1 and such a ,propensity to do what is right1 as testify a happy ,disposition of the ,mind and ,heart2 and appear1 what they really are1 the ,fruits of good ,habits1 either natural1 or acquired1 or both4 ,the grand ,source of the too general ,defect1 we cannot but observe and lament in the ,manners of ,children1 is partly in themselves1 but chiefly in their ,parents4 ,in themselves it arises from a natural ,love of ,ease and ,liberty2 in ,parents1 from a supine ,neglect of that necessary ,knowledge already hinted at3 in short1 from want of reflecting why they are ,parents1 and what is incumbent on them to do1 in order to make their ,children happy in themselves1 and useful to ,society4 ,but how shall ,i be sheltered from the ,imputation of ,vanity8 ,i am well aware how liable a ,man is to be censured1 for attempting to point out to others1 what every one supposes himself to be already acquainted with3 and where are the ,parents who once suspect1 that they are so little acquainted with the ,duties of their ,state1 as to be themselves the ,causes of their ,children's ,misconduct8 ,that there are many whose ,ability in this important ,work is far superior to any thing ,i can pretend to1 ,i am convinc'd2 many who are happily endowed with a competent ,penetration and ,skill to manage the ,temper1 ,genius1 and ,passions of ,children1 and who are equally assiduous in the ,exercise of those ,gifts for the ,benefit of the rising ,generation3 neither is it for these ,i write2 rather do ,i wish to receive their ,instructions myself4 ,but1 that the ,bulk of ,mankind are wholly thoughtless of1 or unacquainted with1 the proper ,methods of managing ,children1 is1 ,i think1 very evident4 ,in proof of which ,i appeal to every one's own ,observation4 ,let the ,generality of ,people look round them1 and reflect how they find the ,majority of ,children of every ,rank among their ,acquaintance4 ,are they innocent1 tractable1 orderly1 and courteous8 ,are they tolerably instructed in the ,knowledge necessary for their ,age and ,station8 ,or are they not rather corrupt and untoward8 ,are they not rather unruly to a ,degree of ,pity8 ,incorrigibly rude1 or tolerably civil only by ,starts2 grossly ignorant in many ,things they ought to have been taught1 and but too knowing in others it were perhaps better they never knew at all8 ,if they really find this to be true in the ,children of others1 let them turn their ,eyes homewards1 and impartially canvas their own ,children's ,deportment2 and if upon discovering any of the like ,deformities1 they can resolve to be just to themselves1 ,i am confident they will to their great ,surprize awaken to the ,consciousness of one ,truth1 which perhaps they hitherto never so much as suspected2 namely1 that what they have the most ,reason to be displeased with in the ,conduct their ,offspring1 is chiefly owing to their own want of ,skill1 or want of ,thought1 in the ,management of those tender ,plants4 ,as ,men are sometimes seen to forget the ,husband and act the ,sovereign only1 so are they apt to think themselves supreme and independent in the ,power they have over their ,children4 ,but can we1 upon ,reflection1 take it to be the ,intention of ,nature1 that ,children be govern'd by ,fathers alone1 while they are in ,possession of the ,blessing of having ,mothers to share a ,part in that ,government8 ,or can we consider paternal ,sway as an arbitrary ,power1 absolutely presiding over1 and giving ,laws to ,children without any ,controul8 ,no4 ,lest ,fathers thus impower'd should invert the ,intention of the ,creation by becoming ,tyrants1 the providential ,laws of ,nature have wisely assigned a joint ,portion of ,power to the ,mothers2 that the ,father's ,authority and the ,mother's ,sweetness being seasonably and discreetly blended1 both might equally contribute to one and the same great ,end1 the future ,welfare of their ,offspring3 where the ,roughness of the one serving as a ,spur to egg them on to the ,pursuit of ,happiness from a ,principle of ,awe1 the ,smoothness of the other may sooth them forward1 from ,motives of ,affection2 or1 in a ,word1 that the ,sternness of the ,father may serve as a ,quickener to maternal ,endearments1 and the ,mildness of the ,mother sweeten and render palatable the more bitter ,draughts of paternal ,harshness4 ,it is no small ,difficulty to fix the ,time in which ,parents should take the ,reins of ,government into their ,hands2 but if it be considered that we are by the ,perverseness of our ,nature prone to err1 ,i think they cannot begin too soon2 in short1 they should begin as soon as they become ,parents1 that is1 as soon as their ,children have a ,being4 ,this will appear to be strange ,doctrine to those who have not reflected how very early ,children shew themselves4 ,the ,source of many of our ,errors with ,regard to the ,government of ,children1 seems owing to a mistaken ,notion of their ,incapacity2 whereas in ,reality they have some ,reason much earlier than is commonly imagined2 but till that dawns out1 the ,passions alone are their ,guides4 ,now if the ,passions are suffered to gather ,strength1 by cherishing and indulging them1 7which is too commonly the ,case7 and ,reason remains feeble for want of being exercis'd1 the natural ,consequence must be1 that ,children will grow obstinate1 perverse1 and ungovernable in their ,passions1 before ,reason is called forth to their ,assistance2 and it will often prove a very unsuccessful ,talk to hinder them when grown up1 from being ,slaves to themselves1 and ,plagues to all about them4 ,parents then1 to obviate these ,evils1 have two principal ,points to aim at1 for their own and ,children's ,happiness2 and indeed for the ,happiness of all ,posterity2 viz4 weakening their ,passions1 and strengthening their ,reason4 ,and that this is greatly in their ,power to effect1 is an undoubted ,truth1 tho' it may often prove an arduous ,task to reduce to practice4 ,still it may1 and ought to be aim'd at2 and1 if ,i may be allowed to speak my ,sentiments1 ,i think ,i may confidently assert1 that all social ,virtues1 and the genuine ,happiness which they are productive of1 will insensibly flow from a constant due ,exercise of that ,dominion over our ,children1 which all ,laws divine and human have entrusted to us4 ',tis wonderful to observe how very early a ,wilfulness is discernable in ,children2 and with what swift ,progress it gathers ,strength1 if not immediately and carefully check'd4 ,i have seen a ,child not above six ,months old1 obstinately contending for a certain ,position to be suckled in1 and the tender 7simply tender7 ,mother painfully distorting her ,limbs1 and straining her whole ,frame1 in ,compliance to it1 or it would not suck at all3 and ,i have seen too a ,child1 before one ,year of ,life was compleated1 so fantastically1 and yet so obstinately humoursome1 that all that could be devis'd to give it1 was not sufficient to gratify it3 it would roar for the first ,thing it saw1 then throw it away and fight for another1 and so on without ,measure2 and this at the ,expence not merely of ,baubles1 but of ,glasses1 ,china1 and other valuable ,things2 and often at the still greater ,expence of the ,mother's ,peace and ,rest4 ,the next ,advance is to the ,use of ,speech2 and this ,faculty is no sooner acquired1 but immediately follows the ,abuse of it4 ,many ,children1 indeed1 are slow and backward in the ,acquisition of it1 but few are those who are not too forward in misapplying this noble ,gift4 ,let a ,child of three ,years old1 who has been much indulged1 be bid to do any thing1 and how ready is it to answer1 ,i won't6 ,and if forbid a thing1 how pert to say1 ,i will6 ,yet let the fondling ,parent ask it ever so plain and easy a ,question1 it is a thousand to one1 if a ,word of ,answer be obtained3 the cunning1 obstinate ,urchin is instantly dumb1 and nothing shall restore it to the ,use of its ,tongue1 but the ,gratification of its ,humour with a ,cake or a ,play-thing4 ,thus are they generally suffered to run on to near the ,age of ,seven1 with little or no ,variation1 except that of their ,appetites gaining head of their ,reason1 and multiplying in proportion to the ,objects which excite them4 ,and as during that ,term of ,life which we distinguish by the ,name of ,childhood1 ,parents look upon the infant ,reason of their ,children1 as incapable of producing ,fruits1 they are but too apt to leave that uncultivated1 and to overlook1 with an injudicious ,contempt1 their early ,deviations from it4 ,but surely it were injuring human ,understanding1 to agree with such ,parents1 in an ,opinion which condemns itself2 and which they themselves are universally the first to contradict4 ,for let the ,topic of ,children be but broach'd to any of them1 and what ,encomiums are we not sure to be tir'd with upon their own6 ,what ,enlargements on their ,comprehension1 their ,judgment1 their ,wit1 and the surprizing ,products of all these1 in the many excellent things they say and do6 ,in the mean time not a single ,step is taken to improve all these boasted ,talents1 nor to check the growing ,humours which threaten them with ,destruction2 and may1 if neglected1 grow into ,habits more difficult to eradicate than an hereditary ,disease4 ,left this should affect but little those ,parents1 who are more solicitous that their ,children should be fair in ,face1 and strong in ,body1 than beauteous in ,mind1 and pure of ,heart1 let me convince even these1 that it is dangerous too to the bodily ,welfare of ,children1 to neglect cultivating their ,reason from their earliest ,infancy2 or to be careless of eradicating their little ,humours1 as soon as discover'd4 ,and to this end they need only view the ,majority of them on a sick ,bed2 where they will see this melancholy ,truth 7for such indeed we may call it7 in its full ,light4 ,diseases are one ,part of the ,portion of human ,nature1 in a ,state of ,mortality3 no ,stage of our ,existence is exempt from them1 and ,childhood as little as any4 ,let then an unmanag'd1 humour'd1 pamper'd ,child be sick2 and besides the ,abundance of otherwise unnecessary ,trouble and ,affliction it brings on the ,parents and the whole ,family1 what ,danger is not the ,child itself exposed to1 beyond what the ,disease brings with it6 ,all wise ,men agree1 that ,providence has furnished the ,world with ,remedies for most human ,diseases1 at least in their first ,stages1 and ,men with ,knowledge to apply them4 ,when skilful ,people are consulted in ,time1 the ,medicines good1 duly prepared and given1 the ,nurse attentive1 and the ,patient tractable1 there is but little to be apprehended from the first ,stage of any ,disease which is not mortal of itself1 where the ,habit of ,body is otherwise sound2 barring such ,accidents as cannot be foreseen1 nor consequently obviated4 ,but what can ,physicians1 ,medicines1 ,nurses1 all avail1 in the ,disease 7otherwise ever so curable7 of an untoward ,creature1 against whom perhaps there are great ,odds that it shall not be conquered to swallow the least ,portion of the most absolutely necessary ,remedy2 nor to submit in ,sickness to the least ,controul2 indulged1 perhaps1 as it has been1 in a ,habit of slighting and baffling all ,authority while in ,health8 ,just nothing4 ,no2 the ,trouble indeed of attending it1 is doubled and trebled to those who are constantly about it2 the ,expence is at least the same1 if not considerably augmented2 and the ,confusion1 ,affliction1 and ,alarms of the ,parents1 at the growing ,danger of their spoil'd ,darling1 immoderately encreas'd1 on finding all ,remedies rendered ineffectual to it1 by an ,obstinacy which they 7whether conscious of it or not7 have heretofore been the foolish ,encouragers of4 ,in the mean time1 the ,disease gathers ,strength1 and the ,child's ,wilfulness with it2 and the little ungovernable ,patient falls an untimely ,victim to the former ,mismanagement of the mistakenly fond ,parents1 and its own present ,unruliness4 ,to see a fond ,father1 in ,spite of the ,impotence of ,tears1 so general to his ,sex1 weeping over his ,child1 his ,heir1 his only ,hope of ,joy1 and vainly entreating him1 whom he might command1 to take an easy ,remedy6 ,to behold a tender ,mother1 herself half spent with ,grief and ,fears1 prostrate at her sick ,favourite's ,pillow1 expostulating with all the ,eloquence of maternal ,anxiety1 and entreating1 praying1 coaxing it to swallow a necessary ,medicine1 but still in vain6 ,to view the ,parents at such a ,juncture1 inwardly divided1 torn1 and almost consumed1 between the alternate ,motions of ,tenderness1 ,impatience1 ,love1 and ,anger1 fruitlessly insist1 where a ,habit of ,subjection should have already made a ,word or a ,look sufficient2 and yet to find the humour'd ,thing as resolutely bent on refusing1 merely1 perhaps1 because so much entreated6 ,to eye all this1 ,i say1 were surely sufficient to convince us1 that it is a strange ,inversion of the natural ,order of ,things2 and has a something in it extremely absurd3 and the more so1 when we reflect1 that the whole is an ,effect of ,folly in the ,parents1 and chiefly owing to their former ,neglect of exerting a little prudential ,authority4 ,if this be too frequent a ,case1 as the ,experience of many ,people must convince them it is1 let ,parents in general remember1 that their watchful ,industry to conquer and regulate the little growing ,passions and ,humours of their tender ,offspring1 is as necessary towards the ,preservation of their ,bodies1 as for the ,culture of their ,minds4 ,that this ,difficulty of conquering ,children1 and rendering them tractable while sick1 is no ,exaggeration1 ,i might appeal to the ,consciousness of most ,parents throughout the ,kingdom2 nay1 ,i could support the ,charge by many ,instances within my own ,knowledge2 but shall content myself with producing a very few from the ,relation of others4 ,a ,friend of mine1 who had the ,care of a young ,gentleman1 lately received a ,letter from his ,boarding ,school1 with this ,information2 8,master has been much out of order1 and what is worse1 was out of the ,reach of the ,means of being easily made better4 ,he had indeed three ,doses of ,physic prescrib'd him1 but could not be prevailed on to swallow one2 in short1 they were all spilt on the ,sheets1 for not a ,drop went down his ,throat40 ,a little ,miss not yet able to speak plain 7as ,i was informed by a ,person present7 had a ,medicine to take which she obstinately refus'd2 ,mamma interferes1 and after many fruitless ,entreaties gently corrects her2 ,miss still persists in the ,refusal1 and is chastised with additional ,severity1 even to the sixth time2 at length1 half breathless with crying1 and ready in appearance to burst with ,passion1 she has still her ,spirit so little conquered as to say in her imperfect ,gibberish1 8,well1 if you till me1 ,i won't take it40 ,so ,mamma overcome1 lays down the ,rod2 and obstinate ,miss coming off with the ,victory1 shewed she had more ,courage to receive ,correction1 than the ,mother ,resolution to bestow it4 ,the ,truth was1 that ,mamma had never had a ,dispute with the ,child1 in which she had not the ,weakness to suffer it to get the better of her4 ,a ,lady of ,rank ,i have the ,honour to be acquainted with1 and who ,i'm sure in other ,respects has good ,understanding1 forfeited it greatly on a like ,occasion4 ,she told me her ,daughter1 when in the ,country1 having a ,fever1 all usual ,means were try'd to prevail on her to take the necessary ,remedies1 but in vain6 ,so far from being mov'd to ,compliance1 she was thrown into such vehement ,fits of crying1 whenever they were offered to her1 that it was apprehended her ,fever would encrease1 and endanger her ,life3 'till at length by good ,fortune the ,lady reflecting she had a ,kitten which ,miss was extravagantly fond of1 she resolved to try an ,experiment4 ,accordingly1 as often as any thing was to be taken by ,miss1 ,mamma holding ,puss in her ,hands1 protested it should be thrown out of the ,window and killed1 if she did not take what was given her2 and by this ,stratagem brought the ,child to a ,compliance1 which nothing else could effect4 ,i own the ,expedient was ingenious1 and the ,lady gave a ,proof of her great ,presence of ,mind in turning to the ,child's ,advantage an innocent ,foible she had been indulg'd in4 ,but surely at the same time she betrayed how much she had before forfeited her ,understanding as well as the true ,tenderness of the ,parent1 by the little ,care she had taken to inculcate and enforce such ,principles of ,obedience and ,gratitude1 as should have taught her on the like ,occasions to do at least as much out of ,love and ,duty to a fond ,parent1 as she did out of childish ,attachment to a ,kitten4 ,now however lightly ,people may think of these ,things1 who are not immediately concerned1 they must and will be acknowledged great ,afflictions to all ,parents who love their ,children1 and see them in such ,circumstances4 ',tis certain that ,children may have ,disorders which are not of a dangerous ,nature1 and may therefore be got through without a nice ,observance of ,rule2 but then it is equally certain1 that they have oftentimes very dangerous ones1 which necessarily require both ,medicines and ,rule4 ,and very eminent ,physicians have declared it as their ,opinion1 that many of these tender ,lives have been lost1 purely for want of ,submission to the ,medicines and ,rules prescribed them4 ,who then can look back on the ,causes of a ,loss so detrimental to ,society1 and not be offended at the general ,neglect of ,parents to remove them8 ,nor can one1 reasonably speaking1 be less offended and concerned at the universal ,custom among ,parents of remedying on such ,occasions their former ,neglects1 by present ,falsehoods3 that is1 ,i mean1 by attempting to impose on their ,children's ,senses and ,understandings by manifest ,untruths4 ,when a ,child is to take a ,medicine1 is it not ridiculous to call a bitter ,draught sour1 or a sour one sweet8 ,is it less absurd to insist on a nauseous thing's being pleasant1 than it is to shew them what is black1 and endeavour to persuade them it is white8 ,and yet this is the ,method commonly made use of with ,children1 to beguile down their ,medicines4 ,it is true it may furnish ,people with an easy ,pretext to expatiate on their ,children's ,capacity2 but ,i am sure it adds no ,honour to their own4 ,they may tell their ,apothecary how much ,pains they took to cheat the ,child1 but the little ,rogue was so cunning it would not be cheated6 ,they may display his ,genius by telling how they called it ,wine1 and gave it in the dark2 or said it was ,tea1 and put it into his own ,cup2 still nothing could deceive him3 ,oh6 it is a sensible little ,creature6 ,but what all this while is become of the ,sense of the ,parents8 ,for after all this ,address1 this mighty ,juggle1 it must still perhaps be owned1 that the ,child does not take the ,dose3 or if it should1 with a ,superiority of ,sense1 it justly reproaches the ,parents with having told it a ,falsehood4 8,you said it was good1 but ,i find it is nasty ,stuff1 and ,i'll take no more of it40 ,and too generally do they keep their ,word4 ,can ,parents so palpably mislead their ,children1 and not be sensible of their ,mistake8 ,or can they be sensible of it1 and not blush at their own ,folly8 ,thus far we have considered the ,untowardness of ,children1 with some of its ,consequences1 in that ,stage of ,life we usually call their ,childhood2 that is1 to seven ,years old2 for according to the ,custom of familiar ,life1 every ,septenary is reckoned a ,stage2 tho' ,physical ,writers divide ,life otherwise4 ,with them there are eight ,stages4 ,from the ,birth to three ,years old1 is one2 viz4 the ,infancy2 from three to ten another2 and so on to ,decrepidity4 ,but as this ,treatise attempts to reach no farther than the ,dominion of ,parents generally extends1 that is1 till they become ,men and ,women2 it will not be consistent with my ,design1 to carry on either ,observation or ,precept beyond the third ,stage of ,life4 ,let us therefore proceed to take some ,observation of them in the second ,septenary2 when on all ,hands it is agreed their ,understandings are open1 and capable of receiving more important ,impressions4 ,now if we view the ,generality of ,children from seven to fourteen1 ,i am afraid we shall be obliged to confess1 that however far they advance in what is commonly called ,learning1 they gain but very little in the ,science of ,manners4 ,in ,william of ,wickham's famous ,school at ,winchester there is this ,motto1 ,,manners ,,maketh ,,man3 ,whereby we are reminded1 that all ,learning which does not improve our ,manners1 is vain and unprofitable2 the ,perfection of ,manners being the ,end1 which ,learning is only design'd as a ,means to conduct us to4 ,yet so it happens1 that ,parents are frequently misled by confounding ,names1 by taking one thing for another1 and concluding their ,children have ,manners because they have ,learning4 ,whereas in reality1 a ,child may1 from want of proper ,care1 have a great deal of ,learning1 and no ,manners at all3 or1 on the other hand1 by timely and proper ,tuition1 advance greatly in the ,improvement of genuine ,manners1 with little or no ,school ,learning3 which is all that is generally understood by the ,word ,learning1 with regard to ,children in the second ,septenary4 ,when a ,man becomes ,father of a ,family1 he usually applies the ,boys1 as soon as he deems them of an ,age for it1 to ,school ,learning2 different according to the ,rank he bears in ,life3 while the ,girls1 by a shameful ,indolence or ,contempt1 are often neglected in this ,particular1 and suffered to become alternate ,plagues and ,play-things at home3 at least with strictest ,truth we may say1 too little ,care is taken to form either the ,mind or ,heart of these to any great ,advantage4 ,the ,boys1 if dull1 return ,blockheads1 and so remain2 if smart1 grow boisterous1 audacious1 conceited1 and ungovernable2 tyrannical to their ,sisters2 disobedient to their ,mother2 and scarce are awed by their ,father's severer ,brow4 ,the ,girls remain uncultivated in almost every thing but ,vanity and a ,love of fine ,cloaths4 ,indeed they can work a little1 7and perhaps but little7 or they can dance1 and so they ought2 but shall scarcely be able to spell a ,word right beyond a ,monosyllable2 or write the ,direction on a ,letter with any ,propriety4 ,is it an ,exaggeration to say this is the usual ,education till fourteen8 ,surely ,experience convinces us it is not2 and tho' some ,exceptions may doubtless be found1 yet they are few in ,comparison with the whole4 ,now let me ask the ,parents of such ,children1 what real ,comfort do they find in them8 ,do they not often with ,sorrow1 nay almost with bleeding ,hearts1 see them running counter to their ,expectations and ,wishes8 ,do they not daily see1 and must they not therefore daily lament 7unless they are self-blind7 that all their other ,profusion of ,kindness so lavishly poured on their ,children1 yields neither ,profit to them1 nor ,comfort to themselves8 ,and whence the ,cause of all this ,disappointment8 ,alas6 'tis too visible1 too apparent6 ,it arises from a ,neglect1 or at least an ,abuse of that early ,authority they ought to exercise over them3 from a ,neglect1 in not correcting in time their ,irregularities and ,humours2 from an ,abuse1 in correcting them without ,judgment and ,discretion4 ,nor does this happen to ,people in inferior ,stations only2 no1 'tis every ,day to be met with1 not merely from the ,peasant to the ,tradesman1 but from the ,tradesman to the ,nobleman2 and even among those of the finest ,understanding4 ,but whence the ,cause of this strange ,misconduct and ,omission8 ,it springs1 as ,i take it1 from ,ignorance1 or ,inconsiderateness1 or ,partiality1 or ,passion1 or from all together2 but the most frequently of any1 from false ,tenderness1 and blind ,indulgence4 ,every ,man has his own way of judging1 and generally abides by it right or wrong4 ,i knew a ,gentleman of refined ,understanding1 who frequently forfeited it1 by a boundless injudicious ,fondness for his ,children4 ,he would say to his little ,boy at ,table1 ,well1 my ,dear1 what shall ,i help you to8 ,the ,child1 accustomed to have his own ,will1 unskilled to make a proper ,choice1 and following the ,gratification of his depraved ,palate1 was sure to choose the most unfit ,dish1 by choosing the richest1 because the most savory4 ,the ,father indeed would fain set him right1 by recommending some simpler ,food2 ,no1 my ,dear1 he'd say1 have some ,mutton1 ,mutton is best for you2 and so of any other plain wholsome ,dish2 but this ,advice proves too late1 after having set him wrong2 nor would he eat a ,morsel of any thing but what he himself approved of4 ,the same ,gentleman1 as a ,proof of his ,sense1 took abundance of ,pains to inculcate strict ,notions of ,honour to his ,children1 tho' he often degraded that ,sense in the ,application of them4 ,one ,day1 at the beginning of the ,week1 he says to his ,son1 ,my ,dear1 ,i know you are a ,man of ,honour1 and what you once promise you'll punctually perform2 you are one ,day this ,week to take ,physic2 tell me then1 what ,day will you fix on8 ,the ,boy pauses a little1 and replies1 ,saturday1 ,sir4 ,oh6 fye my ,dear1 says the ,father1 why stay 'till ,saturday8 why not take it to-morrow1 or next ,day8 ,no ,sir1 replies the ,boy1 with an unbecoming ,pertness1 ,i'm upon ,honour2 the ,choice of the ,day was left to me1 and ,i'll not take it before4 ,what an amazing ,inversion of ,ideas6 ,honour with ,disobedience6 ,who in this ,case could be said to hold the ,reins of ,government1 the ,parent or the ,child8 ,thus too does many an affectionate and even sensible ,mother both see and feel in a ,daughter1 whom ,nature perhaps has endowed with all that might make her sweet and amiable1 an ,untractableness she knows not how to account for4 ,but tho' it is her own ,mismanagement1 or rather no ,management at all1 which makes the ,girl's ,desires irregular and inordinate1 still the fond ,parent remains blind to the ,cause4 ,if ,miss knows ,mamma is to go out without her1 she'll eat no ,dinner2 if the ,dress of the ,day is not to her ,fancy1 she is sure to remain sullen 'till ,night2 and if an accidental ,difference is made to a ,sister1 or any other of her own ,age1 she shall redden1 and swell1 and pout1 and fret1 'till she has fretted her ,mamma sick1 to see her untoward ,behaviour2 and possibly fretted herself sick too4 ',tis easy to discern the ,principles she acts upon2 they are ,self-will1 ,vanity1 and the ,love of ,pleasure1 which she has been used to be indulged in4 ,no wonder then1 that when these are not gratified she is miserable2 and while they are1 is it likely that she can long be happy8 ,there ought to be made a considerable ,difference between the ,children of inferior ,people1 and those of ,rank1 with regard to their ,tuition2 nothing is more reasonable2 since the latter have innumerable ,advantages over1 and are to move in a very different ,sphere from the former4 ,still the ,mistakes in all are too often essentially the same2 and only conceal'd or varnish'd over by the external ,education4 ,now1 what ,i contend for is1 that ,parents of all ,ranks have the ,power1 and are equally bound in ,duty1 to be themselves the ,teachers of their ,children1 with regard to that ,self-,knowledge1 and the genuine ,docility arising from it1 which are necessary to conduct them thro' ,life with ,ease and ,benefit to themselves1 with ,honour and ,pleasure to their ,parents1 and with universal ,advantage to ,society in general4 ,i say again1 that all ,parents have the ,power of answering this ,obligation in great measure2 but those of ,rank1 ,fortune1 and ,education1 have it in an eminent ,degree2 and are therefore utterly inexcusable1 when they give into that gross ,neglect of it2 which we daily see1 even in the second and more improveable ,stage of human ,life4 ,tho' it is allow'd by all1 that ,children1 long before they attain the ,age of fourteen1 are in general capable of receiving very advantageous ,impressions1 and are full as susceptible of the reverse2 yet 'tis pretty evident1 that much the ,majority to that ,period1 gain few or no good ones2 and ,i wish it were not as evident1 that their principal ,stock are of the bad ,kind4 ,but let us proceed to consider them in the third ,septenary1 which brings them to the ,age of twenty-one2 the ,period which generally closes our ,obligations to them2 shuts out in great measure our ,power over them2 and sets them loose on the great ,stage of the ,world1 every one to act their ,part just as we have taught them4 ,if well1 great is our ,honour1 great must be our ,comfort2 and great and lasting is their ,happiness likely to prove1 to themselves1 and to ,posterity4 ,if ill1 no matter what their ,station is1 they disgrace it2 and the ,disgrace with double ,force is reflected back on ourselves4 ',tis a well-known ,maxim1 that the first ,impressions strike the deepest4 ,thus1 a ,boy1 who before fourteen has never been convinced that it was necessary for him to obey1 will afterwards laugh at it as ridiculous2 and if his first ,lessons were ,pride and ,pleasure1 the only ,use he will make of his ,understanding when more at large1 will be to study to continue in the ,pursuit and ,augmentation of those his favourite ,objects4 ,whether we consider the ,heir of a ,family at the ,university1 or his younger ,brother in a ,merchant's ,compting-house2 whether we consider a young ,stripling destin'd to the ,law1 to ,physic1 or view him behind a ,counter2 we cannot make a true ,use of our ,eyes1 without seeing innumerable ,disorders during this third ,stage of ,life4 ,for tho' heretofore he has been treated as a ,child or ,school-boy1 he will now pretend to judge for himself2 and as his ,reason is weak1 and his ,passions strong1 that will slavishly run in pursuit of every thing which will promote the ,gratification of these4 ,i have already observed1 that the only ,use he will make of his ,understanding1 will be to abuse it4 ,for ,example1 he wants fine ,cloaths1 such1 perhaps1 as are very unbecoming his ,station2 he wants two or three ,suits1 where one ought to serve2 he wants an encrease of ,pocket-money1 far beyond a reasonable ,allowance1 and often beyond what his ,father can afford2 or finally1 he has some more vicious ,end in view4 ,now without once employing his ,reason1 or reflecting how much he has abused the ,indulgence of his ,parents1 his ,passions urge him on to effect whatever they suggest4 ,to gain his ,point then1 with ,address and ,cunning he applies to his ,mother2 whose blind ,fondness for her ,boy1 will not let the ,father rest1 till his prodigal ,humour is gratify'd4 ,the ,father1 as a good one1 shall argue the ,case4 8,what1 my ,dear1 can ,i do with this extravagant ,boy8 ,i have spar'd no ,pains nor ,expence in his ,education1 because on that ,i grounded all my ,hopes of his future good ,conduct and ,prosperity2 he don't want ,sense1 and has improv'd pretty well in his ,learning3 if not quite so well as perhaps he might have done with a little more ,application1 yet allowing for the natural ,thoughtlessness of his ,age1 at least well enough to know how to act better4 ,still ,i see little ,prospect of ,comfort from him2 because ,i see no ,dispositions in him but to ,idleness1 ,folly and ,extravagance4 ,in short1 if he goes on thus1 what better can ,i expect than to see him daily plunge deeper and deeper into ,extravagance and ,vice3 and what must the ,consequence be but irrecoverable ,destruction8 ,shall ,i then by continuing to humour him hurry on his ,ruin1 perhaps in my own and yours80 ,but the fond ,mother still persuading him that every present ,folly is to be the last1 urges her ,suit2 and enforcing all that ,influence which in an amiable ,woman seldom fails to succeed with an indulgent ,husband and doating ,father1 is almost always sure to carry her ,point4 ,is not this the ,situation of many a ,parent8 ,is not this the reigning ,practice of many a ,son8 ,of too many indeed6--,the ,father here describ'd is such a one as most ,men will acknowledge to be a tender one2 and some will be apt to think a discreet one2 in allowing for the ,inconsiderateness of his ,age1 weighing like a prudent ,man his real ,good1 and generously resolving to furnish him with every reasonable ,means of being wise and happy3 still is he disappointed2 and still are his ,expectations frustrated4 ,but need we ask the ,cause8 ,surely it is too plain4 ,more ,pains have been taken to pamper and humour him1 than to make it unnecessary to do either3 more ,time and ,care have been employ'd to furnish his ,head1 with perhaps merely ornamental ,knowledge1 than to correct and enrich his ,heart with such ,sentiments as might improve his ,manners4 ,can we then wonder that he precipitates into ,ruin8 ,no surely2 we may rather wonder if he escapes it4 ,but admitting that ,fortune still favours him1 and that he keeps up his ,dignity and ,reputation2 how does he possess his own ,mind1 as a rational ,creature1 or a ,brute8 ,does he act so as to deserve the ,esteem of ,mankind8 ,if not1 ,life is not worth enjoying4 ,let us now view the fairer part of our ,species2 those tender ,branches our ,daughters4 ,they 7thank ,heaven7 are not naturally so liable to ,vices and ,extravagancies as our ,sons2 but ,i wish ,i could say they were all as good as they are capable of being made2 as amiable in their interior ,sentiments1 as their ,forms might make us hope to see them4 ,but alas6 too often those choicest ,charms of our ,eyes are the chief ,plagues of our ,hearts2 and it is we ourselves are the principal ,causes1 that they whom ,nature seem'd to have form'd to be our principal ,comforts1 should thro' our ,mismanagement become the ,disturbers of the ,peace of us their ,parents1 and of their own ,happiness4 ,a ,girl enter'd into the third ,septenary passes soon into a ,woman2 but commonly speaking she is much sooner such in her ,person and ,appetites than in her ,understanding3 whence arise many of those glaring ,mistakes they daily commit4 ,a ,girl who is tall generally conceits she is wise2 and because 'till now she has liv'd without controul1 she thinks ,subjection and ,obedience to her ,parents1 mean and slavish4 ,it would be a ,reflection on young ,ladies to say they have no ,manners1 but still it is too generally true that their ,manners are false ones2 springing from ,pride1 and influenc'd by it4 ,a ,girl 7of any ,figure in ,life7 soon knows that the ,world has it's ,eyes upon her2 and as there are certain ,motives which induce her to exert all her ,skill to seem well bred1 so there are certain ,times she really appears to advantage3 but let the ,mask be thrown off2 let the ,restraint be taken away by which she is confin'd2 and we shall soon see where her ,manners lye3 we shall 7,i am afraid7 oftentimes discover that they are not the ,dictates of a well-regulated ,heart4 ,but as my ,tenderness for the ,sex will not suffer me designedly to misrepresent things1 let us examine fairly the ,conduct of a young ,lady according to the too general ,mode of breeding4 ,it appears already that the first ,stage of ,life was wholly spent in gratifying her ,humour2 the second was employ'd in a superficial ,education1 resembling in some measure a ,building ornamented without1 but ill contriv'd and useless within4 ,self-will1 ,vanity and ,pleasure have hitherto been her ,guides2 and these instead of being check'd1 are in the third ,stage1 greatly strengthen'd and augmented3 and have besides added to them a boundless ,love of ,power and ,uncontroul4 ,now from such a ,source what ,virtues can we expect to flow8 ,what ,miseries may we not fear8 ,alas6 too soon are we convinc'd that her whole ,soul is absorb'd in ,pleasures2 her ,head runs round with them2 she is continually contriving1 plotting1 scheming2 and all ,opposition of her ,parents becomes too weak3 she has not1 perhaps1 a ,spark of real ,duty1 nor the least ,sense of her misguided ,steps3 and happy is it for her if her mistaken ,conduct does not in the ,end plunge her into ,sorrow too great to support4 ,happy is it for her if the ,stream of ,pleasure she is borne down with does not insensibly carry away her ,honour and ,virtue2 or at least dash her on the fatal ,rock of a miserable ,marriage4 ,wherever this ,portrait is found to be genuine1 let it be remember'd1 that the ,painter who draws a real ,likeness ought not to be blam'd for the ,disagreeableness of the ,features4 ,many1 it is true1 have ,fortune to support their ,pleasures1 however expensive or irregular2 but where that fails1 where ,fortune is small1 and the ,propensity to ,pleasure great1 ,honour and ,virtue stand so very tottering1 that they are in perpetual ,danger3 and if with this unbridled ,love of ,pleasure1 there be a tolerable share of ,wit or ,beauty1 or both2 who that reflects1 can help trembling even at the ,apprehension of a ,fall8 ,but tho' a young ,lady should escape those innumerable ,calamities which her giddy ,conduct has laid her open to1 what ,hopes are there1 that she who has never borne ,contradiction1 will so demean herself as to become amiable in the ,eyes of others1 or be happy in herself8 ,i could with great facility delineate a variety of shapes hideous to behold1 which young ,people of both ,sexes shew themselves in1 when guided only by their ,passions2 but1 to avoid ,prolixity1 will content myself with the general ,view ,i have already presented2 and proceed to lay down such ,rules as appear to me to tend most directly and securely to the avoiding the various ,evils our ,children are subject to1 and seem most conducive to their real ,happiness4 ,but before ,i lay down any ,precepts let me premise1 that all ,laws in general give ,parents the sole supreme ,power of governing their ,children3 'tis the ,order of ,nature2 and if her ,laws are inverted1 nothing but ,confusion follows4 ,if then ,parents do not govern their ,children at all2 or what is worse1 let their ,children govern them1 which is often the ,case1 the almost unavoidable ,consequence will be1 that ,train of ,irregularities and ,disorders we daily see them run into2 in which ,case1 there are but two ,ways of their becoming sensible of their mistake3 either from a natural ,goodness of ,heart awakened by ,time and ,experience2 or from a load of ,misfortunes crushing them down for want of ,power to support them3 now the one we ought not to trust to2 and the other we should bend all our ,study to prevent4 ,,an ,,essay ,,on ,,the ,government of ,,children4 ,,health4 ,tho' the principal ,design of this ,attempt be that of regulating the ,manners of ,children2 yet as ,health and ,education are of vast ,importance in the ,government of them1 and are closely connected therewith2 ,i think myself oblig'd to speak of what may tend to preserve the one1 and1 in a due ,degree1 promote the other4 ,for the sake of ,method ,i shall divide my ,subject into three ,parts2 that is1 range it under the general ,heads of ,health1 ,manners1 and ,education2 which to me appears to be the only natural ,order of treating it4 ,mr4 ,locke1 it is true1 in his ,treatise on this ,subject1 calls the whole1 ,thoughts on ,education2 but notwithstanding that general ,title to his ,book1 he speaks likewise of ,health and ,manners1 and ranges them all in the ,order here propos'd4 ,as ,health is the reverse of ,sickness1 my ,readers will easily discern that it is not the ,business of this ,undertaking to invade the ,physician's ,province1 by entering on the ,cure of ,diseases2 but only to point out such ,means as seem to have the most rational tendency to prevent them4 ,first then1 ,i earnestly recommend to both ,father and ,mother1 that their ,children suck the ,mother's ,breast4 ,but why1 you'll say1 take pains to address each ,parent distinctly8 ,the reason is obvious4 ,a ,man cannot be conversant in ,life1 and not see that many a sensible ,woman1 many a tender ,mother1 has her ,heart yearning to suckle her ,child1 and is prevented by the misplac'd ,authority of a ,husband4 ,parents upon the whole are to be consider'd as equally and mutually concern'd in the training up their ,children2 therefore when ,i address them by that one common ,epithet1 ,i mean either1 or both4 ,but there are1 both in ,nature and ,reason1 certain ,provinces assign'd to each2 and a ,man's attempting to overturn them1 would be as absurd and preposterous1 as a ,merchant's sending his ,wife to transact ,business upon ,change1 while he stay'd at home to preside over the ,nursery4 ,providence1 we see1 without any ,expence to us1 kindly sends ,food into the ,world along with the ,child1 by giving to the ,mother a ,breast flowing with ,milk4 ,but to what purpose is this bestow'd8 ,to be neglected and render'd fruitless8 ,no surely2 we cannot think thus indignantly of so great a ,blessing4 ,but besides this evident ,design of ,providence1 there is another important ,consideration2 which is1 that ,mothers by suckling their ,children cherish that ,tenderness which ,nature has implanted in them towards their ,offspring4 ,for ,experience shews1 that the ,office of suckling considerably augments in them the ,affection from whence that ,tenderness flows2 serves as ,fuel to keep their fond ,breasts in one perpetual ,glow2 and by sweetening their ,care1 enables them likewise to bring the tender ,infants thro' their helpless ,age8 ,another ,argument for suckling1 which is not sufficiently attended to1 because not sufficiently known1 is1 that the ,anxiety and ,fatigue is perhaps fully compensated by the ,pleasure4 ,the provident ,author of ,nature has order'd in this1 as in all1 or most other ,things1 right and natural1 that the ,inducement shall more than balance the ,discouragement4 ,all ,mothers who have experienc'd it1 whose ,minds are temper'd with natural ,affection1 assure us1 that there is an inexpressible ,pleasure in giving ,suck1 which none but ,mothers know2 for besides that the ,sensation itself is said to be mighty pleasing2 to behold the ,innocence1 the ,cunning1 the ,tricks1 and the various ,whims of a ,child2 to observe likewise the early ,sentiments they discover2 must doubtless give a ,pleasure which no ,words can describe4 ,now if thus much be granted 7and surely no ,arguments can reason it away7 ,i cannot help advising in the strongest ,terms1 that every ,father consent1 and even promote1 that the ,child be suckled by it's ,mother2 if the ,mother be in a ,condition for it4 ,but then1 this ,compliance1 this ,leave1 if ,i must call it such1 should be cordial1 and from the ,heart2 otherwise a ,mother1 tho' the best ,nurse in the ,world1 may become the most improper one1 by a ,husband's so far souring her ,temper1 as to render her ,milk1 not only good for nothing1 but even pernicious4 ,the general ,good of all being what ,i aim at1 ,i mean to offer the same ,advice to all1 as far as it can be practised2 and therefore speak according to the ,nature of ,things4 ,still ,i am not insensible how little ,probability there is that my ,advice herein will be follow'd by ,persons in high ,life4 ,for what ,room is there in general to hope1 that a fine ,lady will lay herself under any of the necessary ,restraints towards acting the ,part of a good ,nurse1 and generously give up some of the vainer ,pleasures of ,life1 in order to stoop to this ,part of domestic ,care8 ,it is true that there may sometimes be important ,reasons which may make their doing so improper2 but it is greatly to be fear'd that those ,reasons are oftener affected than real2 and as this is a ,duty not so easily dispensed with as ,people are apt to imagine1 it is incumbent on ,parents of the highest ,rank to consider how far they are really justifiable in deviating from the ,laws of ,nature4 ,but there is another important ,consequence attends the ,neglect with which ,people of ,rank treat their ,offspring in this ,particular2 that it thereby becomes a national ,evil4 ,it is universally known that the ,little imitate the ,great1 and mostly too in what is wrong2 that is1 they catch their ,vices sooner than their ,virtues4 ,hence it happens1 that because a ,woman of the first ,rank does not deign to suckle her ,child1 the ,neglect descends to almost the lowest ,rank2 and many ,men whose ,figure in ,life is very inconsiderable1 scorn to bear the ,noise of a ,child1 tho' their own ,flesh and ,blood1 only because it is a ,practice among their ,betters to remove them4 ,and hence too the ,great have two ,reflections to make on this ,point1 the ,duty they owe to their ,children1 and1 7tho' perhaps it is not a proper ,observation here7 the ,influence which a ,neglect of this ,duty has on all beneath them4 ,while ,i am enforcing to ,mothers the ,duty of suckling their ,children1 ,i must endeavour to omit no material ,circumstance1 either that will contribute to the ,ease of the one1 or the ,advantage of the other4 ,the first that naturally occurs1 is1 the ,time when a ,child should be put to the ,breast3 and as this is a ,matter variously thought of1 and often erroneously managed1 tho' ,i could say a good deal from my own ,observation1 ,i have endeavour'd to settle it upon a much stronger ,basis1 viz4 the ,experience of competent ,judges4 ,dr4 ,hunter1 well known to the ,public both by his ,lectures in ,anatomy1 and his ,practice in ,midwifry1 and one of the ,men-,midwives of the ,lying-in-,hospital in ,brownlow-,street1 informs me1 that at the first opening of that ,charity1 they generally conducted the ,business of suckling in the following ,manner4 ,the ,child was not put to the ,breast till the ,milk came freely1 or run out of itself2 and as the ,breasts commonly began to fill in about eight and forty ,hours after ,delivery1 sooner or later1 they were allowed to fill more and more1 perhaps as much longer1 'till the ,milk began to discharge itself3 to forward this1 the ,breasts were frequently embrocated with warm ,oil2 to invite the ,milk both by the ,softness of the ,oil1 and the ,motion given the ,breasts by rubbing it in with the ,hand4 ,this ,method was adhered to pretty generally1 'till they found by ,experience that it was wrong4 ,for besides that the ,child might probably suffer in some ,degree1 by being so long depriv'd of it's most natural ,physick and ,food1 many grievous ,effects often attend the ,mother2 viz4 painful ,swellings and ,inflammations of the ,breasts1 ,milk ,fevers1 and ,milk ,sores4 ,these ,inconveniences induced the ,physicians of that ,hospital to alter the ,method1 which for some ,time past has been as follows4 ,the ,child is put to the ,breast commonly within twenty-four ,hours after ,delivery3 and tho' at first it sucks little1 and that only a thin ,serum1 7which however is of singular ,service to the ,infant by discharging the ,meconium that fills the large ,intestines7 yet the ,advantage to the ,mother is1 that by this means the ,milk comes gradually and kindly2 and before the usual ,time of the ,breasts hardening in the other ,method1 the ,difficulty is conquered in this2 the ,milk flows freely1 the ,breasts are soft and easy1 and the ,heat of the ,body continues temperate3 insomuch that ,dr4 ,hunter farther assures me1 that there has been much less of ,inflammations of the ,breasts and ,milk fevers1 and but one ,milk ,sore among upwards of fourteen hundred ,women that have been deliver'd there since this ,method has been pursued4#b ,here1 tho' it is a ,digression from my ,subject1 ,i cannot help reflecting with ,pleasure on the ,benefit arising to many industrious virtuous ,people from the ,institution of this ,hospital4 ,every ,charitable ,foundation1 every ,contribution to relieve the ,needy1 does ,honour not only to those who give1 but to the ,nation where it is given2 for when ,individuals are known to be humane and benevolent1 ,strangers will conclude it as a national ,virtue4 ,it is certain that all public ,receptacles for the ,comfort and ,support of the ,distressed ,indigent argue a compassionate ,heart in those who support them1 and a just ,sense of others ,woe2 but the ,lying-in-,hospital has a ,delicacy in it peculiar to itself4 ,the ,ladies who contribute to it's ,support1 prove1 in ,terms far more expressive than ,words1 their ,sympathy with the ,sufferings of their ,sex2 and particularly with those whom ,fortune has placed the farthest from them4 ,the ,gentlemen who encourage it1 and labour for it's ,promotion1 shew a ,tenderness which can only dwell in manly ,hearts3 for he certainly comes nearest to the ,dignity of a ,man1 who has the tenderest ,sense of the ,sufferings of the opposite ,sex2 and particularly of those1 which his own ,existence is the necessary ,cause of4 ,but farther1 most other ,public ,charities seem in their ,nature limited2 seem to extend no farther than the immediate ,relief of those under their ,care2 whereas this is far more extensive3 the ,mother is comforted1 and with tenderest ,care brought thro' her ,child-bed2 the ,child 7as far as ,skill can reach7 is safely entered on the ,stage of ,life2 and thus is ,mankind not only preserved1 but perpetuated2 and thus too is ,society enlarged1 and improved1 to a boundless ,degree4 ,thus much have ,i said to do justice to an ,undertaking in itself highly laudable1 and infallibly productive of the greatest ,good4 ,but there is another ,effect1 perhaps hitherto unthought of1 which will necessarily attend this ,hospital1 and is no less than a general ,concern2 that of the ,improvement of ,midwifry3 the several ,gentlemen who attend it in that ,capacity1 cannot but have the best ,foundation in their ,art1 that which is extended and strengthened by the frequent ,occurrence of the more nice and uncommon ,cases among such ,variety3 and the ,women whom they educate to ,midwifry in that ,hospital1 must from their many ,opportunities become valuable ,practitioners for such of their ,sex as are inclined to employ them rather than a ,man4 ,but to return to the ,matter in hand4 ,this ,method of putting ,children to the ,breast much sooner than usual1 corresponds with the ,opinion of ,dr4 ,cadogan1 who in a small ,pamphlet on the ,management of ,children1 has said a great many sensible useful ,things2 and among the rest1 he proposes1 that a ,child be put to the ,breast in seven or eight ,hours after it is born2 whereby1 says he1 8,it would not only provide for itself the best of ,nourishment1 but by opening a free ,passage for it1 take off the ,mother's ,load as it increased1 before it could oppress or hurt her2 and therefore effectually prevent the ,fever2 which is caus'd only by the painful ,distention of the lacteal ,vessels of the ,breasts1 when the ,milk is injudiciously suffer'd to accumulate40 ,to this ,i have two ,things to add2 ,first1 to recommend to ,parents that the ,advice here given be reduced to ,practice1 unless some extraordinary ,circumstances intervene2 in which ,case1 their own ,judgment must direct them to seek an ,opinion suitable to the ,exigence4 ,secondly1 that all ,precautions be taken to prevent the ,mother's catching ,cold1 or being too much fatigued in the first ,days after ,delivery4 ,it is here meant1 besides the ,child's having it's most proper ,nourishment1 the ,breast1 as soon as possible2 that the ,mother be secured not only from the ,danger of sore ,breasts1 but even from ,inflammations and ,fevers so common to the ,sex in ,child-bed4 ,but while we are guarding against ,mischief one way1 it is no less our ,duty to prevent it1 if possible1 every way2 therefore do ,i again caution that the utmost ,care be taken to prevent the ,mother's catching ,cold1 or sitting up in ,bed too long for her ,strength in the first ,attempts to suckle her ,child4 ,it is common for a ,child1 when first put to the ,breast1 to be unapt2 the ,mother1 especially if a young one1 is often awkward2 and if the ,nurse be unhandy or careless1 the ,consequences may be fatal2 and indeed frequently are so3 the ,reason is plain4 ,the ,perspiration which usually follows ,delivery is necessary2 and where ,nature is defective1 ,art is employ'd to keep it up3 if then these ,sweats are salutary1 whatever obstructs or checks them must be dangerous2 and nothing sooner or more certainly effects this than the being injudiciously uncover'd4 ,but besides catching ,cold1 there is great ,danger to be apprehended from ,fatigue4 ,that too much ,fatigue in these early ,days after ,delivery may be very pernicious1 every body knows who is experienced4 ,nothing so common as a ,woman's having had a good ,labour1 and being so extremely well1 that on the second1 third1 or fourth ,day she indulges herself with the ,conversation of a ,friend1 or sits up in ,bed for some time for ,refreshment2 in ,consequence of which she grows hot1 has a restless ,night1 and before ,morning is in a raging ,fever2 perhaps delirious4 ,the precise ,time of a ,child's sucking is a ,point much controverted1 particularly among ,ladies1 but nothing ascertain'd4 ,the present ,fashion 'tis true1 is to let ,children suck only three or four ,months2 but surely this is too important an affair for ,fashion to take place of ,reason4 ,from my ,acquaintance with the ,learned on this ,head1 ,i gather1 that generally speaking a ,child should not suck less than six ,months1 nor more than twelve2 but that the ,medium1 that is1 nine ,months1 is for the most part the best4 ,still there may be ,reasons for varying these stated ,times2 if so1 ,reason in that as well as in other things should be our ,guide4 ,and farther1 there may be ,circumstances which impede the ,mother's suckling her ,child at all2 the want of ,health is a principal one2 but then it should be a real want of ,health1 not an imaginary one4 ,where then a ,doubt arises1 ,i advise ,parents not rashly and hastily to resolve for themselves1 but to consult proper ,judges1 and always1 where it is in their ,power1 be determined by their ,physician4 ,but here1 as an ,encouragement to ,mothers to suckle their ,children1 ,i must observe1 that it is the ,opinion of ,physicians that many ,women would mend their ,health by it2 and very few1 if any1 hurt a good ,constitution1 unless thro' ,imprudence or ,ignorance3 now to obviate these1 let ,mothers be careful to set out right1 and then they have very little to fear4 ,hunger1 ,fatigue1 and ,fretting1 are the three most obvious things that impair a ,mother's ,health in ,nursing4 ,i say nothing of gross ,intemperance1 violent ,passions1 and the like1 for they are always to be banish'd2 nay we are not once to suppose they exist in the ,sex4 ,hunger is carefully to be avoided3 while the ,mother gives suck1 she should never let the ,keenness of her ,appetite go off by waiting long for her ,meals2 for that often repeated will sink the ,spirits1 fill her with ,wind1 impair her ,strength1 and consequently not only hurt herself1 but prejudice her ,milk also4 ,i confess it is my ,opinion that a very nice regard to a ,nurse's ,diet is not so generally necessary as is imagined4 ,temperance is universally to be held as a ,rule2 but under the appearance of avoiding one ,error1 they run into a greater2 they often eat of very rich ,dishes1 and shun the use of ,vegetables3 whereas to ,people who are young and healthy1 nothing is more wholsome than ,vegetables blended with ,meat3 and the only ,caution that is material to be given1 is1 that they guard them with ,pepper2 whereby they will keep under the ,effect they sometimes have1 of producing ,wind4 ,but should ,garden ,stuff1 after all this1 disagree1 ,prudence will certainly direct the ,mother to disuse it2 tho' at the same time it must be own'd1 that where this is the ,case1 her ,digestion is not what it ought to be to constitute perfect ,health4 ,to this ,head ,i will add1 that where a ,woman has been accustom'd to drink a glass or two of ,wine or ,ale at ,meals1 she should not debar herself from it now2 as her waste of ,strength and ,spirits certainly demand at least her usual way of ,life2 tho' it does not seem needful for her to go far beyond it4 ,by ,fatigue ,i mean so much ,exercise as manifestly impairs the ,strength1 or brings on various ,pains1 so as to render a ,mother incapable of executing what she has begun2 or at least makes the ,office extremely slavish to her4 ,exercise is good1 but ,fatigue is bad4 ,there are so many different ,conditions in this great ,family of the ,world1 and so many different ,circumstances in each ,station1 that it is impossible to lay down ,rules for every ,individual1 or prescribe an universal one for all2 in general ,i recommend on this occasion the joint ,attention of both ,father and ,mother4 ,if a ,man reflects that while his ,wife is suckling her ,child1 she is labouring to compleat the principal ,work for which they came together1 he cannot surely suffer her to endure ,fatigue beyond her ,power to bear2 nor can he feel for her that ,tenderness he ought1 if he imposes any ,hardship on her that can be dispens'd with4 ,on the other hand1 the ,mother is to remember1 that besides being chearful and keeping her ,mind at rest1 she must keep her ,limbs at rest too2 that is1 she must often forego other ,exercise1 that she may be enabled to bestow a larger ,portion of ,kindness on her ,child4 ,but there are several ways a ,woman may be fatigued with ,nursing without the least necessity4 ,the first thing a ,mother has to do1 is1 to use her ,child to such ,positions in suckling as she likes best1 and is most convenient to herself4 ,when up1 the ,mother should by all means sit upright1 and the ,child be rais'd to the ,breast3 the ,child should yield to the ,mother1 and not the ,mother to the ,child4 ,that distorted ,posture so commonly seen in suckling gives great ,pain to the ,back1 and cramps all the ,limbs2 and this without any other effect on the ,child than indulging a manifest ,wilfulness4 ,when in ,bed1 the ,child should take the ,breast as it lyes2 and not incommode the ,mother by making her sit up in ,bed by the ,hour1 purely to humour it1 as is too common3 for this too1 without any ,benefit to the ,child1 greatly increases the ,mother's ,fatigue1 by robbing her of her ,sleep1 and by exposing her to catch ,cold from the various ,seasons it happens in4 ,but these ,inconveniences may farther be obviated1 by letting the ,child lye in a ,cradle without the ,breast the ,night thro'1 or with a ,maid in another ,room2 for it is certain1 that neither ,breast1 ,drink1 nor ,feeding are so absolutely necessary in the ,night as is commonly imagin'd4 ,some of my fair ,readers will1 ,i doubt1 reject my ,counsel in this particular2 but ,i urge it on the double ,motive of ,benefit to the ,child1 and ,ease to the ,mother4 ,yet not to be too rigorous in this ,point1 not to affect too sensibly a ,mother's ,tenderness1 suppose a ,child be sometimes allow'd the ,breast in the ,night1 it certainly should be only sometimes2 for the ,practice of letting it drag at it the ,night thro' is a grievous ,error3 it hurts both ,child and ,mother2 the ,child by this ,means is continually wrangling1 fretting1 and dissatisfy'd1 and the ,mother is often so sensibly affected by it1 as even to be thrown into ,hysteric ,fits4 ,difficult as ,i acknowledge it is to lay down an universal ,rule1 ,i will here attempt what appears to me to be generally practicable4 ,according to the usual ,management of ,children at the ,breast it may be averr'd1 that they have too little ,sleep1 and too much ,food3 that is1 their ,sleep is short and broken thro' ,mismanagement1 and they are suckled or fed oftener than is conducive to ,health4 ,now to remove this ,error1 ,i will not offer any ,restraint in the ,day-time1 7tho' that in the opinion of an ingenious ,writer#c requires it7 but endeavour to effect it by regulating the ,night4 ,to this ,end let a ,child be undress'd1 it's ,night things put on1 and be fed or suckled at seven o',clock1 and then put into it's ,cradle2 where without rocking 7if used to it and in ,health7 it will fall asleep4 ,supposing the ,mother to go to ,bed at ten or eleven1 if the ,child should happen to be awake1 let it be turn'd dry 7as the ,nurses term it7 and suckled again2 and it will sleep soundly for six or seven ,hours3 perhaps now and then it will whimper a little1 but if it is not touch'd it will fall asleep again immediately4 ,but supposing it is not awake when the ,mother goes to ,bed1 let it not by any means be disturb'd1 for that breaking of ,childrens ,rest so common with ,parents makes them vastly tiresome2 all that the ,mother has to do in this ,case is1 to keep a warm ,cloth in ,bed with her1 and when the ,child awakes take away the wet one as soon as possible1 that it may not be too much disturb'd by the ,sense of ,cold2 that done1 let it have the ,breast1 and it will commonly sleep again till it is time for the ,family to rise4 ,the ,child should not have its ,cloth shifted again2 for frequently opening it when it ought to sleep is a great ,impediment to it's ,rest2 and while wrapt up warm1 and it lies still1 it receives no ,harm from being wet3 to this must be added1 that the ,mother be very hush2 no talking1 no shewing the ,candle1 the ,daylight1 or any thing that may awaken it thoroughly4 ,if this ,method be adher'd to1 ,i am persuaded it will have many good ,effects2 it will give a longer respite than usual from feeding or suckling2 it will obtain what is of great ,consequence to a ,child's ,health1 ,sleep2 and it will facilitate the ,mother's ,task by lessening her ,fatigue4 ,to suffer by ,hunger or ,fatigue does great injury to the ,mother principally1 but ,fretting has always a double ,consequence2 it hurts the ,child too4 ,a fretful ,temper turns even ,pleasure into ,pain2 well then may it make a necessary ,care a ,fatigue4 ,one ,distinction however ,i would make that ,i think deserves ,attention2 whether the ,fretfulness be in ,nature1 be fixt and incurable2 or whether it be owing to external ,accidents1 the ,occurrences of ,things2 such as frequent ,provocations from a ,husband1 untoward ,children1 wasteful ,servants1 vexatious ,law ,suits1 and many other ,evils ,life is fraught with4 ,in the first ,case1 ,women would do well to let suckling alone2 for warm as ,i am in recommending this ,practice1 it is certain there are some few ,exceptions1 and this is one4 ,but in the other1 ,i urge suckling in great measure as a ,remedy4 ,for let the naturally good-temper'd ,mother but once reflect that ,fretting hurts her ,child1 and she will avoid it for her ,infant's sake3 besides1 the ,love created in her for it by the ,exercise of this natural ,duty1 will make her forget many other ,cares2 at least it will counterpoise her ,troubles1 by mingling ,pleasure with ,pain4 ,there is a ,class of ,women who are lifeless and sluggish1 an insipid ,race that do neither good nor harm2 these should by all means suckle their ,children1 for by so doing they would be enliven'd1 and animated with a ,desire to become useful4 ,if too they reflect1 that the ,intention of ,nature is1 that they should rear their ,children as well as bear them1 they will soon be ashamed of doing their ,work by halves3 and thus become much happier in themselves1 and of much more ,consequence to ,society4 ,by the ,observance of these few ,rules1 ,mothers in general may suckle their ,children1 not only without ,pain or ,injury1 but even with ,pleasure and ,profit4 ,they may sometimes improve their ,health2 often lessen their ,cares1 and mend their ,temper and ,dispositions2 and will always have a pleasing ,consciousness that they have obey'd the ,laws of ,nature1 by having done all that was incumbent on them4 ,if after all that has been said it is not thought expedient that a ,child should suck it's ,mother2 a ,breast is certainly the best ,substitute3 but great ,care should here be taken1 in the ,choice of a ,nurse4 ,she should be young1 healthy1 good-humour'd1 sprightly1 and temperate4 ,the newer her ,milk the better2 it is best not to be above three ,months old2 and should never exceed six ,months1 when the ,child is first put to her ,breast2 if beyond that1 either the ,child must be wean'd too soon1 or suck a staler ,milk than perhaps it ought4 ,some are of ,opinion1 that ,breast-milk begins to lose of it's nutritious ,quality after the ,expiration of a ,year2 but let us here observe the ,operations of ,nature4 ,the younger ,breast-,milk is1 the thinner and lighter it is2 fitted by ,nature for the tender ,stomachs of new-born ,babes3 as it grows older1 it becomes thicker1 richer1 and more stubborn of ,digestion2 by which gradual ,change it is suited to the relative rising ,powers of ,digestion in the ,child4 ,hence it would seem1 that ,breast-milk1 does not at this stated ,time become poorer1 but richer2 rich perhaps to a degree of ,rancidity2 which1 like gross ,food to others1 is sometimes stronger than ,children can bear3 and on this ,principle it is ,i recommend where a ,breast is to be sought1 that either the ,milk be young1 or the ,child wean'd soon4 ,but supposing a ,child to have no ,breast 7as ,arguments whether good or bad will often be brought against it7 the want of it must be supply'd by coming as near to ,nature as we can4 ,in order thereto1 it is the ,opinion of a ,physician#d in the ,practice of ,midwifry1 whose ,judgment in this ,matter ought to have weight1 that ,cows-milk be diluted with ,water1 'till it becomes as thin as ,breast-milk1 and given warm several times in the ,day2 that is1 as often as a ,child would have the ,breast were it to be suckled3 besides this1 it should sometimes be fed with other ,milk ,diet2 viz4 ,bread and ,water boil'd lightly together1 and ,milk added to it4 ,when a ,child sucks it is usual to feed it with nothing but ,water ,pap1 that is1 ,bread and ,water boil'd together1 without the ,addition of ,milk2 from a ,notion that it should not have two sorts of ,milk2 but this ,treatment is surely erroneous4 ,nay1 there are some who improve upon this ,error1 and give their ,children 7at least for the first ,month7 ,water ,pap only1 even tho' they have no ,breast4 ,it is both natural and commendable in ,parents to inform themselves what ,distempers ,children are subject to1 and usually dye of2 and if we farther refer them to the ,bills of ,mortality1 they will constantly find1 that ,gripes1 ,looseness1 and ,convulsions make a great ,part of the ,account4 ,now besides the latent ,causes of these ,diseases1 they have a very obvious one1 viz4 improper ,food4 ,for my own part ,i am convinc'd1 even to ,demonstration1 that many ,infants owe their ,death to the ,mistakes committed in this ,point2 and often to the false ,practice of giving them ,bread and ,water only1 and omitting that most salutary part the ,milk4 ,milk 7again ,i repeat it7 is the ,food of ,nature2 with that alone1 to an ,infant1 we may do almost every thing2 without it1 nothing4 ,tho' these first ,rules here laid down should meet with general ,approbation1 and ,parents from seeing how natural and reasonable this ,doctrine is1 be induced to follow it2 they have still many things both to do and avoid1 that are greatly conducive to their ,childrens ,health2 and therefore demand their ,attention and ,regard4 ,as we have urg'd that ,milk is the ,food of ,nature1 so we may with equal ,propriety call ,bread the ,staff of ,life4 ,breast-milk my ,readers will observe1 is preferred to every other2 but where that cannot be obtain'd1 then ,cows-milk1 made thinner and lighter by the ,addition of ,water1 is to supply its place2 and1 between whiles1 the ,child is to be fed with ,milk-victuals2 from which1 as it is thicken'd with ,bread1 it will receive great ,nourishment4 ,but here great care must be taken to keep up its ,appetite for this ,food at first setting out2 as it is of all others the most proper2 and not spoil its ,relish for it by the ,admixture or ,intervention of any thing else while in ,health1 'till a more advanc'd ,age4 ,the first ,error usually run into1 is1 the immoderate use of ,spice and ,sugar2 which ,physicians who have consider'd these matters positively condemn3 and if a ,child is well1 putting either of these in it's ,victuals1 answers not the least good ,end4 ,spice and ,sugar are certainly fine natural ,productions1 and of vast ,use to ,mankind2 but the ,food of ,infants should be as simple as possible2 and if it is made otherwise by the early use of these1 the ,effects will always be very troublesome1 and oftentimes mischievous4 ,what is more common than to give young ,children ,lumps of ,sugar to eat2 yet what more erroneous8 ,every ,day's ,experience shews us how wrong the ,practice is3 it vitiates their ,taste2 creates in them an unconquerable ,fondness for it1 even to a ,degree of ,vulgarness2 and manifestly clogs their ,stomachs4 ,the ,error next in rank to these1 or rather a part of the same1 as ,sugar is greatly concern'd in it1 is1 the ,custom ,parents have of giving ,children ,tea4 ,tea1 to a young ,child1 if we omit the ,milk1 has not a single ,ingredient to recommend it3 the ,sugar in it has already been treated of2 the ,water1 7as ,tea is usually drank too hot17 serves to scald it's ,mouth and ,throat1 or at best to relax the ,stomach and weaken the ,tone of it2 and the ,plant or ,shrub it self has ,qualities1 which1 to say the least of it1 seldom contributes to promote it's ,health4 ,that this ,herb of which our ,tea is made has had many ,tongues to speak it's ,praise1 ,i am convinc'd2 or it would not have obtain'd that universal use we now see made of it3 and some likewise have taken up their ,pen1 and with great ,labour describ'd its ,virtues and ,utility to ,mankind3 but all this is too weak to stand against that infallible ,guide1 ,experience4 ,to insist that ,tea has no good ,qualities would be offering an ,affront to the ,judgment and ,experience of many wise ,people1 and is very far from being my ,design2 on the contrary1 ,i am convinc'd it has4 ,bohea ,tea is esteem'd balsamic1 and ,green is allow'd to be an astringent ,stomachic4 ,still these or any other particular ,qualities1 do not justify it's general use2 for while the same ,experience proves that for one who receives ,benefit by drinking it1 ten receive ,harm1 it must upon the ,whole be condemned4 ,tea may be consider'd like some certain ,drugs1 which in skilful hands are safe and useful1 but in ignorant ones1 poisonous4 ,that the intemperate and indiscriminate use of ,tea is hurtful1 is too well known to be disputed2 some it is true are manifestly refresh'd1 comforted and enliven'd by it2 others feel not the least sensible effect from the longest use of it1 and drink it purely thro' ,custom2 but again there are others1 and those much the ,majority1 who impair their ,health so visibly by this pernicious ,practice1 that they shorten their ,lives1 or at least render them comfortless1 if not miserable4 ,now who that considers these things well1 or but once reflects that 'tis at least ten to one that their ,children are ,sufferers by it1 can reasonably speaking be hasty in bringing them to it2 especially too if we farther reflect1 that by a seeming magic ,power it often enslaves ,people even to ,infatuation4 ,infants then have nothing to do with this darling deluding ,liquor2 and when at a more advanc'd ,age1 ,parents should still give it them very sparingly1 if at all2 and be careful to keep them if possible from ever being attach'd to it4 ,before ,i take my leave of this ,article1 let me recommend to ,parents some ,observations for their farther guidance herein4 ,those ,children who have weak ,nerves should not by any means drink ,tea at all4 ,tea should never be made strong2 nor drank in large quantities1 nor hot1 nor without ,milk1 nor very sweet4 ,tea should not be drank in a ,morning by those who cannot eat2 nor can it in general be drank in the ,afternoon with ,safety1 but by those who have eat a hearty ,dinner1 and drink it soon4 ,bohea ,tea is found to affect the ,nerves the most sensibly2 and ,green1 from its ,astringency1 is not only the most grateful1 but its ,effects prove it to be least hurtful4 ,many are the ,errors which ,parents fall into in the ,management of ,children1 especially at first setting out4 ,i have often seen ,children wash'd away with the watry ,gripes1 when upon inquiry it appear'd they had no other ,food but ,water ,pap3 others reject this1 and fall into the ,error of giving ,children ,broth2 which alone1 is in it's ,nature too laxative for ,infants4 ,but ,water ,pap must be condemn'd as far the most improper2 for it is manifest that ,bread1 of which it is made1 besides the ,fermentation it undergoes in the ,hands of the ,baker1 has1 according to the ,juices it meets with1 a farther ,power of fermenting in the ,stomach3 therefore1 should ,nature by chance be thwarted1 should universal ,observation be for once contradicted1 by shewing a ,child whom ,milk is unfit for2 in that case ,i recommend1 that ,broth be added to the ,pap2 which will bring the ,food nearest to the ,quality of that animal ,fluid1 ,milk1 the natural ,nourishment4 ,and as watry ,gripes are often owing to ill-digested ,pap1 ,broth1 tho' laxative1 would certainly from its ,smoothness prevent or lessen the ,stimulation in the ,bowels2 as we find in the ,cure of such ,gripes great ,service from ,glysters of ,oil1 ,chickens-guts1 and other things of the like ,kind4 ,but farther2 ,i am clearly of ,opinion1 that the first ,change in ,childrens ,diet should be from ,milk to ,broth1 and not from ,milk to ,meat3 their tender ,stomachs ought not to be put too early upon the ,office of digesting the fleshy ,fibres of ,meat2 but they may1 as they approach to a ,year old1 by way of ,introduction to eating ,flesh1 and by way of changing ,diet1 sometimes have ,broth2 but by no means for constant use1 to the neglect of ,milk4 ,it is universally confess'd1 that in ,england we eat too much ,flesh2 and were ,i to urge all that might be said on that ,head1 it would be dwelling too long on a single ,point4 ,but since this ,error of our ,country is acknowledg'd by many of the wisest ,men in it1 let it serve as a general ,caution to ,parents2 let them turn it to the ,advantage of the rising ,generation2 by being neither hasty in giving ,flesh ,meat to their ,children1 nor even permitting them to be intemperate in the ,use of it4 ,to enforce this ,precept1 and prove the ,reasonableness of not giving ,children ,meat so soon as is usual1 ,i will here observe1 that ,physicians say the first ,digestion should be in the ,mouth1 the second in the ,stomach2 whence it appears that ,children have no ,business with ,meat 'till they have ,teeth to chew it2 nay1 not 'till they have their ,mouths almost full of ,teeth2 for they have not the ,power of grinding down their ,meat sufficiently 'till they have got some of their strongest ,teeth1 and those every one is sensible do not come first4 ,hence we are furnished with an admirable ,hint1 which not to endeavour to reduce to ,practice1 would be injuring our ,children1 and baffling the ,labours of learned ,men1 who make the ,good of ,mankind the ,study of their ,lives4 ,parents by the same ,lesson are instructed likewise1 to make their ,children accustom themselves to chew their ,meat well their whole ,lives2 for it is certain they would thereby prevent many ill ,effects arising from ,indigestion4 ,having thus1 as near to ,nature as ,i am able1 led ,parents into the first ,steps of the ,management of their ,childrens ,health1 ,i shall now touch on ,art2 a little of which may1 and will be necessary4 ,it is plain that ,children are born full of ,foulness1 full of ,excrement2 and ,nature to remedy this1 gives a purgative ,quality to the ,mother's first ,milk2 which ,quality1 as the ,child cleanses1 goes off4 ,but if this first ,milk be drawn away by another1 as is frequent1 in order to ease the ,breasts2 or the ,child does not suck it's ,mother1 but an older ,milk2 in that ,case it should most certainly be purged three or four times in the ,month4 ,for my own ,part ,i have gone farther1 and tho' my ,children had the first ,milk1 ,i always began by giving them a little ,syrup of ,rhubarb and ,oil of ,almonds2 which has constantly had a good ,effect1 not only on them1 but on many others under my ,care3 the ,rhubarb scours and cleanses them1 and the ,oil in some measure blunts its griping ,quality1 and prevents its leaving a ,costiveness so common to that ,drug4 ,but tho' ,i have frequently given this1 yet ,rhubarb in ,substance1 corrected with a small ,portion of ,aromatic1 or mix'd with ,gascoign's ,powder1 is found by ,experience to agree very well3 ,syrup of ,violets or ,marshmallows1 join'd with ,oil of ,almonds1 are frequently given in order to cleanse the first ,passages1 and are very proper2 tho' not so efficacious as ,rhubarb4 ,nor are there any better ,purges than these for new-born ,infants1 unless1 7which very seldom happens7 in great ,costiveness1 and then a little ,manna4 ,what farther relates to ,physic and physical ,people1 shall be spoken of hereafter4 ,in a ,treatise of this ,kind nothing must pass unobserved that is important2 and nothing is more so1 than the destructive ,practice of drinking spirituous ,liquors4 ,for a ,woman to have a ,habit of ,dram-drinking is always detestable2 but for one who gives ,suck1 it is horrible beyond ,expression3 it is fraught with double ,mischief1 ,destruction to herself1 and ,destruction to the ,child4 ,one would imagine1 that so odious a ,vice wanted not to be inveigh'd against2 or at most that the ,caution could no where be useful1 but amongst ,basket-women and ,billingsgates4 ',tis true indeed1 that the ,illiterate and ,vulgar are the most addicted to it2 but melancholy ,experience shews us1 that ,women every way happy in ,life1 ,women of the best ,understanding1 and the best ,education1 are but too often tainted with it4 ,it is not my ,design in general to write on the ,foibles or ,vices of ,parents1 but of ,children2 yet it must be owned1 that where the ,actions of the one have an ,influence on the other1 where the ,connection is so close that the ,health or ,morals of ,children are affected by the ,conduct of ,parents1 it is perfectly consistent with the ,plan ,i have laid down2 and consequently is within my ,province4 ,thus then ,i observe1 that there are many ,women who never tasted spirituous ,liquors 'till they gave ,suck4 ,a ,child is kept lugging at the ,breast 'till the ,mother is ready to sink1 and a ,friend recommends a ,dram3 the innocent ,woman starts at the ,proposition2 but it being strenuously urg'd that it will do her good and the ,child too1 she follows the ,counsel and drinks it4 ,how reluctantly and with how much dislike may be known by her shaking her ,head at the very ,smell of it1 making ,faces when it is down1 and declaring it is nasty ,stuff4 ,now for a while let me talk like an ,apothecary4 ,the ,nerves give ,sensation to our whole ,frame whether of ,pain or ,pleasure4 ,this ,dram acts immediately on the ,nerves of the ,stomach1 and instantly communicates itself to those of the ,brain1 which are exquisitely fine2 the ,sensation is pleasing1 a general ,glow is felt1 and the temporary ,relief it gives1 persuades her that ,drams are not so pernicious as ,people pretend4 ,but by and by the ,languor returns1 and she has recourse to her ,dram again2 tho' perhaps with this ,difference1 that instead of being persuaded into it she seeks it herself2 and thus by a ,return of ,wants1 she finds a ,return of ,desire2 she flies so often to her fancied ,remedy1 that at length she is innocently and insensibly led into a ,habit which infatuates her3 even so far as often to rob her of the ,power of getting rid of it4 ,but the ,habit contracted1 what is the ,effect8 ,why1 that which at first was only a slight ,injury1 by this means becomes a mortal ,wound4 ,the ,human ,frame1 that ,master-,piece of infinite ,wisdom1 is compos'd of a great variety of ,parts1 of different ,make1 ,texture and ,quality2 each of which has it's ,use1 and proper ,office assign'd it4 ,but that ,i may not confound any of my ,readers by nice or obscure ,physical ,divisions1 ,i will say it is compos'd of ,solids and ,fluids3 the ,fluids1 that is1 the ,blood and other ,juices1 are allotted to nourish and preserve the ,solids2 and the ,solids1 that is1 the ,flesh and other hard ,parts1 serve as ,pipes or ,channels to convey in a due ,course the several ,fluids to their destin'd ,end4 ,now to preserve ,health1 it is necessary that our whole ,machine acts regularly2 which it cannot do for any long ,time with the pernicious ,habit we have been speaking of4 ,drams1 which at first give only a slight ,wound to the ,nerves1 by frequent ,repetition enfeeble them2 and in the ,end totally disable them2 as is evident by their bringing on ,tremblings1 weakening the ,memory1 and impairing the ,understanding4 ,to maintain ,health1 the ,solids are to keep up their due ,force or ,spring1 that they may propel the ,fluids1 and prevent their breaking them down by too great a ,resistance4 ,the ,fluids are to be kept in such a state1 that they may neither run too rapidly1 nor clog by the way for want of the circulating ,power4 ,thus in ,rivers1 where the ,banks and ,fences are weak1 the ,pressure of the ,water will break them down2 or if the ,water be clogg'd and render'd foul by any ,mixture foreign to it's ,nature1 or is otherwise obstructed in it's ,course1 it cannot reach those various ,meanders1 those small ,canals it was allotted to fill4 ,hence every ,eye may see how destructive this unnatural ,habit must be to our ,frame4 ,the ,tone of the ,stomach is weaken'd1 and with it1 the ,power of ,digestion2 ,obstructions of the ,liver and other ,parts ensue2 the ,solids are broke1 and the ,fluids forsake their proper ,channels3 hence ,jaundice1 ,dropsies1 ,palsies1 and various other ,distempers1 fatal in their ,consequences1 and doubly acute to those who reflect1 that they have brought them on themselves3 for however thoughtless or indifferent they may be while in ,health1 when bitter ,remembrance accompanies the severe ,effects1 the ,situation must be dreadful4 ,i have observ'd that many are innocently led into this grievous ,habit3 and they are the more liable to it1 as the ,goodness of their ,constitution preserves some longer than others1 from being sensible of it's ill ,effects4 ,but they must beware of ,illusions1 and convince themselves of one ,truth at least2 that instead of that ,nutrition which proper ,food yields1 the ,blood and other ,juices are by this means vitiated2 and with them that most salutary ,fluid the ,milk4 ,it is true indeed that all ,drams are not alike pernicious2 nor do they1 as ,i have just hinted1 act alike on all ,constitutions4 ,yet thus much is certain2 that they all contain fiery ,particles1 a ,portion of caustic inflammable ,matter1 in general very injurious to our whole ,frame2 very unfit to circulate in our ,blood and ,juices2 and above all1 extremely prejudicial to those ,infants who imbibe the ,infection by sucking at a ,breast thus unhappily tainted4 ,but besides this dreadful ,habit in the ,mother or ,nurse1 there is a ,practice among the ,vulgar still more shocking2 and which must make every reasonable ,creature shrink with ,horror2 that of giving ,drams to the ,children themselves1 even while ,infants4 ,nothing is more strongly urg'd by all moral ,writers than the ,force of ,example2 and when they mean to paint a bad ,parent1 they describe a ,child imitating those ,vices his ,father acts before him4 ,but here ,description is too weak2 no ,language has ,force enough to express the ,horror of this ,vice6 ,these unhappy wretched ,parents forestall ,imitation2 they stay not 'till the ,child has ,power to follow their ,example2 but pour the deadly ,poison down the poor ,babe's ,throat1 even before it can speak6 ,what1 ,i say again1 what ,language can describe the ,horror of this ,vice8 ,surely none4 ,all wise ,men agree1 that ,virtues flow1 or ought to flow1 from the ,head2 that the ,inferior receive their ,influence from the ,superior2 and most act by ,imitation of their ,betters3 but ,experience shews us1 that the ,little can sometimes teach the ,great ,virtues they were before ,strangers to2 and by a still stranger ,inversion of the natural ,order of ,things1 it often happens1 that the ,great imitate the ,vices of the ,little4 ,but here ,i cannot refrain from exhorting ,parents of every ,rank never to suffer themselves to fall into so dreadful an ,error as that just hinted at4 ,those who are already tainted with it are perhaps too abandon'd to be reclaim'd2 or have it not in their ,power to remove the ,mischief they have caused3 but those who are happily ,strangers to it1 must keep their ,attention awake2 must live in a constant ,resolution never to let a ,child so much as touch so dangerous a ,weapon2 unless they choose to be their ,childrens ,murderers2 choose to have them fall a ,sacrifice to some dire ,disease2 or become ,cripples1 ,idiots1 or ,brutes4 ,before ,i quit this ,head1 ,i must take ,notice of an inferior ,degree of the same ,error2 less a ,vice indeed1 because there is an ,intention of ,good in it1 tho' generally a mistaken one2 ,i mean that of putting ,brandy and other spirituous ,liquors into ,childrens ,victuals4 ,how this ,practice came to be introduced is amazing6 ,but tho' the general ,pretence is preventing or curing ,wind and ,gripes1 it is highly erroneous3 for where these ,disorders really exist they should be treated in another ,manner2 and by ,people whose ,judgment can be depended on4 ,the next ,degree of ,error to this1 is the early ,custom ,parents have of giving their ,children ,wine4 ,grown ,people1 even among the ,temperate1 often drink much more of it than is either needful or beneficial2 but ,children want it not at all4 ,to give ,wine to ,infants is a gross ,error2 and even to those who have pass'd that ,stage1 the ,practice is very wrong4 ,wine1 tho' a general ,term for the ,juice produced from ,grapes1 is undoubtedly a very different ,liquor1 not only in ,colour and ,flavour1 but in ,quality1 according to the ,country it grows in2 as is manifest by the different ,effects of it on the ,human ,body4 ,one ,sort is found to constringe too much2 another is loaded with ,tartar2 a third abounds with a large ,portion of inflammable ,spirit2 and so on4 ,but not to enter into a physical ,analysis of ,wine1 we will say it is allow'd to assist the ,digestion1 to warm the ,blood1 and give a certain ,sprightliness1 which1 in other ,words1 we call a ,flow of ,spirits4 ,now in the ,case of ,children we injure them if we give them gross ,food1 such as requires ,wine to digest2 and if ,wine be added to it1 we put ,fuel to ,fire1 ,flame to ,flame2 nor does the ,blood and ,spirits need this foreign ,assistance while young3 the one is by ,nature sufficiently warm'd2 and the other are best supported by ,temperance and a chearful ,disposition4 ,i will not take upon me to fix precise ,rules on this ,head1 both because it is very difficult1 and in general they would not be adher'd to3 but thus much ,i seriously recommend1 that ,children in the first ,septenary taste no ,wine at all2 in the second be vastly sparing2 and in the third fix a ,temperance built on solid ,principles of ,reason and ,virtue2 such as will best secure to them ,health and ,happiness for their whole ,lives4 ,i am here naturally led to speak of ,malt ,liquor1 the native ,produce of our ,country3 but on this1 as well as the two foregoing ,heads1 we must keep ,temperance in ,view1 from the double ,motive of ,health and ,virtue4 ,experience teaches us1 that ,malt ,liquor can be rais'd to any ,degree of ,strength2 that it is capable of inflaming the ,blood and intoxicating the ,brain2 consequently it is capable of weakening and destroying our ,frame when intemperately used4 ,but besides these ,effects1 it has others often very hurtful1 but less regarded1 because less sensible4 ,one1 from a natural ,weakness of the ,bowels1 it throws into habitual ,purgings2 another it oppresses with ,wind2 and in a third1 from its glutinous ,quality1 it obstructs some of the ,viscera1 and has a peculiar ,tendency to clog the ,vessels of the ,lungs1 and thereby hinder ,respiration1 produce ,coughs1 and those fatal ,circumstances frequently attending them4 ,hence it is easy to see how necessary the ,parents ,attention is1 to guide their ,children herein4 ,infants1 at least for the first ,year1 have no ,business with ,malt ,liquor at all2 they ought not to taste it3 ,milk1 or ,water1 or both together1 is their proper ,drink2 and if after this ,age1 these were made the ,liquor to drink with their ,food1 it would be no worse for them4 ,however1 not to be too rigorous in this respect1 let ,children after the first ,year1 wash down their ,victuals with light clear ,small-beer2 and nothing beyond that for the first seven ,years4 ,in the second and third ,septenary1 the same ,rule which has been laid down concerning ,wine1 should be observ'd in all strong ,malt ,liquors2 they should be very sparingly used4 ,nothing is more dangerous than the ,indulgence of ,parents in this ,point2 for besides the many ill ,effects already mentioned1 'tis coarse and vulgar2 it clouds the ,understanding1 and renders young ,people unfit for ,study4 ,besides these1 it gives them an early ,bloatedness2 and greatly endangers the laying the ,foundation of a ,sot for ,life3 or at least gives them such a ,hankering1 as cannot but be a great ,impediment to their ,happiness4 ,nothing is more talk'd of for the ,good of ,children1 and yet nothing more unsettled1 than the necessary ,degree of ,warmth2 and while some ,parents are sanguine in maintaining the ,necessity of much ,cloathing1 there are others as obstinately prone to freeze their tender ,babes3 even skilful and ingenious ,physicians disagree in this ,particular4 ,it is a ,maxim in ,philosophy1 that ,heat is a ,principle of ,life3 and indeed1 without the ,assistance of the ,schools1 every one knows the ,truth of it4 ,all know1 that ,life is warm1 ,death is cold2 and therefore to support ,life1 there must always be a ,degree of ,warmth4 ,this premised1 it appears that ,warmth is natural to us2 but where to begin1 or how to maintain such a ,degree of it in our ,children as will keep us from either ,extreme1 is not easy to determine4 ,however1 to keep as wide of ,error as we can1 we must keep close to ,nature's ,laws4 ,nature then1 ,i think1 points out to us1 that new-born ,children want more ,cloaths in ,proportion than others4 ,when we consider how warm a ,bed they have long been wrapp'd in before their ,birth2 when we consider too how tender all their ,fibres must be2 and see them shivering1 trembling and cold as soon as the external ,air surrounds them2 we cannot but conclude that they are greatly cherished and comforted by the ,addition of ,cloaths4 ,it is true that the same ,philosophy which teaches us that ,heat is a ,principle of ,life1 teaches also1 that ,action is the ,cause of ,heat3 but new-born ,infants being incapable of ,action to any ,degree1 it appears to me1 that for the ,reasons already given1 they stand in need of an additional1 or rather1 an adventitious ,warmth1 from ,cloaths1 ,fire1 ,sun1 or all1 in their proper ,time and ,place4 ,should any one urge that thin ,cloathing of ,children is the rational ,way to make them hardy1 and inure them to ,cold1 ,i am ready to grant it2 but ,i cannot help being of ,opinion1 that it ought not to be begun with4 ,in most other ,things relating to ,children we succeed best by beginning at once2 but here ,i think we should proceed by ,degrees4 ,let ,parents then at the ,birth give ,children all the ,comfort ,cloaths can afford them2 and when some ,months ,time has hardened their ,fibres1 and thereby strengthened their ,solids1 let them be thinned gradually4 ,one sensible ,distinction may be made that should be universally regarded3 that is1 the ,difference of ,climate and ,seasons4 ,a ,child born in the midst of ,summer1 or where the ,air is incapable of affecting it very sensibly1 need not to have so much cloathing as one born in the ,depth of ,winter1 or in a colder ,climate4 ,it is easy for my ,readers to see that ,i am an ,advocate for ,warmth2 and that ,i do not only recommend it as yielding great ,comfort to ,infants1 but esteem it highly necessary and useful to them3 and should any farther ,proof be required to support this ,opinion1 we may refer to all created ,nature1 animate and inanimate4 ,in this ,view of ,nature we shall find the ,birds not only provide ,nests for their young1 but cover them with their ,wings1 to guard them from the chilly ,air1 'till ,time has encreased their ,feathers4 ,the ,beasts with amazing ,tenderness1 cherish their young1 'till ,nature has lengthened the ,hair1 the ,wool1 or whatever covers them2 or ,time has given them the ,power of ,action4 ,farther we shall find1 that ,insects1 and all the vegetable ,creation1 shoot out into ,life1 and receive ,vigor1 ,comfort1 and ,support1 from that glorious ,body the ,sun3 so indispensably necessary is ,warmth2 and so essential to the raising and preserving of ,all4 ,such of my ,readers as agree with me on this ,head1 must still be cautious not to over-act their ,part4 ,this ,preceps suits so well the tender ,nature of ,mothers1 that if heedless1 they will easily slide into ,error2 and ,i should be wanting in the ,duty of a faithful ,guide1 or an honest ,adviser1 if ,i did not endeavour to prevent it4 ,dr4 ,james ,douglas1 deservedly eminent in his ,profession1 once 7within my own ,knowledge7 gave it as his ,opinion of a ,child he attended1 that it perished with ,cold4 ,the ,doctor had laid a ,woman of ,rank of her first1 nay her only ,child1 a ,son too1 and ,heir to a large ,estate4 ,the ,season was cold2 the ,child was dry-nurs'd2 and a small four-post ,bed was1 by the ,advice of some ignorant ,people1 made on purpose for it to lye in alone4 ,in this neglected starving ,way the ,child was kept 'till ready to expire1 and when too late to help it1 they sought ,advice4 ,all ,means were try'd in vain1 the poor ,babe sunk into the ,grave3 and1 as ,i have already observ'd1 the ,doctor1 upon examining every ,circumstance1 pronounc'd it starv'd to ,death4 ,here we have an ,instance of one ,extreme of ,error2 and ,i have introduc'd it as a ,hint to ,parents that all ,extremes are to be avoided2 and that while they shrink at the one1 they must be careful not to plunge into the other4 ,it has already been agreed1 that ,children at the ,birth should have all the ,comfort ,cloaths can give them4 ,i will now observe1 that it is every ,way advantageous1 that for the first ,year at least1 they lye in a ,cradle1 or in a small ,crib by the ,bed-side of the ,parents1 or whoever has the ,care of them4 ,to put an ,infant in a ,bed by itself for several ,hours before the ,bed-time of the ,mother or ,nurse1 is in general too cold a ,situation2 and afterwards1 if it is not then too hot1 which with some is a doubt1 it is attended with several ,inconveniences4 ,first1 it is pretty sure to disturb the ,child2 a ,matter of real ,consequence3 secondly1 when once disturb'd1 it will very likely have no ,sleep again but lying at the ,breast1 a ,circumstance attended with great ,trouble and ,anxiety to those who suckle it3 thirdly1 there is always ,danger more or less of the ,child being overlaid2 which is a ,consideration that ought justly to alarm every ,parent1 as many ,children have by this means been kill'd in one ,night's time4 ,i am very sensible how watchful a tender ,mother usually is1 but there are ,times that the best are unguarded2 and it is surely right for them to put it out of their own ,power to hazard so dreadful an ,accident4 ,nay this ,danger has been thought so great1 however common the ,practice is1 that the most sensible ,people have spoke and wrote against it4 ,to obviate therefore this ,evil1 ,parents need only let ,infants lye in a ,cradle or ,crib2 which will keep them in a regular equal ,warmth1 secure them from all unnecessary ,disturbance1 and effectually prevent any fatal ,accident4 ,by what has already been advanc'd1 it appears1 that tho' due ,care is recommended1 yet it is not design'd to cherish that false ,delicacy which ,parents1 especially ,mothers1 are but too apt to keep up in their ,children1 whether ,boys or ,girls2 on the contrary ,i have advis'd1 that their ,cloathing be thinn'd by ,degrees4 ,let them too be wash'd every ,day with cold ,water1 the ,head and ,limbs at least1 if not all over2 and be carried out as much as can be into the open ,air4 ,to breathe in a free1 open1 pure ,air1 is undoubtedly of great ,use2 by giving that ,spring to the ,solids so conducive to the establishing and preserving ,health4 ,children therefore1 especially if born in ,london1 stand in need of this ,assistance2 they should often have the ,freedom of tasting a sweeter ,air1 than that which usually surrounds their ,habitation4 ,here ,i am aware1 that this ,advice1 instead of being properly relish'd1 will be swallow'd greedily2 instead of its serving to rouse the ,care of ,parents1 it will endanger the banishing the ,child1 which under the ,pretext that ,air is good1 will be sent to a ,place1 where perhaps every thing else is bad4 ,parents1 especially the ,fathers1 who do not love the ,noise or any other of the ,inconveniences attending the ,care of ,children1 have a short ,way of doing ,business by sending them at once into the ,country2 and to support the ,reasonableness of their ,conduct1 readily tell their ,friends1 that those who write about these ,matters recommend ,air1 and say that ,children thrive best in it4 ,but surely they have never study'd the ,duty of ,parents1 or they must know1 that it is always incumbent on them1 unless ,necessity prevent it1 to rear their ,children themselves4 ,but to prove farther that it is not always a ,child's ,good which they seek1 so much as their own ,ease1 it is often sent to be nurs'd even in ,london2 sometimes too in a part much worse than they themselves live in2 perhaps where noxious ,effluvia are continually surrounding it2 or in some narrow ,lane or close ,alley4 ,where real ,necessity pleads1 no ,arguments can be brought against it3 otherwise ,i would universally recommend1 that ,children be brought up under the ,eye of the ,parents4 ,let the ,methods propos'd have a fair ,tryal2 if those are ineffectual1 and the ,child does not thrive1 by all means remove it into the ,country2 but still1 if practicable1 accompany'd with the ,mother1 and under her ,care2 if that cannot be comply'd with1 send it to a ,nurse4 ,still ,i have one ,objection that has great ,weight with me1 whatever it may have with my ,readers4 ,the common ,country ,people 7such as we may suppose take ,children to nurse7 tho' usually very innocent1 have nevertheless that ,innocence intermixt with a large ,portion of ,obstinacy2 in short1 they will always do their own ,way4 ,now it is well known that almost the only ,flesh ,meat these ,people eat the ,year thro'1 is ,bacon and ,pork2 with this ,meat1 which of all others is the worst in the ,world for ,children1 the ,nurses cram them unmercifully4 ,to tell them that they give ,children ,meat too young1 avails nothing2 to urge that it is a gross kind of ,food1 capable of creating bad ,humours in the ,blood1 and thereby accumulating ,disorders1 which like a smother'd ,fire1 will some time or other burst out with ,violence1 is like encountering the ,winds2 ,don't you see1 they cry1 how fat and jolly the little ,rogue is8 ,they are not aware1 that to be fat is one thing1 and to be healthy another3 for bad ,fat may be compared to ill-gotten ,wealth1 they both prey upon the ,vitals4 ,thus then while ,i maintain the ,advantages arising from ,childrens ,breathing in a pure ,air1 ,i cannot help condemning the ,practice of exposing them to many other ,dangers4 ,besides the ,food1 ,warmth and ,air1 necessary for preserving the ,health of ,children1 there is another ,mean of great ,importance1 but much neglected1 to the ,detriment of many2 viz4 ,exercise4 ,when some ,months ,time1 as ,i observed before1 has strengthened their ,solids1 they are then fitted for ,action2 without which there is but little chance for ,health3 the ,laws of ,nature demand it2 and it is almost incredible1 the ,mischief that attends the want of it4 ,exercise affords the most natural and the most comfortable ,warmth to our whole ,frame that can be4 ,exercise makes the ,blood and other ,juices circulate with ,freedom2 prevents the ,mischief too often arising from ,stagnation1 and throws off the redundant ,matter through the ,pores of the ,skin by insensible ,perspiration4 ,and ,exercise too1 greatly contributes to that ,flow of ,spirits1 that lively pleasing ,air and chearful ,countenance so essential to our ,happiness4 ,the first half ,year of a ,child's ,life is far the least troublesome to a ,mother or ,nurse2 for after that time ,children begin to take ,notice1 shew they love ,action1 and where they are well nursed1 never are so happy as when they are exercised2 and indeed it is scarcely possible to give them too much of it4 ,there should be no ,sluggards about a ,child1 no body that wants either ,will or ,power to toss it about continually2 and from six ,months1 to a ,year and half1 or two ,years old1 it is really a great ,fatigue to give it due ,attendance4 ,but ,parents must remember it is an indispensable ,duty2 and their faithful ,discharge of it will1 generally speaking1 be amply rewarded by a more solid ,health in their ,children than can be expected without it2 and by having their future ,trouble greatly lessened3 for how often does it happen that ,children for want of due ,exercise grow ricketty1 become ,cripples1 or are puny all their ,childhood1 perhaps their whole ,lives2 to their own great ,sorrow1 and to the inexpressible ,trouble1 ,pain1 and ,expence of the ,parents4 ,rickets is a ,distemper extremely common in ,london2 but if the ,rules already laid down be observed1 ,i dare affirm1 it will very rarely be seen4 ,it is not indeed the ,design of this ,treatise to cure ,diseases1 but to prevent them2 yet as thousands of ,children fall into the ,rickets in a manner insensibly1 often without it's being once apprehended2 ,i would here not only keep the ,attention of ,parents awake1 but propose a ,remedy4 ,let us then observe1 that many ,children have all the appearance imaginable of ,health1 ,strength1 and ,vigor1 till about nine ,months old2 after that ,age they begin to dwindle1 grow listless1 heavy and inactive1 which to account for1 ,parents find a thousand ,causes1 perhaps all wide of the real4 ,one ascribes it to cutting the ,teeth1 another to a ,fever1 a third to loss of ,appetite1 and so on2 when after a ,time it proves the ,rickets3 the ,cause whereof is1 generally speaking1 bad ,nursing4 ,but whether this1 or any other ,weakness produces the ,distemper1 ,i earnestly recommend1 that it be not suffered to pass unregarded1 since much depends upon our early ,care4 ,the great and noble ,remedy for this ,disorder is a ,cold ,bath2 and tho' the ,tenderness of ,mothers may make them shrink at the ,proposal1 yet neither their own ,weakness1 nor the ,child's ,reluctance1 must in this ,case prevail1 especially when ,i assure them that a very short ,time will make the use of it not only easy but pleasant4 ,if a ,child along with this ,disorder has a ,fever1 a full quick ,pulse and short ,breath 7as is very common7 ,parents should certainly ask proper ,advice before they begin to use the ,bath4 ,but as some may be careless in this ,matter1 or at least unwilling to submit2 and as many ill ,consequences may follow from setting out wrong1 ,i will in that ,case recommend1 that two or three ,ounces of ,blood be taken away at the ,arm or ,neck2 next ,day purge it with ,rhubarb1 and repeat it to three or four times1 at a ,day or two's distance between each ,dose3 and even where there is no ,fever1 and the ,lungs play freely1 it should still be purged as above directed4 ,the more ,water and the colder the ,bath the better4 ,at first use it only two or three times a ,week1 afterwards every ,day2 and continue it 7unless other ,accidents intervene7 'till every appearance of ,weakness be vanished1 even though it should last long1 or come on in the coldest ,season4 ,to obviate as much as possible all groundless ,fears1 ,i will on this ,head add1 that as ,cold ,baths act very powerfully on the whole ,frame1 they are frequently observed to give ,cold at first using2 and sometimes affect the ,limbs and other ,parts very sensibly2 all which goes off on repeating it4 ,and indeed1 where a ,cold ,bath is judged proper1 the only ,circumstance which justifies the ,disuse of it1 is1 it's leaving a ,shivering and ,coldness all over1 instead of that pleasing comfortable ,glow1 which generally follows the use of it4 ,the proper ,cloathing of ,children is a ,consideration of great ,importance2 and indeed the ,opinions of different ,men in the ,learned ,world1 and of different ,women in the ,conversable ,world1 are so very many1 as to render it next to impossible to fix a ,standard for ,dress with regard to ,health only1 that would in any manner square with the various ,notions subsisting4 ,arguing on ,principles of ,philosophy1 from ,reasons founded on the ,knowledge of ,anatomy1 and the ,animal ,oeconomy1 will not go down with the ,croud4 ,nor will ,examples produced from ,practice1 prevail on the ,learned to think the general ,practice right4 ,it is not enough to say1 that different ,nations act with more or less ,propriety on this ,head2 for even our own ,country is herein much divided in itself4 ,what ,i have before observed on cloathing ,children1 relates only to the keeping up a due ,degree of ,warmth1 'till ,time strengthens their ,solids2 but the grand ,controversy is1 what kind of ,cloaths they should wear1 and how they must be put on2 how ,boys should be cloathed1 and how ,girls2 what ,cloathing conduces to ,health1 and what impairs it3 with many other ,things much disputed1 but still unsettled4 ,nothing is more certain than that ,nature in general is our best1 our surest ,guide1 for the ,conduct of ,life2 yet if we make the ,law universal1 we shall undoubtedly sometimes err4 ,two things all ,mankind inherit in consequence of our first ,parents ,disobedience1 viz4 the ,turbulence of our ,passions1 and our bodily ,defects and ,infirmities3 all are sensible of this2 all see and feel them1 more or less4 ,how small is the number of those1 whose ,passions are by ,nature so happily calm1 as to keep them free from ,irregularities6 ,how few are those1 to whom ,nature has given a perfect ,form3 whose ,stature1 ,limbs1 and ,features1 bear exact ,proportion and ,symmetry1 free from ,blemishes and ,defects2 such as constitutes a finish'd ,beauty3 or whose ,constitution is so happily temper'd as to have no ,bias1 no weak ,side1 no redundant ,humours to disturb ,life and ,health4 ,this ,i say is evidently the ,lot of very few4 ,still ,providence1 ever kind1 has furnished us with ,means to turn all things to our ,advantage4 ,to regulate our ,passions we are endowed with ,reason2 to rectify1 as far as ,nature will permit1 our bodily ,defects1 we are supplied with ,judgment3 but as in the first ,case we are apt to let ,passion get the ,mastery of ,reason2 so in the other1 we often let our ,judgment err1 or suffer ,fancy to take place of it4 ,hence arise many of those ,mistakes ,mankind daily run into2 and hence too the ,judgment of one will sometimes be perverted into ,fancy1 and the ,fancy of another be falsly esteemed ,judgment4 ,from this view it is easy to see1 how vast a ,field is open to ,mankind to exercise their ,judgment in2 but where that is weak1 ,errors will certainly make their ,way2 which from the ,propensity we have to do wrong1 are sometimes so prevailing and swift1 as to become almost universal2 even so far as utterly to overturn superior ,judgment4 ,now though we grant that every one is possessed not only of a ,power1 but of a ,right of judging2 yet we do not agree1 that the ,judgment of the ,weak1 or of those who have neglected to exercise and improve their natural ,faculties1 should be abided by1 and made our ,rule of ,conduct3 for as our ,law-givers should be wise1 and as from them we seek to be secured in our ,property and our ,peace2 so from those who have searched into ,nature1 who have studied the ,animal ,oeconomy1 and are acquainted with the ,structure of our ,frame1 from those only can we rationally learn how to preserve ,health4 ,to apply then these ,arguments to the ,matter in hand1 ,i would recommend to ,parents with regard to ,cloathing their ,children1 to be attentive themselves2 to exercise and improve their own ,judgment1 as far as they have opportunity2 not suddenly to run with the ,croud1 lest it prove a vulgar ,error2 but endeavour to learn what is the ,opinion of ,judges3 and by comparing that with the general ,practice1 they may draw such ,conclusions as will profit them most4 ,dress1 in the common ,acceptation of the ,word1 is not my ,province2 those ,people whose ,business it is to promote it1 know that the ,world is fickle and inconstant2 they know that ,men will change1 even though it be for the worse1 purely from a ,love of ,novelty3 therefore is it that at one ,time a ,man has his ,hips almost up to his ,arm-pits1 another ,time he must stoop to get his ,hand into his ,coat ,pocket2 therefore is it that one ,year a ,woman is 7at the ,will of the ,stay-maker7 to be short-waisted1 another ,year long-waisted2 with many more ,absurdities1 that ought at least to be laughed at4 ,but where ,dress is capable of affecting our ,health1 it both deserves and demands ,attention and ,regard3 ,and to that ,end1 ,i will for the ,instruction of my ,readers1 give the ,sentiments of the ,learned on this ,head4 ,it is the ,opinion of many1 that every kind of ,bandage is an ,error in ,practice2 even ,garters1 ,wrist-bands1 and ,collars2 that they impede the ,circulation of the ,blood1 or at least render it unequal and irregular1 and prevent the proper ,growth of the ,solids2 nay more1 that they are a frequent though latent ,cause of ,apoplexies1 and other dreadful ,diseases4 ,it is farther their ,opinion1 that whatever compresses the ,frame1 7particularly the tender one of a ,child7 is dangerous2 as ,rollers1 stiff ,stays1 and the like3 that as the ,trunk of the ,body contains1 what ,physicians call the ,viscera1 in which are the chief ,functions of ,life1 whatever external ,methods are used to bind or cramp them up1 is prejudicial to ,health4 ,that the ,lungs particularly are to have free room to play2 and that if the ,chest be externally press'd1 whether by ,rollers1 ,stays1 ,waistcoats1 or any thing else1 it lays the ,foundation of many future ,evils4 ,to these general ,opinions1 let me add that of an eminent ,writer4 ,mr4 ,locke1 in his ,treatise of ,education1 says1 8,narrow ,breasts1 short and stinking ,breath1 ill ,lungs and ,crookedness1 are the natural and almost constant ,effects of hard ,bodice and ,cloaths that pinch4 ,that way of making slender ,waists and fine ,shapes1 serves but the more effectually to spoil them4 ,nor can there indeed but be ,disproportion in the ,parts1 when the ,nourishment prepar'd in the several ,offices of the ,body1 cannot be distributed as ,nature designs4 ,and therefore what wonder is it1 if being laid where it can on some ,part not so braced1 it often makes a ,shoulder or ,hip higher or bigger than it's just ,proportion40 ,he then produces the ,example of the ,chinese ,women1 who of all ,people on ,earth1 have the smallest ,feet1 not naturally1 but made so by cramping them2 from a notion that it is beautiful2 by which ,practice1 says he1 it is believed they impede their ,growth and shorten their ,lives4 ,now to confirm and strengthen what is here advanced1 we must observe1 that besides the universal ,reputation ,mr4 ,locke so justly obtain'd as a ,man of ,science1 he was design'd for a ,physician3 and though he never practised ,physic1 he had studied it4 ,to these ,opinions may be added the general ,consent of ,mankind1 that in those ,countries where ,stays are not worn at all1 the ,people are seldom or never known to be crooked4 ,now let us examine the general ,practice1 and the ,motives which influence it2 that no ,injustice may be done in a ,treatise that aims at the general ,good of ,mankind4 ,mothers and ,nurses observe1 that a new-born ,child has no ,support of itself2 the ,head leans on one side or the other2 and the ,body sinks as it were into a ,heap3 to remedy which1 and to prop up the helpless ,babe1 they put what is call'd a ,stay to its ,neck1 they roll a ,flannel many times round its ,body1 and at the ,expiration of a ,month it is usually coated3 that is1 it continues when undress'd with the ,roller2 and in the ,day ,time when dress'd1 it wears a ,stay about the ,waist4 ,the ,stay to the ,neck is left off in some ,months1 and the ,roller in about a ,year2 some sooner1 some later3 but the same ,method is used both to ,boys and ,girls4 ,the first1 second and third ,stays are usually very soft and plyable2 but after that1 when a ,child approaches to two ,years old1 they are then made stronger1 that is1 stiffer to the ,feel2 and these ,sort are worn by ,boys 'till they are breech'd1 and by ,girls their whole ,lives4 ,nurses urge1 that ,children are helpless1 cannot sit upright1 nor be toss'd about without them4 ,and ,i remember an eminent ,surgeon1 late of one of our ,hospitals1 once told me1 that a ,child was brought to him with several of its ,ribs crush'd inward by the ,hand of the ,person who had been tossing it about without its ,stays4 ,but as ,i have just observed1 it is not in ,infancy only that ,stays are used2 but in one ,sex1 'till four1 five1 or six1 ,years old2 and in the other for ,life4 ,the ,solicitude of ,parents about ,shape1 is chiefly confin'd to the ,girls2 ,boys1 when breech'd1 like ,eels1 twist themselves into a thousand ,forms1 and prove strait at last2 while the ,girls1 with less ,freedom and more ,anxiety1 seldom come off so well4 ,still ,mothers contend for the ,necessity of ,stays2 and maintain from ,experience1 that the ,shape1 instead of being hurt with them1 is spoil'd without them4 ,here then is the grand ,point1 whether ,nature requires these ,props or not2 the ,learned say they don't2 general ,practice says they do3 the ,learned recommend that ,nature be left to ,fashion the ,parts herself2 but general ,practice contradicts this3 and who will take upon them to decide so important a ,matter8 for me1 ,i confess it is too much4 ,when ,i read or hear the ,opinion of skilful ,men1 and weigh their ,reasoning1 ,i heartily concur with them2 and when ,i see an exquisite ,shape under a judicious ,mother's ,management1 ,i am inclin'd to applaud her ,judgment1 and commend the ,choice of her ,stay-maker4 ,however1 that ,i might not leave this ,head and determine nothing1 ,i have already recommended to ,parents to exercise their own ,judgment1 and to seek that of others2 whereby many of the ,errors1 become general thro' ,ignorance and ,time1 will be removed4 ,the ,learned1 unless dogmatical1 will be brought to allow1 that ,stays may often be worn without the least ,injury2 that as ,girls are by ,nature more tender and delicate than ,boys1 many of them would have been deformed either thro' bad nursing1 or some inbred ,infirmity1 tho' they never had worn a ,stay in their ,lives3 and ,parents will be convinc'd1 that while ,nature is labouring to compleat their ,children's ,growth1 both ,health and ,beauty greatly depend on their not being braced injudiciously4 ,as ,i am speaking of ,health and ,beauty1 it will not be improper to observe1 that with regard to the outward ,form1 what is most agreeable to see1 is often most conducive to ,health and ,strength4 ,thus the ,dancing-master has ,power to confer many ,advantages on his ,scholars4 ,that ,command and free ,play of the ,joints of the ,knees1 with the ,habit of keeping them unbent but when necessary1 and the proper turning out of the ,toes1 add great ,firmness and ,grace both to standing and walking3 that graceful ,power of the ,arms1 the easy ,fall1 and the dropping of the ,shoulders from the ,neck1 gives a pleasing ,distinction of the bred from the unbred3 and the keeping the ,body upright1 and throwing forward the ,chest1 are besides being great ,beauties1 vastly conducive to the free ,exercise of the ,lungs1 and to the proper ,action of the whole ,viscera4 ,but while this ,part of ,education is justly commended as conducive to ,health1 and pleasing to behold1 what shall we say of those1 who under the ,appearance of increasing their ,beauty destroy it2 and who1 while aiming at ,health1 often deprive themselves of ,life4 ,i have shewn that bodily ,defects are more or less the ,lot of all ,mankind2 but where ,judgment free from ,error can rectify them1 we have ,power to do it4 ,if we can find a ,cure for ,diseases born with us1 we certainly may and ought2 if we can increase our ,strength1 and add ,graces to ,nature1 we undoubtedly should2 we may curl our ,hair1 increase its ,growth1 or cut it off2 we may and ought to comb or shave our ,head1 pare our ,nails1 and scour off all that ,foulness which ,nature throws out upon the ,surface of our ,body1 and maintain a constant ,cleanliness3 ,but all this does not imply that we may give ourselves a new ,face2 and yet little less is frequently attempted4 ,when ,nature is oppressed within us1 she often1 for our ,relief1 throws out the ,malady upon the ,skin2 if it happen to be on the ,face1 we grow restless and impatient2 we are ignorant of the ,kindness done to us2 and to remove the ,blemish to our ,beauty1 we unadvisedly drive back the redundant ,humour2 perhaps on our ,vitals2 and thus fall a ,sacrifice to our ,pride or ,ignorance4 ,there is a ,practice1 particularly among the ,great1 shocking to ,nature and to ,reflection2 that of using ,paint4 ,paint is to the ,face1 what ,affectation is to the ,mind3 as the one is a ridiculous ,mimic of amiable ,qualities we are ,strangers to1 so the other is a ridiculous ,affectation of ,beauty we cannot reach4 ,but while ,paint disappoints those who are attach'd to it1 by conferring false ,beauty1 it is attended with the ,mischief of impairing real2 and many who by ,nature alone would be comely in the ,decline of ,life1 are1 by this odious ,practice1 hagged even in ,youth4 ,temperance1 ,exercise1 good ,hours1 and a chearful ,mind1 will best preserve the ,bloom of ,life2 but such is the present ,age1 such the prevailing false ,taste1 that ,error is confounded with ,error1 and our corrupt ,judgment is still farther corrupted4 ,there was a ,time that ,paint was designed to give a false ,bloom when the real was declining2 but now it is used to hide even the natural ,bloom3 it is made an ,instrument to destroy that ,beauty which ,providence has bestowed2 and instead of being grateful for the ,blessing1 it is shamefully hid under a pale ,enamel1 or a dead ,white6 ,what an ,indignity1 what an ,affront is this to the ,author of all ,nature1 to the ,bestower of all ,blessings6 ,lord ,hallifax1 in his ,advice to a ,daughter1 goes so far as to dissuade her even from the ,use of ,sweets4 8,those ,ladies 7says he7 who perfume themselves1 will be strongly suspected of doing it to conceal some other ,stink40 ,cleanliness is to be preferred to every foreign ,aid2 for tho' it is certain1 that ,nature throws off some offensive ,matter1 whether perceptible or not1 by the several ,organs given for those ,purposes1 yet daily washing the ,mouth1 combing the ,head1 and using every other ,means of ,cleanliness1 bids much fairer for rendering us inoffensive to others1 than the general and immoderate ,use of ,perfumes4 ,and therefore ,i cannot but concur with this noble ,writer1 in dissuading ,parents from introducing among their ,children the ,custom of seeking foreign ,assistance in order to be sweet4 ,should ,i add to this1 that continually striking on those ,nerves which convey the ,sense of ,smelling to us1 is prejudicial to our ,health1 ,i should advance no more than what many learned ,men hold as a ,truth4 ,but there is another ,pretext for using ,sweets1 which must not pass unobserved2 that of keeping us from being sensible of the various ,smells around us4 ,it is true that those are sometimes so grossly offensive1 as to justify1 and even demand1 our shutting them out3 but in general1 there is too much false ,delicacy1 too strong a ,tincture of ,pride1 and too little ,sense of our own ,infirmities in this ,practice4 ,on these last ,heads then ,i must beg ,leave to admonish ,parents1 even of the highest ,rank 7should this little ,work ever fall into their ,hands7 to be greatly circumspect with regard to their ,children2 that they be careful to give them a due ,sense of the ,blessings ,nature has bestowed on them2 that they point out to them the most rational ,way of correcting natural ,defects2 and above all1 to imprint on them a just ,detestation of every ,practice which has a ,tendency to raise their ,vanity1 and add ,fuel to their ,pride4 ,to this end1 ,parents should convince their ,children1 that the fashionable ,cosmetics greatly endanger ,health2 ,paint debases both the ,face and the ,mind2 the wanton ,use of ,perfumes is an ,error in ,principle1 and all are fraught with mischievous ,effects4 ,it may be urged1 that ,children are not subject to the ,use of these things1 at least while ,children3 ,i grant it4 ,but my ,readers must observe1 that when ,i enter on a ,topic1 ,i am naturally led thro' it2 and as we never stand still in ,life1 so ,parents must bring their ,ideas forward1 and consider their ,children as always advancing4 ,nay ,i may without ,impropriety say farther1 that ,vanity is one of the first things that ,children learn2 and it demands the early ,attention of ,parents to keep it under1 by discountenancing the ,practice of every thing which tends to support or cherish it4 ,parents are naturally anxious to have this first ,entrance on the ,stage of ,life got thro' with ,success2 and ,i flatter myself1 that the ,rules already laid down will conquer1 or at least lessen the ,difficulty attending it4 ,how eager are all good ,parents to see their ,children weaned2 to have them firm on their ,feet2 to find their ,mouths full of ,teeth2 and to hear them prattle3 nay there are many1 particularly ,fathers1 who think their ,children of no ,importance1 at least they have no ,pleasure in them1 'till these are effected4 ,that nothing therefore may obstruct this ,progress1 ,i will here add a ,word or two more4 ,it is a ,point much disputed1 whether a young ,child is better or worse for wearing ,shoes and ,stockings2 for my own ,part1 ,i think they are both3 but1 as this may seem a ,paradox1 ,i will explain myself4 ,the ,disuse of ,shoes and ,stockings is to make ,children hardy2 but my ,readers will remember1 that unless ,regard be had to ,time and ,season1 they may cramp their tender ,limbs1 and do them great ,harm4 ,stockings therefore cannot with ,prudence be totally neglected1 lest it prove a ,neglect to the ,child2 and ,shoes1 when they are put on it's ,feet1 are1 besides being not so disagreeable to see1 much safer to walk about in2 as nobody can answer that ,pins1 ,splinters1 ,stones1 and various other things will not sometimes fall in their ,way1 even on the smoothest ,floor1 or a ,carpet4 ,thus much in their ,favour3 but what ,i have to say against them is not less significant4 ,according to the usual ,method of managing ,children1 they wear no ,cloth in the ,day-time after five or six ,months old2 and then1 if they are not carefully watched1 they will frequently wet themselves1 and thereby make ,shoes and ,stockings an ,impediment to their thriving1 by soaking them1 as it were1 in ,wet1 ,cold1 and ,nastiness4 ,either then let a ,child be kept clean with them1 or intirely go without them2 for of two ,evils1 it is always most eligible to chuse the least4 ,but a little ,judgment and ,attention would obviate this ,inconvenience2 for as even ,infants are not without various ,ways of shewing their ,wants1 an ,attention to these1 and a ,method of putting them regularly into their ,chair1 would be very convenient both to ,mother and ,child3 and if notwithstanding this1 it should by chance wet itself1 having dry ,shoes and ,stockings always ready to put on1 would prevent any ill ,effect4 ,i am of ,opinion1 that ,parents are often too eager to have their ,children walk2 by which1 they take such ,means as serve to retard it4 ,two things much in use manifestly keep ,children back1 viz4 much sitting1 especially with their ,cloaths up1 and much standing4 ,they should never sit long in their ,chair1 nor be left to support the ,weight of their ,bodies1 while their ,joints and ,limbs are tender4 ,let them by all means feel that they have ,feet1 but let them not be left alone1 'till ,time1 ,air1 and ,exercise have strengthened their ,solids1 and given them a lasting ,firmness4 ,but we will now suppose that these first ,difficulties are all surmounted4 ,parents have still many things to do1 which require indeed ,attention1 but neither need1 nor ought to be accompanied with any considerable ,degree of ,difficulty or ,pain4 ,notwithstanding a ,child is advancing1 ,i still recommend1 that ,milk and ,water with ,bread1 or ,milk-porridge1 or ,rice-milk1 be it's constant ,breakfast4 ,parents may sometimes alter their ,course1 may easily contrive little ,changes in a ,child's ,diet1 that will be very pleasing1 without either seeming to humour it1 or varying it so sensibly1 as to hurt the ,quality4 ,for ,example1 in ,summer1 pour warm ,water on ,milk to take off its ,rawness1 and let the ,child with a ,piece of ,bread bite and sup3 in ,winter let it have ,milk-porridge1 or ,rice-milk4 ,milk is accounted to lose of its natural ,sweetness by boiling2 therefore in general it should be avoided4 ,but there is another ,principle ,parents are to act by1 viz4 a ,child's ,habit of ,body4 ,nothing is more certain than that our ,food may be made our ,physic2 and if our ,judgment went ,hand in ,hand with ,nature1 we should happily escape many bodily ,infirmities1 many grievous ,evils3 for it would then be easy to see when she is regular1 when not2 whether she wants a ,curb or a ,spur2 whether she is robust or delicate2 or1 in fine1 whether she has any ,bias1 and where4 ,to familiarize this1 let me observe1 that where a ,child is hot1 dry1 and costive1 ,parents should sometimes desist from the ,use of ,milk1 and give it ,water-gruel1 either with or without ,currants2 or very small ,broth1 or ,milk-porridge1 which last is rendered opening by the ,oat-meal4 ,so likewise1 where the ,bowels are weak1 and there is an habitual purging1 the ,child should be kept more closely to ,milk2 have ,rice-milk1 ,rice-gruel1 or ,broth thickened with ,rice2 or thick ,milk1 or hasty ,pudding made with ,milk and ,flour4 ,of one or other of these things1 as ,occasion serves1 a ,child may properly breakfast as long as the ,guidance of ,parents will be necessary3 and when it is no longer a ,child1 but comes to act for itself1 it will not be easy to find more wholesome ,food4 ,tea1 ,coffee1 and ,chocolate are the most usual ,breakfasts in lieu of these4 ,tea has been spoken of already4 ,coffee is hot and dry2 it is rather fit for a ,medicine than a ,meal1 and should be used with ,judgment2 it is manifestly a ,cephalic1 and sometimes removes a ,head-ach instantaneously as if it were by ,magic2 but intemperately used1 it is very apt to sink the ,spirits1 and bring on ,tremblings4 ,chocolate has a nutritious1 balsamic ,quality1 yet it disagrees with many ,people2 it does not sit easy on every ,stomach2 either from the natural ,property of the ,nuts1 or from its being made too thick1 and sometimes drank with ,milk1 which renders it still heavier4 ,but1 generally speaking1 ,tea is the ,breakfast for ,children1 which is often made worse1 by being accompanied with hot ,bread4 ,i have seen a ,mother so cruelly kind1 for so with ,truth we may call it1 as to give a young ,child all the ,crum of a hot ,roll for its ,breakfast2 and this repeated every ,day1 till it had lost not only it's ,appetite1 but almost it's ,breath4 ,there is nothing ,parents should more promote in their ,children than the ,love of ,bread2 they should be taught to eat a great deal of it with their ,meat2 be taught to eat it sometimes alone2 but not be suffered to eat it quite new3 for the ,custom of cramming ,children with hot ,bread1 is one of the ,ways that make them unhealthy1 without ,parents being aware of it4 ,butter is allowed to yield great ,nourishment1 but there are ,objections which ,parents must not disregard4 ,it often rises in the ,stomach1 is apt to give that ,pain which ,people call the ,heart-burn1 and is judged to be frequently the ,occasion of ,childrens breaking out1 by obstructing some of the ,glands4 ,butter therefore should be eat much more sparingly than usual1 and great ,care should be taken that it is never rancid4 ,cheese is a kind of ,food which ,children are naturally very fond of2 and1 if left to themselves1 will eat it to an immoderate ,degree4 ,i have observed before1 that little ,changes in a ,child's ,diet are at times very right2 particularly to prevent any ,dislike to certain things1 either from ,disuse or ,affectation2 but when ,cheese comes in turn to be the ,meal1 it should be under great ,restraint4 ,suppose1 for ,example1 a ,child's ,supper is to be ,bread and ,cheese1 the ,bread should most certainly be considered as the ,meal2 a very small ,quantity of ,cheese to give it a ,relish1 and convey it down1 is all it ought to have4 ,cheese1 tho' nutritious1 should never be eat in large ,quantity2 it gives ,children a restless painful ,fondness for what is relishing1 and takes off their ,appetite from more wholesome simple ,diet2 it is found to disagree with many ,stomachs2 toasted1 it is particularly bad1 and difficult to digest2 and it has often a ,pungency1 which creates ,heat1 ,thirst1 and ,costiveness4 ,flesh ,meat has already been touched upon2 ,i will here add1 that besides the ,parents ,care that ,children do not begin too soon with it1 nor eat it intemperately1 they must pay a due ,regard not only to the ,quality of the ,meat they give them1 but to the ,time and ,manner of eating it4 ,physicians are of ,opinion1 that ,animal-food is not in ,perfection 'till full grown2 for1 like unripe ,fruit1 their ,juices are crude1 and always more or less improper to mix with our ,blood1 'till they are in a ,state of ,maturity3 hence it appears1 that ,beef and ,mutton are more wholesome than ,veal and ,lamb4 ,nor should ,beef1 as the ,fibres of it are very strong1 be eat too freely by those whose ,digestion is weak2 and when rendered harder by lying long in ,brine1 it is still more improper4 ,pork1 tho' a favourite kind of ,food1 is in several ,respects improper to be eat frequently2 it is extremely apt to offend the ,stomach2 it has a remarkable ,tendency to bring on ,purgings2 and it is suspected not to form so pure a ,chyle1 and to be more disposed to load the ,blood with those ,particles which create scorbutic ,disorders than any other ,meat4 ,upon the whole1 no ,meat is so universally suited to our ,nature as ,mutton4 ,for after all our ,labour and ,expence to obtain greater ,rarities1 after we have fatigued ourselves with ,sport1 hunted down defenceless ,creatures1 brought to the ,ground the most wary ,birds1 and cloyed ourselves with the choicest ,viands1 we find perhaps a truer ,relish1 and a better ,appetite for a ,mutton-chop4 ,so ,topers1 after spending the ,night in search of the richest ,wine1 after rioting in ,excess1 and wearying the ,tavern-waiters to please their ,palates1 seek ,comfort and ,refreshment in a ,glass of ,water4 ,fish is a sort of ,diet extremely improper for ,children4 ,i would recommend to ,parents never to let a ,child so much as taste it for the first seven ,years at least4 ,if it were nothing more than the ,danger of ,bones sticking in it's ,throat1 it is enough to alarm prudent ,people2 but most kinds of ,fish are naturally flabby1 cold1 and watry2 are very unfit for young ,stomachs1 and usually made more so1 by being accompanied with rich ,sauce4 ,children should not be debarred ,fruit2 but the ,use of it requires some ,attention2 #ast1 ,it should always be good in its ,kind1 and ripe4 #b;dly1 ,regard is to be had what ,sort agrees1 and what disagrees4 #c;dly1 ,some ,limitation as to ,quantity4 ,it is a disputed ,point whether we may eat ,fruit in a ,morning2 other ,nations do frequently1 we seldom4 ,in ,france1 ,germany1 ,switzerland1 and many other ,places1 the ,people always eat ,bread with their ,fruit2 and it appears so rational that ,i believe it were better that we did too4 ,fruit gives some a ,pain at the ,stomach1 others not2 ,apples1 ,currants1 and those ,kinds1 which1 tho' ripe1 have still a ,degree of grateful ,acidity in them1 usually agree best4 ,pears and ,plumbs1 especially the ,orleans ,plumb1 have a ,tendency to bring on ,purgings1 which sometimes terminate in a ,bloody ,flux and ,death2 and therefore should be given to ,children with great ,caution3 but1 in fine1 ,experience here1 as in many other things1 is to be our ,guide4 ,one general ,rule ,i would recommend1 which is1 that the ,skin or ,rind of all ,fruit that is in any manner tough1 be not eat4 ,it is the ,pulp and juicy ,part of the ,fruit which refreshes us2 and ,nature1 to preserve these1 has wrapped them up in a tough kind of ,coat1 which is judged by many to be very unfit to take into the ,stomach4 ,i must not omit to speak of ,nuts4 ,i observed before1 that merely from the ,danger of ,bones ,children should be kept from ,fish2 so1 had ,nuts no other ,effect than loosening the ,teeth by frequent cracking them1 which they do manifestly1 they should never be meddled with2 but in ,fact they have4 ,i have seen ,people eat ,walnuts 'till they could scarcely breathe2 the famous ,barcelona ,nuts1 besides the ,substance or fibrous ,part of them1 often abound with a rank kind of ,oil2 and even our own ,hazel ,nuts and ,filberds1 when eaten in any ,quantity1 are apt to create ,thirst1 cord up1 as it were1 the whole ,chest1 and produce ,coughs4 ,self-gratification on one hand1 and ,self-interest on the other1 have introduced several ,trades the ,world in general might dispense with2 two of which demand my ,observation1 viz4 the ,confectioner and the ,pastry-cook4 ,that these ,trades have their ,use ,i do not deny4 ,a ,nobleman1 according to the ,rules of ,politeness1 cannot make an ,entertainment without a ,desert2 thus the ,confectioner becomes necessary3 in inferior ,life1 the ,coarseness of the ,entertainment is taken off by the ,assistance of the ,pastry-cook3 all which may be reasonable1 if reasonably used4 ,but when ,i consider the general ,misapplication of these luscious ,dainties to ,children1 ,i cannot but condemn it4 ,if a ,child is sent to visit a ,relation or ,friend1 the grand ,compliment is1 to apply to the ,confectioner or the ,pastry-cook2 and 'till the little ,visitor be crammed with ,biskets1 or ,cakes1 or ,tarts1 or ,sweetmeats1 or all in their ,turn1 and that even to a ,surfeit1 the welcome is not thought compleat4 ,still there is some ,excuse to palliate this ,mistake2 the ,child is considered as a ,visitor2 and these ,excesses are the mistaken ,effects of ,good-,nature and ,respect2 both which are apt grievously to err against ,judgment4 ,but my ,principals here are the ,parents2 for from them alone must come the ,habit of doing right1 and by them alone must the ,error be prevented or corrected4 ,i have no ,objection to a ,child's having a ,tart or ,bisket by ,chance1 but ,i am a profess'd ,enemy to the daily ,abuses committed with them4 ,if we view the ,loads of ,wigs1 ,tarts1 and ,cakes1 every ,day made at the ,pastry-cooks1 we must be astonished at their ,consumption4 ,the ,truth is1 ,people give these ,things to their ,children 'till they have made them sick1 and then give them because they are sick4 ,if a ,person happens to call on a ,friend where there is a ,child indisposed1 it is ten to one but they find a ,tart in it's ,hands2 ,ah6 poor thing1 says ,mamma1 it has eat nothing to-day1 so ,i sent for a ,tart for it4 ,that the ,hands1 the ,face1 the ,apparel and ,bedding of ,children1 imprudently indulg'd with this kind of ,food1 be constantly daub'd and besmear'd1 is the least bad ,consequence attending such ,indiscretion2 it has several other ,effects1 particularly on their ,health2 by vitiating their ,appetites1 engendering ,crudities1 and alienating them from more wholesome ,diet4 ,but let us go lower into ,common ,life2 and view the various ,outlets from ,london4 ,what ,swarms1 what ,multitudes of ,children are there not in the ,fields on every fine ,sunday6 ,and what is their ,entertainment8 ,why1 generally speaking1 they are stuffed with a coarse kind of ,pastry-ware made coarse on purpose for ,children1 who of all the human ,species ought not to touch it3 then to compleat the ,mischief1 they are to wash it down with a foul1 nauseous1 heady kind of ,ale1 or other ,malt ,liquor4 ,yet when one opposes this ,practice1 as every one must with ,hand and ,heart1 who has but a ,head to guide them2 ,poor ,things6 cry the mistaken ,parents1 what6 take ,children into the ,fields1 and not give them a ,bun6 ,but how grievously does their dotard ,fondness mislead them6 ,good ,bread1 with a very little ,sweet ,butter1 wash'd down with ,water1 or clear well-brew'd ,small ,beer1 would preserve their ,health2 while the only use of this ,trash1 is to impair or destroy it4 ,to reduce to ,method what has been here said concerning ,diet1 ,i must observe1 that next to the proper kind of ,food1 nothing is more conducive to ,health than a ,habit of eating ,meals regularly4 ,children accustomed to eat all ,day long are seldom healthy2 besides1 that it makes them disorderly1 and often throws a ,family into ,confusion to gratify all their little ,humours4 ,the proper ,breakfast has been already pointed out2 their ,dinner should be made of one ,dish1 only1 unless by great ,chance a passing ,taste of a second2 they should either eat a great deal of ,bread1 or blend their ,meat with ,greens1 ,turnips1 or other ,garden ,stuff2 ,pickles and all high ,sauces should not be touch'd by them2 and their ,meal should be washed down with ,water or light ,small ,beer4 ,their ,supper may1 like their ,breakfast1 sometimes be vary'd1 as to the ,auxiliary2 ,bread is to be the ,repast2 yet a small ,portion of ,butter1 ,cheese1 ,fruit1 or ,tart1 may in their ,turn accompany it3 the ,vehicle the same as at ,dinner4 ,but should a ,child at intermediate ,times1 especially before ,dinner1 complain of ,hunger1 and fasting long might make it's ,stomach ach2 in that ,case nothing so good as a bit of ,bread2 and if used to it1 it will eat it as eagerly as the greatest ,dainty2 but to see ,children walk about a ,house with ,tarts or ,bread and ,butter in their ,hands1 daubing every thing and every body they touch1 is certainly wrong2 being not only detrimental to their ,health1 but to their ,manners too1 as it is inexpressibly vulgar4 ,the ,ideas of ,parents may perhaps confine these ,rules to the first ,septenary of a ,child's ,life2 but ,i must here observe1 that no essential ,difference1 no very material ,changes can be made from this1 even in the second and third ,stages1 without some ,degree of ,error4 ,eating and ,drinking are made too much the ,business and the ,pleasure of ,life1 to be consistent with either our ,health or our ,reason3 ,parents therefore who aim at acting on right ,principles1 must for the sake of these1 teach their ,children to be regular and temperate in the use of those4 ,it is right that they begin early1 that they set out well2 but it is doubly so1 that they keep them in the same ,road2 and as their ,childrens ,reason gathers ,strength1 convince them that they must never quit it1 if they wish to live a long or happy ,life3 and that1 of all human ,gratifications1 an inordinate ,attachment to ,eating and ,drinking is the meanest1 and most unworthy a ,man4 ,mr4 ,locke proposes1 as a great ,means of preserving ,health1 that ,boys 7for it is for them only that he writes7 have ,holes made in their ,shoes on purpose to let in the ,wet2 which 7says he7 being rendered familiar to them1 will prevent their catching ,cold4 ,it is certain this ,gentleman acts here upon a right ,principle2 but whether the ,practice be altogether eligible1 is a ,doubt4 ,nothing is so hurtful to the ,head1 the ,eyes1 and the ,breast1 as catching ,cold in the ,feet2 and therefore ,i cannot but concur with this ingenious ,writer1 in recommending the ,use of cold ,water in order to make ,children hardy4 ,i have before advised1 that young ,children have their ,limbs washed daily with cold ,water2 now as many things may be rendered familiar and easy by ,custom1 if1 as they advance1 their ,feet were daily immersed in cold ,water too1 it would undoubtedly be of vast ,service1 and greatly tend to confirm their ,health4 ,but if this be never practised1 or the ,practice set aside1 which is nearly the same thing1 it demands double ,care of the ,parents to prevent their being liable to ,colds4 ,to this ,end1 ,children's ,feet should be washed in ,water a little warm'd2 for it is extremely dangerous to make a sudden ,derivation of the ,blood up to the ,lungs or ,head1 which is the natural ,effect of cold ,water4 ,and it is for this ,reason that ,people are never suffered to walk into a cold ,bath1 but are thrown forwards1 that the ,immersion may be total at the same instant4 ,nay1 ,mr4 ,locke himself was so sensible of this1 that tho' he advises washing the ,feet daily in cold ,water1 he would have it begun with in the ,spring1 and the ,water luke-warm1 and made colder and colder by ,degrees3 8,for 7says he7 it is to be observ'd in this1 as in all other ,alterations from our ordinary ,way of living1 the ,changes must be made by gentle and insensible ,degrees40 ,the next ,mean is1 that ,children have always dry ,shoes4 ,there is a great deal of ,mischief attends the mistaken ,delicacy of ,shoes4 ,those who always tread on ,carpets1 who never go abroad without a ,coach or a ,chair1 may perhaps wear with ,safety the thinnest that can be made2 but to see ,people in inferior ,life1 or those engaged in real ,business1 trampling thro' dirty ,streets1 and soaking their ,paper-soals in continual ,puddles1 is surely every way absurd3 but as this ,practice is evidently detrimental to ,health1 as it frequently occasions ,coughs1 sore ,eyes1 ,head-ach1 ,rheumatism1 and other ,disorders1 it is highly incumbent on ,parents to keep ,children free from these ,dangers by using them1 in ,winter especially1 to such ,shoes as will keep them dry4 ,on this ,head it will not be amiss to give a ,caution against ,shoes that pinch4 ,parents must be attentive to this both in ,boys and ,girls1 for many by this ,means are made so tender-footed1 and have such painful ,corns1 that they are a kind of ,cripples their whole ,lives3 and are not only very uncomfortable to themselves1 but are often thereby greatly disabled from doing their necessary ,business4 ,i must not here omit1 so far as relates to ,health1 to mention ,sleeping1 and the ,circumstances attending it4 8,of all 7says ,mr4 ,locke7 which looks soft and effeminate1 nothing is more to be indulged ,children than ,sleep4 ,in this alone they are to be permitted to have their full ,satisfaction1 nothing contributing more to the ,growth and ,health of ,children than ,sleep40 ,i have already with regard to ,infants shewn1 that they ought not to be disturbed from their ,rest2 and even past that ,age ,sleep affords them great ,nourishment4 ,nothing certainly is more injudicious and unnatural than the ,custom many ,parents have of keeping their ,children up late4 ,if they wish them to be healthy1 temperate1 or wise1 they must create in them a ,habit of early going to ,bed and early rising4 ,as the many ,conditions in ,life oblige1 or at least lead ,people to act differently1 so it is extremely hard to fix precise ,rules herein2 but in general1 'till ,children approach nearly to ,men and ,women1 they would do best not to sit up to see1 much less to eat1 a ,family-supper at nine o',clock4 ,lying on soft ,beds is undoubtedly wrong2 the ,french have a good ,custom of putting a ,matrass above the ,feather-bed1 which prevents their sinking into a ,softness very prejudicial to ,health4 ,soft ,beds absorb too much of our ,juices1 cause a greater ,waste than we can spare1 enfeeble our whole ,frame1 and have a remarkable ,tendency to give a ,pain of ,weakness in the ,small of the ,back1 by heating the ,reins4 ,mr4 ,locke1 amidst great good ,sense1 has some ,notions a little rigorous1 which probably are never followed1 nor do they seem altogether needful4 ,he proposes that a ,child's ,bed be designedly ill made2 that is1 sometimes high1 sometimes low1 sometimes rough1 sometimes smooth2 for my part1 ,i am desirous to banish every ill-judged ,tenderness1 every false ,fondness2 but as ,i write for the ,use of both ,sexes1 and all ,conditions1 ,i cannot confine my ,ideas to a ,tent or a ,cabin4 ,let ,children by all ,means lie on ,matrasses instead of ,beds1 for the ,reasons already given2 let them lie with a ,bolster only1 and no ,pillow1 for it is not good for them to have the ,head high2 let them lie either on one ,side or the other1 and not on the ,back2 and let them lie pretty straight in the ,bed1 yet not fully stretched out1 for that would impede the due ,action of the animal ,functions1 and render ,sleep less profitable to them4 ,with regard to the ,form of their ,beds1 ,i think1 ,decency requires that they be orderly and regular2 nor is there any ,fear that a ,change of ,bed will affect them1 for most young ,people sleep sound wherever they are laid4 ,it has been generally said1 that we should keep our ,heads cool2 and many on that ,principle1 even tho' their ,heads are shaved1 lie without a ,night-cap4 ,i will not take upon me to determine the ,matter1 but observe1 that the ,night-air seems to require some ,guard2 and many are of ,opinion1 that lying with the ,head warm is most healthful2 and particularly good for the ,hair1 the ,eyes1 and the ,teeth4 ,another ,observation ,i shall here make1 is1 the ,error of sleeping in small ,rooms1 and by ,choice in the lower ,part of a ,house2 it is certainly right that we should have ,space for a due ,circulation of ,air that it may not become thick and foul1 which is very common in close ,bed-chambers2 nor should we lie surrounded with ,curtains1 for that is confining ourselves to the ,air within the small ,compass of our ,beds4 ,parents would do well to let ,children lie with the ,curtains undrawn2 and even where they have tender ,constitutions1 drawn only at the ,sides of the ,bed2 but never all round1 unless really sick3 for this ,practice1 however common1 is highly erroneous4 ,notwithstanding the general ,rules laid down concerning ,exercise1 ,i must here observe1 that as ,children advance in ,life1 that is1 when they approach to ,men and ,women1 great ,regard should be had to the ,exercise suitable to their ,circumstances and ,constitution2 but these are too many to admit of enlarging upon here4 ,i will in brief observe1 that those who are hale receive the greatest ,advantage from walking2 the tender1 especially the ,hectical1 and those who have weak ,nerves1 cannot bear this ,exercise to any ,degree1 but gain ,strength and ,vigor from riding on ,horseback2 and indeed it often happens1 where walking cannot be borne without great ,fatigue1 and waste of ,strength and ,spirits1 riding1 on the contrary1 not only gives ,pleasure1 but increases both4 ,where ,infirmity is so great1 which doubtless will sometimes happen1 that neither of these ,exercises can be pursued1 then a ,coach1 or some ether ,vehicle1 should supply their ,place2 for it is of great ,consequence not totally to disuse ,exercise3 but ,parents must remember this is too indolent in a ,state of ,health2 and is not by any ,means to be encouraged by ,choice4 ,besides these1 there are many others under the ,name of ,sports and ,pastimes1 which if well regulated1 and ,care be taken that those engaged in them do not injudiciously drink cold ,liquors1 or otherwise expose themselves to inclement ,seasons1 are very salutary2 such as ,fencing1 ,dancing1 ,bowling1 ,digging1 ,gardening1 and many others2 all in their ,nature good1 and at times not to be shunned1 especially by those whose ,life would otherwise be inactive1 those particularly who are devoted to ,study4 ,there are yet some farther things relative to ,health1 which ,parents must not disregard4 ,constitutions are so variously formed1 that the same ,employment which suits one ,child1 will not another4 ,if one is closely confined to ,study it will impair his ,health1 and either shorten his ,days1 or make him miserable3 if another is engaged in a laborious ,business1 his tender ,frame1 perhaps1 sinks under it3 if a third is indulged in an easy ,occupation1 where ,action would have suited his ,frame1 he becomes indolent1 insipid1 and infirm1 a ,burden to himself and others4 ,lastly1 there are ,occupations in ,life whose ,fumes are known to affect us2 and some ,regard should be had even to these1 since the ,health of our ,children is concerned3 not that ,i here recommend the ,observance of each ,nicety1 or would have ,children afraid of every ,vapour that rises around them1 or of every ,employment that is accompanied with ,labour3 no2 that would be making ,life too painful1 and fix in our ,children an unmanly ,timorousness1 which would make them puny1 frivolous or hurtful2 and would be swerving from the ,opinion of the greatest ,men that have studied and wrote on these ,subjects3 ,for ,hippocrates1 ,celsus1 and all those who were best acquainted with what ,physicians call the ,non-naturals1 maintain1 that1 besides ,temperance and ,air1 ,exercise1 and that too of the most laborious ,kind1 particularly ,husbandry1 is indispensably necessary for ,health4 ,what then in general ,i here advise1 is1 that ,parents1 in settling their ,children1 have an ,eye to their ,health1 at the same time that they study their ,interest and ,prosperity4 ,having thus with real ,pains1 and an unfeigned ,desire to promote the ,welfare of ,mankind1 pointed out the general ,means of preserving ,health1 and1 ,i hope1 set in a true ,light those ,errors which usually tend to impair or destroy it2 if ,parents seriously adhere to the one1 and avoid the other1 their ,children will receive many and great ,advantages therefrom4 ,it may be urged1 that the ,treatment which suits one ,child will not another2 and that general ,rules are always subject to particular ,exceptions3 ,i grant it4 ,still this does not justify those ,parents who submit to no ,rules at all4 ,i have said before1 that all ,laws give ,parents the sole ,power of governing their ,children2 ,i may also maintain that the same ,laws oblige them to do every thing to promote their ,welfare4 ,those who are unacquainted with the ,duty of a ,parent1 must learn2 those who know1 must practice4 ,let this ,admonition then rouse the ,attention of ,parents2 and let these ,precepts serve as the ,foundation1 whereon to build the solid ,health of their ,children4 ,the ,constitution is like the ,countenance1 somewhat different in every one2 where therefore any ,deviations from ,rule are the ,effect of ,judgment1 ,i sincerely applaud them2 and where any ,principle here laid down proves erroneous1 ,i chearfully submit to the ,removal of it4 ,many of my ,readers will still perhaps expect1 that something should be said concerning the manner of treating ,children in ,sickness2 but they must remember1 that ,i set out with no farther ,view than the preserving ,health1 by avoiding every ,irregularity and ,excess3 and when ,diseases happen1 which cannot be obviated1 nor even foreseen1 it is not the reading a single ,volume that will qualify ,parents to undertake the ,cure of them3 no2 they must apply to those who make it their ,study and their ,profession2 to those whose ,judgment1 whose ,integrity1 and whose ,diligence they can confide in4 ,to this ,end ,i will here endeavour to point out to ,parents the most rational ,way of proceeding4 ,one would imagine1 that nothing was easier to determine than this ,matter2 for what can be more natural in ,sickness1 than sending for a ,physician8 ,he who from his ,youth has laboured to acquire ,knowledge1 who has devoted his ,life to ,study1 who has searched into ,nature1 and discovered the most hidden ,causes2 who has sacrificed many even of the innocent ,pleasures of ,life1 that he might become useful to ,mankind2 and who1 to accomplish this1 has spent perhaps a good younger ,son's ,portion4 ,can any thing1 ,i say1 be more natural or more rational than this ,proceeding8 ,and yet1 who is there that has any ,knowledge of the ,world1 that is acquainted with ,london particularly1 that does not daily see a very different ,practice8 ,who is there that does not know1 that the ,apothecary1 the ,nurse1 the ,quack1 and many others1 oftentimes baffle the ,physician1 or keep him out of ,play4 ,every ,nation is distinguished for some ,peculiarities of it's own4 ,in ,france the ,physicians have but little ,dignity1 and their ,fees are low2 yet nobody in ,sickness presumes to act without them2 they are always call'd first3 in ,england1 the ,reputation of ,physicians is deservedly great2 but their ,fees are high1 and they are usually call'd in last4 ,as ,sickness is in it's ,nature every ,way expensive1 as the ,doctor's ,fee is always ,gold1 we cannot but be sensible1 that there are many ,people in the ,nation1 who either from a ,desire to contract the ,expence1 or from a ,want of ,ability to give the customary ,fees1 do not1 at least 'till ,danger threatens1 send for a ,physician4 ,and it is for these1 and other ,reasons1 that some ,medium between the ,patient and the ,physician seems necessary3 which ,medium is no where to be found1 but in the ,apothecary4 ,let us now enquire a little into the ,nature of the ,apothecary's ,business1 and see of what ,use he is to ,mankind4 ,pharmacy1 the ,apothecary's ,art1 is branch'd out of ,physic2 for as now the ,apothecary sometimes prescribes1 so originally the ,physician was ,apothecary too4 ,an ,apothecary's ,education is not so deep1 nor his ,application to ,study usually so close1 as the ,physician's3 yet as ,genius is not confined to the ,physician1 but is by ,nature as capable of residing in the ,apothecary2 some ,degree of ,learning1 an ,acquaintance with proper ,books1 which are equally open to both1 and constant ,observation on ,diseases1 will certainly furnish him with a considerable ,stock of useful ,knowledge4 ,experience is the ,mother of ,wisdom4 ,while the ,physician is labouring at ,theories1 the ,apothecary is perhaps deeply immers'd in ,practice3 and as all allow that nice ,observation is of vast ,use in ,physic1 while the one is searching into ,causes1 the other1 if he improves as he ought the ,opportunities he is furnished with1 gains a ,knowledge of ,effects4 ,hence it appears1 that an ,apothecary is capable of being1 not merely an useful1 but a valuable ,man to ,society2 and perhaps equally so1 both to ,patient and ,physician4 ,physicians could not keep up their ,dignity1 nor act with ,safety without this ,medium4 ,who is it they confide in that the ,drugs are good1 and the ,letter of the ,prescription faithfully adhered to1 but the ,apothecary8 ,who is it that gives the ,patient that close ,attendance he frequently wants1 but the ,apothecary8 ,who is it that has the ,trouble of applying ,leeches1 of applying and dressing ,blisters1 of administering ,vomits1 c4 of watching the various ,changes that arise1 and of running in ,pursuit of the ,doctor to check some threatening ,symptom1 but the ,apothecary8 ,and who is it1 in fine1 that on every ,emergency1 in every real or fancied ,danger1 is called out of his ,bed to administer some speedy ,relief1 or appease some groundless ,fears of the ,patient1 or their ,friends1 but the ,apothecary8 ,still all this1 tho' literally true1 tho' it proves the ,apothecary 7where a good one7 to have some real ,importance1 yet it does not put him upon a ,level with the ,physician1 much less justify the shutting him out from ,practice4 ,those who deny that ,apothecaries can sometimes cure ,diseases1 flatly contradict what every ,day's ,experience proves2 and those1 who1 to magnify them1 depreciate the ,physicians1 are guilty of an ,injustice1 which can have no other ,source than ,ignorance1 or an evil ,mind3 for1 to put ,things upon a fair ,footing1 the ,apothecary should be considered as an ,auxiliary2 or1 as ,i have before expressed it1 a necessary ,medium between ,physician and ,patient4 ,health is a nice ,affair2 and ,life precious to every ,individual4 ,the best ,advice then ,i can give to ,parents is1 that they do not1 where these are at ,stake1 hazard either one or the other by ,indolence1 or an ill-tim'd ,frugality4 ,those who are rich1 let them at once send for the ,physician1 especially if it be a ,matter of ,moment2 and surely ,prudence points out this to us3 so those who cannot reach the best1 let them take the next best2 that is1 where calling in a ,physician would too sensibly affect their ,circumstances1 ,prudence demands1 that they employ a good ,apothecary4 ,and even these1 tho' they consult their ,apothecary first1 should strain a ,point where ,danger threatens2 and neither attach themselves too closely to the ,man who is fond of his own ,judgment1 nor condemn another's ,tenderness in proposing farther ,advice4 ,but ,i may on this ,point say farther1 that it is sometimes the greatest ,proof of ,wisdom in an ,apothecary to desire the ,advice of a ,physician2 for tho' ,diligence1 ,integrity1 and many other ,qualifications are highly necessary in this ,profession1 yet none is equal to that ,penetration1 which gives him the ,power of seeing ,danger before it is too late to apply a ,remedy4 ,as for the ,calumnies1 the ,sneers1 and the ,misrepresentations of ignorant or designing ,people1 such as ,apothecaries and ,physicians being in league together1 and playing into one another's ,hands2 the ,eleven-pence in the ,shilling2 the cramming ,people with ,physic they do not want2 and much more of the like ,nature2 these are things that scarcely deserve any ,notice4 ,i have now been above thirty ,years in the ,business2 have seen and done far from an inconsiderable ,share2 have attended with ,physicians of every ,rank1 from those who first enter'd into ,practice up to those who have reach'd the ,summit2 yet cannot charge either any single ,physician1 or myself1 with even an ,attempt to enter into an ,association to the ,prejudice of ,mankind4 ,on the contrary1 ,i have seen some who have laboured with disinterested ,zeal for their ,benefit2 not merely because they could not have their ,fees1 but because they would not take them4 ,here ,i cannot help observing how much the ,world is misled by ,appearances2 because ,people see an ,apothecary with a good ,suit of ,cloaths on1 they conclude he is above ,want2 and because they see another in a ,chariot1 they pronounce him rich3 so too because a very few ,physicians make ,fortunes1 they conclude1 that all of the ,profession are ,wealthy4 ,but how fallacious is all this6 ,there is no ,profession1 no ,trade in the ,kingdom which we call genteel1 that has so few rich ,men in it as the different ,branches of ,physic4 ,many a ,man in it1 sensible that the ,world would have no ,opinion of his ,skill1 if he appeared to ,disadvantage1 keeps up a ,port with aching ,heart2 many a ,chariot is in daily ,danger of breaking down2 and many owe their ,stability more to their own ,patrimony1 to their ,wives ,portion1 or some other fortunate ,event1 than to the ,produce of their ,business4 ,two ,things with respect to ,sickness ,parents are to guard against2 one is1 the ,neglect of calling for ,help in time2 the other1 that amazing ,attachment to ,nurses1 and what they call good old ,women4 ,i esteem it a ,misfortune in a ,family1 where a ,physician or an ,apothecary appears as regularly as the ,baker2 and to prove that ,i do so1 ,i have said before1 that our ,food may often be made our ,physic2 and have pointed out many ,ways to prevent ,diseases3 still it is a ,fact1 that all ,errors are best rectified at the ,beginning2 and the sooner a ,distemper is attacked1 the sooner1 in all ,probability1 will it be conquered4 ,good ,women are extremely apt to treat physical ,people with ,contempt2 and this chiefly to magnify their own ,skill4 ,if they have any ,knowledge1 as some of them doubtless have1 to whom principally do they owe it8 ,is it not from conversing with physical ,people1 and seeing how they proceed8 most certainly4 ,and yet these same good ,women shall wonder that any body sends for a ,doctor or an ,apothecary to a sick ,child6 ,what1 they cry1 do these ,people know about ,children8 ,a good old ,woman is better than all of them4 ,she must be a very good old ,woman indeed1 that knows more than ,men who have made the ,knowledge of ,diseases the whole ,study of their ,lives4 ,but supposing that ,reason and ,resolution get the better of this ,weakness2 ,parents have still more to do2 it is not enough that ,medicines are prescribed1 they must be sure that they are taken4 ,for besides the ,repugnance in the ,child1 there is a ,difficulty perhaps in the ,nurse2 and if she thinks it wrong1 it will be hard to set her right2 and harder still1 to prevail on her to give them to the ,patient4 ,parents1 in this ,case1 must either resolve not to ask ,advice1 or resolve to see the ,medicines taken4 ,nurses have a ,province of their own1 in which they are very valuable1 that is1 a diligent attentive ,care2 for in vain do ,parents seek ,advice1 in vain do ,physicians prescribe1 if ,nurses are negligent1 unwatchful1 or careless4 ,but while ,i do them the ,justice they deserve1 while ,i acknowledge the ,merit of their ,station1 and recommend that it be rewarded1 ,i cannot help repeating to ,parents1 not to suffer them to baffle superior ,knowledge4 ,if any ,change happens to the ,patient1 or a ,difficulty arises unforeseen1 let them suspend for a ,time the ,execution of the ,orders given them2 but let them not frustrate the ,physician's ,intention1 by throwing ,medicines away1 giving them by ,halves1 or giving something of their own added to it1 or in it's stead2 and then concealing what they have done3 all these things are grievously wrong1 and every way unjustifiable1 as they frequently disappoint the ,patient1 or disgrace the ,physician4 ,if a ,nurse has made any useful ,observation on the ,patient 7which all good ,nurses sometimes will7 there is not a ,doctor in the ,kingdom1 if a ,man of ,sense1 but will hear her1 and turn it to ,advantage2 but if her ,conceit leads her to set aside or overturn what is proposed1 however merry it may make herself1 every thinking ,person in the ,world must condemn so capital an ,error4 ,the last ,caution ,i shall give to ,parents relative to ,health1 is1 the ,danger of ,nostrums and ,quack-,medicines4 ,i believe there is not a ,physician nor an ,apothecary in the ,kingdom but what has seen the ,lives of ,people1 particularly of ,children1 sacrificed to this ,practice4 ,what is it that constitutes the ,physician1 that proves the ,man of ,judgment1 but the varying his ,prescriptions1 not only according to different ,diseases1 but according to the different ,circumstances of the same ,disease8 ,and yet these ,nostrum-,mongers1 with unparalell'd ,boldness1 often attempt to conquer all ,diseases with one ,arcanum1 one pretended ,remedy4 ,who that hears these ,boasters1 or that reads their printed ,accounts1 but must discover many ,absurdities on the very ,face of them4 ,the ,man that promises what is repugnant to common ,sense1 argues himself either a ,knave or a ,fool2 and yet ,people are often so little attentive1 or so regardless of ,health1 that they do not discover their ,error1 'till it is sometimes too late to remedy it4 ,that ,i may do strict ,justice to every one1 ,i am ready to grant1 that many ,discoveries have been made in ,medicine by mere ,accident2 and that some of the ,nostrums in ,vogue are in themselves good2 nay some of them were the ,discoveries of able ,physicians2 ,discoveries since seiz'd on by designing ,people1 and pirated into a kind of ,property4 ,but what does all this avail in the ,hands of ignorant ,people8 ,what is a ,man the wiser for being placed in a ,repository of the finest ,drugs1 if he knows not how to apply them8 ,or wherein does he differ from one set in a ,library of the choicest ,books1 without being able to read8 ,yet are ,people every ,day vending ,things1 which they know not the ,nature nor ,use of2 and so far impose on the weak and credulous1 as often to make a ,fortune at others ,cost4 ,opium1 ,mercury1 and all the powerful ,drugs1 are every ,day scattered about the ,kingdom1 and indiscriminately offered to all1 whether they want them or not1 whether they are good for them or not2 and the specious ,terms they are recommended in are apt to mislead1 not merely innocent1 but very sensible ,people4 ,since then ,things are so1 ,parents must be very wary how they touch such dangerous ,weapons4 ',tis great ,odds but they mistake their ,child's ,disorder2 'tis great ,odds that the random ,medicine they give is not suited to it2 and how will they reconcile it to themselves if any fatal ,consequence ensues8 ,upon the ,whole1 as a ,friend to ,mankind1 independent of any private ,interest1 as one who aims at the ,benefit of ,society1 and wishes to preserve the rising ,generation1 ,i cannot but advise ,parents to be tender1 circumspect1 and judicious1 in so important a ,matter as their ,children's ,health4 ,when they are well1 let them use every prudent ,means to keep them so2 if they are ill1 let them ask good ,advice2 by which ,means they will often save their ,children's ,lives3 and even where a ,miscarriage happens1 their ,prudence and ,justice will be attended with this ,consolation1 that they have done their best4 ,,manners4 ,manners comes next under my ,consideration3 it implies such a ,government of our ,children as tends to regulate their ,conduct1 by making their ,actions what they ought to be4 ,and though ,health has been treated first1 from it's being generally thought the most immediately necessary1 yet if this ,regulation1 this due ,government does not accompany every ,endeavour to preserve their ,children's ,health1 ,parents will often be disappointed1 and find their ,labour fruitless4 ,the ,basis of ,government is ,authority3 without that1 in vain do we expect any ,order in our ,children1 any ,happiness to ourselves4 ,cities1 ,armies1 ,kingdoms1 all are sustain'd by it3 and so too must private ,families be4 ,by ,authority ,i do not mean that stern ,brow1 that trembling awful ,distance1 nor that ,bashaw-like ,behaviour1 which favours more of the ,tyrant than of the ,parent2 no3 ,i mean a rational1 yet absolute ,exercise of a ,degree of ,power1 necessary for the regulating the ,actions and ,dispositions of ,children1 'till they become wise enough to govern themselves4 ,but because some ,children attain this necessary ,knowledge sooner than others1 and one ,child will be better able to conduct itself at fifteen1 than another at twenty1 or even thirty2 there is but one general way of ascertaining the length of ,time our ,authority should be exercised in it's full ,force2 which is that settled by the ,laws of our ,kingdom2 viz4 'till the ,age of twenty-one4 ,and if we can once seriously resolve to employ this ,term so critical to ,children1 solely to their ,advantage1 ,authority will thenceforward become useless3 it's ,terrors will vanish1 and be wholly absorbed in the united ,considerations of the ,parent1 the ,friend1 and the ,companion3 in a ,word1 our ,children well conducted to this ,age will afterwards take as much ,pains to make us happy1 as we have done to make them wise4 ,but to proceed4 ,as soon as a ,child discovers the first ,dispositions to ,perversity and ,self-will 7which as sure as it is born it will too soon begin to do7 ,i advise most earnestly that it be attended to2 for much depends upon it4 ,here ,i must caution my ,fair ,readers in particular1 not to suspect me of ,cruelty2 since the ,pains ,i am taking is intended to prevent the ,necessity of using any ,severity during our whole ,lives4 ,but what6 you'll say1 should a ,child be corrected before it can speak8 ,i answer1 that the first ,principle in human ,nature is ,self-love2 ,reason1 the second ,principle1 opens only by degrees4 ,now as soon as the ,passions of ,children shew themselves1 they should certainly be checked3 and as the ,fear of ,chastisement is included in ,self-love1 it is easy to turn this to their ,advantage1 'till ,reason shall have gained so much ,strength as to render it unnecessary3 no one can absolutely fix the ,time1 but within the ,year most ,parents will find a ,necessity to begin2 and before half the first ,septenary is past much may be done4 ,in the ,government of ,children ,parents should be obstinately good2 that is1 set out upon right ,principles1 and then pursue them with ,spirit and ,resolution3 otherwise their ,children will soon grow too cunning for them1 and take the ,advantage of their ,weakness4 ,severe and frequent ,whipping is ,i think a very bad ,practice2 it inflames the ,skin1 it puts the ,blood into a ,ferment1 and there is besides1 a ,meanness1 a degree of ,ignominy attending it1 which makes it very unbecoming3 still there may be ,occasions which will render it necessary2 but ,i earnestly advise that all the milder ,methods be first try'd4 ,a coarse clamorous manner of enforcing ,obedience is also to be avoided2 it is vulgar1 and nothing vulgar should be seen in the ,behaviour of ,parents to their ,children1 because through the ,eyes and ,ears it taints their tender ,minds3 still1 let ,parents make their ,children both see and feel the ,power they have over them4 ,if a ,child is passionate and wilful1 a ,look1 or a little ,tap on the ,hand1 will1 without hurting it1 sometimes suffice to convince it that it is doing wrong2 and will often cure the ,fault1 or at least keep it under4 ,a ,child1 in a perverse ,mood1 throws down it's ,play-things2 if they are taken up fifty times successively1 they are still thrown down as long as the ,spirit of ,contradiction lasts3 now the ,remedy here should be to take them away2 or by a serious ,countenance shew you are displeased2 and the ,child will very probably not only soon be quiet1 but be less prone to do the like another ,time4 ,i have seen ,children that could not speak1 distinguish perfectly those who were disposed to spoil them1 from those who were not2 scratch ,faces1 break ,china1 and play the tyrant over all who humour'd them1 and yet not offer to lift a ,finger against those who did not4 ,by all means let ,children be play'd with1 and have every ,amusement2 but great care must be taken to distinguish ,play from ,mischief2 innocent ,freedom1 from a growing ,perversity4 ,the ,humours even of ,infants are innumerably various4 ,one ,child will not sleep but on a ,lap2 another there is no ,peace with unless rock'd in a ,cradle2 a third will cry when a ,candle is taken away2 and to shew us why it cry'd1 it is quiet the ,moment it is brought back again2 a fourth will swill ,tea or some other improper ,liquor out of measure and out of time2 and a fifth will eat ,trash 'till it can eat nothing else1 nor that itself4 ,in these ,cases ,i advise ,parents to consider if their ,children are acting for themselves1 or they for their ,children3 one ,grain of ,judgment will set them right2 one ,minute's ,reflection will shew them their ,error2 but1 when they once see it they must resolve to avoid it for the future4 ,i call'd some time ago on a ,friend1 and took a ,family ,dinner2 when to my great ,astonishment ,i saw little ,master1 not yet a ,year old1 drinking ,porter4 ,what1 said ,i1 do you give the ,child strong ,drink8 ,oh6 ,sir1 reply'd ,mamma1 he'll drink nothing else4 ,now is not the ,fault of such ,proceeding obvious8 and is not the ,remedy as obvious8 ,parents surely cannot be so blind as not to see their ,children's ,health impair'd1 and their ,humours strengthen'd1 by this misplac'd ,indulgence2 and all for want of a little ,resolution1 a gentle ,correction1 or a seasonable ,reprimand2 nay perhaps only a ,look2 which given with an authoritative ,air1 would often have the desired ,effect4 ,constant ,experience proves how wrong1 nay how ineffectual1 the opposite ,practice to this is2 those who give a ,child every thing it cries or asks for1 strengthen indeed its ,wilfulness1 but are far from making it happy4 ,how many improper ,things are there which ,parents give a ,child because they cannot quiet it8 ,who has not seen a ,picture1 a ,book1 a ,watch1 and other valuable things exposed to be destroyed by it through this mistaken ,management8 ,but surely it is right that even among the ,baubles contrived on purpose1 the ,parents1 not the ,child1 should have the ,command of them2 that is1 they should be given or taken away at ,discretion2 and this without ,passion or ,ill-nature on one ,side1 and without ,clamour or ,fretfulness on the other4 ,parents should every ,day more and more convince their ,children of their ,power over them1 by restraining their little ,irregularities1 and by weakening their ,passions2 now this they cannot do without an early ,attention to their various ,dispositions and ,tempers2 that they may thence learn what ,propensity is strongest1 what ,foible is most predominant4 ,nature1 'tis true1 is not alike bountiful to all2 nor does she give the same ,propensity1 the same ,temper to all4 ,one ,child is born with sweet and mild ,dispositions2 another more sanguine1 and full of ,fire2 a third has a ,redundance of ,acrimony2 and so on3 yet different ,tempers are sometimes a kindness bestow'd on us by ,nature1 on purpose for us to act some certain ,part on the great ,stage of ,life4 ,it is therefore the ,parents ,business to watch the ,temper of their ,children2 to check any evil ,tendency1 any ill ,dispositions1 and prevent every ,excess from growing into a ,habit2 nay more1 to change the bad ,humour into a good one2 as ,physicians administer ,medicines to alter the ,blood and ,juices4 ,that famous ,reply of ,socrates to the ,phisiognomist was excellent3 8,nature 7says he7 intended me a ,monster2 but ,reason has made me what ,i am40 ,cardinal ,richlieu 7speaking of external ,graces7 says1 8,every thing to a ,gentleman should be natural40 ,now it cannot be supposed that he means1 we should know how to speak1 or move1 or dance gracefully1 without being taught2 no1 but these ,things by ,acquisition should so far enter into us as to seem interwoven in our ,nature4 ,thus did ,philosophy change the ,vices of ,socrates into ,virtues2 and thus should ,parents correct and alter the irregular ,dispositions of their ,children3 they must temper and moderate the ,fire of one1 lest it grow too impetuous2 they must animate the ,mildness of another with a ,degree of ,warmth1 lest it become sluggish2 and they must blunt and sweeten the ,acrimony of a third1 lest it degenerate into ,rancour2 which last ,frame of ,mind1 as it is of all others the most detestable in itself1 and the most dangerous to ,society1 so of all others it requires the nicest ,care to manage2 in short ,parents1 as ,i have already observed1 are to let their ,children see and feel their ,affection for them1 and their ,power over them2 and then regulate their ,actions as they find necessary4 ,i have still my ,eye on ,children in the first ,septenary1 and with ,concern view the ,majority of them humour'd1 and therefore humoursome2 ,boys audacious and impudent under the ,name of courageous2 and ,girls pert and vain under the name of witty4 ,it is my ,opinion the ,parents need not trouble themselves much to reason with their ,children in this ,stage2 first let them consider what is proper for them to do1 or avoid2 then enforce their ,compliance in soft and winning ,terms2 or1 if not with a smiling ,countenance1 at least with a smooth ,brow and without harshness3 but whenever they attempt to disobey1 let them shew by a ,word or a ,look that they are absolute3 which ,method ,i think should be seriously adhered to4 ,though ,i have already observed that ,children have ,knowledge much earlier than is commonly imagined1 they have yet no ,judgment to guide their ,actions4 ,what they chiefly discover to us at this ,age is ,cunning2 therefore if ,parents neglect ,reproof when necessary1 they will soon get the better of them4 ,for ,example1 a ,child cries because it is to go to ,school2 shall ,parents fondly to quiet it keep it at ,home8 by no means4 ,a ,dose of ,physic is to be taken2 shall they1 because it is unpleasant1 humour the ,child1 and throw it away8 no surely4 ,there is no other ,method here but being serious2 you must go1 you must take it2 when ,children thus see their ,parents in earnest1 ,obedience very soon becomes familiar and easy4 ,nor is an unreasonable ,compliance with the ,humours of ,children what ,parents take it for2 they falsely think it ,tenderness and ,love2 but far from it2 it is ,love degenerated into ,weakness and ,folly4 ,but it is easy to soften this seeming ,rigour in the ,behaviour of ,parents1 by their addressing the ,understandings of ,children at other ,intervals1 supposing it to be open4 ,what more natural and reasonable than to say to a ,child1 ,you know1 my ,dear1 all good ,children do as they are bid2 all ,children to become wise must go to ,school2 you would not surely be rank'd among bad ,children by being disobedient8 ,you would not1 ,i hope1 be a ,blockhead8 yet if you do not apply to your ,learning you must be one4 ,thus too with ,regard to ,medicines3 ,you know1 my ,love1 ,physic is to make you well2 ,i am sorry you have occasion to take it2 ,i am sorry it is unpleasant2 but since it is necessary for you1 prove yourself a good ,child1 and take it at once4 ,here ,i must beg leave to expostulate with ,parents on the ,errors usually run into in this last ,particular4 ,how comes it that there is such an universal ,difficulty in getting ,medicines down a sick ,child's ,throat8 ,how comes it that the most sprightly talkative ,child cannot be prevailed on to shew its ,tongue to the ,doctor1 yet the ,moment his ,back is turn'd he will loll it out twenty times8 ,the ,reason is plain2 ,parents do not teach their ,children to obey4 ,instead of ,compulsion or ,reason1 they use ,flattery1 ,bribes and ,deceit3 but ,i am practically convinced that all this1 however common1 is wrong3 and indeed where ,obedience is not insisted on1 and made a first ,rule of ,action1 few things can be right4 ,as ,medicines are generally nauseous1 a ,repugnance to take them is as natural as shrinking at ,pain2 notwithstanding this1 where they are really necessary1 and unless they are so1 nobody ought to be troubled with them1 a ,child at any ,age1 from the very ,day it is born1 till it is a ,man or ,woman1 may1 and ought to be made to take them4 ,but to do this ,parents must set out right2 they must have the ,child under ,command4 ,that every ,parent is actuated by a ,principle of preserving the ,life of their ,child1 ,i will take for granted2 but this is not enough3 they must go on to the ,execution of the ,means4 ,the ,infant of a ,day shews its ,repugnance to swallow a few ,grains of ,rhubarb2 the ,child of a ,year will twist it's ,head about every ,way it can1 that the ,spoon or ,cup which contains the ,dose may not reach it's ,mouth2 and by the time it is three or four ,years old1 it will probably dash the ,cup out of the ,hand of those who offer the ,potion1 or tell them in plain ,terms it won't take it4 ,now1 without mentioning the ,consequence this may be of to it's ,health or ,life1 there is another of great ,importance2 namely1 that a ,child thus used to get the better of all about it1 and convinced it can conquer it's ,parents1 is seldom disposed to conquer itself2 so that where ,self-will is very strong1 ,reason will doubtless be weak2 and only serve to aggravate the ,fault by fixing an ,error1 perhaps for ,life4 ,yet great as all these ,difficulties appear1 they vanish at the ,entrance of ,reflection and ,resolution4 ,if ,parents consider that they are bound by every ,tye to make their ,children obey1 and then resolve to fulfil this ,obligation1 the ,business is done3 therefore with regard to ,medicines1 what have they more to do8 ,nothing but the ,execution1 which may be effected with ,ease4 ,for ,example1 take a ,child from it's ,birth to the ,age of twenty-one1 and divide this ,time into three1 not equal parts1 but ,states2 call the first the unresisting ,state2 the second the ,state of ,cunning2 and the third the ,state of ,reason4 ,the first is extremely short1 we cannot count it by ,years1 and scarcely by ,months2 nor is there any ,trouble here with ,medicines1 but putting a ,spoon or ,cup to it's ,mouth1 and holding the ,head back 'till the ,dose is swallowed4 ,the second ,state lasts long2 and tho' soft and winning ,words are always to be preferred1 yet they seldom succeed here2 a serious ,countenance and a resolute ,air are the surest ,means to conquer2 and these maintained1 there is nothing to fear4 ,the ,difficulties of the third ,state1 that of ,reason1 are greatly lessened by the ,success of the preceding2 for a ,child habituated to obey1 looks back with ,pleasure on it's ,compliance with every reasonable ,command2 and tho' it before obey'd and took ,medicines1 because it must1 it now takes them because it ought4 ,i cannot but be of ,opinion1 that every ,method in the ,management of sick ,children contrary to this is erroneous2 ,i think ,i have seen all tried that is in the ,power of human ,invention2 and many who read this cannot but be convinced that their own ,endeavours have often been fruitless4 ,the first ,rule ,parents are to lay down to themselves is1 never to deceive their ,children2 for surely those who are to teach them never to be deceitful1 cannot but be very unfit ,persons to deceive them themselves3 nor does this square with the ,practice of quibbling down a ,dose of ,physic1 under a thousand ,shifts and ,turns1 and even manifest ,falshoods4 ,the next ,rule is1 to avoid the ,practice of ,bribes4 ,children should be taught to know1 that their greatest ,happiness is their ,parents ,love2 therefore the ,custom of giving them ,sugar-,plumbs1 ,cakes1 ,toys1 or ,money for every thing they take1 is grievously wrong3 it gives them a ,fondness for improper things2 it gives them a restless ,desire for every new ,bauble2 and above all1 it gives them an early ,mean-spiritedness2 an odious ,selfishness2 a ,desire of being paid for every thing they do4 ,at the same time that ,i recommend to ,parents never to call things by wrong ,names1 never to attempt imposing on a ,child's ,senses or ,understanding1 or to force down ,medicines with ,bribes2 so ,i also recommend1 that they avoid ,harshness and ,violence1 unless pressed to it by great ,necessity2 but this ,caution is almost needless after what has been said3 for with the ,method proposed1 it requires no more than to approach the sick ,bed with1 ,come1 my ,dear1 take your ,dose2 if the ,child says1 it is nauseous1 grant it3 but at the same time say1 ,we do not take ,medicines for ,pleasure1 but to make us well3 if it declines it1 urge how wrong it is to dwell on what would be gone in a ,minute2 and if any ,difficulty still remains1 inform it1 that it is not for your ,sake you urge it1 but it's own2 and that while you are doing all you can to restore it to ,health1 you must1 and will be obeyed4 ,at intermediate times1 let ,parents1 by a fond1 engaging ,behaviour1 convince their ,children how tenderly they love them2 let them frequently mingle with them in their little ,plays and ,sports2 and let them sometimes overlook ,trifles1 that they may have more ,influence in ,matters of ,moment4 ,lord ,hallifax observes1 that the first ,impressions ,children receive are in the ,nursery2 whence he infers1 that ,mothers have not only the earliest1 but the most lasting ,influence over them4 ,that the first ,care of ,children1 and many of the most tender ,offices they require1 are the ,mother's ,province1 is an undoubted ,truth2 but when the forming their ,manners is under ,consideration1 the ,influence of both ,father and ,mother should1 if possible1 be equal2 at least it is necessary that ,parents go hand in hand1 and not counteract one another in the ,government of them4 ,parents should make it a ,rule to themselves1 never to shew to their ,children1 both at once1 the ,marks of extreme ,anger1 or excessive ,fondness2 but when a ,child has done such a ,fault as demands of the ,father to affect great ,severity1 let the ,mother put on an equal ,share of ,lenity and ,compassion mixed with ,grief3 and so on the reverse4 ,thus too on other ,occasions1 when the ,mother prudently exposes all the motherly ,fondness of her ,heart1 let the ,father as prudently conceal a ,part of his1 and1 with an ,air of ,steadiness1 insinuate1 that the ,conduct which is approved is no more than ,duty4 ,but ,parents will never be able to act with due ,moderation in the ,government of their ,children1 without first resolving to govern1 with the utmost ,prudence1 their own ,passions and ,tempers4 ,and how will they be able to do this1 unless they look inwardly1 and study to find them out8 ,if the ,man be of a choleric or morose ,disposition1 and the ,woman of a phlegmatic1 mild1 and affable ,temper1 the ,contrast may prove sovereignly beneficial to their ,children1 if the ,parties1 conscious of it in themselves1 resolve mutually to apply it under the ,direction of ,prudence2 and found the ,government of their young ,family's ,passions on that of their own4 ,whereas1 if ignorant of their respective ,foibles1 or heedless to turn them to ,advantage1 they give a full ,loose to them1 and agree in nothing but an unbridled ,exertion of them as ,occasion or ,accident offers1 the ,contrast will probably prove fatal both to themselves and their ,children3 they will for the most part be pleased and displeased alike out of ,time and out of ,measure2 their ,severities and ,lenities will often jar1 and rob each other of their due ,effect2 their ,punishments and ,rewards1 by being never1 or but seldom1 and that by mere ,chance1 proportioned to the ,failings they mean to correct1 or the ,merit they ,wish to encourage1 will prove fruitless1 if not destructive3 and what is still worse1 they will seldom fail1 in the midst of ,correction1 to strengthen the ,misconduct they aim at reforming1 by the ,example they give of it in their own ,persons2 and as seldom miss1 in the ,extravagance of their false ,fondnesses1 of perverting the ,minds of their ,children from the noble ,love of ,virtue1 to the reptil ,hankerings after ,rewards1 ,praises1 and ,caresses4 ,if a ,child is to be reformed of any peevish or passionate ,behaviour1 what ,effect can ,correction have on him1 if given by a ,parent delivered over by his own ,passions to all the ,fierceness of a ,brute8 ,it may make him hate the ,correction1 but can never make him hate ,faults1 the opposite ,virtues to which he sees not the least ,example of in his ,corrector4 ,if another is to be encouraged in some commendable ,action1 what ,benefit will he receive from an ,excess of ,fondness1 while the being humour'd in other ,actions1 perhaps highly discommendable1 only teaches him to exchange ,vice for ,vice1 or one ,folly for another8 ,or finally1 what ,advantage can be produced to ,children from ,reprehension or ,approbation1 from ,punishments or ,rewards1 however well proportioned1 timed or placed1 if there appear to them in the ,parents a ,dissention in the bestowing them2 and that they are the ,overflowings of ,passion or ,partiality1 rather than the ,result of ,reason and ,equity8 ,parents then should seriously acquaint themselves with their own ,tempers1 and mutually consent and agree on the ,methods of regulating their ,children2 never to reward or punish1 seem angry or pleas'd1 but by ,concert2 and above all1 never to correct while in a ,passion1 nor reward till the fond ,fit be over4 ,there are many things in the ,management of ,children rather to be wished than obtained2 not so easily practised as desired2 among these1 one ,expedient1 ,i think1 might often prove successful towards attaining this happy ,medium ,i have been speaking of4 ,where a ,father is of a choleric1 hasty1 and severe ,disposition1 and the ,mother the reverse1 which is most generally the ,case1 it were greatly to be wished1 that1 by mutual ,consent1 they sometimes exchanged ,offices in the ,government of their ,children4 ,would the ,father resolve to make it his ,study so to conquer his ,temper1 as seldom or never1 but in extreme ,necessity1 to interfere in reprimanding and correcting his ,children1 but rather to take upon him the ,office of ,commendations and ,rewards2 and of treating them with all the ,affability he is ,master of3 and would the ,mother take an equal ,resolution to conquer the ,softness of her ,nature1 to reprimand and punish them on proper ,occasions with all the ,sternness she can summon2 remitting them for the ,applause or ,gratifications they may deserve to their ,father3 would ,parents1 ,i say1 with these ,dispositions1 resolve on the ,practice1 ,i cannot but think it would produce excellent ,effects in the ,government of ,children3 considering the very little ,danger there would be of the choleric1 or naturally severe ,father spoiling his ,child by ,excess of ,fondness2 or the naturally tender ,mother ruining it by extreme ,severity4 ,i will here suppose1 what is most agreeable to good ,sense1 that ,parents in general have such good ,dispositions as to intend the real ,benefit of their ,children2 but either that they have not thought on what was necessary to be done1 or thought on it but confusedly3 ,i will suppose too that both ,father and ,mother agree in this general ,intention4 ,still1 as all have their several ,ways of judging1 the most sensible ,people will be liable to have different ,notions of different ,things1 and even different ,ways of doing the same ,thing2 which1 so far from being wrong1 if well attended to1 may contribute to the great ,emolument of both4 ,yet ,parents must be extremely cautious never to differ about the ,government of ,children in their ,hearing2 it does incredible ,mischief2 but particularly1 it alienates them from their ,duty2 and weakens the ,authority of the ,parents on one ,side at least1 if not on both4 ,if a ,child is to be in the ,hands of a ,nursery-maid1 7which is general among ,people of ,condition7 great ,care should be taken in the ,choice of her4 ,i am an ,advocate for ,knowledge and ,good-breeding1 but they are not so much wanted here4 ,the ,requisites are1 ,cleanliness1 ,good-temper1 ,docility1 and ,innocence4 ,every one allows1 and is sensible of the ,benefit of ,cleanliness2 and genuine ,good-temper is no less advantageous2 but if with these ,parents find a tractable docile ,mind1 joined with a native ,innocence1 they have found a ,treasure2 and ought to prize it accordingly4 ,the ,parents are to be their ,children's ,guides1 and the sole ,judges what ought to be done for them2 therefore ,i cannot but account it a singular ,happiness1 when they find a ,servant who will treat their ,children in the ,manner they require4 ,but farther2 a ,servant with this ,turn of ,temper1 will every ,day improve in the ,knowledge and ,behaviour necessary to her ,station3 and from seeing the ,reasonableness of the ,parents ,injunctions1 take pains to enforce them on the ,child4 ,but as a ,variety of ,circumstances in ,life may alter our ,views2 so we are often obliged to vary our ,mode of proceeding1 tho' directed to the same ,point4 ,thus it sometimes happens1 that a very young ,couple become ,parents1 who are totally unacquainted with what ought to be done2 in that ,case1 it is undoubtedly necessary that they seek a ,person already skilled in this important ,business2 possessed too of all the ,requisites ,i have just pointed out3 and such an one with ,care and ,pains may be found4 ,as ,misfortunes are but too common1 so there are ,women who are not only well born1 but whose ,education and ,manner of ,life is truly virtuous2 whose only ,fault perhaps is1 that they inconsiderately married too young2 and whose ,misfortune is1 that ,death by depriving them of their ,husbands1 has deprived them of ,support3 whence they are glad to accept of a ,service1 which unexperienced ,parents ought as gladly to engage them in1 and reward them for4 ,it is not enough that ,children have wise and discreet ,parents1 who employ too a faithful ,deputy2 no1 they must also be guarded from the ,interposition of ,friends and ,relations4 ,they are dangerous ,sharers in our ,government1 and dangerous ,rivals in our ,children's ,affections4 ,no body surely can mistake me so far as to think ,i would exclude ,relations from the ,respect and ,duty due to them2 by no means3 they may assist with their ,counsel in the ,absence of the ,children1 or they may encourage filial ,duty in the ,absence of the ,parents2 but in general they should not be allow'd to interfere in the ,management1 nor on any ,account thwart the ,parents ,injunctions1 or discover opposite ,sentiments in the ,children's hearing4 ,what more common than for a ,lady to have a ,maiden ,sister live with her1 who is pretty sure to spoil the ,children by a mistaken ,fondness4 ,a ,child grows ungovernable1 and the ,parents correct it2 now as ,children are cunning before they are wise1 immediately it flies to it's ,aunt2 who1 with eager ,embraces1 and pathetic ,nonsense1 seldom fails to pervert the ,parents ,correction with ill timed1 and worse judg'd ,consolations4 ,is it not easy to see that ,children by this ,party ,management will be misled2 and that if it does not misguide their ,affection1 it will at least weaken their ,duty8 ,that ,children have ,knowledge very early is plain to us a thousand different ,ways1 but in none more evidently than their close ,attachment1 their visible ,fondness1 for some one ,person1 whether ,father1 ,mother1 ,aunt1 or ,nurse2 though commonly it is the ,mother or ,nurse1 or whoever is most with them1 or most humours them4 ,this ,fondness is perfectly natural1 and we are not to be surprised at it2 but my ,readers must remember it is the ,parents ,business to regulate their ,children's ,desires2 and this they cannot do1 if they indulge and cherish a blind ,fondness in them1 though it should be even to themselves4 ,filial ,affection in it's full ,extent is undoubtedly an exalted ,virtue2 still to be rational1 it must be just3 and as there are many things which ,parents cannot lawfully command their ,children to do1 so there are many things which ,children ought not to comply with1 even though commanded by a ,parent4 ,for ,instance3 if a ,man dislikes his ,wife1 or a ,woman her ,husband 7and melancholy ,experience shews us these things do happen1 and that there is sometimes a fix'd ,aversion on one side or both7 is it therefore lawful for a ,man to teach his ,children to hate their ,mother2 or the reverse8 by no means3 nor can a ,child comply with so impious a ,command4 ,people who know but little of ,life1 may think such an ,injunction impossible2 but it is far from it4 ,many ,incidents approaching very near to this are too frequently to be met with2 and ,i have myself the ,pleasure of being acquainted with a ,gentleman1 whose whole ,deportment is such as renders him amiable in the ,eyes of all who know him2 yet this ,gentleman1 when a ,student1 was almost totally abandon'd by his ,father1 for no other ,reason than that of writing some ,letters of ,duty and ,affection to his ,mother4 ,but to return to this first ,fondness we discover in ,children4 ,the ,cause of it is mostly owing to their being too much confined to the ,arms of one ,person1 or too much indulg'd by another3 yet whatever it is owing to1 the ,effects are very disagreeable1 very inconvenient1 and sometimes very fatal4 ,when a ,child is in the ,arms of those it is fond of1 no body must meddle with it under pain of a ,slap on the ,face2 and tho' this ,behaviour is often put up with1 and the ,parents persuade themselves it is pretty1 yet their ,friends1 when absent1 seldom fail to condemn them as the ,cause of this ,behaviour3 but should any one1 regardless of the ,slaps1 take the ,child into their ,arms1 the little ,creature is immediately in a ,rage1 the whole ,company is thrown into ,disorder1 and nothing can quiet it1 but returning to the ,arms of the mistaken ,fondler4 ,here at one ,view is ,error upon ,error1 ,absurdity upon ,absurdity2 the ,child by this mistaken ,fondness is made miserable1 and the ,mother or ,nurse a ,slave4 ,now to obviate this ,inconvenience1 my ,advice is1 that every ,child1 after six ,months old1 be accustomed to various ,faces2 be put into the ,arms of various ,people1 young or old1 fine or ordinary2 so as to make every one they see in some ,degree familiar3 ,parents are to make their ,children happy2 keep them active1 lively1 and smiling2 and this they cannot do1 if they cherish or indulge in them a ,dislike of going to any other but themselves4 ,i know this ,weakness in ,mothers and ,nurses is attended with many ,inconveniencies2 it creates in ,children an early ,fear2 often an unconquerable ,shyness2 it sours their ,temper1 and strengthens their natural ,wilfulness2 which last ,effect is plain to every ,eye2 for to make the ,child quiet they take it away from the ,stranger2 by which ,treatment it soon sees it can conquer it's ,parents4 ,but ,parents encourage this partial ,fondness in ,children1 for fear they should not love them3 this is a ,mistake2 for even ,infants soon know their ,mother or ,nurse2 and soon too do they both see and feel a ,happiness in them they do not find in others3 like ,people who toil themselves with ,sights and ,shows1 they return to their own ,home1 and enjoy a ,content superior to every thing they felt abroad4 ,children1 while young1 may be compared to ,machines2 which are1 or should be1 put in ,motion1 or stopped1 at the ,will of others3 but here it must be confessed1 that 'till they are able to conduct themselves1 they stand in need of good ,conductors4 ,for ,example1 ,children have the ,gift of ,speech2 but to how perverse a ,purpose1 unless regulated8 ,their ,wit1 their ,cunning1 or their ,knowledge1 often serve but to mislead them2 serve but to strengthen the natural ,corruption of their ,will4 ,what is more common than for a ,child to make no ,answer when ask'd a ,question8 ,or what more common than for another1 or perhaps the same in a different ,mood1 to tire a whole ,company with incessant ,prating8 ,now nothing can regulate these but the ,judgment of ,parents2 the whole ,machine1 that is1 the ,words and ,actions of ,children1 are to be under their ,guidance alone3 to this ,end1 they must set out with a ,resolution to conquer2 and never quit the ,field of ,argument 'till they have4 ,when a ,question is ask'd a ,child1 no ,matter by whom1 whether by the ,parents1 a ,visitor1 a ,servant1 or a ,beggar1 it must never be suffered to go unanswered2 all the ,rules of ,breeding and ,civility demand it2 and nothing can excuse a ,non-compliance3 so1 on the other hand1 when a ,child has a fluent1 voluble ,tongue1 and is disposed to talk out of ,time and ,place1 and to say perhaps many improper or unbecoming things1 it must certainly be restrained4 ,but tho' ,i urge this1 it is not merely because ,children should speak or be silent2 do a thing1 or let it alone1 when bid2 for however right or pleasing all this is1 it is far from being the only ,motive2 no1 it is the ,influence the opposite ,behaviour will have on ,children's future ,lives that must be the ,point in ,view4 ,a ,child accustomed not to answer when spoke to1 will probably contract a morose1 dogged1 or1 at least1 an uncivil ,habit2 another suffered to out-talk every body in the ,house1 will be in ,danger of becoming an impertinent1 if not an empty ,prater2 and if a third is never refused the thing it asks for1 it will be but ill prepared to bear ,disappointments4 ,parents ,i know are apt to think nothing of these ,irregularities2 but it is ,inattention to the first ,errors1 which lays the ,foundation of ,vices for ,life4 ,what is it distinguishes ,mankind from all created ,nature1 but that superior ,power1 ,reason8 ,yet what is it makes this noble ,faculty1 this boasted ,power1 so often useless1 nay destructive1 but the ,corruption of the ,will8 ,will is a distinct ,power in the ,soul2 but as it is naturally corrupt1 if ,parents neglect an early ,restraint of it in their ,children1 it is great odds that their ,reason will never be able to conquer it3 nay there are many who never attempt the subjecting it2 who banish every thing which does not favour their ,inclinations1 however irregular2 and even among those who struggle for ,reason to gain the ,ascendant1 the ,combat is often unequal4 ,hence appears the ,necessity of attending to the earliest ,words and ,actions of ,children2 of observing the ,biass they take2 and of moulding their tender ,minds1 that the first ,dawn of ,reason may be cherished and improved in them4 ,parents should give their ,children an early and an ardent ,love of ,truth2 in order to this1 it is not sufficient that they give them ,precepts1 they must add ,example too4 ,there is no ,vice more dangerous1 none more odious1 than a ,habit of lying2 and yet none more common4 ,but what is stranger still1 ,parents themselves are often the ,persons who teach it them4 ,it is very far from being my ,design to charge ,parents with an ,intention of leading ,children into this capital ,error2 but that they do it either thro' want of ,thought1 or want of ,judgment1 is evident4 ,first1 they grossly mistake their ,children's ,capacity2 and from a ,notion that they know nothing1 say a thousand improper things in their hearing3 then1 when they find themselves observed1 are obliged to use many ,shifts and ,turns to get rid of their ,curiosity and ,importunity4 ,the next ,cause is1 that ,parents do not make ,duty their ,children's ,rule of ,conduct4 ,a ,child sees something in it's ,father's ,hand1 and asks1 ,what is that8 ,the ,father answers1 ,nothing4 ,but why make so absurd a ,reply8 ,will not the ,child in ,return act the same ,part8 ,jacky1 what have you got in your ,hand8 ,nothing4 ,a ,child sees it's ,mother put ,money1 ,fruit1 or any thing else in her ,pocket1 and asks for it2 immediately she replies she has none3 the ,child taking the ,conviction of it's ,senses1 cries for what it has seen2 and the ,mother1 after repeated ,denials1 has no other ,way of pacifying it1 than the giving what it cries for2 and thus prove she has been maintaining a ,falsehood4 ,i was once in ,company with a ,lady1 who with a sort of half ,whisper1 said her poor little ,girl had ,worms1 and she must give her some ,physic2 ,miss immediately cries out1 ,what1 you are talking of me now3 ,no1 no1 ,child1 says ,mamma3 ,i know you are1 replies ,miss2 ,i heard you talk of ,physic1 but ,i'll not take any ,i am resolved3 ,no1 my ,dear1 repeats ,mamma1 ,i'm not talking about you2 ,i'm talking of somebody that is in a ,consumption4 ,surely such ,behaviour reflects greatly on the ,understanding or ,conduct of ,parents4 ,children should be told their ,duty without ,disguise2 and it is certain they may often be won to it by soft and gentle ,means2 but ,falsehoods1 ,prevarications1 and puzzling the ,truth1 can never be the ,way to lead them to it4 ,parents then1 besides animating their ,children to a ,love of ,truth by daily ,advice1 must themselves carefully avoid all obscure ambiguous ,language in their hearing2 all ,signs1 ,nods1 and ,winks1 which can answer no other ,end than perplexing their ,understandings1 or raising in them a restless painful ,curiosity4 ,sir ,roger ,l',estrange tells a ,story that pleases me for it's thorough ,honesty4 8,a ,man met an ,acquaintance in the ,street3 ,what1 my ,friend1 says he1 have you got under your ,coat8 ,why1 replies the other1 what ,i have under my ,coat1 ,i put there on purpose that you might not know40 ,thus ,parents without quibbling or evading1 without ,harshness or ,ill-nature1 need only convince their ,children that all things are not proper for them to have1 nor all things fit for them to know4 ,there is a ,propensity in ,nature which greatly deserves the ,attention of ,parents1 that is1 ,curiosity3 and this when well regulated1 may without ,impropriety be called the ,gate of ,knowledge4 ,how lifeless1 spiritless1 and insipid1 is a ,child without it6 ,how pleasing1 and how capable of daily ,improvement with it6 ,parents then ought to cherish this ,propensity1 as it's ,use is boundless4 ,but tho' ,curiosity is in it's ,nature a ,means of ,improvement1 it is extremely apt to degenerate into ,impertinence2 and herein ,parents cannot be too circumspect4 ,for as they are really two opposite ,qualities1 the one a ,virtue1 the other a ,vice2 great ,care should be taken to praise and reward the former1 and discountenance and punish the latter4 ,parents1 besides the ,instructions and ,encouragement they give to ,children in this ,point1 should throw them in the way of exercising it1 and attend to their ,behaviour when unconstrained4 ,for ,example2 if ,i never lock up my ,books1 my ,children will learn that they have the ,liberty of reading them1 unless expressly forbid2 so likewise if ,i leave ,letters or other ,papers about without reserve1 they may with ,freedom examine them2 and if they did not1 ,i should think them incurious3 but if they look over my ,shoulder on purpose to see what ,i am writing1 if they break a ,seal to read the ,contents of a ,letter1 or pry into my ,scrutore because ,i have accidently left it open2 it will be easy for me to determine that they are degenerating into ,impertinence4 ,useful ,curiosity shews itself by innumerable ,enquiries into the various ,productions of ,nature and ,art2 hence insensibly arises in ,children1 a ,love of ,knowledge1 and a ,love of ,labour2 hence too they learn to distinguish the ,useless from the ,useful2 what they should pursue from what they should avoid4 ,impertinence shews itself by prying into the ,affairs of others2 employing their ,thoughts and ,time about what does not concern them1 to the ,detriment of all within their ,reach4 ,hence springs that ,neglect of real ,knowledge we daily see in many2 and that ,croud of ,trifles which waste their ,time1 and tend only to hurt others1 and do themselves no good4 ,for in proportion to the ,time they spend in acting wrong1 so much do they lose of the ,knowledge how to act right4 ,but besides it's being so detrimental and destructive to ,society1 ,impertinence has something in it so mean and hateful1 that ,parents cannot do too much to keep their ,children free from it4 ,parents should encourage in their ,children a lively chearful ,disposition2 but quite pure1 and unmixt with ,vice1 however distant4 ,in order thereto1 they should never suffer them1 for any consideration1 to utter an indecent ,word1 or commit any irregular ,action which has the least bad ,tendency2 but above all1 ,parents must be careful themselves1 never to say or do any thing in their ,presence that they ought not to hear or see4 ,this ,caution may seem unnecessary1 since all acknowledge how great the ,force of ,example is2 yet if we view the general ,conduct of ,fathers particularly1 we shall be obliged to own they stand greatly in need of it4 ,for what more common than to hear ,men swear and utter many indecent ,expressions before their ,children8 ,and what more natural than their ,imitation of them8 which ,poison1 when once imbibed1 cannot easily be expelled4 ,as my ,aim in writing is purely the ,hopes of conveying ,instruction1 so ,i speak my ,thoughts with ,freedom2 and every one is at liberty to take or leave what they like1 or what they find most necessary and applicable to themselves3 still ,i cannot help urging in the strongest ,terms1 a strict ,regard to ,decency as an universal and indispensable ,obligation4 ,for whoever considers how naturally propense we are to catch the ,taint1 and how very hard it is to wipe it off1 will surely agree with me1 that those are much the happiest who escape the ,infection the longest4 ,but besides the nicest ,care with regard to ,words1 ,parents1 as ,i have observed before1 should be greatly circumspect in their ,actions4 ,nothing gross or indecent should be done in their ,sight2 a ,mother should by no means appear too much undressed in the ,presence of her ,son2 nor a ,father in that of his ,daughter2 for these and many other things1 though in themselves innocent1 are not allowable2 they give ,boys a ,boldness which borders on ,impudence2 and they are apt to wean ,girls from some ,degree of that ,modesty they ought so carefully to preserve4 ,i cannot but recommend1 what ,i doubt very few will comply with1 that ,boys and ,girls1 even when ,infants1 have not only separate ,beds1 but1 wherever it is practicable1 always lie in separate ,rooms3 nor should they ever be exposed naked to one another1 or the least wanton ,curiosity be permitted3 the ,eyes and ,ears convey ,corruption to the ,mind2 and we cannot begin too soon to shut up every ,avenue to ,vice4 ,i am sensible of the ,singularity of this ,doctrine2 but ,i am firmly persuaded many good ,effects would flow from the ,practice of it4 ,it is ,matter of ,astonishment to me1 to see discreet and good ,people universally over-run with the false ,notion1 that ,children do not observe2 as if because they are ,children1 they neither hear1 nor see1 nor feel3 whence they often lead them1 or suffer them to be led very early into some kinds of ,knowledge1 which should be the last for them to learn4 ,i grant indeed that such is the general reigning ,corruption1 that however carefully ,parents avoid tainting their ,children's ,minds1 they will still be exposed to the ,contagion of others2 but if they have the ,happiness of seeing these things always discountenanced by their ,parents1 and are never suffered to copy the corrupt ,manners of others1 the odds are greatly in their ,favour3 but if after all they should still turn out vicious1 ,parents will have at least the consoling ,reflection1 that they did every thing on their ,part to prevent it4 ,at the same time that ,parents are industrious to make ,children obedient to themselves1 they must teach them to consider every one as an ,individual of ,society1 and give them a deep ,sense of the ,necessity of good ,behaviour to all1 whatever be their ,circumstances or ,condition4 ,in every ,family there are particular ,obligations which ,children must be taught to distinguish1 and to reduce to ,practice4 ,next to their ,parents1 ,children owe to all senior ,relations1 ,respect and ,duty2 to their ,brothers and ,sisters they owe not only a tender but an unalterable ,affection2 and all of more distant ,kin have a ,claim of ,respect which cannot be refused them4 ,yet all this is but little1 if compared with the universal ,demand ,mankind have on one another4 ,we cannot without ,injustice deny ,virtue and ,merit our ,esteem2 old ,age is venerable1 and to refuse the ,honours due to it1 is a ,degree of ,impiety2 ,obligations demand ,gratitude2 ,misfortunes call for ,friendship and ,compassion2 and even ,vice and ,folly demand our ,pity and ,concern1 nay more1 demand our ,endeavours to remove them4 ,but among the various ,situations in ,life1 that which most requires the ,care and ,attention of ,parents is1 the teaching ,children a due ,regard to ,people in ,poverty and ,distress4 ,it does not cost much pains to give ,children a proper and becoming ,behaviour to their ,betters and ,equals2 but to persuade them to maintain a considerable ,degree of ,respect to ,inferiors1 or to those in disadvantageous ,circumstances1 is an arduous ,task2 still it may and ought to be done4 ,nothing so humanizes the ,soul1 nothing so strongly proves the ,man1 as sympathizing with1 and relieving the ,distresses of our ,fellow ,creatures3 'tis then the ,duty of ,parents never to let their ,children speak or act with the least ,degree of ,rudeness to the lowest among ,mankind2 never to let them divert themselves with their ,rags or ,misfortunes2 but on the contrary1 they should sometimes furnish them with ,money or other ,things1 that the ,relief they design to give the ,needy may pass through their ,hands3 and at the same time imprint this ,truth on their ,minds2 that he who is thus reduced to ask1 is often far more deserving than he who bestows4 ,another indispensable ,duty of ,parents to their ,children is1 that they teach them never to dare to sport with the natural ,defects of others4 ,as an ingenious ,author says1 8,this ,practice1 though levelled at the ,creature1 reflects on the ,creator2 it mocks the ,architect1 and burlesques the ,creation40 ',tis strange that ,persons of the best ,understanding so seldom reflect on this ,point4 ,what can be more absurd than to ridicule one ,man for being too tall1 and another for being too short8 one for having too little ,nose1 another for having too much8 ,the ,degrees of ,beauty and ,deformity are infinite2 and to be perfectly free from natural ,defects and ,blemishes is the ,lot of very few3 nor is it easy to fix the ,standard of ,beauty4 ,we know by ,anatomy1 ,sculpture and ,painting1 the general ,rules of ,symmetry and ,proportion1 and thus easily distinguish the gross ,defects2 but ,beauty in the superlative ,degree1 in it's ultimate ,perfection1 is not so readily determined4 ,but farther2 what is beautiful in the ,eye of one is not so in the ,eye of another2 what was accounted ,beauty in some former ,age or distant ,country1 is not esteemed such at present4 ,since then we see that 'tis our general ,lot to be more or less defective1 and that ,all are made by one ,almighty ,hand1 how inhuman must it be to insult or despise another for what1 if an ,imperfection1 it is not in his ,power to avoid2 and that perhaps while the ,insulter himself is not free from other ,blemishes1 full as obvious and offensive to many4 ,but the ,defects of the ,body are not alone the ,subject of our ,ridicule2 we sport too with those of the ,mind4 ,providence for wise ,reasons does not give to all alike2 are we therefore to hold another in contempt for not knowing so much as ourselves8 ,are we to laugh at a ,man for not knowing what he has had no opportunity to learn8 no surely4 ,a ,neglect to improve1 and the ,abuse of natural ,talents1 are the only things that deserve the ,scourge2 and even here it often happens1 that he who exercises the ,rod1 deserves it more than he who feels it4 ,such however is the ,partiality1 such the false ,practice of ,mankind4 ,can ,parents then be too careful to obviate these ,errors in their ,children8 ,can they take too much ,pains to imprint on their ,souls the ,meanness and ,folly of such ,mistakes8 surely they cannot4 ,another ,caution equally necessary is1 that ,parents utterly avoid all ,distinction of ,favourites among their ,children4 ,sometimes the ,father has his ,darling1 and the ,mother her's2 sometimes they both doat on the same ,child1 and neglect the rest4 ,again1 it is frequently observed1 that ,mothers are extravagantly fond of the ,boys1 and either treat the ,girls with a visible ,indifference1 or grossly neglect them1 they know not why4 ,it is true indeed that it may1 and sometimes does happen1 that one ,child in a ,family is superior in ,parts to the rest1 or is particularly engaging1 and may be said to merit that partial ,distinction ,parents make2 but to shew that ,reason is not always their ,guide1 ,i appeal to general ,observation1 whether it does not often happen1 that the greatest ,favourite is the greatest ,booby8 ,yet allowing that a ,lady loves her ,son best1 because he is really a smart ,fellow2 it is possible those very ,qualifications she so much admires1 and which attract her to him to the ,prejudice of the other ,children1 are the things she ought to be most displeased with2 things1 which if sounded to the ,bottom1 would often prove ,vice or ,folly4 ,but supposing that the favourite ,son is really what he appears1 more amiable than the ,girls2 may not this be owing to ,accident or ,design8 ,may it not be the ,effects of superior ,education1 or a greater ,knowledge of ,men and ,manners8 most certainly4 ,all young ,people are1 what they are1 in proportion to the ,opportunities they have had of acquiring ,knowledge1 or the ,use they have made of them2 so shut them out from ,opportunities1 and they can never improve2 because they are deprived of the ,means3 thus it often happens in ,families2 the ,boys are in the ,world1 and gain a ,knowledge of good ,behaviour2 the ,girls are coop'd up1 and ,mamma wonders at their ,ignorance6 ,but what farther increases a ,mother's ,surprize is1 that she does not find her ,girls improve in proportion to the ,opinion she entertains of her own ,abilities3 now allowing1 what cannot be generally true1 that she has all that a ,woman can be possessed of1 if they are confined to the ,company of her chiefly1 their ,knowledge of the ,world will be very scanty4 ,to be acquainted with the ,world1 we must see it2 to know ,mankind1 we must know their ,faces1 and mark their ,deportment2 and from seeing a ,variety of ,manners1 must come the ,power of polishing our own4 ,i say not this as an ,intimation to ,parents1 that they ought to throw their ,children wild and untaught into the ,world1 far from it2 on the contrary1 ,i am convinced how much they want to be fortified against it's ,snares2 and how nicely they ought to be conducted3 but with reference to the ,matter in hand1 ,i would fain make ,parents sensible how irregular1 nay how unjust their ,partiality usually is2 particularly in banishing ,children from their ,affections for not knowing what they have had no ,opportunity to learn4 ,if then ,parents really intend the ,good of their ,children1 they must with the utmost ,resolution throw off all ,partiality2 if not1 'tis more than probable it may greatly injure1 or even undo1 a whole ,family4 ,the ,darling is liable to be ruined thro' ,indulgence2 the rest1 thro' ,neglect and ,ignorance4 ,children1 by this unequal ,treatment1 conceive a ,hatred to one another1 and often to the ,parents themselves1 which perhaps lasts as long as their ,lives4 ,but besides that1 this injurious ,treatment debases their ,minds1 it is productive of many dreadful ,evils2 for hence proceed1 not only inveterate ,malice1 but ,confusion1 ,law-suits and ,poverty2 and hence too proceed rash1 precipitate1 and disgraceful ,marriages2 with many other ,calamities1 which it would require a ,volume to enumerate4 ,parents should by all ,means consider1 that every ,child is equally the ,object of their ,love and ,care2 and1 by the ,right of ,nature1 equally demands their ,protection4 ,the ,laws indeed1 for the ,support of ,families and ,dignity1 have1 in some ,cases1 made an ,inequality in the ,distribution of ,fortune1 which must be submitted to3 still that does not take off from the ,obligation of ,parents1 nor justify a blind or whimsical ,partiality4 ,there is no ,topic ,i would more enforce than this1 yet none more difficult to prescribe ,rules for4 ,it is certain1 that rewarding the good1 and punishing the bad1 is both a ,virtue1 and a ,duty2 yet at the same time that ,i acknowledge how much the good ,child deserves1 ,i cannot resolve to abandon the bad3 the ,voice of ,nature and ,reason cry out loudly against it4 ,i will for once suppose ,parents entirely divested of ,partiality1 and that the ,difference is really in the ,children1 and not in themselves4 ,are they sure there are no ,faults in their ,education8 ,are they conscious that they have not exposed them to be corrupted by others1 tho' they have not done it themselves8 ,are they convinced those ,acts of ,disobedience which their ,children commit are the ,effects of ,malice prepense8 or may they not be rather the ,sallies of thoughtless1 giddy ,youth8 ,all these things ,parents must nicely weigh1 before they carry their ,resentment against a ,child to ,extremes4 ,let ,parents reflect1 that a ,boy whom they cannot now controul1 and whom perhaps they are going to expose to the capricious ,fury of the ,seas1 and deliver up to an ,academy of ,vice and ,profaneness in order to reform him1 may be much sooner reclaimed by proper ,pains and ,remonstrances1 than by throwing him into the ,jaws of ,licentiousness3 for how often do we see a disorderly ,youth1 touched1 by a ,parent's well-timed ,clemency1 with a ,sense of his ,mistakes2 and when the native ,fire of his ,youth is abated1 become truly wise and good2 a ,pattern of ,virtue1 and an ,honour to the ,age he lives in8 ,can ,parents reflect on this1 and not resolve to try every ,expedient before that of disinheriting a ,child1 abandoning him to ,misery and ,want1 or giving him up to that ,nursery of ,immorality1 the ,sea8 ,my serious ,advice in this ,point is1 that ,parents be not hasty in driving things to ,extremities4 ,let them with unwearied ,patience try every gentle ,means in their ,power2 and certainly by such ,methods they will have the fairest ,chance to succeed4 ,for if ,children see their ,parents constantly aiming at their general ,good2 if they find them hold the ,scale of ,justice with an equal ,hand2 and experience their ,affection and ,tenderness to be void of ,partiality1 even after repeated ,provocations2 if1 ,i say1 they once become so happy as to reflect on these ,circumstances in their true ,light1 7as sooner or later undoubtedly they will7 ,i cannot but hope the most abandoned will be reclaimed1 and the hardest ,heart softened into ,tenderness1 ,respect and ,duty4 ,but here lies our common ,error2 we grow impatient at a ,child's ,disobedience and ,untowardness1 and without striking at the ,root of his ,vices1 without levelling at1 and removing the ,cause1 we dwell on the ,effects2 his ,follies give us ,pain1 and we do not try so much to cure him1 as to ease ourselves2 and therefore rashly remove him from our ,sight by sending him to ,sea3 in my ,opinion1 the last ,place in the ,universe to make a bad ,boy a good one4 ,i heard a ,story some ,years ago of a rich ,citizen of ,london1 which deserves to be remember'd with ,honour4 ,he had a ,son1 some ,years past a ,boy1 addicted to every ,extravagance1 and who had almost worn out the ,father's ,patience and ,indulgence by repeated ,abuses of them1 and by continual ,cravings4 ,the ,father at length consulted a ,friend1 in order1 if possible1 to devise a ,remedy3 when he had poured out his ,soul in ,grief1 and shewn that his ,kindness had been almost boundless2 the ,friend replied1 ,i have1 ,sir1 a ,remedy to propose1 that ,i think deserves the ,experiment4 ,the ,world calls you a hundred thousand ,pound ,man2 but tho' that may not be strictly true1 yet from my own ,knowledge you are very rich3 throw at once ten thousand ,pounds into your ,son's ,hands2 that ,sum cannot ruin you1 and it is possible it may save him4 ,the good old ,man1 with ,heart full of ,desire to do whatever might convince his ,son how much he wish'd his ,happiness1 very readily came into the ,proposal3 he sent for him accordingly1 and thus addressed him4 8,you know1 my ,son1 how dear ,i have always held you2 you know how much ,i have desired your ,happiness and ,prosperity1 by the ,pains ,i have taken to promote them2 but you do not consider how much you have abused my ,indulgence3 your boundless ,love of expensive ,pleasures has so far blinded you1 that you neither see my ,kindness1 nor your own ,folly4 ,but here1 take the utmost ,proof of an afflicted ,father's ,fondness2 take this ten thousand ,pound1 and husband it as you please4 ,if you use it well1 it will not be the last ,favour you may hope from my ,tenderness3 but if you persist in the ,abuse of my ,bounty1 'tis the sole ,proof of it you must ever expect40 ,the ,son1 struck with ,amazement at so much ,goodness1 and touched with a deep ,sense of his former ,ingratitude1 from that ,hour became all he ought to be1 and all his ,father's ,heart could wish4 ,this genuine ,relation may in great ,measure serve as a ,guide to ,parents4 ,it is true every one has not ten thousand pound to give2 but there are ten thousand ,parents who may1 by exerting their several ,capacities according to their ,station1 preserve their ,children from the ,ruin they are threaten'd with3 and thus turn them from ,objects of ,vexation and ,grief1 into ,instruments of ,joy and ,happiness4 ,at the same time that the ,authority of ,parents is to be maintain'd above every other ,consideration1 ,children should be taught to love them to a superlative ,degree4 ,this ,love in ,children to their ,parents1 will naturally make them fly to them on every ,emergence2 and thus ,obedience will become a ,pleasure3 whereas if they are kept at a ,distance by an austere ,behaviour1 or are treated in a cold1 lifeless1 insipid ,manner1 they will be apt to doubt of their ,parents ,affection1 and be induced to seek ,comfort from others3 and then no wonder if they fly to ,aunts and ,cousins1 when even the ,servants1 from the ,stable to the ,kitchen1 will have ,power to engage their tender ,hearts1 and rob ,parents of that superior ,affection they ought so jealously to engross to themselves4 ,nothing requires more the ,parents ,attention1 than the preserving that golden ,rule1 a ,medium in their whole ,conduct to their ,children2 therefore while they are careful not to spoil them by too much ,indulgence1 they should at the same time study to win their ,hearts4 ,parents should be particularly careful not to dispirit their ,children2 which undoubtedly will have a bad ,influence on their whole future ,conduct4 ,there is a ,degree of ,courage to be maintained that is not only graceful1 but absolutely necessary to carry us thro' ,life1 which ,parents therefore must not destroy4 ,some of my ,readers may perhaps think1 that while ,i am enforcing ,obedience1 ,i am myself undermining ,courage2 but let me ask them whether a ,soldier loses his ,courage by being under ,discipline8 by no ,means4 ,on the contrary1 a ,consciousness of the ,regularity of his ,exercise1 and of his ,skill in the ,use of ,arms1 always animates him in time of ,danger3 thus ,children kept in ,decorum1 and under a ,habit of doing right1 will have far less ,fear than those who are acting as their ,passions lead them3 unless indeed they are quite abandoned4 ,courage discovers itself by a ,command of ,countenance1 a dauntless ,air and ,behaviour1 join'd with such a ,degree of ,respect1 ,duty1 and ,self-knowledge1 as shews it to be free from ,impudence and ,self-conceit3 it is a ,firmness of ,spirit that enables us to encounter every ,danger when necessary2 and to demean ourselves in a proper ,manner under ,trouble1 ,pain1 and ,disappointment4 ,but here ,parents must be very careful to distinguish false ,courage from true1 imaginary ,evils from real3 let there be no trembling about ,hobgoblins1 or dark ,holes2 no ,stories of ,apparitions to raise ,terror in the tender ,minds of ,children3 ,parents should never mention these things to them1 nor1 if possible1 suffer any body else to do it2 unless it be to laugh at1 and expose the ,folly of them4 ,nothing can be a greater ,weakness than the creating or cherishing these ,fears in ,children3 nay how senseless a thing is it to make them afraid of a dark ,room1 a ,chimney-sweeper1 or whatever else can impress a groundless or an unjust ,fear on them2 for more or less they feel it their whole ,lives1 and by that ,means are oftentimes made very miserable4 ,children1 as soon as they can distinguish1 should be taught to look1 and move1 and speak with ,courage2 and1 as they grow up1 they should be put frequently in the ,way of exercising it1 whereby many natural or acquired ,weaknesses will be conquered3 such as1 a ,fear of the ,water1 ,riding1 and innumerable other things1 which ,parents should by every ,means endeavour to prevent or remove3 taking along with them this ,caution1 not to treat those ,children whose ,spirits are naturally weak1 with the same ,freedom they do the more robust2 nor ever rashly expose them to real or imminent ,dangers4 ,there is another ,species of ,fear1 so far removed from ,virtue and good ,sense1 that ,parents cannot do too much to banish it from their ,children's ,minds2 ,i mean that which is the ,offspring of ,superstition4 ,what ,pity is it that this heathenish ,principle should ever find a ,place in a ,christian ,breast3 that ,people who are taught to rely on ,providence alone1 and who know that ,happiness is the infallible ,reward of a virtuous ,life1 should nevertheless desert that ,providence1 and turn their ,backs on the ,comforts and ,advantages annexed to it1 to run in ,search of ,misery4 ,fear is natural to the ,soul of ,man2 but it is ,reason only that can fix it's just ,bounds4 ,if ,i have a ,child in the ,indies1 and dream he is dead1 am ,i to be miserable till a ,letter from him convinces me of my ,folly8 ,if ,i am about engaging in an ,affair1 of itself not only innocent but laudable1 am ,i to put it off because it is an unlucky ,day8 or because a senseless1 withered ,hag shakes her ,head over a ,dish of ,coffee-grounds1 am ,i to fear that ,destruction is coming upon me8 ,no1 no2 all these are ,instruments of ,misery1 which nobody must meddle with who claims being a rational ,creature4 ,superstition and ,happiness are incompatible1 as every ,day's ,experience proves4 ,parents then1 effectually to avoid these ,evils1 must teach their ,children a just ,abhorrence of ,superstition2 they must teach them too1 that the only ,fear consistent with a ,reliance on ,providence1 and consistent with ,virtue and good ,sense1 is the ,fear of doing wrong2 that is1 of being vicious4 ,the general ,indulgence of ,parents to their ,children in gratifying their unreasonable ,humours1 is no small ,obstacle to their ,happiness2 but that is not all1 it disturbs the ,oeconomy of the ,family1 and every ,day1 perhaps every ,hour1 throws the ,house into ,disorder2 and thus turns that into ,slavery and ,vexation1 which ,providence designed as a ,comfort and a ,blessing4 ,there is a well known pleasant ,story which seems not unsuitable here3 ,a ,lady gave her ,daughter1 about three ,years old1 to the ,care of a ,nursery-maid1 with positive ,orders that ,miss should never be suffered to cry2 ,whatever she wants1 says the ,lady1 be sure let her have it2 ,i will not have her cry4 ,the ,maid soon grew weary of her little ,tyrant1 and archly resolved on a ,method to convince ,mamma of her ,mistake4 ,accordingly1 one fine ,evening1 the ,girl put ,miss into a ,window2 ,see1 my ,dear1 says she1 see that pretty ,moon2 shall ,i give you that pretty ,moon to play with8 ,in a short time she work'd up the ,child's ,fancy so strongly1 that nothing would quiet her but the ,moon4 ,at length ,mamma 7upon hearing her ,child cry7 in great ,rage entered the ,room2 ,how dare you1 says she1 let my ,child cry8 ,madam1 replied the ,maid1 ,miss wants--,don't tell me she wants2 she shall want nothing she has a ,mind to have4 ,madam1 repeats the ,maid1 7as soon as she could be heard7 ,miss wants the ,moon2 and your ,ladyship knows ,i can't give it her4 ,the ,lady was struck dumb2 ,miss still cried vehemently1 and nothing could quiet her1 but a severe ,whipping from ,mamma's own ,hands4 ,there are but two ,ways of subduing the ,passions1 viz4 ,force and ,reason2 but there are a thousand ,ways1 and those daily used1 to inflame and strengthen them4 ,when a ,child is accustomed to have all it asks for1 it soon becomes unreasonable in its ,demands2 and in the ,end expects ,impossibilities4 ,now which is most eligible1 to keep the ,passions regulated1 and prevent their making great ,resistance2 or to suffer them to rise to such a ,height1 that all our ,after-care will not be sufficient to check them8 ,parents then should by all ,means accustom themselves to deny their ,children some things1 even such as are innocent and reasonable2 not indeed to gratify a cruel ,pleasure1 for that they should abhor1 but to familiarize them to ,disappointments1 that they may brook them the better4 ,besides1 by this ,method1 every ,grant from the ,parents will be esteemed a ,favour1 and received with ,gratitude and ,alacrity2 whereas the granting every thing they ask1 destroys the very ,life and ,spirit of ,compliance1 and it ceases to be a ,favour4 ,a little ,judgment and ,experience will shew ,parents how to vary these ,grants and ,denials1 if they do but attend to them2 and if ,children are under any ,degree of ,regulation1 nothing is more easy4 ,yet this by no means implies that ,children are not sometimes to have what they like2 far from it3 but the ,regulation ,i have been speaking of makes their own ,lives comfortable and easy2 and at the same time furnishes ,parents with frequent ,opportunities of discovering their various ,inclinations and ,propensities1 and puts it in their ,power to confer many little ,favours on them1 that otherwise they would not be sensible of4 ,for ,example2 there are two ,sorts of ,meat at ,table equally innocent2 in that ,case ,parents may sometimes1 without ,impropriety1 give a ,child its ,choice2 this ,indulgence1 when allowed without ,clamour or ,rudeness in the ,child1 looks graceful1 gives it ,spirit1 and a pleasing ,air3 besides1 it affords ,parents an ,opportunity of discovering1 if a ,child has any natural ,antipathy1 any unconquerable ,aversion1 to certain ,kinds of ,food2 or any thing in its ,constitution that has a ,repugnancy to certain ,meats1 which1 tho' it may like1 always make it sick2 all which must be distinguished from ,humour and ,daintiness4 ,but it will be impossible to arrive at this ,knowledge1 if my first ,principle1 ,obedience1 be neglected2 for if a ,child be suffered always to have it's own ,humour1 what a fantastical ,figure does it make at ,table6 ,i have seen a sensible well-bred ,woman sweat with ,confusion at the ,behaviour of her ,child1 and able to eat no ,dinner herself for attending to it's ,humours4 ,one ,minute it would have one ,meat1 the next another2 this was too fat1 and that was cut in the wrong ,place2 by and by it would have something else1 and after all grow sullen1 and not eat half it's ,dinner3 but ,obedience obviates this ,confusion1 and makes all calm and regular2 ,children take whatever is given them1 and eat it without ,reluctance or ,reserve4 ,thus while they see they are not to be humoured1 ,parents will be at ,leisure to attend to them1 and may easily observe what ,food should be generally given1 and what avoided2 and thus too ,parents might have half a dozen ,children at ,dinner with ,peace and ,joy1 while the opposite ,behaviour makes one a ,plague to the whole ,table4 ,this ,attention to ,children will likewise discover what ,companions they like1 and often1 why they like them2 by which ,means ,parents will be able to judge if their ,dispositions are good or bad2 vulgar or polite2 tending to ,vice or ,virtue2 all which will furnish them with ,hints for granting or denying certain ,acquaintance4 ,the same ,rule ,parents should observe1 thro' the stated ,actions of every ,day2 that is to say1 at ,rising1 ,breakfast1 ,dressing1 ,school1 ,dinner1 ,supper1 and ,bed-time2 all are to be under such ,regulation1 that no ,opposition or ,untowardness obstruct the ,order of their ,designs3 these ,i call the stated ,actions1 because they are things that constantly and regularly return2 and ,parents should by all ,means habituate their ,children to consider them as ,acts of ,obedience and ,duty that must be readily complied with4 ,on this ,head ,i earnestly recommend1 that ,parents introduce ,order and ,method among their ,children2 by laying out their ,time1 and allotting different ,hours in the ,day for different ,exercises2 by which ,means all will go smoothly on1 and render their various ,employments extremely easy4 ,here ,i cannot help observing1 how ready ,people are to give opprobrious ,names to what they dislike or are ,strangers to4 ,a ,man1 because he does not love ,order1 or does not understand it1 endeavours to brand it with the ,epithet of ,formality2 whereas in reality1 nothing considerable or truly important can be carried on without it4 ,how comes it1 that1 besides the ,artizans1 and other ,day-labouring ,men1 we so regularly see the ,clerk in his ,office1 the ,merchant upon ,change1 the ,physician with his ,patient1 and the ,judge on the ,bench8 but because the ,nature of our various ,employments in ,life require it1 and because ,order is the ,soul of ,action4 ,to be convinced of this1 we need but view the first ,elements of ,learning1 where we find ,letters and ,figures always ranged in the same exact ,order4 ,but we may go farther1 by observing1 that ,logicians teach us the ,arrangement even of our ,ideas2 so indispensably necessary is ,order and ,method for the conducting us through ,life4 ,but while ,i urge the ,usefulness and ,necessity of ,order1 ,i would not be understood to mean a rigorous and starch'd ,preciseness in all we do2 on the contrary1 ,i have already recommended1 that ,parents endeavour to give their ,children an easy and a graceful ,air4 ,i am very sensible1 that as in the ,productions of ,nature there is often displayed a beautiful ,irregularity1 thus ,order and stated ,times may be dispensed with1 in some of the greatest ,actions the ,soul of ,man is capable of4 ,and as in ,wit the sudden ,propriety of the ,thought and ,expression makes the ,beauty of it2 so in the ,exigencies of ,life1 an unpremeditated ,act of ,benevolence1 doubly proves the ,goodness of the ,heart from which it flows3 still as ,judgment is superior to ,wit1 so ,order is superior to ,irregularity4 ,i have already recommended that ,parents study to win their ,children's ,hearts2 and it is on this ,principle1 that ,love be made to take the deepest ,root in them4 ,love and ,fear are two great ,springs of human ,actions2 both which must be maintained1 both should by turns appear1 but ,love must be predominant4 ,would ,parents make their ,children good1 let them daily instill into them that noble ,motive1 ,love4 ,would they make their ,children happy1 let them prove they desire it1 by shewing their ,love to them4 ,would they make ,duty a ,pleasure1 let them teach their ,children to love it1 by teaching them a chearful ,obedience4 ,in the whole ,oeconomy of human ,life nothing is so essential to ,happiness as this ,principle2 for as all ,actions are1 or should be guided by some ,principle or other1 so those which have a generous well-directed ,love for their ,motive1 bid fairest for attaining that genuine ,happiness1 which all aspire at1 but so few find4 ,hence it is easy to see how necessary it is for ,parents to cherish in their ,children this great ,principle of ,virtue and ,happiness2 'tis this keeps their ,duty awake1 and turns that into ,ease and ,joy1 which otherwise would be a ,burthen and a ,pain2 'tis this that stems the ,torrent of irregular ,actions1 and checks the rising ,passions of our ,children1 by producing in them the opposite ,effect1 ,fear2 that is1 a ,fear of offending4 ,of all the important ,steps necessary for forming the ,minds of ,children1 and for conducting them thro' ,life with ,happiness to themselves and others1 nothing is more truly so1 than the animating their ,actions with well-tempered ,affection2 it makes them open1 generous1 and noble2 and it takes off that ,narrowness of ,mind and ,heart1 so disadvantageous to themselves1 and so detrimental to ,society3 for in proportion to the ,affection they prove for their ,parents1 so much will they increase in what in their future ,lives they bestow upon others4 ,children who love their ,parents as they ought1 will seldom fail to diffuse in social ,life a general ,affection around them2 they will love their ,husbands1 their ,wives1 their ,children1 and their ,friends3 nay they will love the whole human ,race1 by promoting1 in some ,degree or other1 the ,good of every one within their ,reach4 ,such are the ,benefits arising from a ,love founded on just ,principles2 such the ,force of this ,heaven-born ,quality6 ,i have observed that ,fear is another great ,spring of human ,actions2 and were it only such a ,fear as ,love creates1 it would be truly laudable4 ,but ,experience too sadly proves how much ,mankind are actuated by a ,fear of ,pain1 ,disgrace1 and ,poverty2 a ,fear which1 in it's ,nature1 is servile1 mean1 and base2 such as ,parents should seriously endeavour to banish from their ,children's ,breasts4 ,it may be reasonably asked1 whether this ,baseness1 this unworthy ,fear1 so visible in the ,majority of ,men1 be natural or acquired8 ,when we view indeed our ,children in some ,individuals1 and see them forsake every generous ,offer of being happy1 and cling immoveably to sordid ,meanness1 we may1 in these ,instances1 conclude it is ,nature2 but when we consider them in the ,lump1 and take a general ,survey of the ,principles which guide their ,actions1 we must surely own it is in great ,measure acquired3 that is1 the ,dignity of ,man is debased1 in an almost constant ,succession from ,father to ,son1 by the false ,estimation we make of ,happiness2 by forsaking ,reason's purest ,streams1 to follow our corrupt ,passions4 ,to evince this1 let me here descend a little to ,particulars4 ,parents desire their ,children's ,happiness1 7,i say nothing of those ,monsters who neither feel nor act the ,parent's ,part7 but how do they attempt to reach it8 certainly in a ,path the most remote from it4 ,no sooner have ,children a ,place on the great ,stage of the ,world1 but their ,will is irregularly cherished2 before they know where they are1 or know to what ,end they have a ,being1 their tender ,minds are impressed with ,principles as opposite to ,happiness as ,light to ,darkness4 ,who first awakens in them a ,spirit of ,resentment and fierce ,revenge1 even before they can speak8 ,those who beat the ,floor1 the ,chair1 the ,table1 or whatever little ,master has heedlessly run against1 and hurt himself with4 ,who first inflames their ,vanity1 by kindling in them ,self-admiration1 and a ,passion for ,dress8 ,those who set out with teaching ,miss to admire herself only because she is fine4 ,who is it raises in them a ,thirst of ,gain1 an early1 and a sordid ,love of ,money8 ,those who give a mean ,reward the ,preference to ,virtue2 or who1 by direct or oblique ,insinuations1 persuade them that there is no ,happiness but in ,riches4 ,who1 in a ,word1 exposes them to the ,fury of every tempestuous ,passion1 by opening the ,flood-gates of irregular ,pleasures8 ,those who indulge them in every thing they ask2 who never contradict their ,humour1 however irregular2 or who neglect to curb their ,passions1 and subject them to ,reason4 ,from this ,view of the too general ,conduct of ,parents1 we may with ,reason infer that ,fear1 the ,spring which actuates the ,majority of ,mankind1 is more acquired than natural3 for where inordinate ,desires are cherished1 a ,fear of not obtaining what we wish1 or of losing what we possess1 produces many ,actions unworthy ourselves3 ,actions not only unjustifiable1 but which constitute certain ,misery under the ,mask of ,happiness4 ,to obviate then these ,evils1 to prevent the ,acquisition of a base1 mean1 unmanly ,fear1 and to lead ,children into the ,path to ,happiness1 let ,parents1 as ,i have before recommended1 make ,love take the deepest ,root in them1 but as ,fear will naturally by turns prevail1 let them with the warmest ,zeal labour to make it a ,fear dictated by ,love1 and guided by ,reason4 ,but how shall this be effected unless ,parents act on right ,principles8 ,the grand ,obligations of ,parents to their ,children consist in teaching them a ,knowledge of themselves1 a ,love of ,duty1 and a ,love of ,virtue4 ,whence it is evident1 that the ,attention of ,parents to conduct their ,children as they ought1 is indispensably necessary1 even to the third ,stage of ,life2 but it is doubly so at the ,beginning4 ,it is a judicious ,observation1 that he who sets out wrong is half undone2 and tho' this holds good in the general ,concerns of ,life1 yet it is no where more applicable than in the false ,steps taken in the initiating our ,children4 ,for if ,principles opposite to ,self-knowledge1 ,duty and ,virtue1 are either created1 inculcated1 or cherished1 where is the ,wonder that ,children prove the reverse of what was expected8 or that while they seem to aim at ,happiness they find themselves wretched8 ,those who build with ,judgment1 are always careful to lay a solid ,foundation4 ,i will now hope that ,parents are sensible that the general ,practice in the ,management of ,children is erroneous2 and the general ,neglect of them unjustifiable4 ,i will hope too1 that ,i have here shewn1 however imperfectly1 that ,virtue alone is the ,basis on which their ,happiness is to be raised4 ,an early ,obedience1 a ,love of ,truth1 a spotless ,innocence1 and a becoming ,courage1 tempered with ,self-knowledge1 make the ,ground-work of my ,design2 of that genuine ,manners ,i mean to recommend4 ,the ,edifice however is still to be rear'd2 that is1 other ,virtues both general and particular are to be taught1 and brought into ,habit3 the whole ,frame of ,mind and ,heart must appear regular1 orderly1 and beautiful2 not accidentally so1 but resulting from ,reflection2 they must be eager to embrace ,virtue1 and watchful to shun ,vice3 in a ,word1 be always dispos'd to do what is right1 and never1 with ,design1 do what is wrong4 ,here perhaps ,i should throw aside my ,pen3 if ,i have been so happy as to convince ,parents of their first ,mistakes in this important ,work2 those once rectify'd1 the rest may be supply'd by abler ,guides3 for ,i neither have1 nor pretend to have1 the ,power requisite to display or enforce those ,virtues1 the ,knowledge and ,observance of which make up the ,measure of our ,duty4 ,but to awaken ,parents still farther1 ,i must observe1 that teaching their ,children all the moral ,duties is not only their ,province1 but more or less their ,obligation4 ,a learned and ingenious ,french ,author says1 that ,parents are the best ,instructors1 if they themselves are well instructed4 ,for1 says he1 8,a ,father who has but two or three accustom'd to respect him1 finds no ,difficulty in keeping them to their ,duty4 ,he has them constantly at home with him2 he can take the ,hours when they are most docible2 he knows their ,capacity1 their ,genius1 and their ,inclinations4 ,he can instruct them at leisure1 and allow the necessary ,time for it40 ,and a little farther he adds2 8,what is here said of ,fathers must in ,proportion be understood of ,mothers1 principally in regard of their ,daughters40 ,here then ,i recommend to ,parents that they do not content themselves with laying the ,foundation1 but labour on till the ,superstructure is raised and the ,design compleated4 ,for as ,men who justly aim at ,reputation1 and who desire to fill with ,honour some ,post or ,profession1 spare no ,pains to qualify themselves for it2 so those1 who would fulfil the ,design of ,providence in making them ,parents1 must take care that they do not lead ,children out upon the ,stage of the ,world1 and leave them to act their ,part alone1 till they have taught them those ,duties that will best secure ,happiness both to themselves and others4 ,it will still perhaps be expected that ,i should treat of the farther ,means to effect this great ,end2 but my ,readers must remember1 that besides my being unequal to the ,task1 besides my being confined to the ,compass of a small ,volume1 these important ,matters have already been handled by many abler ,pens1 to which ,i refer them4 ,however1 to answer in some measure a reasonable ,expectation1 and farther to prove the ,sincerity of my ,intentions1 ,i will here touch on those ,virtues which are universally allowed to be essentially necessary2 and which all1 who would be esteemed wise and good1 must both know and practise4 ,we are now to suppose1 that ,children are considerably advanced2 not only that their first ,lessons were ,obedience1 but that their ,minds have been tempered with ,duty1 and with such a ,knowledge of ,right and ,wrong1 as strongly to incline them to adhere to the one and avoid the other3 we will suppose too1 that their ,reason1 unblinded by ,passion1 has gained so much ,strength as to be able to exert itself to advantage3 that is1 that those ,perceptions and ,distinctions1 with many other things which natural ,logic is capable of teaching1 have so far improved their ,understanding1 and disposed their ,will1 that they are fitted to receive more important ,lessons1 and practise them when taught4 ,prudence then comes first under ,consideration3 it implies such an orderly ,conduct of our ,words and ,actions1 as keeps us free from those ,irregularities which hurt ourselves and offend others4 ,prudence is a ,virtue attended with innumerable good ,effects1 but particularly as it frequently shuts the ,door not only against ,misfortunes1 but against ,injustice4 ,it is not to be doubted but that the ,prudent are sometimes unfortunate4 ,a thousand ,evils surround us1 a thousand ,darts threaten our ,destruction1 which cannot be obviated because they cannot be foreseen3 still it is certain that ,prudence keeps off many ,calamities which would otherwise befall us4 ,but besides the ,advantages arising from ,prudence to ourselves1 it makes us pleasing and useful to others4 ,men naturally love to converse with the ,discreet2 from them they learn the ,art of shunning those ,rocks which so many others have split on2 from them they discover a safer ,path to tread in2 and from them they often labour to model their own ,actions4 ,farther1 the ,prudent are not only pleasing1 but valuable to ,society4 ,a prudent ,man is esteemed by all who have any ,dealing with him4 ,mankind have naturally an ,attachment to their ,property2 therefore are they with great ,reason inclined to trust it in the ,hands of the ,discreet1 rather than the ,indiscreet4 ,hence appears the ,necessity of teaching ,children the ,nature and ,advantages of ,prudence2 but as it is one of the graver ,virtues1 it seldom appears in young ,people1 unless it be those who are so happy as to have prudent ,parents1 that labour to implant an early ,habit of it in them4 ,there is a natural ,consciousness in the ,mind of ,man of his own ,significance2 and where he takes ,prudence for his ,guide1 some real ,advantage may always be made of it4 ,no ,man is so high as not to require the ,aid of those beneath him2 no one so low but he may be useful to his ,betters4 ,parents therefore instead of inculcating on their ,children a false ,pride1 or raising in them a vain-glorious ,flame1 should give them a due ,sense of others ,significance and their own2 this1 accompanied with ,prudence1 will shew them the true light they stand in2 shew them their just ,distance from those above them1 their ,nearness to those beneath them4 ,from this ,view will arise not only that genuine ,self-knowledge so essentially necessary for their ,conduct in ,life1 but that becoming ,pride1 which at the same time that it proves to them the ,obligation of acting in some certain ,sphere1 animates them with ,resolution to behave in it as they ought4 ,prudence is a ,check to ,extravagance1 ,vice1 and ,folly2 nay1 it is often the ,guide of virtuous ,actions2 for even ,benevolence1 ,generosity1 and ,charity1 ,actions greatly noble in themselves1 unless well directed1 timed1 and placed1 will often be the ,cause of others ,ruin and our own4 ,prudence therefore1 of all ,virtues1 may justly be call'd the ,balance that keeps us from ,extremes4 ,i have elsewhere observed how dangerous it is for ,parents to rate their ,children too high2 nor is it less so to sink them too low3 there is a certain ,spirit to be maintained1 without which our ,children will degenerate into ,meanness2 there is a ,degree of ,dignity they must support1 without which they will become not merely useless1 but burthensome3 ,parents therefore must carefully attend to this1 lest in avoiding one ,evil they fall into another3 ,and no ,means so likely to gain the ,medium1 as ,self-knowledge under the ,direction of ,prudence4 ,by this they are check'd in the ,pride of towering too high2 and by this they are lifted from that ,meanness which ,sloth1 ,ignorance1 or false ,humility is apt to plunge them into4 ,here ,i might expatiate on the ,cruelty of some ,parents1 who use every body well but their own ,children2 who act not only the ,sovereign1 but the ,brute1 the ,tyrant1 and the ,monster over those whom ,nature calls on them to cherish1 comfort1 and love3 and often1 under the ,pretext of making their ,children humble1 harrass them into ,misery1 and fix a ,hatred to themselves4 ,however1 ,i will not pursue a ,reflection so shocking to ,nature2 but rather hope that once to know it will be a sufficient ,motive for it's ,banishment4 ,but of all the ,advantages attending ,prudence1 there is none equal to the ,bar it puts against the ,rashness of young ,people in plunging themselves into the ,mistake of an inconsiderate ,marriage3 and indeed were it the sure ,means of preventing this ,evil alone1 it would both demand and deserve all the ,attention of ,parents to lead their ,children into the ,knowledge and ,practice of it4 ,how few are those whose ,passions never rise above the ,mark of ,reason2 how few whose ,duty never nods2 what ,grief does such a mistaken ,step bring on the ,parents2 what ,care1 what ,sorrow1 what ,misery on the ,children6 ,here1 in the strongest ,light1 we may view the necessity of ,prudence4 ,suppose a ,father 7one of some ,figure and ,circumstances7 educates his ,son suitable to his ,condition in ,life2 and then engages him in ,business1 either as a ,clerk1 an ,apprentice1 or whatever ,station occurs3 at this ,age1 and in this ,situation1 he is exposed to a thousand ,dangers2 but particularly to that of a rash and an unequal ,marriage4 ,the young ,fellow1 if unguarded by ,prudence1 is open to all the ,arts1 the ,smiles1 the ,hypocrisy of some one at least of the opposite ,sex1 who thinks it her ,business to make her ,fortune2 while he1 a ,stranger to his own ,heart1 and ignorant of the ,consequences of such a ,step1 involves himself in ,sorrow1 if not in ,destruction4 ,the transient pleasing ,dream once past1 he looks around him with ,amazement6 but 'tis now too late6 the ,chain is link'd1 the ,fetters are tied1 and nothing but ,death can break them6 ,after various ,contrivances to conceal the rash ,deed1 at length it reaches the ,parents ,ears4 ,what a ,scene of ,affliction is here6 ,not the lively ,picture of a ,poet's ,fancy2 not the fabled ,representation of romantic ,distress2 but real ,life overwhelmed with boundless ,grief4 ,a generous ,father who has spared no ,cost to promote his ,son's ,felicity2 a tender ,mother1 who with endless ,anxiety has sought the fairest ,prospect for her favourite ,boy2 view them alternately struggling with ,love1 and ,rage1 and ,fear1 and ,resentment6 ,what must they feel to see their ,expectations frustrated1 their utmost ,wishes vanished1 their darling ,child undone6 ,we say1 it is dangerous to rouze a sleeping ,lion2 nor is it less so1 to kindle the ,resentment of ,parents3 for to be greatly exasperated is to fall into a ,frenzy1 which we cannot stop at ,will4 ,thus it often happens with those whose ,children precipitate themselves into ,misery2 their ,rage becomes a continual ,resentment1 or an unconquerable ,hatred4 ,and alas6 how dreadful are the ,effects6 ,what more common than for a ,child to be banished from his ,parents for a ,step like this4 ,i know not what ,effect a ,description may have on those who hear or read it1 but1 for my own ,part1 ,i think a ,child1 who thro' such gross ,folly and ,disobedience has shut himself out from the ,doors1 the ,hearts1 the ,affection of his ,parents1 is in the most calamitous ,situation upon ,earth4 ,but let us change the ,scene4 ,let us suppose the ,parents ,grief subsided1 or that ,love and ,pity have got the better of ,resentment4 ,how fares it with the disproportioned ,couple8 ,does a ,reconciliation with the ,parents secure ,happiness to them8 ,alas1 no2 they know but little of ,life who conclude so4 ,there is always ,danger in ,disparity1 especially where ,vanity or ,ambition predominates4 ,the ,woman who is suddenly lifted up from a very low ,condition1 commonly makes but an aukward ,figure2 and what is worse1 she is apt1 in affecting to be like her ,betters1 to misuse the ,dominion she is invested with2 and1 instead of demeaning herself like a good ,wife1 she becomes a ,vixen1 a ,shrew or a ,tyrant4 ,yet granting that none of these ,evils happen1 granting that a ,woman has really ,merit1 and that the labours to improve her natural ,talents1 in order to suit them to her new ,condition1 there are still other ,evils to fear4 ,reflection on past ,folly naturally draws ,resentment on the ,object of it3 and tho' when two ,parties once become ,man and ,wife1 they are obliged to maintain ,fidelity1 ,tenderness and ,love to one another2 yet ,experience unhappily shews us that this ,obligation is often violated4 ,he who is extravagantly fond without ,regard to ,merit1 will often be unreasonable without ,provocation4 ,thus1 when a ,man1 in his cooler ,thoughts1 compares what he is1 with what he might have been2 reflects on what he has lost in grasping imaginary ,happiness1 or views himself1 thro' a ,disparity of ,years1 chained to faded ,beauty1 to declining ,life1 while himself is in his ,bloom2 not all the natural or acquired ,merit of his ,wife1 not all the ,tenderness that can flow from the sincerest ,love will be able to balance his ,disappointment3 he frets1 and swears1 and raves1 he breaks out into ,extravagancies1 which frequently end in the ,destruction of them both2 ,destruction to their ,peace1 and ,destruction to their ,fortune4 ,nor is this ,portrait of private ,woe the only one that can be represented4 ,a thousand others might be produced1 all essentially the same1 all fraught with ,misery1 and only different in circumstances or ,degree4 ,to see the ,heir of a great ,estate forsake his ,father's ,mansion1 and marry the ,dairy-maid2 to see a young ,lady trained up in all the ,pomp and ,pride of ,wealth1 throw herself into the ,arms of a ,man whose only ,merit perhaps is a deceitful ,tongue1 or a borrowed lac'd ,coat2 or to see another steal to the ,fleet and marry her ,father's ,footman2 are things so preposterous in their ,nature1 that one cannot reflect on them without shuddering4 ,certain it is1 that great ,merit sometimes lies cover'd in ,obscurity2 and it is but justice to render it conspicuous1 by raising the ,possessors of it to an exalted ,station4 ,and farther1 a young ,man1 who has with great ,pains and ,expence qualified himself to act in a genteel ,profession1 tho' he should not have a ,shilling in the ,world1 has a ,title to expect a ,fortune with a ,wife2 nor does he know his own ,significance if he neglects it3 for allowing that the ,woman he marries has ,personal ,merit1 if they are balanced by the same good ,qualities on his ,side1 the ,prospect he has from his ,trade or ,profession is often more than an ,equivalent for the ,advantages he reaps by her ,fortune4 ,nor is it these things ,i mean to inveigh against2 what ,i condemn is in general far otherwise3 we see a wild ,flame seize our ,youth1 ,inclination cherishes it1 and they fall a ,sacrifice to their ,imprudence4 ,how happy then are they whom ,prudence guides2 how consoling the ,reflection1 that by steering with this ,pilot they escape the common ,wreck4 ,among the moral ,virtues necessary to be inculcated1 among the ,obligations of ,parents to their ,children1 nothing so much demands their ,diligence1 ,attention and ,regard1 as the teaching them a ,knowledge and a ,love of ,justice4 ,how noble is this ,virtue6 how vast in it's ,extent6 and1 alas6 how little is it practised6 ,some ,virtues stand as it were alone1 and may be separated from every other2 but this1 when understood and practised in it's utmost ,latitude1 seems to unite almost every ,virtue to itself4 ,justice teaches us all the ,obligations we are bound to maintain in ,society2 now it is certain that these are many more than are generally understood4 ,men soon learn those things which the ,laws take ,cognizance of2 and therefore1 unless quite wretched or abandoned1 avoid them2 but what are these1 if compared to many others which ,nature1 ,reason and ,reflection make us conscious of8 ,what are these to the many ,injustices which spring from ,pride1 ,sloth1 ,lust1 ,avarice1 ,slander and ,revenge8 ,surely nothing4 ,but without enquiring what ,actions evade the ,law1 or triumph over it1 ,i will endeavour to give my ,readers a true ,idea of ,justice2 and point out to them the proper ,steps for leading ,children into the ,exercise of it4 ,here ,i cannot avoid returning back to the ,infancy of ,children1 nor help reminding ,parents of the ,necessity of an early ,care4 ,virtuous ,principles are the best ,foundation of virtuous ,habits2 and should the ,seeds of ,passion be too deeply rooted in our ,nature to be extirpated1 ,reason1 we know1 has ,power to keep them in ,subjection4 ,this premised1 ,i recommend to ,parents the utmost ,assiduity in shutting out the very ,source of ,injustice2 that is1 they must counteract those ,passions which tend to produce it2 not only by inculcating the opposite ,virtues1 but by frequent ,reflections on the ,danger of cherishing irregular ,desires4 ,justice is to be considered as general and particular2 and tho' ,mankind are apt to content themselves with a general ,justice1 yet it can never claim the ,merit of an exalted ,virtue1 unless we both know and practise it in particular4 ,to attain this ,knowledge and ,love of ,justice1 ,children are to be taught1 even before they can speak1 to part with any thing they are in ,possession of1 and this readily1 and without ,clamour3 the ,effect of which will be1 that when a little more advanced1 and they can distinguish their own things from others1 they will not eagerly desire the ,property of a ,brother1 a ,sister1 or ,play-fellow4 ,the next ,step is1 that ,parents avoid with the utmost ,caution every the least ,deceit1 especially about ,money1 and every thing which discovers to their ,children a ,fondness for it4 ,there is nothing more surprising to me1 than the universal ,disregard ,parents have to the ,presence of their ,children2 a thousand things in ,life are necessary to be said and done which they1 particularly while young1 should not be ,witnesses to2 and yet are ,parents every ,day and ,hour so impolitic and so imprudent1 as not only to disclose their inmost ,thoughts1 but to transact the most improper1 nay perhaps the most unjustifiable things before their ,faces4 ,as ,children seldom have ,judgment to distinguish1 they can only catch ,appearances4 ,now suppose a ,man in a just ,cause has played the ,politician1 and by the ,force of ,stratagem recovered his ,right2 can it be a proper ,subject for ,children to be in the hearing of8 ,but should this ,man have gone farther1 and should he boast a ,conquest unjustly gain'd1 perhaps to the ,ruin of another2 what ,effect must this have on the tender ,minds of ,children8 ,children in general act by ,imitation2 therefore1 as far as can be1 they should see nothing but what they may imitate4 ,but farther1 ,children naturally think those things right which they see done by their ,parents2 therefore they should see no ,action in them but what is really so4 ,farther still1 ,children1 even under a virtuous ,education1 are surrounded with a thousand ,incitements to ,ill2 their ,eyes and ,ears are continually open1 and continually receive corrupt ,impressions1 which dart to the ,mind and ,heart of the most innocent3 where then can they fly for an ,antidote to this ,poison8 ,to whom shall they have recourse2 or by whom shall they be furnished with ,weapons for their ,defence8 ,by those to whom they are bound by every ,tye2 ,parents alone must stop the ,torrent of every ,evil to their ,children1 not only by virtuous ,precepts1 but by virtuous ,example4 ,for as it is a certain ,truth1 that the ,influence of ,parents is more than a ,balance for a thousand others1 the ,necessity of their opposing ,vice with ,virtue1 is every way apparent3 nor is it any where more so than in the noble ,cause of ,justice4 ,this ,rule established1 ,i must again repeat to ,parents the avoiding before their ,children every ,appearance of ,deceit1 and every ,fondness for ,money4 ,if ,children are taught to deceive1 they will be induced to practise it for the ,sake of ,gain2 and if a ,love of ,gain be cherished in them1 they will often use ,deceit to acquire it4 ,how apt are ,parents to ,wish for ,money in their ,children's hearing2 and this1 not merely the ,indigent1 those who want many of the ,comforts1 the ,necessaries of ,life1 but those who have already perhaps more than they make a good ,use of4 ,tom1 says a vain ,father to his ,son1 had ,i ten thousand ,pound1 you should be the smartest ,fellow in the ,kingdom1 ne'er a ,lord in the ,land should out-do you4 ,thus too1 a doating ,mother addresses her ,daughter1 ,what ,pity it is my dear ,nancy should not keep her ,coach2 so sweet a ,girl6 ,oh6 that ,i was but rich1 you should marry nothing less than a ,lord4 ,what must be the ,effect of this ,language8 ,must it not inflame the ,heart1 or fly to the ,head and make it giddy8 most certainly4 ,nor does it stop here2 for when this irregular ,love of ,money is once deeply rooted1 irregular ,steps will often be taken to make it thrive4 ,but to pursue the ,idea of ,justice1 let me not confine myself to the ,passions1 but speak likewise to the ,understanding4 ,i will hope that ,parents have shewn ,children in ,infancy the general ,justice ,i have spoken of2 the obvious ,rules of ,right and ,wrong2 and check'd in them every ,shadow of ,injustice3 that is1 that they have taught them never to meddle with ,money1 be it more or less1 or with whatever else belongs to another2 nor even to desire it2 nor to be fond of dwelling on it1 counting it1 or chinking it2 7for ,money has a strange ,effect on both ,eyes and ,ears37 never to put their ,hands into another's ,pockets2 much less to unlock a ,scrutore3 never to evade the ,payment or ,acknowledgment of a single ,farthing2 nor obtain unjustly even a ,top1 a ,marble1 or whatever can be called the ,property of another4 ,farther1 that as they advance1 ,parents inform them that there is a constant ,intercourse between ,man and ,man3 that ,providence has created some to labour one way1 some another2 that the various ,wants of ,life are to be supplied by the ,care1 the ,industry1 and the ,sagacity of each in their several ,stations2 that the ,poor are destined to labour for the ,rich1 and the ,rich to employ and reward the ,poor3 that some in fine are born to govern1 others to be governed4 ,that this ,intercourse is called ,society2 and that ,justice alone is the ,band that connects and ties it2 consequently1 that he is the most valuable ,member of ,society1 who despising selfish or sinister ,views1 who shunning the ,tricks1 the ,frauds1 the ,villainies of others1 resolves to make ,justice his ,rule of ,action4 ,that to this ,end1 besides a general ,knowledge of ,property1 and an ,acquaintance with those ,laws which are made to defend it2 besides the adjusting ,profits in ,trade1 stating ,accounts fairly1 and paying ,debts regularly2 there are still many things to be considered1 some of which ,i will here endeavour to reason upon1 as they visibly produce some certain kind of ,injustice in their ,effects1 tho' their ,cause is often hid from common ,eyes1 or they are disguised by false or palliative ,names4 ,the first ,spring of ,injustice is ,pride4 ,children1 as ,i have just observed1 have their ,minds impressed with a ,love of ,riches2 whence naturally follows an undue ,degree of ,self-esteem1 accompany'd with a ,love of ,power1 ,show1 and ,dignity3 now to effect these1 a thousand ,stratagems are used2 every ,obstacle which stands in the ,way to ,wealth or ,preferment must be overturned2 every ,difficulty must be removed4 ,hence it is easy to see that unjust ,means will often be used to gain the desired ,end2 and hence it is plain that those who ascend by indirect and violent ,measures1 crush down many others as they pass4 ,parents therefore to obviate this1 must teach their ,children that nothing can be lawful which injures others2 that they may indeed arrive at ,honours and acquire ,riches2 but that unless they are obtained without ,guilt1 and possessed without ,pride1 they cannot be just3 for even allowing that no undue ,means are used to support our ,pride1 there is ,injustice riveted to the ,vice itself2 for the ,proud1 to raise themselves1 always attempt to depress or debase others4 ,another ,cause of ,injustice is ,sloth4 ,providence has created us to labour2 the ,head1 the ,hands1 the ,feet1 all are given to answer in some ,degree the same ,end2 that is1 the ,preservation of ourselves1 and the ,benefit of others4 ,none are born to be idle1 none who are so can with any ,truth be said to fill up ,life as they ought4 ,those who have ,talents are bound to cultivate them as far as they have ,opportunity1 that they may counsel1 instruct1 or assist others3 those who have ,fortune cannot without ,injustice neglect the ,care1 the ,improvement1 and the ,distribution of it3 those who have no ,fortune1 but enjoy ,health and ,limbs1 are ,robbers of ,society if they refuse to work3 and indeed among the various ,objects of ,sloth1 those who exercise neither ,head1 nor ,hands1 nor ,feet1 but lounge and fawn and beg for a ,subsistence1 no ,matter whether in ,rags or ,finery1 are of all others the most mean1 at the same time that they are grossly unjust4 ,the ,virtues opposite to this are1 ,industry1 ,application1 and ,oeconomy2 which ,parents must raise in their ,children betimes1 and cherish with ,zeal and ,pains4 ,a third ,source of ,injustice is ,lust4 ,what ,i have before said of an universal ,regard to ,decency both in ,words and ,actions must not be confined to the ,state of ,childhood1 but be enforced by ,parents on their ,children as ,rules that are never to be departed from2 since what is in it's ,nature wrong1 nothing can make right3 for if ,innocence be a ,virtue1 which even the abandoned will hardly dispute1 every ,deviation from it must be more or less a ,vice4 ,as this then is a settled point1 enlarging on it here is needless2 my only ,aim on this ,head being to make some ,reflections on the ,vice when manifestly attended with ,injustice4 ,it has been the ,custom of every wise ,nation both in their ,writings and ,conversation1 to inculcate and enforce the finest ,morals1 the most important ,truths under an ,allegory or ,fable2 and where the ,simile is natural and the ,expression emphatic1 nothing is more powerful4 ,suppose then a ,father should lead his ,son1 as he approaches to ,manhood1 into a ,garden1 and thus address him4 8,view here1 my dear ,child1 the ,beauties of the ,creation2 see how abundantly the ,earth is furnished with all that can contribute both to our ,use and ,delight4 ,but besides the unmeasurable ,bounty of ,providence1 behold the ,gardener's incessant ,toil2 what pains he takes to improve the ,soil2 with what early ,care does he water each tender ,plant2 how watchful to secure them against destroying ,vermin1 and how anxious to defend his ,flowers from ,blasts6 ,now tho' ,providence has given to ,,man a ,power over all the ,works of the ,creation1 'twas never meant he should abuse them4 ,what then would you think of him who should pluck the choicest ,flowers here1 purely for the sake of destroying them8 ,but should he go farther1 and exercise a wanton ,pleasure not only in stripping them of their ,beauty1 but in rendering them offensive and odious to all who see them8 ,what1 my ,son1 ,i say1 would you think of such a ,man8 ,but ,oh6 my dear ,boy1 should this affect you1 should this raise in you a ,degree of ,contempt2 with how much ,indignation must you behold the ,wretch1 who1 with a ,complication of ,crimes has deflowered the fairest ,part of the whole ,creation3 not an inanimate ,rose1 or ,pink1 or ,lilly2 but robb'd a spotless ,virgin of her ,innocence6 ,tremble1 my dear1 dear ,child1 tremble at the very ,thought of so much ,baseness6 ,view with impartial ,eyes the guilty ,deed6 ,on one side the ,deceit1 the ,oaths1 the ,perjuries1 and a thousand criminal ,inventions to gain the desired ,end2 on the other1 the dreadful ,change from ,innocence to ,guilt2 from ,honour to ,infamy2 from the ,esteem of all1 to the ,contempt of all2 and what is stranger still1 forsaken and despised by the very ,seducer himself6 ,yet ,oh6 my ,son1 let not these ,reflections be made in vain2 but draw ,profit from others ,crimes3 examine them in their true ,light2 be not misled by those who palliate the blackest ,actions with the specious ,names of ,wit1 and ,love1 and ,gallantry2 but live in a ,resolution never to share in their ,guilt2 never to injure another in the least ,degree2 but above all resolve to suffer a thousand ,evils1 to sacrifice every ,passion1 rather than even stain1 much less destroy1 the ,flower of ,innocence40 ,these are ,sentiments our ,sons must be warmed with2 these are ,ideas of ,justice they must not be ,strangers to1 if we wish to make them good ,men1 or desire to fulfil our ,obligations as ,parents4 ,innocence1 wherever it resides1 is an inestimable ,treasure2 two things therefore ,parents have to do herein1 viz4 to teach their ,children neither to destroy another's ,innocence2 nor suffer others to sully theirs4 ,the first has just been spoken of3 ,i will only add1 that the same ,regard must be paid to all ,degrees1 whether high or low3 it is the ,vice we are to keep in view1 not the ,quality of the ,person4 ',tis no ,extenuation of the ,crime1 that a ,gentleman's ,son seduced his ,master's ,cook2 or that a young ,nobleman has ruined only a ,tenant's ,daughter1 or his ,mother's ,chamber-maid2 no1 no1 there are no ,distinctions in ,virtue's ,cause3 that lost1 there are always some to weep2 the poorest have their ,parents1 their ,relations1 or their ,friends1 to lament their sad ,mishap2 and those who are robbed of what cannot be restored1 have always their own ,loss to deplore4 ,the next ,care of ,parents on this ,head is1 that they labour to preserve their ,children's ,innocence from being tainted by others4 ,one would imagine when ,parents had taught their ,children every ,virtue1 and enforced them by their own ,example1 their ,duty would be compleat2 but far from it2 they have still the ,obligation of representing to them the ,snares1 the ,artifices1 the ,villainies of designing ,people4 ,in my last ,view ,i have shewn that our ,sons1 either hurried by ,passion1 led by false ,notions of ,gallantry1 or ,strangers to ,right and ,wrong1 are often the ,instruments1 or liable at least to be the ,instruments1 of others ,destruction3 in this ,i must touch on the ,necessity ,children are under of being defended from receiving ,injuries4 ,and here ,i must observe1 that both ,sexes are equally in ,danger4 ,the ,girls indeed have by ,nature and ,education more ,innocence1 as well as more ,tenderness2 the ,boys1 tho' more robust1 have more ,temptations4 ,men are the ,instruments1 and dreadful ones too1 which chiefly destroy our ,daughters2 but bad ,women on one hand1 and corrupt ,men on the other1 combine to destroy our ,sons4 ,let ,parents then point out to them the ,dangers they are exposed to1 and furnish them with every ,means for their ,defence2 let them shew that the ,colours ,vice is painted in are false and delusive2 that however pleasing the ,appearances are1 the ,effects are bitter2 that our corrupt ,imagination is extremely apt to mislead us1 therefore they must not trust to this ,guide1 but seek ,security from ,reason and ,reflection2 that they must not rely on their own ,strength1 by exposing themselves to those who have the ,subtlety and ,cruelty to form ,designs against their ,virtue2 and that1 in these ,cases1 the greatest ,proof they can give of their ,courage is to run away1 because their ,passions naturally incline them to stay2 that those1 in a word1 who wish to maintain their ,virtue1 must shun the ,vicious3 and where the ,affairs of ,life unavoidably expose them to the ,company of such1 let them by a constant discountenancing ,deportment1 shew their ,disapprobation of every unbecoming ,word or ,action2 whereby they will check1 and often prevent1 any ,attacks on their ,innocence4 ,but farther1 to enforce the ,virtue of ,innocence1 let ,parents shew their ,children the ,obligations they are under of preserving it2 that besides the ,insult offered to their ,creator who made them rational ,beings1 and thereby distinguished them from the ,brutes1 their departing from it is an ,injustice to themselves1 an ,injustice to their ,parents1 and to all those who have laboured to correct the natural ,corruption of their ,hearts1 by instilling into them every virtuous ,principle4 ,a fourth ,cause of ,injustice is ,avarice3 which implies an inordinate ,love of ,gain4 ,avarice puts on a thousand ,shapes1 and is to be found in ,men of every ,rank and every ,age2 but it is most apparent in the ,rich and the ,old3 which is an ,aggravation of the ,vice2 because the one have more than enough already1 and the other have not long to enjoy the ,fruits of it1 even should they live to reap them4 ,but what is most alarming in the ,avaritious is1 the extreme ,danger of going beyond the ,bounds of ,justice2 and what ,dryden#e says of ,wits and ,madmen may1 by the easiest ,change1#f be apply'd without ,impropriety to the ,covetous and the ,dishonest4 ,how many ,schemes are formed1 how many ,devices used to raise a ,fortune1 or to add ,hoard to ,hoard8 ,one circumvents another in ,trade2 and with more than savage ,cruelty1 abuses the ,power he has by keeping those under that might otherwise flourish2 and had rather see another starve1 than himself be deprived of what he does not want4 ,a second burns with a ,thirst of ,gaming1 and values himself for his superior ,parts1 if he can trick another out of his ,money at ,play2 regardless of the dreadful ,consequences attending the ,loss2 and regardless of the ,injustice of the ,acquisition4 ,how do they possess their ,minds who have raised their ,fortune on another's ,ruin8 ,do they ever reflect on the ,misery of their wretched ,companion2 or do they view the ,distress of his ,wife1 his ,children1 and his suffering ,creditors8 ,surely if the ,gamester did this1 even he who wins1 and wins by a fair ,bet1 and equal ,lay1 must tremble at ,riches thus acquired3 but if to this be added the ,traps1 the ,snares1 and other ,artifices to draw in weak or unwary ,men to their ,ruin1 what must we think of such ,wretches8 ,we may both pity and condemn the ,ruined1 but we must abhor those who caused it1 however great their false ,triumph may be4 ,a third takes the ,advantage of ,distress or ,weakness1 and lends his ,money1 not with ,kindness1 but with a sordid ,view3 these are the ,men who grasp at ,mortgages for the sake of fore-closing2 and get ,possession of an ,estate for half it's ,value2 who inveigle a ,widow that they may ruin her ,affairs1 and enrich themselves2 or get a ,guardianship that they may beggar the ,children4 ,a fourth1 sensible what ,power ,riches give him1 employs it to the harrassing and depressing all beneath him2 these are those who to add to their superfluous ,wealth suck the ,blood and ,vitals of the ,poor1 by reducing their just ,pay1 and defrauding them of their ,wages2 or who with inhuman ,scorn depreciate that ,merit which others possess2 or crush it in it's ,appearance4 ,but how shall ,parents1 who perhaps may not live to be ,witnesses to these ,actions1 prevent them in their ,children8 ,the ,answer is easy4 ,imprint on them an early ,love of ,justice2 and as they advance1 shew them the various ,ways of deviating from it2 that by viewing these things in their true ,light1 they may conceive a just ,horror of ,crimes so detestable in themselves1 and so destructive to ,society4 ,a fifth ,source of ,injustice is ,slander4 ,there are ,men who would not game another out of his ,money1 nor forge a ,deed1 tho' they could obtain his ,estate with ,security1 nor run him thro' the ,body2 yet shall1 without ,scruple1 butcher his ,reputation with ,slander4 ,an unbecoming ,levity of ,conversation and ,behaviour is natural to many1 who thereby do great ,harm without once being aware of it2 but this1 tho' a great ,evil in ,society1 is ,innocence1 if compared with the ,malevolence of others4 ,there are ,men of such rancorous ,hearts1 of such malicious ,natures1 that they seem to have nothing human but the ,form2 ,wretches1 who1 to gratify their ,spleen1 or to indulge a ,pique1 tear in ,pieces the ,good-name of those whose ,merit is perhaps superior to their own4 ,all the moral ,writers condemn this censuring1 cruel ,humour2 and a celebrated dramatic ,poet#g describes very beautifully the superior ,loss of ,reputation to that of ,riches4 ,a ,man that is robbed on the ,high-way sees his ,loss1 and knows the worst of it2 but he who is levelled at from afar1 or receives a ,stab in the dark1 neither discovers his ,enemy1 nor knows where the ,mischief will end4 ,in the great ,family of the ,world1 every one is furnished with ,means for his ,support1 be it more or less2 all are in some ,degree possessed of ,power1 ,genius1 or ,abilities to procure1 if not a ,fortune1 at least ,subsistence2 with what ,face then does ,mankind dare to frustrate the ,intention of ,providence1 by robbing another of that ,reputation which he is labouring to establish1 and by which alone he is enabled to support his ,wife1 his ,children1 and himself4 ,with what ,pretensions1 or by what ,authority do they presume to strip another of the ,merit he is possessed of8 ,if ,i have less ,merit than another1 let me labour to equal him2 should ,i perchance have more1 let me not rob him of the little he is possessed of4 ,but ,men of this detestable ,spirit imagine1 that in making others little1 they render themselves great2 and thus unjustly use the ,power they are invested with1 by abusing their ,hearers ,ears2 prostituting their own ,tongues to the ,destruction of others2 and1 lest ,words should sometimes be ineffectual1 they add ,nods1 ,winks1 ,shrugs1 and whatever can express ,malice1 ,hatred1 or ,contempt4 ,pure ,morality teaches us to throw a ,veil over others ,faults2 but ,justice demands that we stifle not their ,virtues1 much less pervert them3 that is1 we should be ready to acknowledge the ,merit due to them1 but cannot deny it without the basest ,injury4 ,behold then what ,justice requires of us6 ,parents who teach their ,children a ,knowledge of ,property1 who inspire them with a ,resolution never to invade it in others1 who teach them a ,fairness in their ,dealings1 an ,exactness in paying their ,debts1 and a just ,detestation of the ,tricks of sophisticating ,goods1 particularly ,drugs1 ,wine1 ,food1 and those things that often elude our ,senses1 or affect our ,health2 who teach them to obey the ,laws of their ,country1 in avoiding all clandestine ,trade1 all ,commerce in prohibited or contraband ,goods1 and make them ashamed of such ,employments as require them to steal their ,way through the ,world1 or skulk about in the dark2 those ,parents1 ,i say1 who do this1 do well3 but that is not enough2 they must check1 nay conquer a babling censorious ,disposition1 and create in its stead that generous ,tenderness for others that they would wish to meet with themselves3 but above all1 they must inspire their ,hearts and ,lips with ,justice1 and imprint on their ,souls a ,sense of the ,baseness of ,detraction1 ,calumny1 and ,slander4 ,before ,i quit this ,head1 ,i must touch on a ,species of ,injustice diametrically opposite to that we have been censuring3 my ,readers will perhaps be surprized when ,i say it is ,silence4 ,so much is due to the ,cause of ,justice1 that we cannot always be silent without a ,breach of it4 ,men complain1 and very justly1 that true ,honour is rare to be found2 yet1 while this is granted1 we must observe1 that false ,honour reigns in it's stead2 but my ,purpose here is1 to consider how far it is an ,act of ,injustice4 ,when a ,man sets about a lawless ,enterprize1 his first ,care is to engage what he calls a ,friend to second his ,attempts1 or at least to promise him ,secresy2 but1 to make it succeed1 the ,party employed is to be a ,friend on both ,sides3 here then is a manifest ,injustice in the ,silence of the third ,person1 however innocent he may be otherwise4 ,but what is the ,principle they act upon8 ,honour4 ,what6 shall ,i betray my ,friend6 has he not reposed a ,confidence in me8 he has2 and ,i will be faithful to it4 ,who can reflect on the fatal ,effects of this false ,friendship1 this mistaken ,honour1 without trembling8 ,who is there1 with any ,knowledge of the ,world1 that has not seen ,sorrow1 ,guilt1 ,destruction brought on ,families by the ,connivance of a ,servant1 the ,silence of a ,brother1 and the ,weakness of a ,sister8 ,what ,barbarity in a favourite ,maid to be the ,instrument of a young ,lady's ,ruin1 by conveying a ,scrub into the very ,family whose ,bread she eats2 or at least sees her on the ,brink of it1 without speaking a ,word for her ,preservation8 ,how dreadful are those ,friendships1 how preposterous that ,silence1 where a young ,gentleman sees his ,companion1 his ,fellow-,clerk1 levelling at the ,destruction of an innocent ,girl1 and not have the ,soul to declare the guilty ,design till too late8 ,or1 finally1 where is the ,sense1 the ,good-,nature1 or the ,justice of her who sees a ,brother taking fatal ,steps1 about to injure another's ,virtue1 or marry a ,beggar1 or ruin himself1 and1 as far as he has ,power1 his ,parents too1 without once striking at the ,root1 by discovering his vicious ,intentions and ,practices8 ,who that can distinguish ,right from ,wrong1 but must see the ,injustice of this ,silence8 ,parents therefore should animate their ,children with a ,resolution never to enter into these false ,friendships1 never to promise what is in it's ,nature wrong1 nor ever to promote or connive at another's ,harm1 if in their ,power to redress or prevent it4 ,but farther1 ,parents1 in forming their ,children's ,minds1 are in many ,cases to adapt their ,instructions to the ,station of ,life they are expected to act in4 ,those of ,condition must not see their ,parents injured1 especially in a ,matter of any ,moment1 and neglect to remove the ,fault3 those who are to serve1 besides ,duty and ,respect1 owe ,justice2 therefore must not only be faithful in their own ,actions1 but discover any real ,injustice in those of others2 and particularly they must detest with honest ,scorn the being privy to an underhand ,match4 ,laying ,schemes1 conveying ,letters1 ,concealments from the ,parents1 or ,denials where ,danger is suspected1 or otherwise contributing to the ,ruin of a young ,master or ,lady1 even tho' they could make their own ,fortune by being in the ,secret1 are ,actions ever to be shunned1 as they are base in their ,nature1 and grossly unjust4 ,the last ,source of ,injustice is ,revenge4 ,i have said before1 that pure ,morality teaches us to throw a ,veil over others ,faults2 ,i may with equal ,truth say1 it obliges us to forgive ,injuries4 ,for altho' it is a ,justice due to ourselves to maintain our ,right1 yet the same ,self-,justice requires us to forgive those by whom we have been wrong'd4 ,if we can remove an ,injury1 we may1 and ought2 but ,revenge is not the ,weapon we are to use for that ,purpose4 ,whatever fires our ,revenge1 is apt to cloud our ,reason2 ,men therefore who meditate ,revenge1 seldom have ,reason for their ,guide2 and he who forsakes ,reason1 is a bad ,judge how far ,revenge should be carried4 ,if we mentally survey a revengeful ,man1 how melancholy is the ,view6 ,what ,agitations in his ,mind6 what ,flutterings in his ,heart6 ,all ,nature seems convulsed within him6 and1 in the ,midst of his ,self-torture1 his only ,thoughts are1 whether he shall ruin1 or be ruined2 murder1 or be murdered6 ,but if we go farther1 and behold this ,man in the ,action he has so eagerly sought for1 or carry our ,ideas to the ,consequences of it1 we must tremble with ,pity4 ,his ,countenance is an ,index of his ,mind3 what ,fury on his ,brow2 what ,fire darts from his ,eyes2 what ,malice1 in confused1 imperfect ,accents1 flows from his ,lips2 and what frantic ,rage possesses his ,soul6 ,sometimes a ,duel is to repair the ,injury2 dreadful ,situation6 since whichsoever falls1 the ,calamity is inexpressible4 ,who can recall the ,blood once spilt1 the ,life once lost8 who can console the wretched ,survivor1 when ,revenge is glutted1 and ,reflection calls him back to himself8 or can the ,receiver of the ,challenge draw ,consolation in his future ,life1 from a false ,point of ,honour8 no1 no2 it is all ,delusion2 and independent of the ,crimes which gave rise to it1 the ,deed itself is gross ,injustice4 ,revenge puts on many ,shapes3 some seek it not in ,blood1 yet1 with equal ,fury1 hunt another to ,ruin and ,death by unjust ,law-suits4 ,what ,havock does this make6 ,how many fall from ,affluence to ,want1 from ,splendor to a ,goal1 thro' the ,inveteracy of ,revenge6 ,not all the ,concessions of the opposite ,party1 not all the ,tears of his ,wife1 nor the impending ,ruin of his ,children1 can appease the ,revengeful3 ,savage-like1 he quits not his ,hold till his ,fury is glutted1 till his ,adversary is destroyed4 ,besides these1 there are many other ,species of ,revenge1 less obvious indeed1 but perhaps not less criminal3 there are ,men whose ,fury is less1 but whose ,malice is equal3 ,men with cooler ,heads1 but with inveterate ,hearts4 ,injuries1 whether fancied or real1 seize the ,heart of the ,revengeful1 and having once taken place1 a thousand things are machinated for ,retaliation of the ,offence3 every good ,office ceases2 ill ,offices take place of them2 cruel to their ,character when absent2 arrogant and disdainful to their ,person when present2 their ,reputation torn to ,pieces2 false ,constructions put on their most innocent ,actions2 and every sinister ,means used to strip them of ,fame1 and ,fortune2 nay even of ,bread4 ,see here the dreadful ,passion of ,revenge2 view the ,cruelty on one ,side1 the ruinous ,effects on the other4 ,what ,care then should ,parents take to banish it from their ,children's ,hearts1 seeing it is the ,source of ,misery to themselves1 and ,destruction to others6 ,let them labour to stifle the first ,resentments2 let them speak to their ,understandings as they advance4 ,youth is naturally full of ,fire1 and as now their ,judgment is weak1 they are easily misled by false ,notions of ,honour2 but where ,malice is found to reside in their ,hearts1 it will demand the utmost ,pains to root it out3 still all should aim at effecting it4 ,to this ,end1 besides checking the earliest ,resentments1 let ,parents paint in the liveliest ,colours the ,deformity of ,revenge2 let them shew how much it destroys their own inward ,peace2 let them counteract the ,passion by encouraging in them ,meekness1 ,clemency and ,love2 and above all1 prove to them how much they sink beneath the ,dignity of ,human ,nature1 how much they injure themselves1 and how unjust they are to ,society in every ,action that is accompanied with ,revenge2 but particularly where ,life1 ,health1 ,fame1 ,peace1 or ,property are affected by it4 ,thus much have ,i said to shew the ,necessity ,parents are under of teaching their ,children the ,knowledge and ,love of that great ,bond of ,society1 ,justice3 it demands indeed much more ,labour to discuss every ,point2 but ,i persuade myself1 that if their ,hearts are duly impressed with the ,principles here laid down1 they will be animated to know and practise every other ,act of ,justice which their various ,stations in ,life offer them the ,occasions of4 ,virtues beget ,virtues2 one ,act of ,equity will lead them to a second2 a second will warm them to the ,execution of a third2 a ,self-denial of little irregular things1 will make way for the ,entrance of ,reason2 and ,reason exercised on the solid ,principles of ,justice1 will enable them to conquer every lawless ,desire1 every turbulent ,passion4 ,notwithstanding what has been said thro' the ,course of this ,attempt1 of conquering our ,passions1 it is not to be understood that we are to be passive1 spiritless1 and insipid2 far from it2 this would be frustrating the ,design of ,providence4 ,we are1 under ,reason's ,guide1 to enjoy our own ,minds with honest ,freedom2 and he who has a warm ,heart1 a chearful ,mind1 and a frank ,behaviour1 bids fairest for being a good ,man4 ,but what irresistibly proves us design'd for an active ,state1 is1 the ,virtue of ,fortitude4 ,fortitude is ,patience improv'd2 it is ,courage exalted2 it is that ,virtue which enables us not only to bear ,sickness1 ,pain1 ,disgrace1 and ,poverty1 but arms us with ,power either to conquer these ,evils1 or at least so to weaken their ,force that they may not bear too hard upon us4 ,in viewing ,mankind in general1 or if each views himself in particular1 it will be found that ,life is imbitter'd a thousand ,ways2 all have their own ,troubles1 all feel their different ,sufferings2 some indeed taste so little of the ,sweets of ,life1 or have them so strongly impregnated with ,sorrows1 that they are scarce sensible of their ,relish3 ,fortitude alone then is the ,remedy for these ,evils2 and therefore should be the ,object of every one's ,study4 ,with this ,weapon we are enabled to face every ,danger1 to encounter every ,trouble1 and to struggle with every ,difficulty3 it is the ,instrument ,providence has kindly put into our ,hands2 and not to use it1 is the highest ,ingratitude1 at the same time that it is being ignorant of our own ,happiness4 ,parents then cannot justify the ,neglect of this ,virtue to their ,children3 and it is from this ,knowledge of ,life1 that ,i have already proposed1 in ,compassion and ,regard to their future ,happiness1 that they familiarize them1 with all the ,tenderness of good ,parents1 to little ,disappointments while young2 that they may be arm'd to bear greater as they ought4 ,all irregular ,desires we should disclaim from our ,hearts2 but even with regard to those which are in their ,nature innocent1 lawful1 and reasonable1 how often are we disappointed6 ,how then will ,children1 as they advance1 struggle with ,disappointments1 if ,strangers to the proper ,guide1 if unacquainted with ,fortitude8 ,but here ,i must observe1 that many things are looked upon as grievous ,evils1 which1 if considered in a proper ,light1 are no ,evils at all3 and to what is this owing8 certainly to the erroneous ,measures taken at setting out4 ,the ,eagerness of ,children after every new ,trifle1 the ,desire of engaging in whatever is called ,pleasure1 and the early ,passion for ,dress and ,show1 make them earnest to have their ,humour comply'd with4 ,now as many of these things are highly improper1 gratifying their ,demands must be an ,error more or less2 but this is the least ,part of the ,evil3 the ,habit of having all they desire increases with their ,years2 and without considering1 whether the ,things they seek are necessary or reasonable1 they pursue their ,desires1 and are wretched when disappointed4 ,hence arise many of the ,passions which disturb the ,oeconomy of ,families1 and fill the ,world with ,disorder3 ,men disappointed in their ,business1 and cross'd in their ,will1 burst into ,rage1 or contract a ,fretfulness which makes them unhappy in themselves1 and painful to all who see or feel the ,effects of it3 and ,women who have been used in ,childhood to conquer their ,parents1 and in ,youth all the ,world1 who have been constantly addressed in the language of ,romances1 and have been vainly taught to think the ,men their ,slaves2 ,women1 ,i say1 who are thus educated1 are but very ill prepared to meet ,disappointments3 the first ,opposition throws them into ,fits1 whence follow ,vapours1 ,melancholy and ,indolence2 the next kindles their ,resentment1 which agitates the ,mind1 spoils the ,features1 by tearing off the natural ,softness of the ,countenance1 and puts the sweetest ,temper into a ,ferment2 and1 if a ,husband be the ,object of it1 'tis great ,odds but a short ,time creates either an unjust ,coldness1 or a fixed ,aversion4 ,mr4 ,locke1 sensible of the ,danger of irregular ,indulgence1 thus describes the ,situation of a fondled ,son4 8,he that hath been used to have his ,will in every thing as long as he was in ,coats1 why should we think it strange that he should desire it1 and contend for it still1 when he is in ,breeches8 ,indeed1 as he grows towards a ,man1 ,age shews his ,faults the more2 so that there are few ,parents then so blind as not to see them1 few so insensible as not to feel the ill ,effects of their own ,indulgence4 ,he had the ,will of his ,maid before he could speak or go2 he had the ,mastery of his ,parents ever since he could prattle2 and why1 now he is grown up1 is stronger and wiser than he was then1 why now of a sudden should he be restrained and curbed8 ,why must he at seven1 fourteen1 or twenty ,years old1 lose the ,privilege1 which his ,parents ,indulgence till then so largely allowed him80 ,from all this it is evident1 that the early planting of regular ,desires1 checking the ,growth of vicious ones1 and subjecting ,passion to ,reason1 are the great ,means to lay the ,foundation of ,happiness in our ,children1 and the surest ,fence against many ,evils they would otherwise be exposed to3 but if after all this1 ,sorrow1 ,pain1 ,disappointment1 or ,poverty be their ,lot1 let ,parents teach them to meet it as they ought2 teach them with the firmest ,resolution1 with unshaken ,constancy1 to bear up against the rude ,attack2 and teach them that the only way to lessen the ,evils they cannot avoid1 is to adhere inseparably to that heroic ,virtue ,fortitude4 ,i am now led to speak of ,temperance2 the calmest ,companion of the ,heart of ,man4 ,temperance is the ,virtue that bridles our irregular ,desires2 it is nearly ally'd to ,prudence1 and has a close ,connection with ,justice2 it calms ,revenge1 and quenches the ,fire of unjust ,resentment2 it checks the ,epicure1 and stops the riotous ,hand of the ,bacchanalian2 it extinguishes or abates the ,flames of ,lust1 and banishes every lawless ,action2 it silences the flippant detracting ,tongue1 and gives in it's stead a pleasing ,moderation of ,speech2 it shuts the ,door against ,avarice1 and proves experimentally1 that ,happiness does not consist in the eager ,pursuit or ,acquisition of ,riches1 but in a contented ,mind2 it curbs that strongest of all other ,passions1 ,gaming1 and distinguishes justly the ,absurdity and ,folly of making that a dangerous ,trade1 which was only designed as a ,relaxation and an ,amusement3 ,temperance1 in a word1 is the ,parent of many ,virtues2 the ,parent of ,peace1 ,prosperity1 ,health and ,joy4 ,but while these are ,truths acknowledged and received1 how comes it that we know so little of the ,practice of them8 ,how comes it that in general these are mere ,matters of ,speculation8 ,alas6 the ,spring is tainted in the ,source4 ,we are intemperate in our very ,cradles2 no wonder therefore if we remain so our whole ,lives4 ,we are born with irregular ,appetites2 and which1 thro' ,errors in ,judgment1 or mistaken ,fondness1 are daily rendered still more so4 ,but let us leave these melancholy ,reflections1 and consider the ,advantages we enjoy1 the ,privileges we are invested with4 ,providence1 kind ,providence1 has given us ,reason for our ,guide2 and ,reason will conduct us to ,temperance4--,nothing can be more strange to all ,observation1 than the ,practice of forsaking ,temperance2 since every ,day's ,experience proves to us1 that ,intemperance produces the very opposite to what we seek4 ,suppose when a ,child is born1 we ask the ,parents what it is they wish in that ,child2 they will answer1 ,life4 ,but as ,life alone1 that is1 mere ,existence1 may by ,infirmity or other ,accidents be very wretched1 they will naturally wish for ,health and ,happiness4 ,well then1 ,life1 ,health1 and ,happiness1 are the general ,wishes of ,parents for their ,children4 ,now let us see how their ,wishes are likely to succeed4 ,their first ,step is usually a shameful ,neglect of the ,food of ,nature1 the ,breast2 the next1 a blind ,gratification of their ,will2 the third1 an almost total ,neglect of their ,manners2 and a fourth1 the cherishing in them every irregular ,affection4 ,where then is the ,wonder that ,parents are disappointed8 ,life and ,health depend on proper ,food and other judicious ,management on one part2 and if sick1 an ,obedience to ,remedies on the other part2 and ,happiness essentially depends in the first place on ,health2 in the next1 on the due ,government of our ,senses1 ,affections and ,passions4 ,see here how ,mankind deviate from themselves2 how far they depart from their own ,principles4 ,but what then is the ,remedy8 nothing more obvious4 ,let ,parents exercise their ,reason in all the ,steps they take for their ,children's ,welfare2 let them examine ,right and ,wrong2 let them not only avoid ,passion1 but labour to correct their own ,errors of ,judgment1 that they may be the better enabled to prevent them in their ,children2 but particularly1 let them fix in them the ,knowledge1 ,love1 and ,habit of ,temperance4 ,these ,rules will doubtless be an ,infringement on those ,liberties ,parents usually take in indulging their ,children's ,stomachs2 and it will be a greater in the ,restraint it lays on their growing ,passions3 but they must convince them of the ,purity of their ,intentions by speaking to their ,understandings2 not all at once1 but by ,degrees1 as they open and gain ,strength2 so that ,step by ,step they may point out to them the ,loveliness1 the ,pleasure1 and the ,advantages of this uncommon ,virtue4 ,i say nothing here of the ,state of ,childhood1 because it is already understood that ,parents have their ,children's ,health regulated by proper ,management1 and their ,minds docile thro' the ,force of ,obedience2 but when ,dress1 ,pleasure1 ,company1 ,feasting1 or whatever subjects us to be intemperate1 come into ,play1 as they are ,actions which always cause a ,struggle1 more or less1 between ,passion and ,reason1 it demands the greatest ,care and ,attention of ,parents to win them to a ,love of ,temperance4 ,an easy ,submission to our ,lot in ,life is one of the greatest ,attainments towards ,happiness4 ,view a young ,lady with a strong ,passion for ,dress2 every new thing strikes her2 one ,companion has a richer ,silk than herself2 another has the sweetest ,lace she ever saw2 a third has ,ear-rings ten times handsomer than her own2 she burns with ,impatience to equal them1 and that granted1 new things arise1 and the others are old tho' not worn out2 that is1 her ,relish for them is lost4 ,thus a continual round of ,fashions keep her incessantly anxious2 and tho' perhaps she possesses every thing1 she enjoys nothing4 ,not so the calmer well-instructed ,fair2 she considers that ,propriety of ,dress is what suits her ,station2 and covets not another's ,jewels3 she wears1 without a ,blush1 a meaner ,silk than her meaner ,companion2 and free from the ,extremes of ,negligence or ,pride1 she is qualify'd for all the ,dignity that ,dress can give her2 but is equally happy in an inferior ,appearance4 ,thus too it happens with our ,sons3 ,one is in the continual ,pursuit of ,pleasure1 has a thousand ,contrivances to reach a ,play1 a ,ball1 or a ,horse-race2 and is miserable if these things are going on without him3 while another1 awaken'd by ,reason1 and check'd by ,temperance1 takes these things as they come2 and neither insipidly refuses the ,chearfulness of an ,entertainment1 nor is disturb'd of his ,rest1 or loses either his ,temper or his ,appetite1 if he is disappointed4 ,such is the ,difference between ,passion and ,reason1 such the genuine ,effects of ,temperance4 ,temperance1 as ,i observ'd before1 is closely connected with ,justice2 that is1 whatever thro' ,intemperance affects our ,health1 or endangers our ,lives1 must be unjust4 ,what can be more amazing than the false ,judgment of ,mankind even in the most obvious things6 ,all allow that we have no ,right voluntarily to throw away that ,life which ,providence has given us2 on the contrary1 we are bound to support it1 even under the ,pressure of ,pain and ,sorrow1 to the last ,moment4 ,how comes it then that while this is acknowledged1 while ,men justly shrink with ,horror at the very ,thought of ,self-murder1 they have the ,hardiness to dally with some murderous ,instrument8 ,all the ,arguments that are brought against ,suicide1 whether by ,sword1 ,pistol1 ,laudanum1 or ,arsenic1 hold good1 in some ,degree1 in the ,point before us4 ,the oftener a ,building is shock'd1 the sooner will it decay2 the more ,violence is us'd to a delicate ,machine1 the sooner will it be destroy'd2 and no ,machine is so exquisitely delicate as ,man4 ,now as every ,species of ,excess1 ,riot1 and ,debauchery1 is a ,shock given to our ,frame1 it must naturally impair our ,health1 and consequently shorten our ,lives4 ,many things tend to effect this1 that ,men in general are ,strangers to2 but there are others they are too sensible of1 yet attempt not to remove1 nay plunge themselves into4 ,here then appears the ,necessity of ,temperance2 here we see the great ,obligation of ,parents to their ,children in this ,point3 since they are not only accountable for their ,happiness1 but even for their ,health and ,lives4 ,to conclude1 let ,parents in inculcating this ,virtue dissuade their ,children from every irregular ,attachment1 and convince them that no intemperate ,affections are justifiable2 that besides avoiding those irregular ,passions which may be said to reside in the ,soul1 there are others that dwell on the ,senses1 equally capable of destroying us2 particularly an unhappy ,attachment to sleeping1 eating1 drinking1 and many other things in their ,nature not only innocent but indispensably necessary2 yet1 by the frequent grievous ,abuse of them1 made the ,instruments of our ,destruction4 ,these are the things ,i had to offer on the ,part of ,manners2 these are the ,steps ,i have already in great measure taken with my own ,children1 and these the ,sentiments ,i wish to inspire them with4 ,if therefore1 as general ,laws1 they are equally applicable to others1 my presenting them in ,print will1 ,i hope1 be consider'd with the same ,candour they are offered4 ,but notwithstanding what has already been said1 ,parents have still much to do4 ,to keep up the ,spirit of ,government1 they must constantly remember that ,nature and ,reason are to be their ,guides3 if we distort ,nature1 our ,children will be preposterous ,figures2 and if we banish ,reason1 they will be ,brutes or ,monsters4 ,parents must remember too1 that it is not for themselves that they labour to train up their ,children in ,order1 ,obedience1 and ,knowledge2 there must be no self-pointed ,views1 no ,pride1 no ,dispositions to tyrannise over their own ,flesh and ,blood2 these are ,motives unworthy a ,place in any ,parent's ,breast4 ,their principal ,aim must be to make their ,children happy1 by making them wise and good2 and if they succeed herein1 so much ,happiness will be reflected back on themselves as will amply reward all their ,labours4 ,but they must not stop even here2 tho' this ,design is noble1 they should have a nobler yet in view2 that is1 the universal ,good of ,mankind3 'tis too narrow a ,good that seeks itself alone2 ,children must therefore be animated by their ,parents with all those ,virtues that will make them dear and valuable to ,society4 ,now what ,chance is there that ,children will come on the ,stage of ,life with the necessary ,requisites1 unless due ,pains are taken to mould and temper their ,hearts1 to form their ,minds1 and cultivate their ,understandings8 ,mr4 ,pope1 after labouring to prove for what ,end we are in being1 what ,good we are to pursue1 and what ,evil avoid1 concludes1 8that all our ,knowledge is ourselves to know40 ,if then this ,self-knowledge is of such vast ,importance for the securing our ,happiness even in a moral ,sense1 and is so very difficult to be attained2 surely ,parents are under the highest ,obligation to their ,children of improving every ,means within their ,reach1 for the gaining this only true ,philosopher's ,stone4 ,the ,end1 as ,philosophers agree1 is the first thing in the ,intention2 but the ,means to attain that ,end are surely1 in the ,case before us1 either but little known1 or little practised2 else we should not see such daily and grievous ,mistakes committed in the training up our little ,offspring2 nor such a continued ,chain of ,vice1 ,folly1 and ,ignorance1 as is the general ,result of this mistaken ,manners1 this want of ,self-knowledge4 ,but here ,i must caution my ,readers not to bewilder themselves in a ,maze of fancied ,difficulties2 not to throw aside these ,instructions as useful or practicable to none but those of ,genius1 ,learning1 and great ,abilities3 the ,light of ,nature and ,reason beams strongly on us all2 and ,parents1 as ,i have before observed1 have it greatly in their ,power to regulate their ,children's ,conduct3 for after all1 it must be confessed1 that it is not so much that ,parents do not know1 as that they want the ,will1 to act rightly4 ,but ,i hope1 that such as are really ignorant1 will here1 in some measure1 be informed2 such as already know1 will here be induced to practise3 since by avoiding the ,errors too generally run into1 so much solid ,good will ensue4 ,but1 to return back again3 where or how are we to begin8 ,why--7as has already been advanc'd7 by ,authority4 ,authority is undoubtedly the first ,means towards attaining this great ,end2 the other ,means are1 a steady ,attention to the various ,tempers of our ,children2 a strict ,guard over our own ,conduct2 a watchful ,eye on theirs2 joined to a serious ,practice of every ,lesson for their ,improvement3 to which we are to add1 such an ,education as is suitable to our ,sphere in ,life4 ,,education4 ,education is a very extensive ,subject2 it is a vast ,field to expatiate in2 and has employed the ,thoughts and ,pens of many great ,men1 with whom ,i pretend not to vie3 ,i confess myself far unequal to the ,task2 and perhaps the greatest ,service ,i can do my ,readers1 is to inform them1 that1 besides the ancient ,writers1 the ,archbishop of ,cambray1 ,tanaquil ,faber1 ,mr4 ,locke1 ,monsieur ,crousaz1 and ,monsieur ,rollin1 with some others still later1 have handled this important ,subject4 ,to these then ,i refer them1 as great and useful ,guides2 but not to these alone2 they must go farther2 and apply to those1 whose ,province it is to reduce the ,theory of these to ,practice3 such are many of our living ,guides2 who tho' they have not perhaps distinguished themselves by their ,writings1 are notwithstanding deservedly eminent for their ,skill in teaching4 ,nor is ,education what ,i principally engaged in1 in this ,treatise2 ,manners alone1 ,i have declared to be my ,design2 and if ,i can do the present or future ,age any real ,service by the ,plan of puerile ,government already laid down1 ,i shall be happy in considering myself as a useful ,member of ,society4 ,still it will appear that ,education and ,manners have so great a ,connection1 that they are not always to be separated3 many of the ,writers on these ,subjects have considered them as one and the same thing2 many just ,sentiments are imbibed at the same time that we are acquiring ,languages1 and other ,parts of ,learning3 and notwithstanding a ,truth which was advanced at our first setting out1 that much ,manners might be acquired without ,school-learning1 yet it is not to be doubted that they ought to rise in proportion to the ,education bestowed on us4 ,two things therefore ,i aim at in pursuing this ,subject1 without attempting to teach1 or invading the ,province of the ,preceptor2 the one1 to point out what seems necessary for both ,boys and ,girls1 in different ,spheres of ,life1 to learn or avoid2 the other1 to shew how far the ,education bestowed on them is applicable to the ,improvement of their ,manners2 or to their ,engagement in any ,art1 ,profession1 or ,science4 ,as entering on the ,subject of ,education will naturally carry the ,ideas of ,parents back to the ,childhood of their ,offspring1 ,i will1 in ,conformity with that1 suppose1 that the ,rules already laid down chiefly regard the first ,stage of ,life2 at most1 that they are the ,ground-work of a future ,superstructure3 this granted1 ,i will suppose too1 that ,parents have employed these first seven ,years in moulding their ,children1 and rendering them so far pliable1 as readily to submit to whatever their ,parents think proper for them to engage in4 ,there is a strong ,passion in many ,parents to have their ,children forward and early in their ,learning2 where there is really a ,genius1 a very great ,propensity and ,aptness to learn1 this may certainly not only be allowed1 but improved2 yet in general ,i think very little ,account is to be made of what they can learn before seven ,years old3 it is commonly ,rote-work1 and often forgot almost as soon as learned4 ,however1 let these things be taken as they are found3 if a ,child has a great ,quickness and ,facility in learning1 let it by no ,means be check'd2 on the other hand1 let not another be severely chastised1 or it's ,life rendered miserable1 who has not the same early ,aptness4 ,those who would avoid ,error on this ,point must consider1 that a ,child's ,memory and ,judgment are yet too weak to be much exercised2 that close ,application and intense ,labour are very unfit for this ,infant ,age2 that it is putting their tender ,minds too much upon the ,stretch2 and endangers either a fix'd ,aversion to learn1 or an incurable ,dulness3 let them farther consider1 that such a quick ,child as ,i have been speaking of1 learns without the least ,difficulty2 and if they oblige one of another ,cast to learn as much in the same time1 it is odds but they give him more ,pain than his ,frame can bear4 ,parents then must be very careful to avoid these first ,mistakes in the educating their ,children2 since from a natural ,fondness to have them appear to ,advantage1 they often thrust them on things that are unsuitable to their ,age1 and such as they are by no ,means qualified to undertake4 ,it must not here be understood1 that nothing is to be attempted in the first ,stage of ,life2 that would be the opposite ,extreme of ,error2 and playful as ,children usually are at that ,age1 the leaving them wholly to themselves for seven ,years would be not only injuring their ,capacities1 but might endanger a ,habit of ,idleness3 what ,i mean is1 that all which relates to ,education should now be made as light1 as easy1 and as pleasant as possible2 that1 as ,i have observed before1 ,parents should take things as they are1 and not be dissatisfied or disappointed1 if they find no extraordinary ,progress made4 ,but this first ,stage being over1 the ,business becomes serious2 they are now to enter the ,schools4 ,parents of almost every ,rank aim1 or seem to aim1 at giving their ,children ,learning2 'tis a natural ,ambition1 and1 if rationally used1 highly laudable4 ,those of an inferior ,class say1 with a significant ,shake of the ,head1 ',tis a fine thing to be a ,scholar6 ,true1 it is so3 but surely it is a sad thing to be a learned ,beggar2 and worse yet to be a learned ,blockhead3 an unlearned ,cobler is a ,prince to either of these4 ,to judge of the ,propriety of ,education1 we should1 ,i think1 argue from a ,knowledge of ,life2 for as no one surely will say that the same ,degree of it is equally proper for all1 it follows of course that it will be right or wrong1 in proportion to our ,knowledge or ,ignorance of ,mankind1 and of those ,stations wherein it is so variously exercised4 ,now in viewing it in this judicious ,light1 it appears to me1 that the ,steps frequently taken by ,parents in the educating their ,children1 are in many respects erroneous4 ,nor is this by any means to be ascribed to the ,teachers1 but to the ,parents2 not to the ,plan1 but to the ,execution3 for as in the ,order of ,nature1 every thing has it's own ,sphere1 it's ,province assign'd it1 which cannot be departed from without ,error2 so in the various ,degrees of ,mankind1 if a proper ,regard be not had to ,situation and ,abilities1 the ,mistakes committed in educating our ,children must be very many4 ,at the same time that ,i venture to think our ,notions of ,education sometimes erroneous1 ,i confess it is extremely difficult to fix precise ,rules for a better2 no wonder therefore if ,i err in the ,attempt2 and in that ,case1 ,i hope1 the ,goodness of my ,intention will plead my ,excuse4 ,but here let me ask a natural ,question2 ,what is it all ,mankind aim at in the ,education of their ,children8 certainly to give them such a ,degree of ,knowledge as will qualify them to fill some certain ,post1 some certain ,station in ,life3 in short1 to fit them for an ,employment suited to their ,condition1 such as will make them happy in themselves1 and useful to ,society4 ,this1 ,i say1 is1 or ought to be our ,aim3 but how grievously do we pervert it8 ,parents often mistakenly soar above their ,reach2 like ,adventurers in a ,lottery1 all gape for the highest ,prizes2 all ambitiously strive to make their ,children something more than common1 something above themselves2 and by these ,means often1 very often1 overturn and utterly ruin them4 ,the principal ,aim of ,parents should be1 to know what ,sphere of ,life their ,children will act in2 what ,education is really suitable for them2 what will be the ,consequence of neglecting that2 and what ,chance a superior ,education will give them for their ,advancement to ,posts of ,dignity4 ,i grant1 it is ,pity that a fine ,genius should be uncultivated and buried in ,oblivion2 but surely it is greater ,pity that ,parents should so generally mistake their ,children's ,station1 ,genius1 ,capacity1 and ,inclinations1 as they generally do2 nay more1 mistake their own ,capacity too2 by engaging them in things above their ,ability to conduct them through4 ,the first thing many ,parents do1 is1 blindly to magnify their ,children's ,parts2 in consequence whereof they engage them in such ,studies as square with their ,fancy2 they then turn their ,eyes on some few great ,men1 whose uncommon ,merit1 ,genius1 or ,good-fortune1 have rais'd them to conspicuous ,stations2 and thus1 in the ,vanity of their ,hearts1 conclude their ,sons are to be ,judges1 ,bishops1 ,generals1 and ,i know not what4 ,but ,i would here earnestly dissuade ,parents from this capital ,mistake2 indeed it seems so glaringly absurd1 that ,i am surprized it should be so common4 ,but those in inferior ,stations will say1 ,may we not then give our ,children ,education8 yes certainly3 but it should be a suitable one4 ,what then1 may we not aspire to raise our ,children in the ,world8 or must they1 from ,generation to ,generation1 remain ,mechanics1 ,tradesmen1 or the like8 ,let me not be misunderstood4 ,every one should look forward2 there is a necessary ,degree of ,spirit becoming all ,mankind2 but then to be judicious1 it must be rational3 thus1 at the same time that we avoid sinking into ,meanness1 we must be very careful not to tower so high as to endanger our dashing down into ,error4 ,education1 tho' design'd to lead us to every ,advantage1 is often bestowed to our ,disadvantage1 by being the ,cause of many ,errors1 we should otherwise have escaped4 ,education is often wasted on us1 either by being improper for our ,station1 or by engaging us in things we are unfit for4 ,education is a ,term that often misleads ,parents themselves2 for many do not know either it's ,extent or ,use1 nor know if their ,children possess it or not4 ,these things considered1 it is easy to conclude how common an erroneous ,education must be2 and how much it behoves ,parents to reflect on the necessary ,means to obviate the like ,errors for the future4 ,i remember a ,lady whose ,coachman was an ,instance of the ,mistakes ,i have been speaking of4 ,i am resolved1 says he to some of his ,acquaintance1 to have one ,gentleman in my ,family at least4 ,in order thereto1 he gave his ,son ,education1 and then put him to an ,attorney3 this entitled the young ,fellow to dress out1 and keep1 what he call'd1 good ,company2 these led him to ,pleasures1 ,gallantry1 and many other ,extravagancies2 in fine1 the old ,man broke his ,heart2 and the young one in a short time was utterly ruined4 ,but how much happier would he probably have been1 had he kept to his proper ,sphere1 and been a ,coachman too6 ,it frequently happens1 that honest industrious ,men among the common ,trades1 as well as others1 grow wealthy1 and consequently are ambitious of giving their ,children ,learning2 now as these ,people have usually but a very small ,share themselves1 they know little more of it than the ,name3 they send a ,boy to ,school1 and because they hear him speak hard ,words1 and see him hammering at a ,latin ,exercise1 sagely conclude that he has ,learning2 when it is fifty to one1 that1 comparatively speaking1 he knows nothing4 ,it requires a great deal of ,time1 ,diligence1 and ,application for a ,boy to become a good ,grammarian1 tho' taught by the best ,methods and the best ,masters2 what then must be the ,fate of those who are under bad ,teachers8 and that there are some such1 ,i believe will not be disputed4 ,but supposing a ,boy really acquires some ,knowledge2 let us see of what ,use it will be to him3 his ,father is perhaps a ,baker1 and it is convenient to him to bring his ,son up to his own ,business2 what does a ,baker want with ,latin8 nothing4 ,besides1 continued ,disuse will make him forget it2 or1 should he retain it1 of what ,use could it be to him1 but to make him pedantic and self-conceited8 ,but perhaps upon the ,presumption that this ,boy is a ,scholar1 the honest ,baker1 desirous that his ,son should cut a ,figure1 sends him to the ,university1 and he becomes a ,divine3 but what ,pity is it that a good ,baker should be spoiled8 ,the innocent young ,man1 tho' spirited up by his fond mistaken ,parents1 has perhaps no ,talents1 no ,genius1 no ,interest2 what then must be his ,fate8 why--he must drudge1 and court1 and wait his whole ,life1 and at last gain nothing4 ,what can be more mistaken than this ,conduct1 and yet what more common8 ,it may be urged1 that these are ,instances of illiterate ,parents only1 and that ,people in better ,life know better things3 now allowing that to be the ,case1 still as ,parents of this ,kind are very numerous1 they stand in great need of being set right1 as the ,errors they commit by this false ,education are productive of many ,evils4 ,every ,nation has it's ,custom of dividing the ,people into ,classes4 ,the ,police of ,france divide them into ,quality1 ,noblesse1 ,artificers1 and ,peasantry4 ,england1 a mix'd ,government1 and a trading ,nation1 have the ,nobility1 ,gentry1 ,mercantile or ,commercial ,people1 ,mechanics1 and ,peasantry4 ,were we to subdivide the ,people1 we might run it to an ,infinity3 to avoid ,confusion therefore1 ,i will select five ,classes2 viz4 the ,nobility1 the ,gentry1 the genteel ,trades1 all those particularly which require large ,capitals1 the common ,trades1 and the ,peasantry4 ,but tho' for the ,sake of ,perspicuity and ,brevity1 ,i confine my ,observations to these1 yet they may occasionally be applied to others2 and tho' ,london may in general be called the ,scene of ,action thro' my whole ,design1 yet is it equally applicable to1 and intended for1 the ,benefit of the whole ,kingdom4 ,persons of ,rank and ,quality are1 ,i doubt1 placed in too high a ,sphere for any ,instructions of mine to reach them2 or should this ,attempt fall into their ,hands1 what ,chance is there for it's being useful to them1 since they seem to have every ,advantage1 every ,help at command4 ,still as true ,wisdom consists in seeking ,instruction wherever it can be found1 and as the lowest among ,mankind may drop a ,hint that may be useful to the highest1 ,i will1 with all due ,deference and ,respect1 venture to speak my ,thoughts2 and if they reach the ,ears of the ,great1 ,i dare hope1 they will at least commend the ,design1 if they cannot applaud the ,execution4 ,human ,nature 7as daily ,experience shews us7 is1 in the general1 alike in all1 from the ,prince to the ,peasant3 the same ,weaknesses attend us2 the same ,passions torment us2 the same ,diseases kill us3 all are the ,work of ,,one ,,great ,,artist6 all are born for the same great ,end6 ,the ,gifts of ,fortune indeed are innumerably different2 the ,advantages of ,education very many2 and as a ,train of ,vices corrupts our ,manners1 so a ,succession of ,virtues may be said to enoble our ,birth and purify our ,blood4 ,hence it is we often see those exalted ,virtues in the ,great and ,noble inherited by their ,posterity2 and hence too we often discover1 even where ,pains are taken to conceal it1 an inbred ,dignity1 a ,mein and ,aspect superior to the ,generality of ,men4 ,still this ,rule is by no ,means universal2 for the same ,experience shews us1 that great ,men can do little things2 even such as the private and obscure would be ashamed of4 ,and how so8 because ,passion1 not ,reason1 is their ,guide4 ,parents then1 we see1 even of the highest ,rank1 are under an indispensable ,obligation of regulating the ,manners of their ,children4 ,philosophers say1 that all ,passions are in all ,men2 but that their ,predominance is unequal1 and different in different ,men3 if so1 the ,great stand in most need of having them subdued1 or at least regulated1 as the ,power to indulge them is greater in them than in others4 ,but granting that ,parents of ,quality are convinced of these ,truths1 and take all the ,steps already recommended for training up their ,children in proper ,decorum2 granting too1 that they design every thing for their real ,advantage2 they have still many things both to do and avoid which are not common to all4 ,their first ,care must be to avoid ,sycophants1 ,flatterers1 and ,hypocrites2 they are but too constant ,attendants on the ,great1 and their ,business is to diffuse an imperceptible ,poison 7if ,i may be allowed the ,metaphor7 over both ,parents and ,children4 ,nothing is so amiable as ,truth1 nothing more desirable1 and yet nothing more difficult to reach the ,great4 ,if a ,nobleman has a ,child whose ,parts are weak1 whose ,genius is slow and shallow1 it is undoubtedly a ,misfortune1 but cannot be his ,fault3 the natural ,blindness of ,parents keeps them from seeing these ,defects so clearly as another2 but the unnatural1 at least unmanly ,artifices of the ,flatterer totally prevent their seeing them at all3 and thus the noble ,heir is mistakenly taught to think himself what ,nature has forbid he shall ever be4 ,another ,care is1 that ,youth of ,quality1 who have ,parts and ,quickness1 be not suffered to waste the first ,flower of their ,age in ,idleness3 it is a grievous ,error1 yet very common4 ,i have already observed1 that ,parents who know nothing are injudiciously1 and even anxiously solicitous to have their ,children ,scholars2 and by a strange reverse ,infatuation1 ,parents of ,rank are often very indifferent about it4 ,this ,error is undoubtedly sometimes owing to themselves only by a supine ,negligence in their own natural ,temper2 but it is much oftener owing to the false ,praises given by those that have both the ,parents and the ,child's ,ear4 ,a young ,heir soon knows the ,title1 ,dignity and ,estate he is born to possess2 too soon does he know his ,independence1 and too apt is he to grow careless about his ,learning on this very ,account1 but if to these ,impediments be added imaginary ,excellence and ,knowledge1 thro' the daily ,flattery of a ,dependent1 what is likely to be the ,consequence8 why1 that he will remain ignorant his whole ,life4 ,for who will take ,pains to learn1 that is firmly persuaded he knows enough already8 and that many of our young ,noblemen are trained up in this ,disposition1 nobody1 ,i believe1 will deny3 it is true that ,time may convince them of their ,error2 but it will then perhaps be too late to recover what they have lost4 ,the ,education of a ,nobleman should contain every thing that is both useful and ornamental4 ,as he is more conspicuous than others1 as he always stands on an ,eminence1 his ,education should be such as may reflect a ,lustre on every one that beholds him4 ,he is to be considered as a ,pillar of the ,laws1 an ,honour and an ,ornament to the ,age he lives in4 ,to this ,end he is to study first1 ,languages2 that is to say1 two of the dead ones1 viz4 ,latin and ,greek2 and of the living ones1 besides his ,mother-tongue1 ,french at least4 ,the ,learned disagree very much as to the ,variety of ,languages necessary to be acquired2 some are of ,opinion1 that besides these already named1 ,italian1 ,spanish1 ,portuguese1 and more yet1 are becoming the ,education of a great ,man2 and urge in their ,favour1 that the more ,languages are gained1 the more the ,mind is enlarged3 others dissent from this1 and maintain1 that a great ,variety rather confuses the ,mind than otherwise2 that ,latin and ,greek are indisputably the ,languages of all learned ,men2 after those1 ,french1 and at most ,italian1 are all that need be added1 as every thing may be found in these1 either originally or translated into them3 but they farther argue1 that it is a great ,waste of ,time1 spent merely in the ,acquisition of ,languages1 when so many nobler ,studies are to be pursued2 ,studies which at once strike the ,mind1 and constitute true ,science4 ,this last ,reasoning has1 ,i think1 great ,force2 but here for a ,moment let me leave the ,nobleman1 to make an ,observation on general ,life4 ,languages1 besides being considered as general ,parts of ,education1 are particularly necessary in certain ,circumstances of ,life4 ,if one1 whether for ,education or ,business1 goes to reside in ,holland1 ,france1 ,spain1 or ,italy1 it would be an ,absurdity not to attain the ,language of the ,country2 so if another is to be a ,merchant1 surely he should not be a ,stranger to the ,language of his ,correspondents2 thus are these1 and many other things more or less necessary1 just as they are circumstanced3 and therefore should ,parents1 besides the ,education they bestow on their ,children1 as suited to their ,station in general1 join to it that which is necessary in particular4 ,but1 to return2 ,besides ,languages1 a ,nobleman is to learn ,philosophy1 both ,moral and ,natural2 ,mathematics2 the ancient and modern ,laws of our own ,country2 and the ,customs1 ,laws and ,manners of other ,nations4 ,he should particularly be a ,critic in our own ,history1 and our own ,language2 because they are what in real ,life he will have most occasion to exercise4 ,to this solid ,learning should be added the ,embellishments of polite ,literature1 ,poetry1 ,painting1 and ,music2 and to compleat the ,character1 ,dancing1 ,fencing1 ,riding and ,architecture4 ,tho' this is going a considerable ,way1 it is much the least ,part of what ought reasonably to be expected from him1 considering the ,light he stands in4 ,it is of great ,consequence that his ,preceptor have a good ,head2 but it is of much more that he has an honest ,heart4 ,he is to humanize his ,pupil's ,soul1 and form him for all those ,actions that will give him a real1 not a fancied ,dignity4 ,he should raise in him an ardent ,love of his own ,country2 but1 as every other ,nation has it's ,virtues as well as ,vices1 he should at the same time avoid the customary ,prejudice of allowing them nothing4 ,while he is taught to think and act nobly1 he should be informed that the ,knowledge1 the ,care and the ,improvement of his ,estate1 are essential ,obligations1 and such as cannot be dispensed with4 ,he must be easy of ,access1 without which ,truth will seldom reach his ,ear2 nor will he be able to distinguish ,merit from ,demerit2 or know how to right the ,injured1 or punish the ,injurer4 ,while he maintains his ,dignity1 he must be ready to condescend to ,inferiors with an humble ,deportment where necessary2 and be taught to see and feel another's ,woe3 which nothing will more inforce1 than convincing him of the ,instability of all human ,grandeur4 ,his ,dress and ,behaviour should be like his ,quality1 noble2 yet perfectly free from ,affectation1 ,vanity and ,pride4 ,he must be taught to know1 that 'tis not for himself alone he is to live1 but1 from the politest ,manners1 a wise ,conduct1 and a benevolent ,heart1 to diffuse ,pleasure and ,joy to all that know him4 ,vice and ,virtue are to be placed before him in their genuine ,light2 and the ,beauty of the one made a ,contrast to the ,deformity of the other4 ,while he is taught to distinguish ,honour from ,infamy1 ,nobility from ,meanness1 the utmost ,care should be taken to shew him how much he would sink beneath a ,man1 should he become a ,slave to any irregular ,passion4 ,he should1 for ,example sake1 as well as his own1 be instructed to shun every thing that is mean1 base or vicious2 and1 in a word1 be endowed with all those ,virtues that will make him generous1 noble1 wise1 and good4 ,much more might be said on this ,occasion1 much more might be added2 but as the ,great are supplied with far abler ,helps from other ,hands1 ,i will only add on this ,head1 that if the ,admonitions here offered be reduced to ,practice1 every other ,virtue1 even the most heroic1 will become familiar and easy4 ,my next ,topic is the ,education of a young ,lady of the first ,quality2 from which1 if the ,course of my ,design did not make it necessary1 ,i would gladly be excused3 for as the most delicate ,flowers require the tenderest ,treatment1 so the conducting a ,woman of ,quality thro' the first ,stages1 and ushering her into the ,world1 is of all others the nicest ,part to act4 ,still1 as ,nature and ,reason are my ,guides2 by them ,i hope to be enabled to offer some ,aid1 however small1 for the promoting this great ,end4 ,as all ,parents have a ,right to exercise a proper ,authority1 so all ,children1 however high their ,rank1 should be taught to obey4 ,great ,spirits may think ,obedience mean2 but ,parents are to remember their ,children's ,happiness is at stake3 without ,obedience they cannot regulate their ,passions3 and if not regulated1 they have but little ,chance for ,happiness4 ,misfortunes with a ,coronet1 ,misfortunes with a ,coach and ,six1 are still ,misfortunes2 and it is the ,business of every ,parent so to conduct their ,children1 that they may on their part avoid them1 or so to fortify them that they may bear them as they ought4 ,but1 as it is most agreeable to good ,sense1 ,i will conclude that ,parents of the highest ,rank are convinced of this1 and have employed the ,infant ,age of their ,children accordingly4 ,what next is to be done8 ,what ,education is most proper for a young ,lady of the first ,quality8 ,such surely as will distinguish her from the ,crowd2 such as will more adorn her ,mind1 than the ,jewels she wears adorn her ,person4 ,the ,errors committed in the ,education of the ,children of private ,persons are many1 from the ,parents educating them above their ,rank2 still there is one general ,excuse may be made for them1 which is1 that as the ,turns of ,fortune are sometimes very great1 they don't know what ,occasion they may have for it4 ,but in ,persons of ,quality the ,case is different2 they are already at the ,summit1 and their ,education should suit their ,rank4 ,as soon therefore as the first ,stage is over1 7not to mention what she may have learnt during that ,period7 a young ,lady's ,time is to be esteemed precious3 ,reading1 ,writing1 ,working1 ,dancing1 ,french1 ,italian and ,music are all to be taught her2 and that not superficially1 as is too much the ,custom2 not so as to puzzle and confound her ,understanding1 but to enlarge and improve it4 ,a certain ,author says1 that there is not a ,man in a thousand who reads well2 if so1 and ,men assert a ,superiority of ,knowledge1 it will be no unfair ,conclusion to say1 there is not a ,woman in two thousand that does3 but ,i hope this ,gentleman's ,assertion is not true1 and then the ,conclusion falls of course4 ,still it is very certain1 that much more is required to read our ,mother-,tongue well1 than is commonly imagined2 and as that is really graceful1 a young ,lady should be taught to set a great ,value on it4 ,to know the ,words and their ,meaning is not sufficient2 she must know the ,pointing1 the ,emphasis and the ,cadence2 and she must know too1 how1 in different ,parts1 and on different ,subjects1 to modify her ,voice1 or she will never read well4 ,to read with ,energy and ,beauty1 we should know our ,subject2 and here the ,understanding is concerned2 this gain'd1 we have nothing more to do but to keep close to ,nature2 for the greatest ,fault committed in reading is1 the throwing ourselves out of ,nature4 ,as ,i have formerly attended the ,lectures of several public ,professors1 ,i remember one who committed this ,fault of throwing himself out of ,nature1 as ,i have just observed2 when he read1 he put on a ,tone of ,voice not his own2 when he laid down his ,paper to explain what he had been reading1 he was himself again2 and thus was he in and out of himself1 if ,i may be allowed the ,expression1 ten times in an ,hour4 ,and yet this was a ,man of ,letters1 a ,man of ,science1 a ,philosopher6 ,the ,hand-writing of a young ,lady should have an easy ,elegance in it2 a ,medium between the ,italian1 which tho' beautiful to see is usually wrote very slowly1 and that ,meanness of ,hand too common in the ,sex4 ,either of these ,faults in a ,lady's ,hand-writing will appear in their true ,light1 if we consider that the ,custom of writing familiar ,epistles is one of the most important ,steps in her ,education4 ,nothing tends more to open the ,mind1 nothing bids fairer for gaining a ,knowledge of the ,world1 next to the seeing it1 than the giving and receiving one another's ,thoughts with ,freedom1 in a virtuous ,intercourse of friendly ,epistles4 ,now an evident ,obstacle to this is the ,manner of ,writing2 if a young ,lady's ,hand is a fine ,italian1 she hates the ,thoughts of writing a ,letter1 because it will take up so much ,time2 and if it be a bad ,hand1 she says her ,scrawl is so frightful1 she is asham'd that any body should see it4 ,but there is another important ,reason for familiarizing a young ,lady to her ,pen1 which is that of writing correctly4 ,for a fine ,lady not to spell with exact ,propriety1 is frightful beyond ,expression2 but when she has gained that1 she possesses nothing till she writes with ,grammar1 with ,stile1 and a suitable ,turn of ,expression4 ,some1 it is true1 have by ,nature a happier ,turn this way than others1 and may be said to be born with a ,talent for ,writing2 but tho' this be granted1 yet certainly a great deal may be obtained by a due ,care of their ,education in this ,point4 ,needle-work is by no means below the ,dignity of a ,woman of ,quality1 therefore she should certainly be taught it2 for tho' it may not be called a thing she wants1 yet the very ,change of ,employment is often a ,pleasure3 besides that the knowing it is really useful4 ,i have seen a ,woman of ,quality at her sick ,lord's ,bed-side1 so far from being ashamed to own she could use a ,needle1 that what things of that kind were wanted during the ,course of his ,illness she would let nobody do for him but herself2 and thus at the same time that her ,tenderness and ,concern proved the ,sincerity of her ,affection1 she proved that it was not below her ,quality to be notable too4 ,dancing ,i mention in course1 tho' it is needless to recommend it here1 not only because ,i have elsewhere done justice to this ,part of ,education1 but because all are convinced of it's ,importance1 as an ,accomplishment which strikes the ,beholder's ,eye1 and gives more or less favourable ,impressions in proportion as we excel in it4 ,but here1 to avoid ,error1 the ,end of ,dancing should be remembered2 that it is not so much for the sake of shining at a ,ball 7tho' that too may sometimes be necessary7 but to give an easy ,air and ,grace to all the ,motions of the ,body4 ,french1 in it's ,purity and ,perfection1 is a great ,ornament to a ,lady's ,education2 but that is not all3 it is not only polite1 but highly useful2 both as she may have frequent ,occasions to speak it1 and as there are many good ,authors in that ,language not yet translated into ours4 ,italian and ,music for a fine ,lady should be inseparable2 for tho' it is allowed that our ,music is vastly improved within half a ,century past1 yet the ,critics in that way insist1 that ,music in our ,language is incapable of equalling the ,italian1 from the great ,number of ,consonants it abounds with4 ,when a young ,lady is advanced thus far1 she has certainly done a great deal2 but not enough4 ,if she is taught to think that the ,great must be distinguished by their superior ,knowledge1 she will be animated with a ,desire to acquire it2 and not sit down contented with an inferior ,degree of it4 ,still1 as deep ,studies and very close ,application seem by ,nature more the ,province of ,men than ,women1 so ,i have not urged the ,study of the more learned ,languages2 and will leave this ,point to be determined by the ,parents and ,preceptors4 ,history1 'tis true1 gives us many ,examples of ,queens and ,ladies of every ,rank1 who were distinguished by their great ,learning4 ,sir ,thomas ,more1 ,high ,chancellor of ,england1 in a ,letter to his ,daughter1 commends her for the ,purity and ,elegance of her ,latin2 and ,madam ,dacier1 ,daughter of ,tanaquil ,faber1 is well known 7besides her other learned ,works7 to have translated ,homer from the ,greek3 but these are rare ,examples1 and such perhaps as should rather be admired than imitated4 ,nature1 ,i think1 points out to us1 that the ,education of a ,woman should rather be sprightly than grave2 thus polite ,literature seems a fitter ,study for a ,lady than ,syllogisms in ,logic4 ,however1 that a ,lady of ,quality may by no means be deficient1 she should have1 besides what is already recommended1 a ,knowledge of ,arithmetic1 ,geography1 and ,drawing2 to which may1 with great ,propriety1 be added1 at least a general ,acquaintance with ,moral and ,experimental ,philosophy4 ,the ,sketch here given is not to be considered as the ,edifice1 but the ,ground-work1 the ,foundation alone2 the ,superstructure is still to be raised4 ,in order thereto a young ,lady is to be nicely directed what ,language she should speak1 and what shun3 what ought to be her ,sentiments1 her ,deportment1 and her ,actions4 ,but first she should be taught to know that the ,world has it's ,eyes upon her1 and that in proportion as she increases in ,merit1 so much nearer will she approach to gaining universal ,admiration and ,esteem4 ,the ,reasonableness of this ,admonition will appear1 if it be considered how many ,actions we do unworthy ourselves1 only because we are unobserved1 or at least think we are so2 whereas by keeping our ,attention awake1 and considering ourselves as always beheld1 we shall often blush at the very ,approach of ,vice and ,folly1 and thus nobly fly from them4 ,yet this ,consideration of being beheld1 tho' in itself a ,virtue1 must be carefully inculcated and nicely distinguished1 lest it degenerate into a vain ,desire of ,applause3 her ,business is to deserve ,esteem1 but not to look for it4 ,we often see a half-bred ,player stare about him when he has finished his ,speech1 as if he would beg a ,clap1 a ,smile1 or a ,nod of ,approbation2 but we never see this in a thorough bred one2 he attends to his ,part1 to his ,business1 and nothing else2 he knows that the best way to obtain and secure ,applause1 is to deserve it4 ,i have said a young ,lady should be nicely directed what ,books she is to read2 indeed it is too nice a ,matter for me to determine2 ,mr4 ,addison1 in one of his ,spectators1 has1 in a burlesque ,way1 given a ,sort of ,lady's ,library2 but ,i wish he had reversed it1 and told them seriously what ,books would grace a ,lady's ,closet1 and improve her ,mind4 ,for my own ,part ,i think nothing is more difficult1 even among ,men1 than a proper ,choice of ,books4 ,wisdom and ,virtue are the great ,sciences we are born to learn2 ,books and ,men are the ,channels to convey the ,knowledge of them to us4 ,now most ,parents give their ,children some general ,cautions against bad ,company1 but ,books are usually thrown into one undistinguished ,heap3 and tho' some perhaps are pointed out to us as good1 we are not instructed to shun the bad2 at least they are still open to our ,view4 ,witness the ,swarms of lewd ,plays1 ,poems and ,romances1 calculated to inflame the ,minds1 and corrupt the ,hearts of the ,readers3 witness the ,sophistry and false ,reasoning of many ,writers1 who take ,pride in shewing how ingeniously they can deceive3 witness the ,loads of ,lumber produced by those1 whose ,talents have been mistaken by making them ,scholars without ,genius3 and witness too the ,train of ,trifles the present ,age abounds with4 ,from this clear and rational ,view of the ,state of ,books1 is it not apparent how liable we are to be misled8 ,true it is1 that we may read our whole ,lives and learn nothing1 nay far worse than nothing2 learn ,vice1 ,error1 and ,impiety4 ,since then this ,point is of such ,consequence to all1 those in exalted ,stations of both ,sexes should have very able and faithful ,guides herein2 as from their ,influence so much ,good or ,bad must flow4 ,still ,i must beg leave to caution ,parents of the highest ,quality1 to imprint on their ,children's ,minds and ,hearts this ,maxim1 that all their ,studies should tend to make them wise and good4 ,convinced of this1 as they advance in ,years1 their own ,judgment and ,goodness of ,heart will1 in great measure1 instruct them what to read1 and what to avoid4 ,a young ,lady should be taught to speak her ,mother-tongue with great ,clearness1 ,purity1 and ,elegance2 nothing coarse1 mean1 or vulgar should ever drop from her ,lips2 nothing uncouth1 strained1 or affected2 the one debases her ,quality1 and the other her ,understanding4 ,great ,ladies may perhaps think that their ,greatness entitles them to say any thing2 but where this happens1 it is certainly an ,error in their ,education2 or at least it is one in their ,practice4 ,there is yet a third ,error in ,speech which ,women of ,rank should carefully avoid2 an ,error consistent with good ,sense1 but good ,sense obscured2 that of catching every new-coin'd ,word4 ,the ,english being a living ,language1 is subject to great ,variations and ,changes2 but is now deservedly esteemed in high ,perfection1 as it is certainly stronger1 more expressive1 and more copious than heretofore4 ,still there is ,reason to fear1 that every ,change is not an ,amendment2 and if it be1 a ,lady should not be the first to adopt it3 yet so it happens1 that a ,desire to appear wise and learned sometimes makes them over-shoot themselves1 and thus by aiming too high1 they are liable to fall too low4 ,the ,sentiments of a young ,lady of ,quality should be noble1 virtuous1 and pure4 ,while she is surrounded with external ,grandeur1 she must be taught to support a ,dignity of ,mind1 without which1 all her ,pomp will be mere ,farce and ,pageantry1 and only tend to inflame her ,vanity2 she must be taught to know1 that the noblest ,sentiments are those which inspire her with a ,love of ,virtue2 and to be truly great1 she must condescend frequently to revolve in her ,mind the ,hardships1 ,sorrow1 ,pain1 and ,sufferings of the various ,states beneath her3 above all1 she must be taught to maintain a spotless ,innocence2 and live in a constant ,resolution to suffer any thing1 however great1 rather than disgrace her ,birth and ,quality by any ,action unworthy of herself4 ,her ,deportment must answer her ,quality1 and be elevated1 majestic1 and noble2 such as will strike us with ,awe1 at the same time that we see in it a ,complacency and ,affability which charms us3 such as will not suffer even the most bold and abandoned to offer the least ,indecency or ,rudeness1 at the same time that it discovers a ,heart susceptible of the tenderest ,impressions4 ,an easy ,grace1 a lively chearful ,air should accompany all she says and does2 but lest this should degenerate into ,levity1 she must be instructed never to throw off1 that great ,ornament of the ,sex1 ,modesty4 ,her ,actions must be such as will contribute to others ,happiness and her own2 such as will reflect a ,lustre on herself1 and attract the ,beholders of them to an unfeigned ,esteem for her3 ,generosity1 ,benevolence1 ,charity1 and ,humility1 accompanied with a ,sweetness of ,temper1 should alternately prevail3 and if the ,distresses of others sometimes intrude too far upon her1 7which from their great ,severity they are apt to do7 let her not add ,misery to ,misery1 by dropping the ,air of her ,countenance1 or use any ,bitterness of ,expression1 at the same time that she refuses to relieve4 ,i have here laboured to shew what ,education is necessary to adorn a ,woman of ,quality2 and will leave it to abler ,pens to refine1 to correct1 and improve it4 ,what ,i hope and wish is1 that the ,plan here laid down may be deemed natural1 practicable1 and no way repugnant to good ,sense3 nothing stoical1 wild1 or romantic2 nothing1 in short1 7allowing for the ,difference of ,genius1 ,health1 and other ,circumstances7 but what every ,woman of ,quality may and ought to be4 ,but before ,i quit this ,head1 ,i cannot help remarking how injuriously ,men often think and speak of the ,capacities of the other ,sex4 ,if all be true that they urge1 7which with some is still a ,doubt7 that the ,understandings of ,women are weaker than those of ,men1 yet it by no means excuses our excluding them from ,education4 ,nature indeed seems to have formed the ,men strong in ,mind and ,body1 that they may labour either with their ,understandings or their ,limbs as ,occasion requires2 the ,women more tender1 for ,employments of a gentler ,kind3 thus each have their several ,provinces3 allowing then the ,woman to be the weaker ,vessel1 that is1 neither her ,frame nor ,faculties so strong as the ,man's1 does it imply that she has no ,strength1 no ,faculties at all8 by no ,means4 ,experience shews us that the ,sex have ,wit1 ,judgment1 and a ,capacity to learn2 how then can we justify our too general ,neglect of them8 ,but this ,error is of great ,consequence even to ourselves4 ,if our ,love for the ,sex extends no farther than a gross ,sense1 we miss our ,aim if we expect to find ,happiness2 or if we go so far as to consider them useful in their domestic ,capacity1 that will not secure to us the agreeable3 good ,sense1 and good ,temper1 improved more or less by ,education1 should be every ,man's ,view in a ,partner for ,life2 and where shall we find them1 if their ,education be universally neglected8 ,a rational ,man should choose a rational ,companion2 but how will such be found1 if ,pains are taken to keep them ignorant8 ,thus it is evident1 that we are injuring ourselves1 and ,posterity too1 by this unworthy ,treatment of the ,sex4 ,still it seems reasonable1 that as ,men are to bear the ,burden of ,business1 they should have superior ,education1 as well as superior ,strength2 therefore the only thing here contended for1 is1 that every ,woman should have her ,mind improved1 her ,understanding enlarged by such an ,education as is best suited to her ,condition in ,life3 such an one1 in short1 as will make her lastingly pleasing by being both useful and agreeable4 ,the ,transition from the ,nobility to the ,gentry is very easy2 for whatever ,difference there may be as to ,rank and ,title1 it is certain that many private ,gentlemen have equal ,ability to educate their ,children as they please4 ,the ,plan then already laid down for the ,education of a ,nobleman1 will in general hold good here4 ,the eldest ,son1 to whom our ,laws give the ,estate1 should resemble our young ,nobleman as nearly as may be2 not from a vain ,desire of being equal to him1 7tho' it is the ,way to make him so7 but from a laudable ,ambition of being excell'd by none in ,learning and ,virtue4 ,still there will sometimes be great ,difficulty to persuade young ,gentlemen who are thus situated to apply themselves to ,study3 the early ,knowledge they have of the ,fortune they are to inherit makes them giddy2 and they leave ,study to their younger ,brothers4 ,what then is to be done8 ,parents must discard their outward ,fondness for their ,children1 to prove their inward ,affection2 for how can they be said to love them1 while they suffer them to live in ,ignorance8 how can they be said to love ,virtue1 yet lead their ,children into ,vice8 ,parents then must do violence to themselves1 they must be in earnest1 and consider that the ,education of their ,children is an indispensable ,obligation4 ,parents1 whatever be their ,fortune1 must exert a due ,authority over their ,children2 must shew them they are serious1 and convince them that they will not be trifled with4 ,dr4 ,busby1 the famous ,master of ,westminster ,school1 is said to have made more eminent ,scholars than any ,man of his ,time2 the ,reason is obvious1 he was in earnest2 his ,scholars durst not trifle their ,time away1 or neglect their ,studies3 whether or no he carried it with so nice a ,hand as never to err by his ,rigour1 ,i will not presume to determine2 but if he did1 it is no ,matter of ,surprise1 since every ,man is liable to ,error4 ,whoever considers the ,depravity of our ,nature1 how propense we are to love ,ease1 and fly from ,labour1 will be convinced that ,boys stand in need of every ,help to make them diligent4 ,the ,authority of the ,parents1 the ,authority of the ,masters1 a ,sense of their ,duty1 and a pleasing ,prospect of ,reward1 by the ,acquisition of ,knowledge1 must all combine to enforce their ,compliance3 and happy will it be for them if they can all produce the desired ,effect4 ,but it will be happier still1 if the joint ,endeavours of ,parents and ,teachers can create in ,boys a ,love for ,study1 and an ardent ,desire to gain ,knowledge3 then it is we see them go to their ,book with as much ,alacrity as they go to ,dinner2 then it is we see them striving to excel2 and the ,knowledge they gain from a ,love of ,learning1 makes them sprightly and happy in themselves and pleasing to all that see them4 ,besides1 this ,turn of ,mind has something in it so promising1 that it is what every thinking ,parent would wish for1 and should earnestly strive to inculcate2 yet he must not be surprised if he does not always find it2 and indeed ,experience shews us1 that it is generally necessary to govern ,children with a tight ,rein3 for early ,indulgence does them incredible ,mischief2 in particular1 it gives them a ,reluctance for ,study very hard to be conquered4 ,when these first ,difficulties are got over1 ,parents should then apply themselves to their ,children's ,understanding3 the joining ,reason and ,authority together will give double ,weight to their ,injunctions4 ,suppose then a ,father addressing his ,son1 let us see what ,reason will dictate4 8,do you know1 my ,dear1 why you go to ,school8 why ,i engage you in ,study1 and threaten you so severely if you neglect it8 is it for my ,sake1 think you8 or is it because ,i take ,pleasure in giving you ,pain8 no2 it is for your ,sake alone that ,i thus urge your ,obedience4 ,providence has made me the ,instrument of your ,being2 therefore1 as your natural ,guardian1 ,i am accountable for your ,education3 ,learning is the ,road to ,knowledge2 ,knowledge will lead you to ,virtue2 and ,virtue to ,happiness4 ,need you then any other ,inducements to learn than the ,duty you owe to me1 and the ,advantages that will accrue to yourself8 no surely2 ,i trust you will want no other ,motive40 ,is not this ,method both rational and natural8 ,i think it is undeniably so2 and that1 by these easy ,means1 ,parents may1 in general1 promise themselves great ,comfort in their ,children by guiding them as they see proper4 ,children1 if moulded while young1 readily yield1 like ,wax1 to the ,impression2 yet now they are merely passive3 but when ,reason gains ,strength1 when they see their ,parents acting with a generous ,affection for their ,good alone1 then it is that they are animated with a ,love of ,duty1 and with a ,desire to become every thing that they would have them be4 ,every ,gentleman of ,fortune should certainly give all his ,sons the ,education of ,gentlemen2 and therefore the younger ,brothers are1 in the fundamental ,points of ,education1 to accompany the eldest3 but tho' this be granted in general1 yet there are certain particular ,rules to be observed2 some one ,point to be excepted against1 another to be pursued1 with many other things1 according as ,circumstances vary1 all which require the ,parents ,attention4 ,i have just observed1 that the ,foundation of their ,learning should in all the ,sons be becoming the ,stock they spring from3 but the eldest must be graced with every ,ornament4 ,he must be taught to know1 that possessing a ,fortune superior to his ,brothers1 obliges him to acquire superior ,qualifications4 ,he is to consider himself as one designed to do ,honour to his ,family1 and to his ,country2 and be convinced1 that if he neglects to cultivate his ,mind1 he will be a ,disgrace to both4 ,parents of this ,class have1 with regard to their younger ,sons1 two principal things to do3 first1 they are carefully to attend to their ,genius1 ,temper1 and ,inclinations2 and next they are to resolve on an ,employment suited to them3 this settled1 they are to pursue their ,education accordingly4 ,the three learned ,professions1 ,divinity1 ,law1 and ,physic1 require not only deep ,erudition1 but require too a ,species of ,learning proper to each2 besides1 as these are ,employments of the most serious ,nature1 and of the most weighty ,consequence1 not to give them all the ,qualifications that human ,wit is capable of attaining1 is surely a grievous ,error4 ,yet are there sometimes other ,errors too material to pass unobserved3 not those of the ,head1 but of the ,heart4 ,it is in general hoped1 that where due ,care is taken in forming the ,manners1 the natural ,corruption of the ,heart may be corrected2 but where that is neglected1 or our ,endeavours to effect it prove fruitless1 which1 it is to be feared1 they sometimes will1 the utmost ,care should be taken in the ,choice of an ,employment for ,life4 ,it is a ,rule in ,life1 that where we cannot do any great ,good1 we should do no ,harm2 and therefore it should be a ,rule with ,parents to place their bad ,children1 if they are so unhappy as to have any1 as remote from ,mischief as possible4 ,now to apply this to the ,matter in hand1 we must observe1 that to fill up these important ,stations with all their just ,requisites1 we must not only have a sound ,education1 and a clear ,head2 but we must also have an upright ,heart3 that is1 we must resolve to banish every sinister ,aim1 and have no ,views but those of ,justice1 ,probity1 and ,honour4 ,to what must we ascribe the general ,reproaches thrown with so much ,freedom on ,professions which have in their ,nature the strongest ,claim to ,respect1 as their ,foundation is ,virtue1 ,truth1 and ,justice2 but to the corrupted ,channels the ,stream passes through8 ,for tho' ,men's ,judgments frequently err1 and false ,constructions are often put on the best ,actions2 yet it is to be feared the ,complaints are sometimes but too just4 ,men strongly tempted by irregular ,passions1 whether ,pride1 ,avarice1 ,revenge1 or others1 will naturally incline to gratify them3 hence then appears the ,necessity1 in these ,professions particularly1 of well-regulated ,hearts3 that on one side no ,injury may be done1 and on the other1 that no ,censure may be justly incurred4 ,it is to be presumed that the younger ,sons of every ,gentleman's ,family 7unless by any lateral ,means they have an independent ,fortune7 are to engage in some ,profession or ,employment1 in order to their ,advancement in the ,world2 and it is perfectly right that they should3 for by this means they may not only fill up their ,time like reasonable ,creatures1 but become capable of doing ,honour to some ,profession1 be useful to ,mankind in general1 and often raise a ,fortune equal to their elder ,brother4 ,now besides the learned ,professions2 the ,sea1 the ,army1 and the ,exchange1 with many others1 needless to enumerate1 are open for them to engage in2 and hence farther appears not only the ,necessity of considering their ,fortune1 but of attending to their ,genius1 ,temper1 and ,inclinations4 ,nothing is more talked of than the ,necessity of consulting our ,children's ,genius2 and ,i think verily there is nothing so little understood1 or so little attended to4 ,i know that many ,people say1 there is nothing more easy to discover than the ,genius of ,children2 but if we view the continual ,errors committed in this ,point1 we shall have reason to think otherwise4 ,what is more evident than a general ,partiality of ,parents to their ,children8 and what will naturally be the ,consequence of it8 certainly a false ,estimation of their ,capacity4 ,however1 difficult as ,i think this ,knowledge is to be obtained1 either from general ,partiality1 ,want of ,penetration1 or the natural ,inconstancy of ,youth2 yet let us not throw aside our ,attention1 nor wildly give up our ,children to ,chance2 but rather let us improve the ,reason ,providence has endowed us with1 and labour to draw such ,conclusions as will most conduce to their real ,happiness4 ,to act therefore with ,judgment in this weighty ,matter1 ,parents must not1 because a ,boy says he will go to ,sea1 immediately send him2 nor because another says he will be a ,soldier1 directly buy him a ,commission4 ,one perhaps only wants to get away from his ,studies1 and the other thinks it a fine thing to wear a laced ,coat4 ,youth is naturally giddy1 and what they like to-day1 they will often dislike to-morrow2 ,parents therefore would be grievously mistaken1 were they to take every ,start of ,fancy1 every premature ,request of their ,children for ,genius4 ,still it is certain that they have many ,ways of discovering what they are capable of1 and what they are inclined to2 therefore our ,prudence and ,judgment are to go hand in hand with these ,discoveries4 ,for ,instance3 if we see a ,boy of intrepid ,courage1 loving1 seeking1 and enduring ,hardships1 and dwelling with ,delight on maritime ,affairs1 at the same time that he has virtuous ,dispositions1 and both loves and applies to his ,books2 we need not hesitate to breed him to the ,sea4 ,so if we are convinced1 that another seeks a ,commission from true ,honour and ,courage1 and from an ardent ,desire to serve his ,king and ,country1 we may encourage his laudable ,ambition2 but if we discover that his ,motives are those of being conspicuously dress'd1 of sauntering and dangling one part of his ,time away1 and raking and gaming another part2 if we see too1 that his only ,fear1 is the ,fear of having occasion to fight2 we should certainly reject his ,request1 and oblige him to apply another way3 nay more1 we should convince him how mean a ,soul he must have1 to seek so inglorious a life4 ,in like manner1 if we see a ,boy whose ,head is manifestly turned for ,business1 whose ,cast of ,temper argues ,method in every ,action1 we may pretty safely conclude we hit his ,genius1 by making him a ,merchant4 ,but there is a capital ,mistake ,parents frequently commit1 that is1 their being influenced by some oblique ,interest2 which often tends to ruin their ,children4 ,for ,example3 the ,family has a ,living in their ,gift1 and a ,boy must be bred a ,clergyman on purpose to fill it3 or there is an ,uncle a ,bishop1 therefore the ,nephew must be a ,bishop too2 tho' perhaps he has no more ,genius nor ,chance for it1 than he has of being ,emperor of ,morocco4 ,thus another1 who would have been an ,adept in the ,mathematics1 and have done ,honour to the ,science1 or whose ,sprightliness would have made a ,figure in polite ,literature1 is cramp'd with the ,study of the ,law2 not because he likes it1 but because it is a ,profession that may raise him to be a ,judge2 perhaps ,lord ,chancellor3 tho' he has as little ,chance for either as the ,clerk to a ,justice of ,peace4 ,a third1 in ,nature's spite1 is made a ,physician1 only because his ,parents have seen a ,mead1 a ,hulse1 or a ,wilmot standing at the ,top of the ,profession2 and therefore conclude their ,son will have equal ,genius and equal ,merit4 ,here then it is evident1 that ,parents are often mistaken1 not only by ,inattention to the ,genius of their ,children1 but by overrating their ,parts2 by fixing a ,profession for them1 perhaps as soon as they are born1 or by blundering them into an ,employment which their ,education is not equal to4 ,on this last ,point let me explain myself4 ,suppose ,i have not over-rated a ,boy's natural ,parts2 suppose too that ,i have at great ,expence kept him at ,school for ten ,years2 it does not from hence follow that he is learned3 ,i must know if he has applied and improved these ,years to his real ,advantage2 that is1 whether his ,learning is deep or superficial2 ,i must know too the ,tenor of his ,studies1 for even of those who are very diligent1 all ,parts of ,learning are not equal ,favourites2 some are sprightly1 some grave1 some in short more striking to them than others3 lastly1 ,i must know if the ,nature of his ,education be adapted to the ,employment ,i am about to engage him in4 ,without ,attention and ,regard to these ,circumstances1 it will be impossible to keep clear of ,error in the ,disposal of our ,children for ,life3 and as not only themselves1 but ,society too1 must feel the good or bad ,effects of our ,choice1 it is of the highest ,consequence that it be judicious4 ,but ,genius is not the only thing to be considered in the fixing our ,sons for ,life4 ,mr4 ,pope has a ,position1#h which does not tally with general ,observation2 for according to him there will hardly be a ,man in ten thousand qualify'd for the ,station he is in4 ,true ,genius is1 ,i think1 but rarely to be met with2 plain natural good ,sense1 carefully improved by ,education1 will certainly enable the ,generality of ,men to become ,proficients in any single ,art or ,science3 that is1 as by well directed ,steps they are capable of acquiring great ,perfection in one ,way1 so would they have been equally perfect had their ,steps been directed another ,way4 ,our ,defects in general are not so much owing to the ,want of ,parts1 as to the ,want of cultivating them2 hence appears that amazing ,weakness in some ,parents1 in shewing a ,boy as a ,prodigy1 when every other ,eye can see there is nothing uncommon in him2 and hence too appears the ,folly of others in neglecting those ,improvements so essentially necessary for him4 ,from what has been here advanced it is pretty evident1 that a young ,gentleman of moderate ,parts well improved1 is capable of becoming whatever is pointed out for him1 provided he is diligent4 ,but here it is my earnest ,request1 that ,parents resolve to make their ,children happy2 and this they cannot do but by complying in some measure with their ,temper and ,inclinations2 for it is on this chiefly their ,felicity depends4 ,the same ,boy 7as ,i observed before7 would become an ,adept either in ,this or ,that ,employment1 but it is perhaps one only that will make him happy3 therefore it is not always ,genius1 but ,inclination1 that requires our ,regard4 ,the seeming ,resemblance of ,genius and ,inclination may make some ,people take them for the same thing4 ,genius is a natural ,gift1 a ,power in the ,soul to do what another1 without that ,genius1 cannot do3 ,inclination is a natural ,propensity to pursue some certain ,employment1 whether we have ,genius to execute it or not4 ,we are told of ,cicero1 that no ,man had a stronger ,inclination to be a ,poet than himself2 yet with all his great ,abilities he had not a ,genius for it4 ,so in our own ,times1 we have seen ,men with the greatest ,itch of ,writing produce nothing that argued ,genius2 some fond of ,music almost to ,distraction1 without a ,power of acquiring it3 and others with a ,passion for ,painting1 whose ,genius amounted to nothing more than to dawb4 ,on the other hand1 there are ,men possessed of ,genius1 but devoid of ,inclination2 so true is it1 that however similar they appear1 they are really distinct in themselves1 sometimes very near to1 at other times very distant from1 one another4 ,but to return to our ,subject4 ,as we have observed1 that uncommon ,genius is not to be always expected1 and as we have shewn1 that general good ,capacity seldom is wanting2 nothing more remains but to learn what ,employment will suit our ,sons ,temper and ,inclinations1 and then compleat their ,education accordingly4 ,for surely it is wrong to insist on a ,boy's applying to the ,law1 when the ,delight of his ,soul is the ,study of ,physic and the ,knowledge of ,nature4 ,or is it not wrong to pin another down to the ,study of ,divinity1 when ,commerce engrosses his whole ,attention2 or his dauntless ,heart burns to traverse the ,ocean8 and is it not equally wrong to make a ,boy a ,merchant1 who delights in the ,study of the ,law8 most certainly4 ,these therefore are the things we must attend to1 these the general ,steps to be taken or avoided2 and as none but general ,rules can be laid down1 the particular ,exceptions every ,parent's ,judgment must supply4 ,a young ,lady of the second ,rank comes next under my ,consideration3 but as ,i have dwelt pretty largely on the ,woman of ,quality1 ,i have not occasion to say much here4 ,one material ,distinction to be made in a ,lady of this ,class is1 whether she is an only ,child1 an ,heiress1 no ,brother in the way to enjoy the ,estate2 or whether she is only a younger ,child1 and is to share the ,fate of her younger ,brothers or ,sisters4 ,in the first ,case1 ,i would recommend that her ,education approach to that of a ,woman of ,quality1 since it is highly probable she will become one2 at least if her ,education1 ,conduct1 and ,deportment correspond with those of superior ,rank1 she will always be ,company for them3 but1 in the other ,case1 that is1 where a ,brother sweeps away the ,estate1 it is certain that her ,education need not be so brilliant1 nor ought to be so expensive as in the first4 ,yet let not this damp a young ,lady's ,spirits2 ,i do not mean to make her less happy1 nor recommend the least ,neglect of her2 far from it4 ,a ,state ,coach with three ,footmen answers no better than a plain ,coach with one1 for all the ,purposes of a ,coach3 and a ,diamond ,necklace keeps a ,lady no warmer than a ,necklace of inferior ,value4 ,thus it is with the ,education of a ,woman of ,quality2 it is in some measure merely ornamental1 without being essential to her ,happiness4 ,still it is fit it should be so4 ,when the ,superscription of a ,letter begins with ,her ,grace1 or ,right ,honourable1 when a ,coach or ,chair appears with a ,coronet1 'tis fit that due ,deference and due ,distance be observed2 and to secure this1 'tis fit that her ,education have a suitable ,dignity4 ,but1 as ,i have just observed1 this is not essential to her ,happiness3 and if those in private ,life1 and of moderate ,fortunes1 aim at equalling these either in external ,appearances1 or in too exalted an ,education1 they are pretty sure of running into ,error2 for ,happiness much depends on an ,education suited to our ,condition in ,life4 ,thus while ,i esteem it a ,misfortune for a ,woman of ,rank not to appear to the utmost ,advantage1 it seems no less a ,misfortune for a young ,lady in private ,life vainly to aspire at equalling her4 ,still ,i warmly urge1 that no contemptuous ,neglect be shewn her2 let her be taught as thorough a ,knowledge of her ,mother-tongue as if she were a ,princess2 let her too write1 and dance1 and speak ,french to ,perfection3 ,music too ,i recommend1 but not to ,perfection4 ,here1 ,i am afraid1 my ,readers will start1 and think that either the ,author or the ,printer has committed an ,error2 but a little ,patience1 and we shall1 ,i hope1 understand one another4 ,when we consult a ,physician1 or a ,council1 they take the ,fee1 and give us their ,opinion2 which ,opinion we may either reject or follow as we please4 ,when ,i set out in this ,undertaking1 ,i declared myself not a ,lawgiver1 but an ,adviser2 as such then let me be considered4 ,i speak my ,mind freely1 and like an honest ,lawyer give my ,opinion honestly2 where the ,advice is good1 follow it2 where erroneous1 reject it3 thus should all reasonable ,people do1 taking along with them this ,caution1 not to condemn rashly and precipitately1 but weigh the ,matter well2 and neither lavishly bestow unjust ,praises1 nor unfairly rob ,merit of it's ,due4 ,this premised1 ,i return to my ,subject4 ,it is very certain1 that a young ,lady of this ,class should learn ,music2 it gives her a sprightly pleasing ,air2 it is a fine ,relaxation from more serious ,employments2 and it greatly contributes to keep up a ,chearfulness thro' the whole ,family3 but ,i would not have her ambitious to excel2 and ,i think ,parents ought not to covet it4 ,to attain ,music to great ,perfection1 and to study the ,italian for that ,purpose1 is a ,work of great ,labour1 ,time1 and ,expence2 too much by far to gain what at last amounts to no more than an ,amusement4 ,ladies of great ,rank and ,fortune have every thing at their ,command1 therefore should aim at ,perfection in all they undertake2 but those in more private ,life1 have certainly other things to do4 ,they are1 by all the ,rules of ,prudence1 to be taught to work3 they should be taught to know too1 that they must reduce their ,theory to ,practice4 ,they are to stoop likewise to domestic ,cares2 whereby they will often be enabled to boast a ,happiness which greater ,ladies are ,strangers to4 ,but supposing that either to gratify herself or her ,friends she engages deeply in the ,study of ,music2 ,parents are here often cajoled out of their ,money1 and their ,senses too1 by their ,daughter's fancied ,excellence3 and the same ,man that is lavish in his ,praises to the fond ,father's ,face1 will perhaps in the very next ,company swear the ,girl squeaks like a ,pig4 ,there is a great deal of ,insincerity1 nay the grossest ,flattery1 attends this kind of ,study2 and ,parents in general have need of better ,eyes than common to see thro' it4 ,however1 not to injure the young ,lady's ,capacity1 ,i will grant that she really does excel3 still ,i say1 her ,time might have been much better employed in acquiring more useful ,knowledge3 such as is properly suited to her ,station4 ,there are yet other ,inconveniencies attending this ,study when a ,lady excels1 or has the ,reputation of it2 that of exposing both her and the ,parents to a great deal of gay ,company at least1 if no worse2 such as tends to dissipate the ,mind1 to shut out ,reflection1 and thereby check or prevent the ,knowledge of more weighty ,obligations3 and it often likewise exposes them to a great deal of ill-timed ,expence3 which1 as every ,day's ,experience shews us1 frequently does great ,harm1 but seldom any ,good4 ,it is certain that every populous ,place1 especially a polite ,city like ,london1 ought to have some ,entertainments of this ,kind2 and ,persons of ,quality and ,fortune should give due ,encouragement to them1 as the ,performers make it their ,bread1 and labour their whole ,lives to excel1 that they may give them the utmost ,entertainment in their ,power3 all this1 ,i say1 is highly reasonable1 if reasonably used4 ,but will not a ,concert1 an ,opera1 or an ,oratorio always furnish this8 most certainly4 ,is it worth a young ,lady's while1 whose ,fortune perhaps will be but scanty1 to consume a great deal of ,time and ,money1 and at last fall short of a ,stage-performer8 by no ,means3 any more than it is an ,honour to a ,man of ,quality to be called the first ,fiddle in the ,kingdom2 or for a ,gentleman to boast that he can beat his ,coachman at driving4 ,if to the ,steps already laid down of a young ,lady's ,education of this ,rank be added ,arithmetic1 ,drawing1 and ,geography1 ,i think every thing will be done that her ,parents need ,wish2 and enough1 if well improved1 to enable her to make a very advantageous ,figure4 ,still she should be taught to know that this is only learning the ,road2 and she herself1 with these ,guides1 is to take care not to go wrong3 good ,company1 good ,books1 and an ,attention to her own ,actions1 are to compleat her4 ,she should not aim at more deep or learned ,studies1 which probably would only make her affected or pedantic2 make her a ,pain to herself1 and disgustful to all who converse with her1 particularly her own ,sex4 ,knowledge does not consist in ,words1 but in ,things2 and a ,language1 merely as a ,language1 conveys only the ,knowledge of ,words4 ,if on this ,foundation1 and with these ,materials1 she builds with ,care1 with ,diligence and ,judgment1 ,i dare affirm1 that these alone will furnish her with every ,means of being wise and happy4 ,i am now to treat of the third ,class of ,people1 the ,men of ,trade and ,commerce1 in which ,i comprize the ,merchants1 and all those that are usually distinguished by the ,epithets of genteel ,trades and good ,businesses3 such as require ,figure1 ,credit1 ,capital1 and many other ,circumstances to conduct and support them3 ,but ,i confess there is no small ,difficulty herein4 ,in some ,countries the ,gentry and the ,men of ,trade are as distinct ,people as if each were a ,kingdom by itself3 ,england1 a trading ,nation1 connects more closely the whole ,body of the ,people2 links them1 as it were1 in one continued ,chain1 and brings them nearer to a ,level4 ,the ,man of ,trade marries the ,daughter of the ,gentleman2 the ,gentleman the ,tradesman's ,daughter3 and again1 the ,gentleman makes his ,son 7the younger at least7 a ,man of ,trade4 ,hence arises the ,difficulty of separating them2 nor can it indeed be altogether done4 ,the ,reputation and ,value of ,trade has convinced ,gentlemen of the ,usefulness and ,necessity of an ,alliance with it2 and ,trade is greatly indebted to the many and great ,fortunes thrown into it from the ,produce of ,estates3 thus are they blended and interwoven2 and thus are they become reciprocally beneficial4 ,still1 according to the general ,state of things1 regarding the various ,ranks in ,life1 ,i think we may make one sensible ,distinction without ,offence2 that is1 ,gentlemen may be said to stoop or condescend to ,trade1 and ,trade may be said to aspire not only to an ,alliance with ,gentry1 but to become ,gentry too4 ,thus while ,i honour ,trade1 ,i would by no means fail to pay a due ,respect to ,gentry2 and therefore give them that ,preference they are intitled to4 ,birth1 ,education1 and ,manners1 may be said to constitute the ,gentleman4 ,birth alone1 tho' a ,claim1 is too poor a one to deserve that ,title2 ,education adds indeed a ,lustre to ,birth2 but both together are not sufficient without ,manners3 that is1 to complete the ,gentleman1 they should all unite4 ,to adjust this ,matter fairly1 we may without ,impropriety urge1 that ,manners alone will give us a better ,claim than ,birth and ,education together2 and why8 because these are not in our ,power to choose4 ,for ,example3 ,it is not my ,fault that ,i was not born a ,nobleman1 nor did ,i choose my own ,education1 but my ,parents for me2 yet when once ,i have learnt to know ,right from ,wrong1 if ,i chuse the ,right1 and labour to maintain it for ,virtue's ,sake2 surely some ,degree of ,merit is mine3 therefore1 to use again the good old ,bishop of ,winchester's ,motto1 ,,manners ,,maketh ,,man4 ,still1 as ,i observed before1 to perfect the ,character1 all should combine3 and thus if the ,man of ,trade depends on his ,acquisitions only1 he will find himself greatly mistaken4 ,there is a pleasant ,story told of ,king ,charles ,,ii4 ,i think not unapplicable here4 ,an unbred ,citizen becoming very rich1 made a ,friend at ,court1 who informed the ,king he desired much to be made a ,gentleman2 ,that1 says the ,king1 with a ,smile1 is not perhaps in my ,power2 but tell him1 ,i'll do better1 ,i'll make him a ,knight4 ,thus at the same time that he conferred an ,honour1 he ingeniously reproached him1 by shewing1 that1 to make a ,gentleman1 required something more than even ,money or ,title4 ,the principal thing then that ,men of ,trade have to do is1 to keep clear of ,self-sufficiency2 and avoid that ,arrogance and ,conceit which ,money is apt to create4 ,their frequent ,marriages and ,intermarriages with well-bred ,people1 are some ,means to effect this2 and educating their ,children suitably is another4 ,thus the rising ,generation at least will be improved2 and hence appears the ,necessity of good ,education and well-regulated ,manners for this ,class of ,people3 that as they insensibly1 as it were1 become allied to their ,betters1 they may be taught properly to coincide with them4 ,many ,reasons prove the ,necessity of good ,education for ,people of this ,class4 ,in a ,society of ,men1 suppose a ,coffee-house1 we see a promiscuous ,croud of ,gentlemen and ,men of ,trade2 in an ,assembly of ,women1 we see mixed with the ,gentry1 not only the ,wife of the ,merchant1 but that of the ,brewer1 the ,distiller1 the ,druggist1 and the ,draper2 and it is highly necessary that these should have such ,education1 and their ,manners so regulated1 as will make them fit ,company for those4 ,but there are more weighty ,reasons yet4 ,every ,man conversant in ,life1 must have observed1 not only the many calamitous ,falls from high to low2 but also the frequent ,progressions from low to high2 and where these ,advancements are the ,fruits of honest ,industry1 ,i rejoice with them in their ,success4 ,a ,citizen grown rich by ,trade1 resolves to approach to the ,gentry2 and his first ,advance is usually to the ,center of the ,town4 ,here for a while he sits down1 and with sweet ,content enjoys the ,fruit of his past ,labours2 but perhaps it is only for a while2 the ,heart of ,man is restless1 and he burns to taste the ,manners of the ,court3 thus he flies to ,st4 ,james's ,square1 ,grosvenor ,square1 ,berkley ,square1 or one of the surrounding ,streets2 thus the ,son gets a ,post1 and the ,daughter marries a ,lord2 and thus the next ,generation or two reaches the ,summit of ,grandeur and ,honour4 ,if things are so1 and daily ,experience proves they are1 is it not highly necessary to set out with a good ,education8 most certainly4 ,still it should be a suitable one4 ,a ,man of ,trade may be qualified to keep his ,betters ,company1 without vainly aspiring to be like them2 for that would be rendering him unfit for the very ,trade he is engaged in4 ,every ,man may and ought to look forward2 but if every ,man anxiously dwells on future ,greatness1 and continually dreams of ,posts1 ,titles1 and ,palaces1 it is the certain ,way never to reach them3 for tho' the ,advancements just pointed out are1 ,i think1 literally true1 yet are the ,instances but few in comparison with the whole4 ,therefore the ,business of ,parents is1 to give their ,children first a just ,sense of their present ,station2 then to guide their ,education1 and regulate their ,manners accordingly2 that done1 leave the rest to ,providence4 ,i hope this ,reasoning upon the close ,connection of ,gentry and ,trade is clear and express2 and proves what ,i advanced1 that they are not to be wholly separated4 ,whence it appears1 that the ,education both of ,boys and ,girls of this ,class must in general be like that of the preceding4 ,still some ,judgment1 ,prudence1 and ,self-knowledge are necessary to guide ,parents herein4 ,the first wise ,caution is1 that ,parents consider their own ,fortune1 and the real ,prospects before them3 it is not enough that a ,man be of such or such a ,trade1 to entitle him to train his ,child equal to another of the same ,trade2 for if this be taken as a ,guide1 many grievous ,errors will be committed4 ,what can be a greater ,misfortune1 than to educate a ,boy like a fine ,gentleman1 and not be able to support it8 or to train a ,girl with the ,expectation of keeping her ,coach1 and have little or nothing to give her8 yet is this often the ,case4 ,another ,caution is1 not to neglect such an ,education as may be at least solidly useful1 if they cannot reach the ornamental ,part2 for as ,carving1 ,gilding1 and ,painting may at any time be added to adorn a well-proportioned ,room1 so a sound ,education is every ,day capable of ,improvement3 and as the ,vicissitudes of ,life are many1 it is right that ,children should on every proper ,occasion be able to prove the ,goodness of the ,stock they spring from4 ,to set this ,matter in the clearest ,light1 let us suppose any two of the same ,business1 no matter what2 one has a large ,trade and small ,family1 the other a small ,trade and large ,family2 the ,trade being the same1 our ,idea of both the ,men will at first ,sight be alike2 but if we come to a nearer ,view1 and thence draw a ,comparison1 we shall find it very unequal3 for tho' a ,merchant is still a ,merchant1 yet while one has great ,difficulty to give his ,daughter a single thousand ,pound1 the other can with ,ease give his twenty thousand4 ,thus1 tho' each should educate his ,children suitable to his ,character1 yet each should at the same consider his ,abilities4 ,many other ,rules laid down in the preceding ,class hold equally good in this4 ,the ,genius and ,frame of ,mind are to be attended to2 particular ,studies are to be appropriated to particular ,employments2 the ,disposition of ,soul should be nicely searched into1 that every thing mean1 narrow1 or base1 may be subdued by the ,principles of a generous ,education4 ,most young ,people1 even of both ,sexes1 place their ,happiness in external ,appearance1 but ,girls have naturally the strongest ,passion for ,dress and ,show2 now ,parents can never make the ,education of their ,children solid1 unless they reverse this ,disposition1 not only by teaching them the ,emptiness of this false ,happiness1 but by teaching them where to find the true4 ,there is indeed an ,appearance suitable to every ,station1 which to neglect1 would be sinking into ,meanness1 and be a ,disrespect to those we live among2 that then should be regarded1 but that alone2 for all above should be made indifferent to us3 ,happiness is in the ,mind1 and to improve the ,mind is the ,way to reach it4 ,nor is ,happiness more among the ,great1 with all their ,grandeur1 than among the ,little2 and if it be1 the ,fault is in ourselves2 since nothing is truer than the ,maxim1 which says1 that ,happiness does not consist in enlarging our ,possessions1 but in contracting our ,desires4 ,nothing therefore can be more dangerous in the educating our ,children1 than cherishing in them a ,passion for ,dress1 especially the raising them above their ,abilities4 ,children should be taught to know1 that it is not how they look1 but what they feel1 that deserves ,solicitude3 thus too in estimating ,riches2 it is not what we lose1 but what we suffer1 that merits our ,regard2 since we may sometimes lose a great deal1 and suffer nothing4 ,parents1 in educating their ,children1 are to make them pleasing and useful4 ,it is the ,opinion of several ingenious ,writers1 that the first ,appearance of a ,stranger makes the strongest and most lasting ,impression on us2 that1 as they shew to more or less ,advantage at first ,sight1 so do we think more or less favourably of them ever after4 ,now1 tho' ,i do not think this is universally true1 since ,experience shews us that some who strike us at first never give us any ,pleasure in their ,company afterwards1 and others who have nothing very pleasing in the ,beginning of our ,acquaintance1 improve upon us at every ,visit1 and insensibly gain our ,esteem2 yet it is certain1 that our ,deportment should always be such as may dispose ,people to think favourably of us1 and never such as can justly offend4 ,but here ,i must observe1 that young ,people are very apt to prostitute this ,disposition1 by using it only occasionally2 whereas1 to make it a ,virtue1 it must be exercised universally1 and become a settled ,habit2 in short1 it must flow from the ,heart4 ,a young ,gentleman is to pay a ,visit to a great ,man1 to a rich ,aunt1 or to some ,person of ,distinction1 of whom perhaps he has ,views or ,expectations2 what ,pains are taken to make a graceful ,appearance1 how exact is his ,deportment1 how nice is his ,behaviour1 and how pleasing his ,conversation6 ,the ,visit paid1 the ,mask is thrown off1 and he is a very ,bear to every one else2 nay perhaps even to his ,parents1 to whom he owes all that he enjoys4 ,so too a young ,lady who is to make her ,appearance at an ,assembly2 no ,player studies more to get their ,part before they come on the ,stage1 than she to attract her ,beholders2 but then1 like them too1 when her ,part is over1 she often falls below herself4 ,but have ,actions like these any ,merit in them8 can it be a ,virtue never to be civil but where we expect to gain by it8 ought we not to give every thing it's proper ,name1 and call such ,behaviour ,dissimulation and ,hypocrisy8 most certainly4 ,to obviate then this ,error in our ,children1 and prove the real ,use of ,education1 let ,parents be very careful to teach them an universal good ,behavior2 not partial1 narrow1 or confined1 but such as will shew itself at all ,times1 on all ,occasions1 and to all ,degrees of ,people3 and if1 as has been observed1 the first ,impressions generally make for or against us according as we behave1 ,youth must be taught to consider themselves as continually seen by somebody or other for the first time2 and therefore they must always demean themselves in such manner as to deserve ,esteem1 if they ever hope to gain it4 ,the other ,point of ,education is to make our ,children useful2 therefore nothing that can contribute to it should be omitted4 ,a young ,man1 besides the first ,education bestowed on him1 besides the ,pains taken by his ,parents to engage him in such a ,station as gives him the fairest ,prospect of ,happiness to himself1 must be instructed to employ his ,talents to the ,benefit of others2 and in all things1 as far as is consistent with ,prudence1 ,justice1 and ,self-preservation1 promote the ,happiness and ,advantage of every one within his ,reach4 ,here let me add1 that while our ,laws give the ,men superior ,power1 a ,father should be very careful to fix in his ,son a tender regard to the opposite ,sex2 not indeed to become their ,slaves1 or degenerate into ,effeminacy2 not to be the ,dupe of those who study to allure2 but to have a just ,sense of their ,merit1 their ,innocence1 and their ,virtue3 and thence resolve never to despise1 insult1 or oppress them1 nor ever to impose a ,hardship on them too great to bear4 ,a ,girl1 on the other hand1 is to be taught1 that a ,degree of ,subjection is allotted her2 but that it must never be base1 nor ever need be mean4 ,she must know too1 that the ,fruits of her ,education are to appear in her ,actions2 to this ,end1 besides her ,knowledge of ,books1 the ,exercise of her ,needle1 her ,pen1 and her ,figures1 she is to understand the ,management of a ,house1 be acquainted with the various ,seasons of ,provisions1 the ,price of ,markets1 ,skill in ,carving1 ,demeanour at ,table1 and1 in a ,word1 the whole ,oeconomy of a ,family4 ,lastly1 she must know that her ,province is to please1 and that every ,deviation from it1 is thwarting ,nature2 but that the chearful ,exercise of those ,obligations her ,station requires1 will best secure ,happiness to herself1 and the ,esteem of all who behold her4 ,i flatter myself that what ,i have here said1 will furnish my ,readers of this ,class with some ,help to guide them thro' the ,difficulties that naturally attend their ,duty as ,parents4 ,and if to this they add the ,exercise of their own ,judgment1 by varying the ,rules as they see necessary1 their ,children will undoubtedly receive much ,improvement2 and reflect great ,honour on themselves1 who thus aim at the general ,good1 not only of their own ,offspring1 but of all ,posterity4 ,i have here enlarged on the ,steps necessary to be taken for educating three ,classes of ,people1 and now proceed to treat of the fourth2 which comprehends a very large ,part of the ,kingdom1 but ,london particularly2 viz4 all the inferior ,trades1 and many others1 that1 according to the ,custom of associating together1 we may consider as forming one ,division4 ,men1 very valuable in their ,way1 and of boundless ,use to ,society3 tho' by the ,wisdom of ,providence born rather to ,labour than to ,idleness2 to be obedient to the ,laws1 than to be the ,dispensers of them4 ,i am well aware that ,difficulties will occur to me on this ,head1 and thereby sometimes break the ,order of my ,design2 but1 as ,i have elsewhere observed1 when ,exceptions from general ,rules are reasonable1 it is perfectly right to adhere to them4 ,it would be ,affectation in me to call myself such a ,stranger to the ,world1 as not to know the ,influence of ,money3 ,mankind is apt to contract a ,degree of ,esteem for all who possess it2 and the ,possessor seldom fails to set a sufficient ,value on himself for it4 ,thus it often happens that ,men1 whose ,business is but mean1 grow wealthy1 have perhaps an only ,child1 and think they have a ,right to educate it as they please2 for my own ,part ,i do not mean expressly to oppose it1 because it may be nipping a promising ,fruit in the ,bud2 but ,parents of this ,class stand in need of more ,knowledge to conduct themselves herein than commonly speaking they are possess'd of4 ,nothing is more frequent than for ,men in different ,stations to ruin themselves by rashly aspiring2 and he who has ,reputation and ,credit in one ,sphere1 is perhaps undone if he moves beyond it4 ,but while we see that ,money is apt to make ,men even of good ,understanding and good ,education giddy1 no wonder that those of obscure ,birth1 no ,education1 and a ,life of ordinary ,employment1 spent mostly in ordinary ,company1 value themselves for their ,possessions far beyond ,desert4 ,to this is owing that vain ,strut1 that supercilious ,air1 and ,contempt of others1 so frequent in ,people of this ,class2 and hence too arise those ,errors they daily commit1 by an ostentatious ,education of their ,children2 by vainly aspiring to equal their ,betters1 and often to surpass them1 at least in ,appearance4 ,i had occasion1 some ,years ago1 to make a ,visit to a young ,lady of ,fashion and ,fortune at one of our ,boarding-,schools near ,town1 where the best dress'd ,girl in the whole ,house was a ,poulterer's ,daughter4 ,can there be any thing more absurd than this8 yet is there any thing more common8 ,it is a general ,observation1 that ordinary ,people dress their ,children finer than ,people of ,fashion2 and why8 only because they will shew the ,world they are able to do it1 and therefore will not be outdone4 ,parents are not aware how destructive this false ,pride1 this vain mistaken ,fondness is to their ,children3 and the first ,effect it has on them is1 to make them ashamed of their ,parents1 those very ,people who thus mislead them4 ,can any thing be more preposterous and unnatural8 yet is it undeniably true4 ,there is an unhappy ,propensity among ,mankind in general of being ashamed of their poor and mean ,relations1 even among the ,good2 it is a ,spark of ,pride very hard to be extinguished1 yet it may and ought to be done4 ,and considering that scarcely a ,family in the ,kingdom is without them1 more or less1 it is ,matter of ,surprise that such ,pains should be taken to stifle and conceal them3 especially too if we reflect how much real ,honour it does ourselves to cherish1 to countenance1 and to espouse them4 ,still it is true1 that there is this ,propensity1 this ,weakness in ,men1 either from their ,nature1 or their ,education4 ,shall we then1 instead of keeping under this ,pride in ourselves1 lead our ,children into it too8 shall we deck them out so far above themselves only to despise us8 and to make them falsely happy1 make ourselves truly wretched8 nothing can be a greater ,folly1 and nothing requires more the ,parents ,care to avoid4 ,i remember ,i once called to see a ,friend who was an ,apothecary2 a young ,fellow1 my ,friend's ,apprentice1 was at ,work behind the ,counter1 and out peep'd a laced ,waistcoat4 7,i must observe it was in those ,days when a laced ,waistcoat stood for something1 for it has now1 ,i think1 lost all it's ,significance47 ,as the ,appearance was unusual1 ,i enquired who that young ,gentleman was2 and1 to my great ,surprise1 was informed he was the ,son of a ,coachman2 and the ,lace he wore was taken off his ,father's ,livery4 ,thus what was before no better than the ,badge of ,dependence1 is now turned into an ,instrument of ,contempt and ,ridicule4 ,in how many of these things do the ,weakness and ,folly of ,parents appear8 would such a ,boy own his ,father on the ,coach-box8 or would he not rather1 with an audacious ,cock of his ,hat1 pass contemptuously by him8 nothing better could be expected4 ,and yet ,people who take these ,steps wonder their ,children are not good2 wonder they are proud1 vain1 and untoward1 when they themselves have made them so4 ,another ,effect attending this misplaced ,indulgence1 this false ,education1 besides the making them ashamed of their ,parents and ,relations1 is1 the ,influence it has on the ,children's future ,lives3 the ,parents1 it is true1 are often made wretched1 but the ,children are not happy4 ,every thing raised above itself is in a precarious tottering ,state2 the ,building1 whose ,foundation is weak1 is every ,day liable to fall2 and the ,man who pretends to what he cannot maintain or support1 is in perpetual ,danger of ,ruin4 ,self-sufficiency and ,money may make his ,outside passable2 but if he is all ,meanness1 all ,ignorance within1 he can never procure a ,grain of ,esteem1 nor ever be solidly happy4 ,children may in time discover their ,parents ,mistakes and their own ,misfortune1 but will then perhaps have no ,remedy to apply4 ,happy had it been for them had their ,education suited their ,condition in ,life2 they would then have laboured with honest ,chearfulness2 and by keeping within their proper ,sphere1 have had their ,labours crown'd with ,success4 ,my ,readers of this ,class will1 ,i am afraid1 be apt to mistake me1 and think ,i design to keep them in a low dependent ,state2 such an one as they call being unhappy2 far from it3 ,i would not have undertaken this ,treatise at all1 had ,i not designed the real1 the universal ,good of ,mankind4 ,without ,vanity ,i can say it1 no one has a more disinterested1 a more general ,love of human ,nature than myself2 thousands have superior ,abilities1 but few1 perhaps none1 have superior good ,wishes for the ,happiness of ,society2 and should this very ,performance prove a ,trifle1 the ,fault may be in my ,head1 but it is not in my ,heart3 my ,intention is good1 if my ,power is weak4 ,let this then serve as an ,apology to all my ,readers1 but let those of this ,class in particular be persuaded1 that my ,design is to augment the ,happiness of their ,children1 not to lessen it4 ,but then1 they must resolve to seek ,happiness where it can be found2 if they wander into a ,maze of ,difficulties1 and get into a ,sphere they are utter ,strangers to1 they will most probably miss of it2 but if they confine themselves within their own proper ,orb1 they need not fear to find it4 ,still there is ,reason to apprehend1 that ,men of every ,rank1 and even among the lowest1 will value themselves not for what they are1 but for what they have2 and while ,people mistake ,head for ,brains1 and ,money for ,merit1 the best ,advice will often be useless4 ,but great as this ,folly is1 there is a much greater reigning4 ,money1 as ,i have already observed1 is extremely apt to intoxicate ,mankind2 and it's ,influence is but too visible both in high and low ,life3 but there are thousands of this ,class of ,people who pride themselves in educating their ,children learnedly and expensively1 without the least ,pretensions upon ,earth4 ,if a ,gentleman upon the ,decay can get his ,son educated suitable to his ,birth1 ,regard to his ,family1 and ,regard to his ,education1 may obtain him a genteel and profitable ,employment3 so too1 if a ,man in an inferior ,station is convinced he can purchase his ,son a ,place or a ,commission suitable to his superior ,education1 there is certainly room to justify him1 tho' we blame his ,vanity2 but that ,people without the least ,expectations1 that are conscious they cannot give their ,children a ,shilling1 who have not the ,honour of a ,family to support1 nor a ,reputation to maintain1 should run these strange ,lengths1 is amazing6 ,the ,truth is1 ,pride and ,ignorance are their ,guides2 they scorn to be outdone by their ,neighbours1 tho' all the while they really don't know what it is they are doing4 ,it is to be presumed that ,children while ,children1 and while educating1 are in general ,strangers to what may be their future ,fortune on the part of their ,parents3 now if they are taught to think themselves equal to their ,betters1 taught to expect mighty things1 and at length find nothing1 it is1 ,i think1 a grievous ,calamity on one side1 and gross ,injustice on the other3 and yet is this evidently a daily ,error4 ,the same things that yield us great ,good1 are often productive of great ,evil4 ,food1 designed by the ,laws of ,nature to preserve ,life and ,health1 is often made the ,instrument to destroy it4 ,education1 designed to lead us to ,happiness1 by enlarging and improving our ,understandings in some certain ,way1 is often made the ,instrument of our ,destruction4 ,hence appears the ,necessity of a temperate and a judicious ,use of both2 and hence too we see1 that the ,education suitable for one1 is very unfit for another4 ,but ,i will now point out what ,education appears to me to be generally proper for ,people of this ,class2 and where solid ,reasons make particular ,exceptions necessary1 it is my ,advice that ,reason take place of general ,rules4 ,i will suppose then that my ,readers design with me the real ,good of their ,children2 and neither mean to neglect them1 nor to hazard their ,ruin by overdoing things4 ,to this ,end ,boys are to be taught ,reading1 ,writing1 ,arithmetic1 and ,drawing2 to which may be added1 a ,knowledge of ,maps4 ,this ,plan1 tho' comprized in a few ,words1 contains all they need1 nay all they ought to learn4 ,it is usual in the common ,businesses to put ,boys ,apprentice at about fourteen ,years old2 now supposing they begin to learn at seven1 they have ,work enough cut out for seven ,years at least2 which if well attended to1 and their ,time be well employed1 is capable of turning to great account4 ,i mean not to give offence to any one1 but as the ,province ,i am engaged in obliges me to speak my ,thoughts1 ,i may offend without ,intention3 and honest ,truth1 in a ,matter of this ,importance1 is not to be disguised4 ,my ,advice then is1 that ,boys of this ,class never once attempt to learn ,latin4 ,what do they want with it8 or what use can they make of it8 will it enable a ,man to make better ,shoes8 will it assist a ,taylor in cutting out a ,coat8 or will it give a ,barber a keener ,edge to his ,razor8 ,parents1 when they send a ,boy to ,school1 are often guided by the ,master what he shall learn2 he1 naturally fond of advancing his ,scholar1 puts him into ,latin2 and thinks him shabby without it4 ,but is it not possible that this ,gentleman may be a ,man of real ,merit1 a good ,grammarian1 nay a compleat classic ,scholar1 yet a very bad ,judge of ,life8 most certainly4 ,the ,boy is thrust headlong into things he does not want1 and neither ,parents nor ,master consider the ,end3 for tho' it is certain that ,parents cannot always tell what their ,children will be1 yet those of this ,class are pretty sure they want not deep ,learning4 ,of all the ,mistakes committed in ,education1 none is equal to that of our being thrust into an ,employment for which we are unqualified2 especially too if it be one of a serious important ,nature2 now no ,people on ,earth are so liable to this as the ,class we are treating of2 for as they are apt to take a ,remove beyond themselves for profound ,knowledge1 they plunge their ,children into a ,labyrinth of ,difficulties1 by engaging them in a ,profession or ,science far beyond their ,power to reach4 ,i have already urged1 that1 in the ,case before us1 a learned ,education is needless and improper2 but this is saying too little of it1 and treating it too mildly3 we may go farther1 and shew that it is even hurtful1 by being an ,impediment to more useful ,knowledge3 and farther still1 that it is not always what it is taken for4 ,a ,boy in common ,life has perhaps about seven ,years ,schooling2 the greatest ,part whereof is employed in learning ,latin3 his ,english is notoriously neglected2 and ,writing and ,arithmetic he gains but imperfectly4 ,now ,i beg leave to ask1 whether these three last are not more useful to a ,boy of this ,stamp than ,latin8 and whether it is not a ,misfortune to spend his ,time in gaining what he has no use for1 and omitting what he wants8 ,but it is an ,error in me to call it gaining1 when in ,reality it is losing3 for after a ,boy has been puzling his poor ,brains1 and been tortured with ,latin for several ,years1 it is ten to one that1 comparatively speaking1 he knows nothing3 that is1 nothing radical1 and to the ,bottom2 nothing1 in short1 but what one ,year's ,apprenticeship will entirely efface4 ,as a ,proof that this is no ,exaggeration1 losing ,learning is not only the ,fate of ,boys in common ,life1 who seldom get more than a ,smattering1 but it is confessed by every ,gentleman1 by the deepest ,scholars1 that a long ,disuse of a ,language1 or almost any ,branch of ,learning1 will in great measure wear it out of our ,memories3 or at least take off that ,facility which constitutes ,perfection4 ,a ,relation of mine was sent to ,london some ,years ago to be educated fit for ,business2 a ,friend had the ,care of him2 who1 after sending him to learn ,reading1 ,writing1 and ,accompts for some ,time1 resolved to compleat him by putting him for a ,year to ,merchant-,taylors ,school to learn ,latin4 ,he did so2 and that finished1 he was put ,apprentice to a ,cabinet-maker4 ,but what availed his ,latin8 just nothing4 ,in three ,months time he saw'd and planed it all away2 he was not a ,pin the better for it2 but he lost a ,year of precious ,time1 that might have been very usefully employed in improving what he had before learn'd1 and in applying himself to ,drawing3 a thing absolutely necessary for the very ,business he was put to1 and which1 to my own ,knowledge1 he has often lamented the ,want of4 ,now this is not a single ,instance1 an accidental ,mistake1 but a general ,error2 hundreds and thousands of which might be every day produced3 the ,consequences whereof are always more or less wrong1 and sometimes very fatal4 ,i have observed that useful things are neglected1 to run in pursuit of what to them is useless2 that is1 they leave a certain ,good for a precarious one4 ,but we may reason still farther on this ,head with great ,utility4 ,mankind is by ,nature aspiring and ambitious2 and where ,wisdom and ,prudence accompany our ,steps herein1 they are highly laudable4 ,but if1 instead of these1 ,ignorance and ,vanity are our ,guides1 we are pretty sure of going wrong4 ,a ,man of mean ,extraction1 and illiterate1 takes these mistaken ,steps already pointed out1 in bringing up his ,son2 whence a false ,pride is stamped on both1 and is sure to increase with the ,boy's ,learning4 ,the ,father's ,care is to keep his ,boy from disgracing his ,education4 8,jack1 7says he7 ,i have bestowed ,learning on you1 to make you a ,man2 look forward1 and ,i don't fear but you will make your ,fortune40 ,and the ,son at the same time takes care to think himself a better ,man than his ,father4 ,but let us conduct him on2 he is now a ,gentleman2 because he has1 or fancies he has1 ,learning4 ,he must dress fine1 and keep ,company with his ,betters2 this leads him to ,expences he cannot afford2 no matter1 he is a ,gentleman1 and must appear like one4 ,his ,father1 after rumaging his ,brains for a genteel ,employment1 at length puts his ,son to an ,attorney4 ,but that's a dull ,life1 he likes the ,stage better2 and after having seen ,plays by the hundred1 he concludes himself equal to any thing1 and turns ,player3 where perhaps his highest ,character is to speak the ,prologue in ,hamlet's mock ,play1 or to be the rueful ,apothecary in ,romeo and ,juliet4 ,it is too well known what kind of ,lives these ,gentlemen lead2 they are mostly riotous1 extravagant1 miserable1 and short4 ,now can it be denied that these1 and such as these1 are the fatal ,consequences of this false ,education8 surely daily ,experience convinces us it cannot4 ,but as ,i labour for the public ,good1 so ,i desire to do the strictest ,justice4 ,i will grant then that a ,boy of this ,stamp1 and thus trained1 does all on his ,part to advance himself2 that he is prudent1 temperate1 and virtuous2 still he has neither ,bottom1 ,interest1 nor ,friends2 it is an hundred1 perhaps a thousand to one1 if he arrives at any thing higher than being a ,hackney-,writer1 an ,usher to a ,school1 or at most the slavish ,master of an insignificant one4 ,permit me here a short ,digression4 ,there are no ,people in the ,world1 whom ,i at the same time both honour and pity1 so much as ,schoolmasters and ,preceptors2 those particularly to whom we owe the most essential1 the most solid ,part of our ,education4 ,there is something strangely inconsistent in ,mankind1 or they could not see a ,master incessantly slave1 and toil1 and sweat to instruct others1 and leave him at last without ,reward4 ,the ,man who is qualified for a ,teacher1 must have laboured many ,years in the ,pursuit of ,knowledge4 ,if we would wish this ,man to do ,justice to our ,sons1 we certainly should do ,justice to him2 that is1 we should prove1 at the same time that we desire our ,children to be made wise1 that we have so much ,gratitude as to make him happy1 by rewarding him as he deserves4 ,from this ungrateful ,disposition1 or1 from a very misplaced ,frugality1 it often happens that ,parents do not seek the best ,teachers1 but the cheapest2 whence not only follow the fatal ,consequences attending a bad ,education1 by a seeming one passing for real1 but also that many1 who are by no means qualified1 undertake the important ,task4 ,to return then to my ,subject1 we cannot doubt but that some of these unqualified ,teachers are the ,fruits of this false ,education we have been speaking of2 ,men1 who tho' unequal to the ,task they are engaged in1 would have been distinguished as eminent ,proficients in another ,way1 and been very valuable to ,society2 while in this1 the highest ,honour they arrive at1 is perhaps the holding forth with a dictatorial ,air in an ,ale-house4 ,many are the evil ,effects this false ,education produces2 for thro' the ,mistakes of ,parents1 the ,pride of ,children shews itself very early1 and daily gathers ,strength3 they soon look down with ,scorn and ,contempt on the mean ,business of their ,father2 and soon aspire to what they have not the least ,chance to reach4 ,but as they have been injudiciously taught to aspire1 we cannot greatly wonder at their mistaken ,conduct3 hence we see them spending their ,lives not merely in ,trifles1 but in ,riot1 ,extravagancies1 and ,debauchery3 averse to ,employment1 averse to ,labour2 too learned to be industrious1 too ignorant to be wise4 ,but how much happier would they be to know themselves1 and keep within that ,self-knowledge6 ,how sweet is that ,bread which is earn'd with honest ,industry6 ,how much happier is the ,man that labours at his ,loom1 than he who with mistaken ,pride1 despising it1 is perhaps reduced to be dependent on others6 ,could then ,parents in general of this ,rank1 but learn ,content in their ,stations1 and keep their ,children from soaring beyond their ,reach1 they would secure much ,comfort to both1 besides contributing to the ,happiness of ,posterity4 ,my ,readers will remember that the ,scheme of ,education for ,boys of this ,class1 is ,reading1 ,writing1 ,arithmetic1 ,drawing1 and a ,knowledge of ,maps4 ,i will now shew what ,advantage may be made of these1 and endeavour to prove1 that this is so far from being a contemptible ,education1 that when attained to ,perfection1 it is not only useful1 but very extensively so4 ,mr4 ,addison says1 that every ,man who reasons is a ,logician1 tho' he has never studied the ,rules of ,logic3 so too we may say1 that every ,man who speaks grammatically is a ,grammarian1 tho' he has not been taught ,grammar4 ,what ,i here mean is1 that a due ,attention to ,children1 and proper ,instructions with regard to ,english only1 will enable them to make a very considerable ,figure both in ,reading and ,speaking4 ,nature furnishes us with the ,faculty of ,speech1 but the ,mode of it in great measure depends on the ,place we are born in1 and the ,language we are accustomed to hear4 ,the ,court1 and the learned ,part of a ,nation1 certainly speak the purest ,language2 the ,vulgar and the ,illiterate speak the coarsest1 and the most corrupt3 but there are many ,degrees between1 who may be said to have the ,power of choosing1 as they frequently hear both4 ,it is then the ,parents ,business to be greatly attentive in this important ,point2 especially as ,experience shews us that a great ,man can be vulgar1 and a little one polite1 and the ,medium can neglect the ,advantages in his ,power by adhering to the wrong ,side1 when with equal ,ease he may attain the right4 ,i have already cautioned the ,great never to sink beneath their ,quality2 and while they learn to be humble1 they must carefully avoid being mean4 ,i have also recommended to the ,gentry to approach as near to the ,quality in good ,behaviour and polite ,language as possible3 and to those of this ,class1 ,i strongly urge1 that every thing coarse1 vulgar1 and incorrect1 is not only improper1 but highly unbecoming2 is not only abusing the ,faculties ,providence has furnished them with1 but is debasing their ,nature4 ,if then the ,parents of this ,class enter upon the ,education of their ,children with just ,reflections 7which all1 more or less1 are capable of making7 the natural ,consequence will be1 that they will seek such ,methods as are most conducive to their acquiring a thorough ,knowledge of their ,mother-tongue4 ,it may be urged that a compleat ,knowledge of the ,english cannot be acquired without ,latin2 but1 with all due ,respect1 ,i beg leave to dissent from this3 ,i have seen a good ,latin ,scholar greatly deficient in the ,knowledge of ,english1 and a very correct ,englishman who did not know a ,word of ,latin4 ,but nice grammatical ,rules are not strictly the ,province of ,boys in common ,life1 and much may be done without them4 ,a good ,master will enable them to read in a very expressive and significant ,manner1 at the same time that he makes them acquainted with his ,subject4 ,he will teach them the different ,types1 why a ,roman1 why an ,italic ,letter is used2 where the ,accent is to be laid on different ,words1 and on the same ,word in different ,senses2 where capital ,letters are to be used1 and why2 the different ,stops1 which we call ,pointing1 and their ,force2 the ,cadence1 or ,falling of the ,voice1 in ending a ,sentence1 or a ,paragraph2 and1 what is the greatest ,beauty of all1 where to lay the ,emphasis or ,stress on every ,expression1 so as to give it it's utmost ,energy4 ,farther1 he will teach his ,scholars to keep close to ,nature2 and not suffer them to borrow a ,whine1 a ,tone of ,voice from that almost universal ,destroyer of ,nature1 ,affectation4 ,he will shew them that the only thing which can be granted in this ,case1 is a certain adjusting1 or rather a little ,elevation of the ,voice in ,reading1 above ,speaking2 and that they come nearest to true ,reading1 who would be supposed to be ,speaking1 were a blind ,man the ,hearer4 ,he will shew too1 that1 according to ,nature1 all ,subjects do not require equal ,energy in ,reading2 and consequently the ,voice must be modify'd and varied1 on suitable ,occasions3 for as we are susceptible of various ,impressions2 and as ,joy1 ,grief1 ,anger1 and other ,passions1 are differently expressed by us without any previous ,study1 purely from the ,force of ,nature1 so a good ,master will shew1 that a ,prayer1 a ,history1 and a ,poem1 have each something different in their ,nature2 and that to give them their due ,propriety1 ,force1 and ,beauty1 each must be read in a different way4 ,besides these1 the ,master will shew his ,scholars1 that in order to speak to ,perfection they must observe first1 what ,language their ,betters speak1 and by comparing it with that of the ,vulgar1 they will be enabled to distinguish1 not only good from bad1 but ,propriety from ,impropriety2 whence they will insensibly learn1 ,gender1 ,number1 and ,case2 ,person1 ,mood1 and ,tense1 with many other things relating to ,grammar1 without once supposing that they are acquiring them4 ,secondly1 he will direct them in the ,choice of such ,books as will give a double ,relish to ,reading1 by the ,goodness of the ,language they are wrote in4 ,and lastly1 he will recommend their seeking ,opportunities of hearing their ,betters read1 that they may compleat by ,imitation1 what ,instruction has laid the ,foundation of4 ,but to give all the ,satisfaction in my ,power1 ,i beg leave to observe1 that as ,grammar 7if ,i may be allow'd the ,expression7 is the ,soul of every ,language1 it may1 in essential ,matters1 be taught in ,english as well as in ,latin3 it is true1 that1 in compound ,words1 and some of the ,derivations1 both ,latin and ,greek are necessary1 and indeed many other ,languages2 but they are only so for ,gentlemen and professed ,scholars2 and tho' a mere ,english ,scholar cannot give all the ,derivations of ,words1 yet he can give all the ,meanings1 and all1 or most of their ,rules2 and thereby be enabled to acquire a considerable ,degree of ,perfection1 a pretty thorough ,knowledge of his ,own ,language2 and sometimes a ,knowledge superior to those who in other respects are superior ,scholars4 ,should it still be urged1 that if ,boys learn ,latin1 a ,knowledge of ,english will be a necessary ,consequence1 and that ,grammar in ,latin is ,grammar in ,english2 ,i am ready to grant it3 but the ,point here maintained is1 that what is called a learned ,education is unnecessary and often hurtful to ,boys of this ,class1 nor have they ,time to acquire it4 ,besides1 there are always ,difficulties in referring or applying grammatical ,niceties from one ,language to another2 ,difficulties which are not within the ,province of every one to get over4 ,if therefore ,boys of this ,class1 instead of engaging in ,latin1 which1 as has been shewn1 they have not ,time to acquire1 nor in general have any use for it if they did1 would apply to the ,study of ,english only1 and make the most of that1 they may improve to a great ,degree2 vastly more than is usually done1 because prevented by an injudicious ,application to the ,latin4 ,thus much have ,i said1 in some measure to do ,honour to the ,language of my own ,country2 but chiefly with a ,view to remove the ,errors too generally run into by inferior ,people1 partly from their ,vanity1 and partly from their being ,strangers to the many and great ,advantages which this ,branch of ,education only is capable of affording4 ,i know that innocent well-meaning ,people are often misled in educating their ,children2 and have heard many say1 that a ,boy must learn ,latin to enable him to spell ,english2 but this is a vulgar ,error1 and henceforward1 ,i hope1 will be removed4 ,but yet farther to prove the ,usefulness of our ,language in the real ,concerns of ,life1 we may add1 that by this alone may be learnt1 from those whose ,province it is to teach1 every ,duty1 every ,obligation we owe to ,god and ,man2 by this we are enabled to read the sacred ,writings2 by this we can become acquainted not only with the ,history of all ,europe1 both ancient and modern1 but of the whole ,world2 and particularly with the ,history of our own ,country3 by this we are furnished with ,books containing ,helps in ,building1 ,planting1 ,gardening1 and many other things of great ,use to ,mankind2 and by this1 in a word1 we are furnished with vast ,abundance of both ,instruction and ,delight2 not only from the excellent ,translations from ,latin1 ,greek1 ,spanish1 ,italian1 ,french1 c4 but from the original ,writings of many of our own ,countrymen3 ,men1 whose ,geniuses were perhaps inferior to none4 ,here1 without ,flourish1 ,parade1 or ,exaggeration1 my ,readers will see how noble an ,use may be made of our ,mother-tongue2 how much ,pleasure it will yield us1 how much ,knowledge it will convey to us2 and hence1 ,i hope1 ,parents will be induced to consider it in the ,light it deserves4 ,boys are next to engage in ,writing2 and ,i earnestly recommend that it be closely attended to1 and considered as a ,matter of great ,importance4 ,the present ,method of teaching1 and the ,kind of ,hand now usually wrote in ,business is1 ,i think1 admirable2 the ,merchants of ,london1 and some of our public ,offices1 shew great ,perfection in this ,way2 and ,i would recommend that every ,boy both learn and practise a mercantile ,hand1 as it is at the same time useful and beautiful4 ,every ,man who is acquainted with ,life must daily see the too general ,defects of ,hand-writing4 ,if a ,bricklayer1 or any other ,workman1 brings in a ,bill1 what a pitiful ,figure it makes2 nay1 it is sometimes so very bad1 that none but the ,writer himself can read it2 and where we see one wrote out in a masterly ,way1 it is ten to one but he has1 at considerable ,expence1 employed somebody to do it for him4 ,now this must surely be considered as a grievous ,misfortune1 both as it is an ,inconvenience1 and a ,loss2 and which ought carefully to be prevented in the rising ,generation4 ,besides1 if we reflect on the unforeseen ,advantages which many meet with who are fine ,penmen1 we shall be convinced how necessary it is to excel in this ,art4 ,we come now to ,arithmetic1 which includes a large ,field of ,knowledge4 ,the ,use of ,figures1 is so universally known and allowed1 that it seems needless to urge any thing in their ,favour4 ,men of all ,degrees want their ,aid2 they are the first ,introduction to the ,mathematics2 and the ,knowledge of them is more or less necessary from the ,prince to the ,peasant4 ,if a ,man fails in ,holland1 they immediately say1 he has not kept good ,accounts2 in ,truth ,people of almost every ,rank stand in need of their ,help2 and their ,use and ,power thoroughly known and attended to1 would preserve thousands from ,ruin4 ,parents then cannot do too much to instruct their ,children in this important ,branch of ,knowledge2 especially if they consider on one hand the ,confusion and ,perplexity which attends the ,ignorance of it1 and on the other hand the many surprising ,turns for the ,advancement of their ,fortune1 when possessed of the ,knowledge of it4 ,all young ,people1 as ,i have before recommended1 should be taught ,method1 and nothing more likely to initiate them in it than a masterly ,knowledge of ,figures4 ,besides1 ,debtor and ,creditor1 ,loss and ,gain1 are by no means confined to the ,merchant2 every ,man1 however low his ,trade1 or however narrow his ,dealings1 while he does trade or deal1 should understand what he is about3 and he has no other ,way than this of attaining that necessary ,knowledge4 ,i am very sensible1 that some ,men1 even in ,trade1 have got thro' the ,world1 and make good ,acquisitions1 without any considerable ,degree of this ,kind of ,knowledge2 but we may truly say of such1 that ,fortune stood so very near them1 that they stumbled upon her3 tho'1 for one who has thus succeeded1 a thousand have miscarried4 ,but my ,aim is1 to have the rising ,generation so educated1 that either ,misfortunes may be prevented1 or1 if they do come1 that their own ,conduct may be irreproachable3 and1 ,i say again1 no way more likely to effect this1 than knowing thoroughly and attending closely to ,figures4 ,but farther1 this and the foregoing ,branch of ,knowledge are strong ,recommendations in various ,stations of ,life3 many1 even from nothing1 have by these ,qualifications become great ,merchants2 our ,east-,india and other ,companies frequently want ,boys who write and account in a masterly ,way2 and when young ,people set out in the ,world and act for themselves1 the ,knowledge of their ,affairs1 from their ,skill in ,figures1 is often a ,restraint upon them1 and a ,curb to their ,passions2 by keeping them from what they see they cannot afford4 ,i shall now speak of that important1 tho' much neglected ,branch of ,knowledge1 ,drawing4 ,it is matter of ,surprise to me that a thing so obviously useful1 and in many ,respects so indispensably necessary1 should be so generally disregarded4 ,young ,gentlemen at an ,academy indeed sometimes learn a little ,drawing2 but neither so often1 nor so compleatly as they ought2 but it is not of those ,i now mean to speak1 but of that large ,body of ,youth comprehended in the fourth ,class of ,people4#i ,as ,parents cannot know certainly what their ,children will be1 it is fit that1 according to their ,station1 they should be so educated1 as to be prepared for whatever may suit their ,circumstances1 their ,capacity1 and their ,inclinations3 to this ,end1 besides ,reading1 ,writing1 and ,arithmetic1 ,i earnestly recommend ,drawing4 ,to prove it's ,use1 let us first view the various ,branches of ,building2 where we shall immediately see the ,necessity of understanding it4 ,it is my ,advice to all ,parents1 without ,exception1 that they implant in their ,children an ardent ,desire to excel2 not to engage them in things they are unequal to1 not to fill their ,heads with ,chimeras of fancied ,power and ,abilities1 but that they labour with unwearied ,industry to become perfect in their ,way1 be their ,profession1 ,trade1 or ,business what it will4 ,thus1 if a ,boy is to be a ,bricklayer1 a ,carpenter1 a ,smith1 or any other ,trade relating to ,building1 it is right that he should be animated with a ,desire to become perfect1 and not sit down contented with a scanty1 superficial ,knowledge of his ,business3 and1 to attain this1 ,drawing should be made as familiar to him as ,writing2 which would greatly tend to his ,advancement in the ,world3 for how often does it happen that a ,gentleman wants his own ,conceptions and ,designs explained and improved2 which are easily done by a masterly ,workman1 but are entangled and made worse by a ,blunderer4 ,drawing shews us the ,difference between ,beauty and ,deformity2 as ,features1 ,mein1 ,aspect1 ,stature1 and the ,power of ,light and ,shade4 ,it teaches us the ,use of ,lines1 ,angles1 ,squares1 and ,circles2 it teaches us the ,rules of ,proportion1 what ,base is proper for an ,edifice of different ,dimensions2 what constitutes a regular1 what an irregular ,building2 it distinguishes true ,taste from false2 it assists our ,fancy1 and enlivens our ,imagination2 it is the ,foundation of ,architecture1 and therefore necessary for every ,branch of ,building3 for tho' there are general ,rules and ,principles in each ,order of ,building1 yet is there great ,latitude for what we call ,fancy1 ,taste1 and ,judgment3 and thus the whole ,beauty and ,propriety of an ,edifice may be said to depend on the artful blending of the several ,orders into one perfect ,superstructure4 ,thus much for the ,usefulness of ,drawing in ,building2 but ,i should injure this ,art if ,i stop'd here1 for it is still far more extensive4 ,it is not enough that a ,gentleman builds himself a ,house1 it must be furnish'd too2 and if he be a ,man of ,fortune and ,taste1 he will not be contented with what is merely useful1 but will add the ornamental likewise3 hence appears the ,necessity of the ,artificers in this ,way learning to draw in order to excel4 ,if an ,upholsterer be sent for1 it is an ,advantage to him not only to give the proper ,dimensions of ,furniture1 but to display the several ,ornaments and ,fancies in use1 and even strike out new ,designs of his own2 that he may convince ,people he is a ,master in his ,way3 he cannot shew a ,piece of ,damask or printed ,linen1 but the ,draughtsman appears in it2 and it is right that he should be equally knowing in his own ,business4 ,but if we take a more general ,survey of things1 in order to give us a true and solid ,estimation of real ,life1 we shall find this ,art of surprising ,use4 ,how many ,trades are there subservient to the ,arts and ,sciences8 all those who make ,maps1 ,charts1 and ,globes2 all those who make mathematical ,instruments1 and the vast ,apparatus for the different ,parts of ,experimental ,philosophy2 so too ,engravers1 ,sculptors1 ,painters1 and ,anatomists2 all these1 with many others1 needless to enumerate1 stand in need of ,drawing3 ,so vast is it's ,use1 and so necessary is the ,knowledge of it6 ,the last ,step of ,education for ,boys of this ,class is ,geography1 or the ,knowledge of ,maps4 ,geography makes us acquainted with the whole ,surface of the ,earth2 the whole terraqueous ,globe3 it is first divided into ,quarters1 viz4 ,europe1 ,asia1 ,africa1 and ,america2 again1 these ,quarters are subdivided1 so as to make us acquainted with particular ,provinces1 ,kingdoms1 ,states1 and ,empires3 hence it is easy to see the ,pleasure and ,use that arises from this ,knowledge4 ,men of every ,rank are liable to leave their native ,country2 and indeed it is often the only ,way to their ,advancement4 ,what a ,pleasure then must it be to be acquainted with a ,road we never saw8 to travel in a ,country without ,pain from our ,fore-knowledge of it8 which is really the ,case with an ,adept in ,geography4 ,but supposing our ,travels exceed not the ,bounds of our own ,country2 it is a ,subject of great ,delight to be thoroughly acquainted with that4 ,or farther yet3 supposing we do not travel at all2 ,geography has still it's ,use3 it assists us in the ,knowledge of ,history1 and thereby adds ,instruction and ,pleasure to our ,reading3 in fine1 it makes us acquainted with the whole ,world1 without going out of our ,closets4 ,my ,readers are1 ,i hope1 by this time convinced1 how advantageous these ,steps of ,education are for many of the ,purposes of ,life2 nay they are such as some in better ,stations are in great measure ,strangers to1 tho' they may be possessed of ,qualifications otherwise useful4 ,if then to this be added virtuous ,dispositions1 a docile ,mind1 a becoming ,behaviour1 and1 in a word1 that genuine ,manners recommended to all1 ,i think ,parents in general of this ,class may promise themselves much more ,comfort in their ,children than they usually find4 ,girls too of this ,class are capable of being very valuable2 but again ,i must caution ,parents to be aware of those ,banes of ,happiness1 ,idleness1 ,pride1 and ,vanity4 ,idleness is justly called the ,root of all ,evil2 and ,pride and ,vanity are empty nothings3 or if they can be said to produce any thing1 it is ,evil4 ,girls of this ,class have many things within their ,reach1 and if well attended to1 may attain them4 ,they may read and write to great ,advantage2 and learn so much of ,accompts as will be necessary for conducting their ,concerns1 and understanding those ,affairs they may in future ,life be engaged in4 ,they may and ought to work to ,perfection1 but principally the useful ,parts3 and tho' the ornamental is highly commendable1 yet it must not here be encouraged to the ,prejudice or ,neglect of the useful4 ,when this ,foundation is solidly laid1 let them be carefully instructed in the ,management of a ,house1 according to what has already been observed in the foregoing ,class2 from whence they will receive such a ,fund of useful ,knowledge1 as when joined with good ,demeanour1 will procure them not only the ,esteem of their ,equals1 but that of their ,superiors4 ,let ,parents farther inspire them with ,dispositions daily to improve their ,minds2 to maintain with firmest ,resolution the nicest ,innocence1 even amidst the rudest ,attacks1 should they occur to them2 and lastly1 to support themselves with a chearful ,mind in that ,state which is allotted them4 ,in fact1 ,happiness is much more within their ,reach than they commonly imagine2 but if they neglect to consider the ,advantages they enjoy beyond thousands who are beneath them1 and anxiously dwell on the ,splendor of those above them1 it is the certain way never to find it4 ,notwithstanding what has been said on this ,class1 ,allowances are still to be made as ,circumstances vary2 and if the ,plan be in general practicable1 it is all that can be expected4 ,education is in some measure accidental2 and it is right to embrace those ,advantages which ,accident offers1 provided they do not interfere with more useful ,knowledge1 for then they are no ,advantages4 ,for ,example3 nobody should neglect their ,mother-tongue2 yet if they are so situated that they can add ,french to it1 they ought by all means to do so4 ,in the preceding ,classes ,french is considered as a necessary ,part of ,education chiefly from it's ,politeness1 and the ,advantage of reading ,french ,authors2 but according to the present ,age it is far more useful4 ,french is now so universal1 that a ,man who speaks it can do ,business with whatever ,foreigner comes in his ,way2 or should he go abroad1 he can transact his ,affairs in any ,country1 or on any ,exchange in ,europe4 ,but it is still farther necessary4 ,moliere1 in one of his ,comedies1 introduces a ,conversation1 where a ,servant is accused of flattering his ,master3 8,what can ,i do8 replies he3 ,i am to please1 ,i am to secure my ,service by keeping in his good ,graces1 and ,i have no other way of doing it3 therefore1 continues he1 it is not the ,fault of me who flatter1 but of him who will be flattered40 ,so in taking a ,view of ,life we may sometimes observe1 that to secure the ,interest and ,favour of the ,great1 the ,taylor1 the ,milliner1 the ,shoe-maker1 and many others1 are expected to introduce their ,modes under a ,french ,tongue4 ,but to do justice to the ,wisdom of our ,nation1 this is far from being general2 therefore a general and close ,application to the ,french for the fourth ,class does not seem either necessary or practicable2 because to some it would be useless1 in others it would be forgot again1 and by many it would never be attained4 ,another ,part of ,education which is oftentimes merely accidental1 is ,music4 ,if a ,man plays on any ,instrument1 it will be delightful to him to employ his ,son's leisure ,time in giving him something of so agreeable an ,accomplishment2 or if he can improve his ,daughter's ,ear or ,voice1 by giving her a pleasing ,manner in ,singing1 she should not be deprived of it2 for these things make young ,people sprightly in themselves1 and pleasing to others4 ,but then ,care must be taken that they stop here3 they must not engage in an expensive and laborious ,study of ,music1 unless it is to be their ,trade2 nor must they be attached to it so as to neglect other ,obligations1 or so as to engage them in irregular ,company3 and above all1 great ,care must be taken that they be not tainted by that ,torrent of ,corruption1 bad ,songs4 ,there is indeed a ,step of ,education for this ,class1 as well as all the preceding1 which ,i think of ,importance1 could it be obtained without the usual ,inconveniencies attending it2 that is1 ,dancing4 ,i consider ,dancing as conducive to ,health2 ,i consider it as sometimes a ,means of preventing ,deformity2 and where there is no danger of that1 all must see that it is the great ,means of making young ,people of both ,sexes stand1 and walk1 and sit1 and even look and speak to advantage4 ,mr4 ,locke1 speaking of a docile ,mind1 and good ,dispositions1 as superior to every other ,consideration1 says1 8,parents surely must have a strange ,affection for ,latin and ,greek1 who will prefer them to their ,sons ,virtue40 ,so too ,i may say of ,dancing2 if we cannot get the ,good without the ,bad1 it is better to let it alone4 ,first1 it is1 for a great many ,people1 too expensive2 nothing indeed to those of ,fortune1 and in great ,business2 but to others1 more so than is convenient4 ,next1 it is apt to inflame young ,people's ,vanity1 as well as increase the ,expence of their ,apparel4 ,a ,boy who learns to ,dance is dissatisfied unless he has ,pumps1 white ,stockings1 laced ,hat1 and many other things not necessary to his ,station2 and a ,girl rejoices when the dancing ,days come1 only because she is to have her ,silk ,coat on4 ,a third ,objection is1 the ,danger of their contracting a ,passion for ,dancing2 for tho' young ,people may sometimes very innocently divert themselves with an ,evening ,ball or a ,country ,dance1 yet an eager ,desire for these ,engagements1 especially to those of lower ,rank1 and to those who live in ,london1 are extremely dangerous4 ,still1 as this ,qualification seems really necessary1 if the ,expence of the ,master can be submitted to1 the other ,difficulties may1 ,i think1 be got over4 ,but here the ,manners are concerned3 ,children must obey1 and wear without a ,struggle1 and without a ,blush1 such ,apparel as their ,parents judge fit for them4 ,if besides this1 they are made sensible that every ,step in their ,education is taken purely for their ,good1 and are carefully instructed never to abuse by an inordinate ,attachment what is bestowed on them only for ,use2 if ,parents ,i say do this1 they may in general hope that all their ,children learn will turn to good account4 ,the ,province ,i am engaged in1 and the tender ,regard ,i pay to all human ,nature1 demands that ,i speak of a fifth ,class of ,people1 usually term'd the ,peasantry3 tho' ,i think the principal thing to be done here1 is to admonish those in higher ,spheres to behave with ,justice and ,humanity to them1 rather than to address themselves4 ,if we speak of ,education1 here it will naturally carry our ,ideas to the ,spade1 the ,plough1 or the ,team2 and which may without ,impropriety be called ,education to them4 ,it is a true ,saying1 that there is a right way and a wrong in doing every thing2 if so1 it is an useful ,part of ,education to instruct them how to till the ,earth with greatest ,ease to themselves1 and with greatest ,profit to those who employ them4 ,as early and constant ,labour is the ,province of this ,class1 there is but a small ,share either of ,time or ,abilities for ,instruction2 still as they are by ,nature susceptible of it1 those who have ,power cannot employ it better than by bestowing it2 so far at least as may open their ,minds to distinguish ,truth from ,falsehood1 ,right from ,wrong1 ,innocence from ,guilt4 ,if to this were added1 at least the ,power of reading their ,mother-tongue1 it would at times be an ,entertainment and a ,consolation to them2 and it would remove1 in some ,degree1 that total ,darkness and ,ignorance they must otherwise remain in4 ,but here1 for the ,sake of ,instruction1 ,i must depart from the strict ,propriety of the ,word ,peasant1 to touch on another ,species of ,rustics2 that is1 those of the lowest ,class of ,people1 in ,london particularly4 ,these ,people possess indeed the ,ignorance of the ,peasants1 but they seldom equal them in ,innocence4 ,many are abandoned to every ,vice2 many indeed are honest and industrious2 but even among those who are themselves good1 their ,children1 thro' an early false ,fondness1 or the ,corruption of others1 are usually ignorant1 untoward1 and vicious4 ,whence we daily see and hear in the open ,streets such things as are ,insults on ,mankind2 such as must shock the ,ears1 and make the ,heart tremble2 and such as cannot but be a ,reflection on any civilized ,nation4 ,we say1 it is easier to obey than govern2 and1 in this ,case1 it is perhaps easier to propose a ,remedy1 than to put it in ,execution4 ,but to cure an ,evil among the ,little1 we must address ourselves to the ,great2 for if they have either their ,example or ,countenance1 all ,attempts to remedy it are fruitless4 ,next we must turn our ,eyes on those in ,power1 as ,magistrates1 and ,men in ,office2 if these exercise their ,authority with ,justice and ,fidelity1 much may be done3 but if they not only neglect this1 but give ill ,example too1 little is to be expected4 ,thirdly1 the ,children of these ,people are to have some ,degree of ,education2 the ,boys1 ,reading1 ,writing1 and the first ,rules in ,arithmetic at least2 which1 if carefully taught them1 will qualify them for many useful ,employments4 ,the ,girls should at least read and work at their ,needle4 ,but all this1 tho' indispensably necessary1 is too weak to effect the ,purpose designed4 ,the ,perverseness of the ,will1 the ,unruliness of the ,head1 and the ,corruption of the ,heart1 are still to be conquered4 ,manners alone then is the effectual ,remedy3 and as1 to cure a ,disease1 we must strike at the ,root of it2 so1 to rectify the ,morals and ,misbehaviour of the ,corrupt1 we must1 on solid ,principles of ,reason and ,reflection1 awaken the ,mind1 and regulate the ,heart4 ,,conclusion4 ,a ,citizen of ,athens advising with ,xenophon about whither he should send his ,son for ,education1 ,it is my ,counsel1 answered ,xenophon1 that you send him to ,sparta4 ,to ,sparta6 says the ,athenian2 is rude and uncultivated ,sparta then preferable to ,athens1 the ,seat of ,arts and ,sciences8 ,yes1 replies the ,sage3 at ,sparta he will learn a ,science worth all the rest1 he will learn to obey4 ,according to this ,philosopher then1 ,obedience alone is a ,science productive of every useful ,knowledge2 whereas1 without it1 all other human ,knowledges are often useless1 if not1 in general1 dangerous ,acquisitions4 ,certain it is1 that much may be hoped from setting out right1 and every thing is to be feared from a wrong ,beginning4 ,parents therefore who aim at making their ,children wise1 should aim at previously making them good4 ,that is1 7to recapitulate the chief of what has been said7 they must make their ,wills pliant and tractable1 by teaching them an early1 very early ,obedience3 next1 they should mould their ,hearts1 imprint on them a ,love of ,truth1 ,honour1 ,justice1 and every other ,virtue3 lastly1 they should form their ,minds and ,manners1 by shewing them the several ,duties of their ,station1 and how to fulfil them4 ,the first ,duties of ,children are in great measure mechanical3 an obedient ,child makes a ,bow1 comes and goes1 speaks1 or is silent1 just as he is bid1 before he knows any other ,reason for so doing than that he is bid3 the ,dawn of ,reason shews him general ,duties2 that is1 that he owes to his ,parents and ,guides ,obedience1 ,respect1 and ,love3 when his ,mind is farther opened1 and his ,judgment has gained ,strength1 he sees 7if led by faithful ,teachers7 that he is born for an important1 nobly important ,purpose2 and tho' many particular ,obligations1 which he was before a ,stranger to1 present themselves to his ,view1 yet is he convinced that they are nothing but what1 under ,reason's ,sway1 he is capable of answering4 ,farther1 he sees that the ,exercise of all moral ,obligations are rendered light by being reciprocal2 and from a ,sense that his own ,support1 ,comfort1 and ,happiness requires the ,aid of others1 he chearfully and willingly labours for others4 ,lastly1 he sees1 that tho' irregular ,passions sometimes raise ,tumults in the ,soul1 and struggle for the ,mastery1 yet from the ,happiness of a well-tempered ,heart1 the constant ,exercise of ,reason1 and the ,reflection he must needs make on the daily ,instances before him of ,vice punished and of ,virtue rewarded1 he may not only be enabled to give ,virtue the ,ascendant1 but to give it on the purest ,motive2 that is1 for the ,love of ,virtue4 ,all this1 ,i say1 unless ,children are by ,nature untractable1 or are over-powered by the ,torrent of corrupt ,example1 will generally be the ,effect of well-regulated ,manners3 and1 possessed of all this1 who can doubt but that they will then be wise8 or who can think that while thus much is wanting they ever can be wise8 ,mankind1 as has been observed before1 naturally desire their ,children's ,prosperity and ,happiness2 but if they seek it in any other ,road than this1 they must not wonder if they miss of it3 rather may they wonder in good earnest1 if they ever find it4 ,still is the ultimate ,point untouched3 for1 besides that our ,passions are to be regulated1 and our ,actions to be innocent in themselves1 and valuable to others2 to make them perfect1 they are farther to be animated by a right ,intention3 for1 says a learned and ingenious ,author1 8the ,intention is the ,pulse of the ,soul40 ,many ,actions1 in themselves indifferent1 are rendered hurtful by an ,error in the ,intention2 and even those which seem calculated by ,nature to produce the most signal ,advantages to others1 as well as to us1 are often1 for want of being properly directed to their right ,end1 both fruitless to those they were designed to benefit1 and even detrimental to ourselves4 ,here then we are to know1 that moral ,duties are of divine ,origin2 and if ,nature shews us the first ,laws of ,right and ,wrong1 the ,author of ,nature implanted them in us4 ,but our ,obligations to the ,,great ,,creator of us all will irresistably appear2 if we duly survey ourselves and every thing around us2 for as thence we shall see that from ,him alone we receive all things1 so thence shall we be convinced that to ,him alone all should be referred4 ,thus it is evident1 that to fill up the ,measure of our ,duty1 three things are necessary3 first1 we are to be carefully informed what is ,right1 and what is ,wrong2 secondly1 we are inviolably to adhere to the one1 and avoid the other2 and1 thirdly1 the ,right we do must be done from ,principle2 which can no otherwise appear in us than by honouring and serving the ,author of our ,being1 and of all the ,blessings we enjoy3 these naturally lead us to believe in him1 to hope in him1 and to love him2 and these are ,acts which constitute ,religion4 ,but here1 with all due ,reverence1 ,i drop my ,pen2 leaving the ,consideration of our ,duties in a religious ,light to those whose ,province it is to point out1 explain and enforce them3 to those1 in a word1 to whom the ,office is given from above4 ,,finis4 ,,footnotes #a ,dr4 ,shaw4 ,see ,quincy's ,prlectiones ,pharmaceutic4 #b ,since the second ,edition of this ,work1 three thousand ,women more1 deliver'd in the same ,hospital1 are to be added to the above ,number3 among which1 not above four have had sore ,breasts1 and those were either such as had no ,nipples1 or had formerly had ,milk ,sores2 and all of them except one1 cured by ,poultices only4 ,dr4 ,macaulay 7to whom the ,british ,lying-in-,hospital is greatly indebted for his present close ,attendance thereon7 is my ,authority for this ,note4 #c ,dr4 ,cadogan4 #d ,dr4 ,parsons4 #e ,great ,wits to ,madness sure are near ally'd3 ,and thin ,partitions do their ,bounds divide4 #f ,av'rice and ,knav'ry sure are near ally'd2 ,and thin ,partitions do their ,bounds divide4 #g ----,who steals my ,purse1 steals ,trash4 ',twas mine2 'tis his2 and has been ,slave to thousands3 ,but he who filches from me my good ,name1 ,robs me of that which not enriches him1 ,but makes me poor indeed4---- ,,shakespeare4 #h ,one ,science only will one ,genius fit2 ,so vast is ,art1 so narrow human ,wit4 #i ,since the first ,appearance of this ,work in the ,year #agec1 the ,society for the ,encouragement of ,arts1 ,manufactures and ,commerce has been form'd and establish'd299 in ,honour to which1 the ,author begs leave to observe that his ,complaint on this ,head 7which he flatters himself was a just one7 is in some measure obviated3 for1 from the particular regard paid by that ,society to every ,branch of the ,polite ,arts1 ,boys even in the most inferior ,stations of ,life 7as well as others7 have it's ,countenance and ,approbation2 and1 by liberal ,premiums1 receive from it the ,reward of their ,genius and ,industry4 ,hence ,drawing is already become a far more general ,study in ,england than heretofore2 and hence1 too1 it may be hoped 7provided the ,plan here laid down be deemed rational7 that ,boys of this ,class in particular will daily improve1 and make1 it both their ,study and ,delight to acquire that ,perfection which will manifestly tend to their own ,advancement in ,life1 and reflect ,honour on their ,country4 ,a contemplative ,mind1 united to a ,heart warm'd with the ,love of ,mankind1 cannot but see with singular ,pleasure the rapid ,progress and growing ,power of that highly useful ,society3 ,for1 from a beginning of about six private ,gentlemen1 a few ,years have increas'd their ,number to near three thousand ,members2 among which far the greater ,part are ,persons of ,rank1 ,learning and ,fortune4 ,but to what ,end do they associate1 to what ,end do they bestow their ,time1 their ,thoughts and their ,money8 ,the ,answer is obvious2 it is to benefit others1 not themselves3 it is to encourage the ,industrious1 and reward the ,ingenious3 and what is still more exalted1 it is to add ,power1 ,strength and ,lustre to their native ,country4 99 ,the ,society commenced in ,march #aged4 ,every ,member pays at the least two ,guineas a ,year2 or one ,payment of twenty ,guineas for ,life4 ,besides the ,committees 7which meet almost daily1 and which are open to every ,member7 the ,society1 for the most ,part of the ,year1 assemble once a ,week2 at which ,times so many useful and curious ,matters are discuss'd as render them a most rational ,entertainment4 ,and1 that no ,partiality may be shewn1 or ,benefit lost1 every ,member has full ,liberty to throw out his ,thoughts1 and to propose whatever1 in his ,opinion1 may be of ,utility1 and advance the ,intentions of the ,society4 ,,errata4 ,page #f4 ,line #ab4 for disregarded read disregard4 #eb4 #a4 for attend read attended4 #hb4 #g4 for strange read stranger4 #bbj4 #ah4 for he read she4 #cjb4 #e4 for were read where4 #cba4 #d4 dele not4 ,transcriber's ,note3 ,the errata have been corrected1 along with minor and evident typesetting errors4 ,the spelling and writing style of the #agejs has been retained4