A 
 PLAN 
 
 FOR THE CONDUCT 
 
 F 
 
 jfemale education, 
 
 1 N 
 
 BOARDING SCHOOLS, PRIVATE FAMILIES, AND 
 PUBLIC SEMINARIES. 
 
 ..<..<,.<*>..>..>.. 
 
 By Erafmus Daw: in, M. D. F. R. s. 
 Author of Zoonomia, and of the Botanic Garden. 
 
 <<<$> >> 
 
 TO WHICH ARE ADDED, 
 
 RUDIMENTS OF TASTE, 
 
 IN A SERIES OF LETTERS 
 
 FROM A MOTHER TO HER DAUGHTERS. 
 
 Embellished with an elegant Frontispiece. 
 
 PHILADELPHIA: 
 
 PRINTED BY JOHN ORMROD, 
 
 N. 41, Chesnut-street. 
 
 1798. 
 
DEDICATION. 
 
 JL O the parents and guardians, 
 who are felicitous about the education 
 of their female wards, and daughters, 
 to the governefles of fchools inftitu- 
 ted for female tuition, to the teachers 
 of young ladies in private families, 
 and public feminaries, this fmall work 
 is with all due refpeft prefented 
 
 BY THE AUTHOR. 
 
l ^ 
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 Seffion 
 
 I. THE FEMALE CHARACTER. 
 
 II. MUSIC AND DANCING. 
 
 III. READING. 
 
 IV. WRITING. 
 
 V. GRAMMAR. 
 
 VI. LANGUAGES. PHYSIOGNOMY. 
 
 VII. ARITHMETIC. CARD-PLAYING. 
 
 VIII. GEOGRAPHY. 
 
 IX. HISTORY. 
 
 X. NATURAL HISTORY. 
 
 XI. RUDIMENTS OF. TASTE. BEAUTY. 
 GRACE. 
 
 A 2: 
 
Contents. 
 "< <%,>->' 
 
 XII. DRAWING AND EMBROIDERY. 
 PERSPECTIVE. 
 
 XIII. HEATHEN MYTHOLOGY. 
 
 XIV. POLITE LITERATURE. NOVELS. 
 
 XV. ARTS AND SCIENCES. 
 
 XVI. MORALS. 
 
 XVII. COMPASSION. 
 
 XVIII. VERACITY. 
 
 XIX. PRUDENCE. JUSTICE. CHASTITY. 
 
 XX. FORTITUDE. BASHFULNESS. 
 
 XXI. TEMPERANCE. 
 
 XXII. RELIGION. 
 
 XXIII. ADDRESS. 
 
 XXIV. CONVERSATION. 
 
 XXV. EXERCISE, DUMB BELLS. 
 
 XXVI. AIR. BED-ROOMS. FIRE-GRATES. 
 
 XXVII. CARE OF THE SHAPE. 
 COLD BATH. 
 
Contents. 
 <-t *>> 
 
 XXVIII. DRESS. EAR-RINGS. POWDER. 
 
 XXIX. AMUSEMENTS CHESS. 
 
 XXX. PUNISHMENTS. REWARDS. 
 MOTIVES. 
 
 XXXI. LI3PING. 
 
 
 
 XXXII. STAMMERING. 
 
 XXXIII. SQUINTING. 
 
 XXXIV. INVOLUNTARY MOTIONS. 
 
 XXXV. SWELLED FINGERS, AND KIBED 
 HEELS. 
 
 XXXVI. BEDS. RHEUMATISM. 
 
 XXXVII. DIET. NEW MILK. 
 
 XXXVIII. ECONOMY. 
 
 XXXIX. SCHOOL-EDUCATION, USES OF. 
 XL. CATALOGUE OF BOOKS. 
 
APOLOGY FOR THE WORK. 
 
 JL HE following treatife was written 
 at the defire of Mifs S. and Mifs M. Par 
 ker ; who were themfelves educated for 
 the purpofe of educating others ; and on 
 that account were originally placed in dif 
 ferent feminaries for female tuition ; and 
 afterwards engaged themfelves for a time 
 as teachers in other fchools, and in private 
 families; the better to qualify themfelves 
 for the arduous taflc of conducting a board 
 ing fchool for the education of young 
 ladies. 
 
APOLOGY FOR THE WORK. 
 ..<..<**>..>.. 
 
 About four years ago a houfe was offer 
 ed for fale at Afhborne in Derbyftiire, at 
 the very extremity of the town, in a moft 
 pleafant and healthy fituation, on a dry 
 fandy foil, with excellent water, well fliel- 
 tered from the north-ealt, and command 
 ing an extenfive profpedl of Sir Brooke 
 Boothby's park, and its beautiful environs. 
 
 A fpacious walled garden adjoins the 
 houfe, at the bottom of which is a ftream 
 of water, which may fometime be convert 
 ed into a river-bath* 
 
 Mifs PARKERS procured this eligible 
 fituation^ and had the houfe well fitted up 
 for the purpofes of a boarding fchool. It 
 confifts of an ample fchool-room, and an 
 ample dining-room, and four fmaller par- 
 
APOLOGY FOR THE WORK. 
 
 '<<*>> 
 
 lours, on the principal floor ; with two 
 ftair-cafes, one of which is of ftone. The 
 whole is airy and well lighted; and now 
 contains about thirty pupils without being 
 crowded. 
 
 They next had the good fortune to en 
 gage very excellent teachers in dancing, 
 mufic, and drawing, from Nottingham, 
 Derby, See. with a polite emigrant as French 
 matter ; and laftly applied to me for any 
 ideas, I could furnifh them with, on the 
 
 fubjed of female education. And now, 
 
 
 as their eftabliftiment has fucceeded to 
 
 their utrnoft wifh, have exprefled a defire, 
 that I would give to the public, what I 
 wrote originally for their private infpec- 
 tion. 
 
APOLOGY FOR THE WORK. 
 
 ..<..<4 >..>.. 
 
 I have only to add, that a copy of the 
 manufcript has been feen by many of the 
 ingenious of both fexes,and much improv 
 ed by their obfervations ; to whcm I here 
 beg leave to return my moft grateful ac 
 knowledgments. 
 
A P L A N 
 
 FOR THE CONDUCT OF 
 
 FEMALE EDUCATION. 
 
 SECTION I. 
 
 THE FEMALE CHARACTER. 
 
 THE PARENTS and guardians of 
 young ladies of the laft half century were 
 lefs folicitous about procuring for them fo 
 extenfive an education, as modern refine 
 ment requires. Hence it happens, that 
 female education has not yet been reduced 
 to a perfe<5l fyftem ; but is frequently di- 
 ie<5ted by thofe, who have not themfelves 
 had a good education, or who have not flu- 
 died the fubjedl with fufficient attention. 
 And tho' many ingenious remarks are to be 
 B 
 
10 THE FEMALE CHARACTER. 
 
 found in the works of Locke, RoufTeau, 
 Genlis, and other writers ftill more mo 
 dern ; yet few of them are exactly appli 
 cable to the management of boarding 
 fchools ; the improvement of which is the 
 intent of the prefent treatife. 
 
 The advantages of a good education 
 confift in uniting health and agility of bo 
 dy with cheerfulnefs and activity of mind ; 
 in fuperadding graceful movements to the 
 former, and agreeable taftes to the latter ; 
 and in the acquirement of the rudiments of 
 fuch arts and fciences, as may amufe our- 
 felves, or gain us the efteem of others ; 
 with a ftri<5i attention to the culture of mo 
 rality and religion. 
 
 The female charader (hould pofiefs the 
 mild and retiring virtues rather than the 
 bold and dazzling ones ; great eminence in 
 almofl any thing is fometimes injurious to 
 a young lady ; whofe temper and difpofi- 
 tion {hould appear to be pliant rather than 
 
THE FEMALE CHARACTER. II 
 
 robuft ; to be ready to take impreffions ra 
 ther than to be decidedly marked ; as great 
 apparent ftrength of character, however 
 excellent, is liable to alarm both her own 
 and the other fex ; and to create admira 
 tion rather than affection. 
 
 There are however fituations in tingle 
 life ; in which, after the completion of 
 their fchool-education, ladies may culti 
 vate to any extent the fine arts or the fci- 
 ences for their amufement or inftru<5tion. 
 And there are fituations in a married 
 ftate ; which may call forth all the energies 
 of the mind in the care, education, or pro- 
 vifion, for a family .; which the inadivity, 
 folly, or death of a hufbandmay render ne- 
 ceflary. Hence if to foftnefs of manners, 
 complacency of countenance, gentle un 
 hurried motion, with a voice clear and 
 yet tender, the charms which enchant all 
 hearts! can be fuperadded internal ftrength 
 and adivity of mind, capable to tranfad 
 the bufinefs or combat the evils of life ; 
 
1*2 THE FEMALE CHARACTER. 
 
 with a due fenfe of moral and religious 
 obligation; all is obtained, which education 
 can fupply ; the female chara<5ler becomes 
 complete, excites our love, and commands 
 our admiration. 
 
 Education fhould draw the outline, 
 and teach the ufe of the pencil ; but the 
 exertions of the individual muft afterwards 
 introduce the various gradations of {hade 
 and colour, murt illuminate the landfcape, 
 and fill it with the beautiful figures of the 
 Graces and the Virtues. 
 
SECTION II. 
 
 MUSIC AND DANCING 
 
 generally taught by mafters, 
 who profefs thofe arts; concerning which 
 we (hall only obferve, that they are fre 
 quently believed to be of too great impor - 
 tance in female education ; and on that ac 
 count that too much time is expended on 
 their acquirement. It is perhaps more 
 defirable, that young ladies fhould play, 
 fing r and dance, only fo well as to amufe 
 themfelves and their friends, than to prac- 
 tife thofe arts in fo eminent a degree as to 
 aftonifh the public ; becaufe a great appa 
 rent attention to trivial accompliflunents 
 is liable to give a fufpicion, that more va 
 luable acquifitions have been neglected. 
 And, as they confift in an exhibition of 
 the perfon, they are liable to be attended 
 with vanity, and to extinguish the blufli of 
 youthful timidity ; which is in young ladies 
 the mofi powerful of their exterior charms. 
 B2 
 
14 MUSIC AND DANCING. 
 
 Such rnafters fliould be chofen to in- 
 ftrudt young ladies in thefe accomplifli- 
 ments, as are not only well qualified to 
 fing and play, or to dance themfelves ; but 
 alfo who can teach with good temper and 
 genteel behaviour : they fhould recollecl, 
 that vulgar manners, with the (harp gef- 
 tures of anger, and its difagreeable tones of 
 voice, are unpardonable in thofe, who 
 profefs to teach graceful motion, and me 
 lodious expreffion ; and may affed the talle 
 and temper of their pupils, fo as to be 
 more injurious to their education ; than 
 any thing, which they are able to teach 
 them, can counterbalance. 
 
SECTION III. 
 
 READING. 
 
 reading is as much a language to 
 the eye, as fpeaking is to the ear; it re 
 quires much time and labour for children 
 to acquire both thefe languages. Such 
 books (hould therefore be put into their 
 hands, as join amufement with inftrucfHon, 
 and thus lighten the fatigue of continued 
 application, as Sandford and Merton, Pa 
 rent's affiftant, Evenings at home, and ma 
 ny others. 
 
 In learning to read aloud, a clear and 
 diftinft enunciation is feldom acquired at 
 fchools ; which is owing to the child ftand- 
 ing clofe to the teacher, who looks over the 
 book along with it ; and hence the pupil 
 finds no difficulty in being underftood, 
 even when fhe pronounces only half 
 words. This however is eafily remedied 
 by placing the reader at the diftance of 
 
l6 READING. 
 
 two yards or more from the hearer ; then 
 the young fcholar foon finds, that fhe is 
 not underftood, unlefs flie expreflfes her- 
 feif with clear articulation. For this pur- 
 pofe the teacher fhould always be provided 
 with a duplicate of the book, fhe teaches; 
 that (he may not be neceffitated to look 
 over the fhoulderof her pupiL 
 
 As the young fcholars advance in the 
 knowledge of language, other books mufl 
 be taught them both in profe and poetry ; 
 fuch as may improve their minds in the 
 knowledge of things, in morality, religion, 
 or which may form their tafte. A great 
 number of books for the ufe of children 
 has been publiftied in late years ; many of 
 them by very ingenious writers, and well 
 adapted to the purpofe defigned, of fuch of 
 thefe, as have come to my knowledge, a 
 catalogue (hall be given at the end of this 
 treatife. 
 
SECTION. IV. 
 
 WRITING. 
 
 KITING, as it keeps the body 
 in a fixed pofture, as well as drawing, and 
 needlework, fhould not be too long appli 
 ed to at a time ; fince the body, and even 
 the countenance, may thus get a certain 
 tendency to one attitude ; as is feen in 
 children, who are brought up to fome me 
 chanic art, as in polifhing buttons or pre 
 cious ftones on a lathe. A proper manner 
 of holding the pen, or pencil, or needle, 
 with an eafy but graceful attitude of the 
 perlbn, and an agreeable moderate atten 
 tion of the countenance, fhould firrtbe 
 taught ; for which purpofes an inclined 
 defk has many advantages over an horizon 
 tal table for the books, or working frames ; 
 as the body is thence lefs bent forwards ; 
 and the light in general (ituations more vi 
 vidly reflected to the eye. 
 
i8 
 
 WRITING, 
 
 If the defk be fixteen inches broad, the 
 furthermoft edge of it fliould rife about 
 three inches and half from the horizontal 
 line ; which produces the rnoft convenient 
 inclination, and the table or frame, which 
 fupports it, for the ufe of the taller chil 
 dren, fhould rife about two feet eight inch 
 es from the ground. 
 
SECTION V. 
 
 GRAMMAR, 
 
 HIGH is an abftracl fcience 
 teaching the texture of language, is too 
 hard for very young minds; and is there 
 fore generally taught too early : and the 
 fame may be faid of Arithmetic. The 
 Englifh grammars in general ufe at fchools 
 are both tedious and defective competi 
 tions ; an epitome, or extraft, from Lowth's 
 grammar, with the late improvements of 
 Mr. Home Tooke in the theory of lan 
 guage,- would well fupply this branch of 
 knowledge; and might be given to the 
 public under the name of a "rational 
 Englifii grammar." 
 
 Mrs. Devis has published a fmall and 
 ufeful rudiment of grammar purpofely 
 for the ufe of young ladies ; which may 
 be taught as an introduction to Lowth's 
 grammar. The Abbe Gaultier's Jeu de 
 
GRAMMAR. 
 
 Grammaire may perhaps be rendered a- 
 mufing to children, and convey to them 
 ideas of the French grammar. 
 
SECTION VI. 
 
 LANGUAGES. 
 
 JL HE neceffity of learning fome an- 
 tient or foreign languages impofes a labori 
 ous taflc on the youth of both fexes ; which 
 confumes years of their precious time, 
 which might otherwife be employed in the 
 acquifition of faiences. The difficulty of 
 obtaining a competent knowledge of the 
 Greek or Latin language is many times 
 greater than that of obtaining any modern 
 one ; as may be deduced from the innu 
 merable changes of the termination of 
 their noun*, adjedives, and verbs ; which 
 to a beginner are all fo many new words. 
 And as the works of the beft writers in thefe 
 languages have been tranflated into our 
 own, it is lefs neceflary in the education 
 of ladies to expend fo much time and la 
 bour in acquiring them. But as the French 
 and Italian are lefs difficult to learn, and 
 contain new books of tafte and knowledge, 
 C 
 
22 LANGUAGES. 
 
 which are yearly publifhed in this age of 
 literature ; and as they are convenient for 
 converting with foreigners, who come 
 hither, or in our travelling into other 
 countries ; and laftly, as they are agree 
 able as well as fafhionable fludies; the 
 pupils of boarding fchools fhould be en 
 couraged to attain one or both of them. 
 
 The method recommended by Mr. 
 Locke in his treatife on education, feft. 
 162, of teaching languages by converfa- 
 tion, will on trial be generally found' fuc- 
 cefsful in refpect to modern languages 
 with even the youngeft children. Never- 
 thelefs a knowledge of grammar fhould 
 afterwards be taught with care, if the child 
 be too young at firft to attend to it ; for 
 without the aid of grammar not only the 
 French or Italian languages, but even the 
 Engliih will not always be fpoken or writ 
 ten with perfect accuracy. 
 
 For this purpofe of acquiring modern 
 languages by converfation, a fchool gene- 
 
LANGUAGES. 23 
 
 rally fupplies better opportunities than a 
 private family, befides the advantage of 
 fome degree of emulation, which frequent 
 ly exifts, where children converfe to 
 gether : another advantage of infantine fo- 
 ciety is, that they learn many other things, 
 as well as languages, by repeating them to 
 each other ; and obtain, what isfeldoni to 
 be acquired from adult companions, fome 
 knowledge of phyfiognomy ; as the paffions 
 of children are more legibly expreffed on 
 their countenances than at a maturer age. 
 This knowledge of phyfiognomy, which 
 is perhaps only to be acquired at fchools, 
 by giving a promptitude of underftanding 
 the prefent approbation or diflike, and the 
 good or bad defigns, of thofe whom we con- 
 verfe with, becomes of hourly uie in al- 
 moft eveiy department of life. 
 
SECTION VIL 
 
 ARITHMETIC 
 
 JLjKE grammar is an abftraft fcience, 
 which is frequently attempted to be taught 
 too early ; at the fame time it may be ob- 
 ferved, that the early initiation of moft 
 children into card play ing before they come 
 to fcliool, by giving clear and vifible ideas 
 of the ten firft numerals, feems greatly to 
 facilitate their acquirement of arithmetic ; 
 and if this fafhionable amufement could be 
 fo managed by the parents, who allow it to 
 their children, as not to excite a defire of 
 gain along with a conteft of ingenuity, it 
 might be rendered, in fome ineafure, ad 
 vantageous by exciting the mind to a&ivi- 
 ty in this branch of fcience ; but is never- 
 thelefs not proper to be ufed in fchools, 
 where its effects on the paffions cannot be 
 fufficiently watched, and. counteracted. 
 
 So much of the fcience of numbers as 
 is in common ufe, as the numeration, fub- 
 
ARITHMETIC. 5 
 
 tradion, multiplication, and divifion of 
 money, (hould be learnt with accuracy ; 
 to which {hould be added the rule of three, 
 and decimal fractions; which will abun 
 dantly repay the labour of acquiring them 
 by the pleafure and utility, which will per 
 petually refult from the knowledge of them 
 thro' life. The higher parts of arithme 
 tic, as algebra and fluxions, belong to the 
 a^ftrufer fciences. 
 
 There are many introductory books to 
 the fcience of arithmetic ; thofe I have 
 heard moft recommended are Vife's tutor's 
 guide, Hutton's pradical arithmetic, and 
 Wingate's arithmetic ; but it is probable, 
 that moft of the introductory treatifes to a- 
 rithmetic muft be nearly of equal excel 
 lence. 
 
SECTION VIII. 
 
 GEOGRAPHY. 
 
 much of this icience, as depends 
 only on memory, may be taught to chil 
 dren in their early years. They fhould 
 be taught to point out on large maps the 
 counties of England > and then the prin 
 cipal diviftons of Europe, and of the other 
 quarters of the world ; and laftly to trace 
 out the principal rivers and mountains, 
 which ingrave or imbofs its furface, which 
 is much to be preferred to diffeded maps ; 
 as it is the fituations, rather than the exa<ft 
 forms of counties and of countries, which 
 ihould be attended to. Afterwards the 
 uie of the globes fliould be explained ; 
 and fome fliort outline of aftronomy ought 
 to accompany thefe lectures. 
 
 A compendious fyftem of geography 
 on cards, publifhed by Mr. Newberry, in 
 St. Paul's church yard, fupplics a very con- 
 
GEOGRAPHY. 2? 
 
 venient method of inftructing children. 
 Other geographical cards by Bowles, tho' 
 they only mention the latitude and longi 
 tude -of important places, may alfobe ufed 
 with advantage. The maps, published by 
 Mr. Faden, which have blank outlines to 
 be filled up by the ftudent, are well de- 
 ligned, and not very expenfive. The Ab 
 be Gaultier's cours de Geographic formed 
 into a game may, like his game at gram 
 mar, be rendered amufing to children, 
 and are tolerably well adapted both to pri 
 vate families, where there are but few pu 
 pils, and to public feminaries of in- 
 ftrudion. 
 
 Fairman's geography, a fmalj odavo 
 fold by Johnfon, contains a fhort account 
 of the planets, and ufe of the globes. 
 Brooks' gazetteer is an ufeful work ; and 
 fome other good geographical publications 
 are mentioned in the catalogue of books at 
 the end of this work. 
 
SECTION IX. 
 
 HISTORY. 
 
 np 
 
 JL HE hiftory of mankind is connect 
 ed with the knowledge of the earth, which 
 they cultivate. A fummary of ihe hiftory 
 of England fliould precede that of other 
 nations, as it may be more intereiiing, and 
 more eafiiy comprehended by Englifli 
 children. Afterwards an abridgment of 
 the hiflory of other nations both antient 
 and modern may be collected from various 
 writers, but are fome of them already made 
 concife and agreeable by Dr. Goldfmith in 
 his hiftories of Greece and Rome, as well 
 as of England and Scotland ; which how 
 ever cannot be well remembered without 
 a previous knowledge of geography, or 
 by confulting maps with every change of 
 place in the account of tranfactions. 
 
 Afterwards a brief, but corred know 
 ledge of hiftory ftill more ancient, and of 
 
HISTORY. 
 
 chronology, comprehending the four great 
 empires of the world, with the rife of the 
 prefent kingdoms of Europe from the fall 
 of the laft, may be acquired according to 
 the plan of Mrs. Chapone in her letters on 
 the improvement of the mind. This out 
 line of hiftory and chronology may be rea 
 dily and agreeably learned from Prieftley's 
 chart of hiftory; which with his chart of 
 biography fhould hang amongft a collec 
 tion of large well-coloured maps in the 
 parlour of a boarding fchool, that they ir<ay 
 frequently encounter the eyes of the young 
 (Indents. 
 
SECTION X. 
 
 NATURAL HISTORY. 
 
 JL HE hiftory of the various other 
 animals is alfo connected with our know 
 ledge of the various parts of the earth, 
 which they inhabit. This is termed na 
 tural hiftory, and may be taught to chil 
 dren earlier than the hiftories of mankind, 
 as being eafier to their compiehenfions, 
 and thence more interefting and agreeable 
 to them. Dr, Goldfmith in his hiftory of 
 animated nature has alfo made this part of 
 knowledge of eafy accefs ; and Mr. Bew 
 ick's account of quadrupedes, with wood 
 prints of the animals, and amufing tale- 
 pieces to the fedions, are quite charming 
 to children. To thefe fhould be added a 
 treatife on birds, with the fcientific names 
 admirably adapted for the ufe of fchools by 
 Mr. Galton, publifhed by Johnfon in St. 
 Paul's church yard, London, in three fmall 
 volumes. And befides thefe, children 
 
NATURAL HISTORY. 3! 
 
 fhould be permitted occafionally to infpeft 
 the collections of foreign animals, which 
 are frequently exhibited in this country ; 
 as an examination of the objects themfelves 
 conveys clearer ideas than prints and de- 
 fcriptions, and at the fame time adds to 
 their knowledge, and gratifies their cu- 
 riofity. 
 
SECTION XL 
 
 THE RUDIMENTS OF TASTE 
 
 L RE too much neglefled in moft 
 boarding fchools ; thefe fiiould be taught 
 with fome care, as perhaps peculiarly be 
 longing to Ladies ; fince tafte enters into 
 their drefs, their motions, their manners, 
 as well as into all the fine arts, which they 
 have leifure to cultivate ; as drawing, paint 
 ing, modelling, making artificial flowers, 
 embroidery ; writing letters, reading, fpeak- 
 ing, and into almoft every circumftance of 
 life. 
 
 The general rudiments of tafte are to 
 be acquired firft by reading books, which 
 treat profeffedly on the fubjeft; as the ten 
 papers by Mr. Addifon on the power of 
 imagination in the Spedator, vol. 6, No. 
 411 ; Akinfide's pleafures of imagination ; 
 Burke on the fublime and beautiful ; Ho- 
 * garth's analyfis of beauty ; Mafon's Englifh 
 
THE RUDIMENTS OF TASTE. 33 
 
 garden ; Wheatley's ornamental garden 
 ing ; and Gilpin's pidurefque views. Se 
 condly by feleding and explaining admir 
 ed paffages from claffical authors, as the 
 Beauties of Shakefpeare, of Johnfon, and 
 of Sterne. And laftly, by exhibiting and 
 explaining the prints of beautiful objeds, 
 or cafts of the beft antique gems and me 
 dallions. 
 
 The authors above mentioned have di 
 vided the objeds of Tafle into the fub- 
 lime, the beautiful, and the new 5 but a 
 new fed of inquirers into this fubjed have 
 lately added the Pidurefque ; which is 
 fuppofed to differ from the beautiful by its 
 want of fmoothnefs, and from the fublime 
 from its want of fize ; but thiscircumftance 
 has not yet perhaps undergone fufficient 
 examination. See effay on Pidurefque, 
 by U. Price. 
 
 Others have endeavoured to make a 
 difiindion between beauty and grace ; and 
 D 
 
34 THE RUDIMENTS OF TASTE. 
 
 have efteemed them, as it were, rivals for 
 the poffeffion of the human heart. But 
 Grace may be defined Beauty in adion ; 
 for a fleeping beauty can not be called 
 graceful, in whatever attitude flie may re 
 cline ; the rnufcles muft be in adion to pro 
 duce a graceful attitude, and the limbs to 
 produce a graceful motion. The fuppof- 
 ed origin of our ideas of beauty acquired 
 in our early infancy from the curved lines, 
 which form the female bofom, is deliver 
 ed in ZoonomSa, vol. I. fed. xvi. 6; but 
 is too metaphyfical an inveftigation for 
 young ladies. 
 
SECTION XII. 
 
 DRAWING AND EMBROIDERY. 
 
 JLJRAWING as an elegant art be 
 longs to the education of young ladies, and 
 greatly facilitates the acquirement of Tafte. 
 As this is generally taught by matters, who 
 profefs it, I (hall only obferve, that tho' as 
 an art it confifts of deceiving the eye, yet 
 as a fcience it is capable of producing to 
 the mind the moft fublime and beautiful 
 images, or the moft interefting fcenes of 
 life, for ouramufement, admiration, or in- 
 ftrucftion. 
 
 The fame obfervation applies to Em 
 broidery, which is painting 1 with the needle 
 inilead of the pencil, and feenis to have 
 been a fafhionable employment of ladies 
 of the higheft rank in the early ages of the 
 world. As the ladies in polite life have 
 frequently much leifure time at their dif- 
 pofal, it is wife for them to learn many 
 
36 DRAWING AND EMBROIDERY. 
 
 elegant as well as ufeful arts in their early 
 years ; which they may afterward cultivate 
 for their amufement ; and thus deprive 
 folitude of irkfomenefs : And by being 
 able to entertain themfelves, they may be 
 lefs folicitous to enter the circles of diffi- 
 pation, and depend lefs for happinefs on 
 the caprice of others. 
 
 Befides the amufement or accomplish- 
 ment of poffeffing the talent of drawing, 
 there is another advantage refulting from 
 it ; which conlifts in ufing the pencil as a 
 language to exprefs the forms of all vifible 
 objefts, as of flowers, machines, houfes, 
 landfcapes ; which can not in words alone 
 be conveyed to others with fufficient accu 
 racy : For this end it may be fufficient to 
 draw in outlines alone the figures of na 
 tural things, without expending fo much 
 time on this art, as is requifite to enable 
 the learner to add the nice touches, which 
 form the delicate gradations of (hade and 
 colour. 
 
DRAWING AND EMBROIDERY. 37 
 
 It may be fuppofed, that fome know 
 ledge of the fcience of perspective fhould 
 be previoufiy acquired for the purpofe of 
 drawing the outlines of objeds ; but I fuf- 
 pet, that this is not always neceffary, (ince 
 at our learning to fee ; before we have 
 compared the ideas received by the fenfe 
 of fight with thofe received by that of 
 touch ; any objecft placed before our eyes, 
 as fuppofe the face of a companion, muft 
 appear a flat coloured or (haded furface, 
 and not a folidfubftance covered with emi 
 nences and depreffions ; as is fo well 
 proved by Bifhop Berkley in his theory of 
 vifion. Hence if any one could fo far 
 unlearn the language of fight as to imagine 
 the face of his companion to be a flat co 
 loured furface only, (as it is really feen) 
 he would draw from nature as eafily and 
 exadly, as if he was copying a picture, as 
 the inequalities would appear lights and 
 fhades ; and he would thus be enabled to 
 take the likenefs with much greater facili 
 ty and accuracy without the aid of t lie rules 
 of perfpedive* D 2 
 
SECTION XIII. 
 
 THE HEATHEN MYTHOLOGY 
 
 .S conneded with the fiudy of tafle r 
 and fhould therefore be taught in boarding 
 fchools; as without fome knowledge of it 
 the works of the painters, ftatuarifts, and 
 poets, both antient and modern, can not 
 be underftood. But as a great part of this 
 mythology confifts of perfonified vices, 
 much care fihould be taken in female 
 fchools, as well as in male ones, to prevent 
 any bad impreffions, which might be made 
 on the mind by this kind of erudition ; 
 this is to be accomplifhed by explaining 
 the allegorical meaning of many of thefe 
 fuppofed adions of heathen deities, and 
 by fhewing that they are at prefent ufed 
 only as emblems of certain powers, as Mi 
 nerva of wifdom, and Bellona of war, and 
 thus conflitute the language of painters ; 
 and are indeed almoft the whole language 
 which that art poffefies, befides the delinea 
 tion of vifible objeds in reft or in adion. 
 
HEATHEN MYTHOLOGY. 39 
 
 Thefe emblems however arc not to be 
 fo eafily acquired by defcriptions alone, 
 nor fo eafily remembered by young pupils; 
 as when prints of antique ftatues, or me 
 dallions, or when cameos, or impreffions 
 of antique gems, are at the fame time 
 {hewn and explained to them. For this 
 purpofe the prints of Spence's Poly metis 
 may be exhibited and explained ; from 
 which Bell's pantheon is principally ta 
 ken : And Dannet's dictionary of mytho 
 logy, originally written in French, may 
 be occafionally confulted ; and the notes 
 on Mr. Pope's tranflations of Homer. 
 
 There is alfo a little book intitled,. 
 14 Inftrudions fur les Metamorphofes, par 
 M. Le Ragois," which, I am informed is 
 an tifeful and unexceptionable work for 
 this purpofe, containing a kind of fumma- 
 ry of each ftory of fabulous mythology : to 
 which may be added a tranflation of Ovid's 
 Metamorphofes, publiftied by Garth ; which 
 I am told, is the beft tranflation of that 
 
4-O - HEATHEN MYTHOLOGY. 
 
 work. Much agreeable knowledge of this 
 kind is to be found in Byrant's mythology ; 
 Abbe de Pluche's hiftory of the heavens; 
 Warburton's eflay on Eleufinian myfteries; 
 to which I beg leave to add the defcrip- 
 tion of the Portland vafe in the notes to 
 the firft volume of the Botanic garden. 
 
SECTION XIV. 
 
 POLITE LITERATURE 
 
 (lAY be divided into diflertations, 
 plays, romances, poems ; each of which, 
 if the works are properly feleded, may af 
 ford amufement and inflrudion to young 
 perfons ; of fome of the books of each of 
 jhefe claflTes of literature a catalogue will 
 be given at the end of the work. 
 
 Such diflertations, as have been gene 
 rally admired, may be feleded from the 
 Spectator, Tatler, Guardian, the World, 
 the Rambler, Adventurer, Looker-on, 
 befides many others. 
 
 Plays are of three kinds, tragical, fen- 
 timental, and humourous ; of the firft, 
 Addifon's Cato has been long admired; and 
 the tragedies of Thompfon confift of fine 
 language. Of the fecond kind Cumber 
 land's comedies are inftances ; and of the 
 
42 POLITE LITERATURE. 
 
 third Sheridan's comedies ; fome of which 
 are entertaining and inoffenfive, and may 
 be read by young ladies without injury to 
 their morals, or much outrage to their 
 feelings. 
 
 There are many plays, which are bet 
 ter feen as exhibited on the ftage, than as 
 read in the clofet ; becaufe the objeftiona- 
 ble paflages are generally omitted in the 
 reprefentation. But whether young la 
 dies iliould be taught to aft plays them- 
 felves, as is done at fome boy's fchools, is 
 a matter of doubt. The danger confifts 
 in this, left the acquifition of bolder ac 
 tion, and a more elevated voice, ftiould an 
 nihilate that retiring modefly, and blufln- 
 ing embarraflment, to which young ladies 
 owe one of their moil powerful external 
 charms. 
 
 If young ladies act plays amongft them- 
 felves only, or without admitting more 
 than two or three of their friends or pa- 
 
POLITE LITERATURE. 43 
 
 rents ; or if they repeat chofen fcenes of 
 plays, or fpeeches only, much of the above 
 objection ceafes, and fome advantages may 
 refult to their attitudes or enunciation. 
 Madam de Genlis' Theatre d'Education 
 affords the lean: exceptionable whole plays, 
 with the facred dramas of Mils Moore, and 
 of Metaftafio. 
 
 3. Novels or romances may be divid 
 ed into the ferious, the humourous, and 
 the amorous. Of thefe, the laft (hould 
 be intirely interdicted ; but the firft, when 
 well managed, may convey inftru&ion in 
 the moft agreeable and forcible manner : 
 Such as Mr. Day's Sandford and Merton. 
 The Children's Friend. Tales of the Caf- 
 tle. Robin fon Crufoe. Edward, by the 
 author of Zelucco. And to thefe may be 
 added fome other modern novels, the pro- 
 dudions of ingenious ladies, which are 
 I believe lefs objeilionable than many 
 others ; as the Evelina, Cecilia, and Ca 
 milla of Mifs Burney. The Emmeline 
 
44 POLITE LITERATURE. 
 
 and Ethelinda of Charlotte Smith ; Inch- 
 bald's fitnple fiory ; Mrs. Brock's Emily- 
 Montague ; and the female Quixote ; all 
 which I have here introduced from the 
 charader given to me of them by a very 
 ingenious lady ; not having myfelf read 
 them with fufficient attention. And laft- 
 ly, the humorous novels, which are not 
 written to inflame the paflions, convey in- 
 flruction, as far ^ they are imitations of 
 real life : Of thelf are La Sage's famous 
 novel of Gil Bias ; and Fielding's Tom 
 Jones; neither of which however are pro 
 per books for young readers. 
 
 There are many, who condemn the ufe 
 of novels altogether ; but wrnt are epic po 
 ems but novels in verfe ? It is difficult 
 to draw the line of limit between novels, 
 and other works of imagination ; unlefs 
 the word novel be confined to mean only 
 the romances of love and chivalry. 
 
 It is true indeed, that aimoft all novels, 
 as well as plays, and epic poems, have fome 
 
POLITE LITERATURE. 45 
 
 exceptional paffages to be found in them ; 
 which might therefore be expunged, be 
 fore they are allowed to be read by young 
 ladies. But are young women therefore 
 to be kept in intire ignorance of mankind, 
 with whom they mud fhortly affbciate, 
 and from whom they are frequently to 
 choofe a partner for life? This would be 
 making them the flaves rather than the 
 companions of men, like the Sultanas of 
 a Turkifh Seraglio. And how can young 
 women, who are fecluded from the other 
 fex from their infancy, form any judgment 
 of men, if they are not to be afiiftedby fuch 
 books, as delineate manners? A lady of 
 fortune, who was perfuaded by her guar 
 dian to marry a difagreeable and felfifhman, 
 fpeaking to her friend of the ill humour 
 of her hufband, lamented, that fhe had 
 been prohibited from reading novels. " If 
 lt I had read fuch books, faidfhe, before I 
 ct was married, I fliould have chofen bet- 
 41 ter; I was told, that all men were alike 
 
 11 except in refpedl to fortune." 
 E 
 
46 POLITE LITERATURE. 
 
 We muft however obferve, that novels 
 are perhaps more objectionable in fchools 
 than in private education ; as the com 
 ments of one bad mind may be dangerous 
 to the whole community : And as they are 
 more amufing to young people than any 
 other books, if read too early, they may 
 give a diftafte to more ufeful knowledge ; 
 which are good reafons for the total prohi 
 bition of them in fchools : And in private 
 education, left a preference of fiction to 
 truth fhould be thus inftilled, the ridicu 
 lous paffages, with which even the beft no 
 vels abound, fhould be carefully pointed 
 out by a friend or governefs ; with their 
 exaggerations, improbabilities, and fre 
 quent deviations from nature. 
 
 There are indeed few books, which 
 delineate manners, whether in profe or 
 poetry, however well chofen, which have 
 not fome objectionable paffages in them. 
 In reading the fables of Efop, Mr. 
 Rouffeau well obferves, that the effect 
 
POLITE LITERATURE. 47 
 
 on the mind may frequently be totally dif 
 ferent from that defigned by the author ; 
 as in the fable where the fox flatters the 
 crow, and gains the piece of cheefe, the 
 moral was defigned to (hew the folly of at 
 tending to flatterers ; but may equajly be 
 fuppofed to applaud the cunning of the 
 fox or flatterer, who is rewarded. In the 
 popular narrative of Robinfcn Crufce a 
 childifh fuperftition concerning intima 
 tions of future events, fomewhat like the 
 fecond fight of the highlands of Scotland, 
 is frequently inculcated ; and the ufe of 
 rum or brandy is propofed as an infallible 
 cure in all maladies ; which however I am 
 told is correded in the new Robinfc-n 
 Crufce. 
 
 Pamela, and Jofeph Andrews, and Cia- 
 rifla Harlow, are recommended by Ma 
 dame de Genlis, and by Mrs. Macawley.- - 
 Madame de Genlis in a note in one of her 
 works gives her reafon for recommending 
 Richardfon's novels ; becaufe his heroines 
 
4 POLITE LITERATURE. 
 
 retain a more confiderable degree of com 
 mand over their affections than thole of 
 apparently lefs exceptionable romances. 
 In this refped a novel called " Plain 
 Senfe," lately publiftied by Lane, and 
 written by an ingenious Chefhire lady, 
 claims the preference to all others, and ap 
 pears tome to carry this idea to excefs. 
 
 The works of Richardfon are never- 
 thelefs not only too voluminous, and thence 
 would confume too much time, which 
 might be better employed in fchools; but 
 in thefe, and even in Mr. Pope's rape of 
 the lock, and his ELoifa to Abelard, many 
 objectionable paiTages of another kind may 
 be difcovered. If thefe paffages, from 
 which fo few books are totally exempt, 
 were expunged, it might raife curiofity, 
 and induce young people to examine dif 
 ferent copies of the fame work, and to 
 feek for other improper books thernfelves ; 
 it is therefore perhaps better, when 
 thefe books are read to a governefs, that 
 
POLITE LITERATURE. 49 
 
 (he Ihould exprefs difapprobation in a 
 plain and quiet way, of fuch paffages, ra 
 ther than to expunge them ; which would 
 give a feeling of diflike to the pupil, and 
 confirm her delicacy, rather than give im 
 purity to her ideas. 
 
 Much therefore depends on the con 
 duct of the governefs in this refped, fo 
 long as they are under the eye of a judi 
 cious monitor, no real harm could proba 
 bly arife from their feeing human nature 
 in all the clades of life, not only as it fliould 
 be, or as it may be imagined to be, but as 
 it really exifts, fince without comparifon 
 there can be no judgment, and confequent- 
 ly no real knowledge. 
 
 It muft neverthelefs be obferved, that 
 the exceffive ftudy of novels is univerfally 
 an ill employment at any time of life ; net 
 only becaufe fuch readers are liable to ac 
 quire a romantic tafte ; and to return from 
 the flowery fcenes of fiflion to the com- 
 E2 
 
50 POLITE LITERATURE. 
 
 mon duties of life with a degree of regret ; 
 but becaufe the high-wrought fcenes of 
 elegant diftrefs difplayed in novels have 
 been found to blunt the feelings of fuch 
 readers towards real objeds of mifery ; 
 which awaken only difgufh in their minds 
 inftead of fentiments of pity or benevo 
 lence. 
 
 4. The works of the poets, as well as 
 thofe of the writers of novels, require to 
 be felecled with great caution. The fame 
 may be faid of painting, fculpture, and 
 mulic; which by delighting the imagina 
 tion influence the judgment, and may 
 thence be employed either to good or bad 
 purpofes : But as poetry, when thus feled- 
 ed, like painting, fculpture, and muiic, its 
 rival lifters, is an objecl of refined tafte, 
 and affords an elegant amufernent at leaft, 
 ifc fo far belongs to the education of young 
 ladies. 
 
 Gay's fables, Thorn fonVfeafons, Gif- 
 borne's walk in a foreft, are proper for the 
 
POLITE LITERATURE. 5! 
 
 younger claffes of pupils; afterwards Pope's 
 Ethic epiftles, and eiiay on man, Gold- 
 fmith's poems, Akinfide, Mafon, Gray T 
 and others, which are enumerated in the 
 catalogue. 1 forbear to mention the Bo 
 tanic garden ; as fome ladies have intimat 
 ed to me, that the Loves of the plants are 
 defcribed in too glowing colours ; but as the 
 defcriptions are in general of female forms 
 in graceful attitudes, the objedion is lefs 
 forcible in refped to female readers.. And 
 befides the celebrated poets of our own 
 country, as Milton and Shakefpeare, tran- 
 flations from the antients, as from Homer 
 and Virgil; and from the more modern 
 poems of Taffo, andCamoens, may be read 
 with pleafure and improvement, tho' fome 
 objectionable paffages may perhaps be 
 found in all of them. 
 
 5. For the purpofe of forming a flyle 
 in writing, a few well-chofen books fhould 
 be read often over ; till the ear acquires, 
 as it were, the mufick of the fentences ; 
 
52 POLITE LITERATURE. 
 
 and the imagination is thus enabled to co 
 py it in our own compofitions ; fuch as 
 thofe papers of the Spectator, which are 
 afcribed to Addilbn, and are terminated 
 with a capital letter of the word Clio ; or 
 fome of Lady Wortley Montague's letters 
 from Turkey ; or other works of chafte, 
 diftind, and expreflive ftyle, not overload 
 ed with metaphors, which with fuperabun- 
 dance of ornament injure perfpicuity. 
 
 But for other purpofes of education it 
 is perhaps better to teach young people 
 ieled parts of many books, than a few en 
 tire ones ; not only becaufe the pupils 
 will thus be acquainted with more authors 
 in fafhionable literature ; but becaufe the 
 bufmefs of polite education is to give the 
 outlines of many fpecies of erudition, or 
 branches of knowledge ; which the young 
 ladies may cultivate further at their future 
 leifure without the affiftance of a teacher, 
 as may beft fuit their taftes or their fitua- 
 tions. 
 
POLITE LITERATURE. 53 
 
 I cannot conclude this fedion on po 
 lite learning without mentioning, that 
 fome illiterate men have condemned the 
 cultivation of the minds of the female fex, 
 and have called fuch in ridicule learned 
 ladies ; as if it was a reproach to render 
 themfelves agreeable and ufeful. Where 
 affectation is joined with learning, it be 
 comes pedantry, but this belongs oftener 
 to the ignorant than to the cultivated ; as is 
 fo well elucidated in u Letters to literary 
 ladies,'' a fmall duodecimo publHhed by 
 Johnfon, and written by one of the inge 
 nious family of E in Ireland. 
 
SECTION XV. 
 
 ARTS AND SCIENCES. 
 
 JOESIDES the acquifition of gram 
 mar, languages, and common arithmetic ; 
 and befides a knowledge of geography, ci 
 vil hiftory, and natural hiftory, there are 
 other fciences, an outline of which might 
 be taught to young ladies of the higher 
 clafles of the fchool, or of more inquiring 
 minds, before or after they leave fchool ; 
 which might not only afford them prefent 
 amufement, but might enable them at any 
 future time to profecute any of them fur 
 ther, if inclination and opportunity fliould 
 coincide ; and, by enlarging their fphere 
 of tafte and knowledge, would occafion them 
 to be interefled in the converfation of a 
 greater number and of more ingenious 
 men, and to intereit them by their own 
 converfation in return. 
 
 1 , An outline of Botany may be learnt 
 from Lee's introduction to botany, and 
 
AK-TS AND SCIENCES. 55 
 
 from the trauflacions of the works of Lin 
 naeus by a fociety at Lichfield ; to which 
 might be added Curtis's botanical maga 
 zine, which is a beautiful work, and of no 
 great expence. But there is a new treatife 
 introductory to botany called Botanic dia 
 logues for the ufe of fchools, well adapted 
 to this purpofe, written by M. E. Jacfon, 
 a lady well [killed in botany, and pnblifh- 
 ed by Johnfon, London. And laftly I 
 fhall not forbear to mention, that the philo- 
 fophical part of botany may be agreeably 
 learnt from the notes to the iecond volume 
 of the Botanic garden, whether the poetry 
 be read or riot. 
 
 2. An outline of Chemiflry, which 
 furprizes and enchants us, may be learnt 
 from the Elemems of chemiflry by La- 
 voifier, originally publifhed in French ; 
 to which may be added a fmall work of 
 Fourcroy called the philofophy of Chemif- 
 try. The former of thefe illuftrious che- 
 rnifts peiifiied by the guillotine, an irre 
 parable lofs to fcience and to mankind ! 
 
56 ARTS AND SCIENCES. 
 
 The acquirement of Chemiftry fhould 
 be preceded by a fkeich of Mineralogy ; 
 which is not only an interefting branch of 
 fcience, as it teaches the knowledge of dia 
 monds and precious {tones, and of the va 
 rious mines of metals, coals, and fait; but 
 becaufe it explains alfo the difference of 
 foils, and is thus concerned in the theory 
 and practice of agriculture : But there is 
 at prefent no proper introductory book, 
 that I know of, on this fubjecl for the ufe 
 of children ; as Cronftedi's and Bergman's, 
 and Kirwan's mineralogy are too exact and 
 prolix ; nor could be well underftood with 
 out a fmall collection of foflils. 
 
 ! 
 
 3. An outline of the fciences, to which 
 Mathematics have generally been applied, 
 as of aftronomy, mechanics, hydroilatics, 
 and optics, with the curious addition of 
 electricity and magnetifm,may bed be ac 
 quired by attending che lectures in experi 
 mental philofophy, which are occafion- 
 ally exhibited by itinerant philofophers ; 
 
ARTS AND SCIENCES. 57 
 
 and which have almoft exclusively acquir 
 ed the name of natural philofophy. 
 
 The books in common ufe for teaching 
 thefe fciences are too difficult and abftrufe 
 for the ftudy of young perfons. Some 
 parts of natural philofophy are rendered 
 not unentertaining in the notes of the fir ft 
 volume of the Botanic garden, as the the 
 ory of meteors, and of winds ; and an ac 
 count of the flrata of the earth ; which 
 neverthelefs require too much attention 
 for very young ladies ; but may be read 
 with pleafure after leaving fchool by thofe, 
 who poffefs inquiring minds. It is to be 
 wifhed that fome writer of juvenile books 
 would endeavour eafily to explain the 
 flructure and ufe of the barometer, and 
 thermometer, and of clocks and watches, 
 which fupply a part of the furniture of 
 our houfes, and of our pockets. 
 
 4, In the fame manner the various 
 arts and manufactories, which adorn and 
 F 
 
58 ARTS AND SCIENCES. 
 
 enrich this country, (hould occafionally be 
 (hewn and explained to young perfons, as 
 fo many ingenious parts of experimental 
 philofophy ; as well as from their imme 
 diately contributing to the convenience 
 of life, and to the wealth of the nations, 
 which have invented or eftablifhed them. 
 Of thefe are the cotton works on the river 
 Derwent in Derbyfhire ; the potteries in 
 Staffordfliire; the iron-founderies of Coal- 
 brooke Dale in Shropfhire ; the manufac 
 tories of Birmingham, Mancheiler, Not 
 tingham; but thefe are not in the province 
 of a boarding fchool, but might be advan- 
 tageoufly exhibited to young ladies by their 
 parents in the fummer vacations. 
 
 5. In this fedion of arts and fciences 
 it may be proper to mention the art of 
 producing a technical memory invented 
 by Mr. Gray ; which may be readily ac 
 quired by confulting his book, and may 
 perhaps be of advantage in remembering 
 dates or numbers ; as they are exprefled 
 
ARTS AND SCIENCES. 59 
 
 by letters, and formed into words. This 
 work 1 attended to in my youth, but found 
 it an arnufing trick, rather than an ufeful 
 art, 
 
 6. The art of writing Short-hand, 
 which is faid to be of Englifli invention, 
 fhould alfo be mentioned in this place. 
 The book I learned this art from was pub- 
 lifhed by Gurney, and faid to be an im 
 provement on Mafon ; other treatifes of 
 hort-hand I have alfo examined, but 
 found them all nearly of equal excellence. 
 I can only add, that many volumes, which 
 I wrote from medical ledures, I now find 
 difficult to decypher ; and that as the words 
 in fhort-hand are fpelt from their found 
 only ; thofe fcholars, who pradife this art 
 early in life, are liable not afterwards to 
 fpell our language corretftly ; and laftly, 
 that I believe, this art is flill capable of 
 improvement by firft forming a more ac 
 curate alphabet, than that in common ufe 
 among all European nations. 
 
60 ARTS AND SCIENCES. 
 
 7. This fecftion on aits and faiences 
 may perhaps be thought to include more 
 branches of them, than is neceffary for fe 
 male erudition. But as in male education 
 the tedious acquirement of antient lan 
 guages for the purpofe of iludying poetry 
 and oratory is gradually giving way to rhe 
 more ufeful cultivation of modern fciences, 
 it may be of advantage to ladies of the rif- 
 ing generation to acquire an outline of fi- 
 milar knowledge ; as they are in future life 
 to become companions; and one of the 
 greateft pleafures received in converfation 
 confifts in being reciprocally well under- 
 flood. Botany is already a fafhionable ftudy 
 for ladies; and chemiftry is ingenioufly re 
 commended to them in the Letters to lite 
 rary ladies. 
 
SECTION XVI. 
 
 MORALS. 
 
 JL HE criterion of moral duties has 
 been varioufly delivered by different wri 
 ters : Expediency, by which is meant 
 whatever increafes the fum of public hap- 
 pinefs, is by fome called the criterion of 
 virtue ; and whatever dimimfhes that fum 
 is termed vice. By others the happinefs 
 or mifery of the individual, if rightly un- 
 derftood, is faid to be the bond of moral 
 obligation. And laftly, by others the will 
 of God is faid to conftitute the fole crite 
 rion of virtue and vice. 
 
 But befides fyftematic books of morali 
 ty, which are generally too abfirufe for 
 young minds, morals may be divided into 
 five departments forthe greater convenien- 
 cy of the manner of inftruclion. 
 
02 MORALITY. 
 
 1. A fympathy with the pains and 
 pleafures of others, or compaflion. 
 
 2. A ftridl regard to veracity. 
 
 3. Prudence, juftice, chaftity. 
 
 4. Fortitude. 
 
 5. Temperance. 
 
SECTION XVIL 
 
 COMPASSION. 
 
 A SYMPATHY with the pains and 
 pleafures of others is the foundation of all 
 our focial virtues. tfc Do AS YOU WOULD BE 
 DONE BY," is a precept which defcended 
 from heaven. Whoever feels pain him- 
 felf, when he fees others affected with it, 
 will not only never be liable to give pain, 
 but will always be inclined to relieve it. 
 The lady, who poflfeffes this chriftian vir 
 tue of compaffion, cannot but be a good 
 daughter, a good wife, and a good mother, 
 that is, an amiable charader in every de 
 partment f life. 
 
 The manner of communicating this 
 benevolent fympathy to children confifts 
 in expreffing our own fympathy, when any 
 thing cruel prefents itfelf; as in the de- 
 ftrudion of an infed ; or when adions of 
 
64 COMPASSION. 
 
 crueky are related in books or in converfa- 
 tion. I once obferved a lady with appa 
 rent expreflions of fympathy fay to her lit 
 tle daughter, who was pulling off the legs 
 of a fly, " how fliould you like to have 
 " your arms and legs pulled off? would it 
 " not give you great pain? pray let it fly 
 " away out of the window :" which I doubt 
 not would make an indelible impreffion on 
 the child, and lay the foundation of an 
 amiable character* 
 
 This virtue of compaffion is a certain 
 foundation of benevolence ; and on that 
 account renders children good to their own 
 parents in the latter part of their lives, as 
 well as to all other people ; an important 
 circumftance to the happinefs of our latter 
 years ! Where cruelty or malevolence 
 refides in the bread, it is generally exercif- 
 ed mod by the child upon the aged parent, 
 with whom in civilized fociety he frequent 
 ly refides ; and who often lives fo long as 
 to ftand in his way to the pofTeffion of a 
 wifhed-for inheritance. 
 
COMPASSION. 65 
 
 This compaHion, or fyrnpathy with the 
 pains of others, ought alfo to extend to the 
 brute creation, as tar as our neceflities will 
 admit ; for we cannot exift long without 
 the deftrudion of other animal or vegetable 
 beings either in their nature or embryon 
 flate. Such is the condition of mortality, 
 that the firft law of nature is " eat, or be 
 eaten.'* Hence for the prefervation of 
 our exiftence we may be fuppofed to have 
 a natural right to kill thofe brute creatures, 
 which we want to eat, or which want to eat 
 us ; but to deftroy even infeds wantonly 
 thews an unreflecting mind, or a depraved 
 heart. 
 
 A ycung gentleman once allured me, 
 that he had lately fallen in love with a 
 young lady ; but, on their walking out one 
 evening in fummer, fhe took two or three 
 Heps out of her way on the gravel walk to 
 tread upon an in fed ; and that afterwards 
 whenever the idea of her came into his 
 mind, it was attended with this pidure of 
 
66 COMPASSION. 
 
 adive cruelty; till that of the lady ceafed 
 to be agreeable, and he relinquished his 
 delign of courtfhip. 
 
 Neverthelefs this fympathy, however 
 amiable and necefTary, may be carried to 
 an extreme, fo as to render miferable the 
 perfon, who poflefles it ; fince many piti 
 able objefls mutt be feen in our journey 
 through life, which we have not power to 
 relieve. This then furnifhes us with a 
 barrier or line, where to flop ; that is, we 
 fhould endeavour to render our little pu 
 pils alive to fympathize with all remedia- 
 ble evils; and at the fame time to arm 
 them with fortitude to bear the light of 
 fuch irremediable evils, as the accidents 
 of life muft frequently prefent before 
 their eyes. 
 
 There fhould alfo be a plan in fchcols 
 to promote the habit as well as the prin 
 ciple of benevolence; each young lady- 
 might occafionally contribute a fmall fum 
 
COMPASSION. 67 
 
 on feeing a needy naked child to purchafe 
 flannel or coarfe linen for clothes, which 
 they might learn to cut out, and to make 
 up themfelves; and thus the pradice of in- 
 duftry might be united with that of libe 
 rality. 
 
 Another flill more practical mode of 
 producing a habit of benevolence in chil 
 dren might be by inducing them to em 
 ploy fome leifure hours in little works of 
 tafte, as in making artificial flowers, purfes, 
 fringes, and bellowing thefe on poor peo 
 ple, in order that they might fell them for 
 their fupport. Mifs Hartley at Bath, the 
 daughter of the great medical philofopher 
 of that name, has lately exhibited an amia 
 ble example of this kind of philanthropy ; 
 (he has been long diflinguiihed by her ta 
 lents as an artift in painting ; and has late 
 ly diftributed her elegant performances 
 among the poor famiihed emigrants, who 
 refide in her neighbourhood ; who are thus 
 greatly affifted by the fale of her works. 
 
68 COMPASSION. 
 
 Another channel, in which this fym- 
 pathy fhould be taught to flow, is in the 
 obfervance of thofe attentions, which per 
 petually diffufe happinefs by promoting by 
 courtefy of behaviour the cheerfulnefs, or 
 forwarding by ready affiftance the interefts 
 of thofe, whether equals, inferiors, or fu- 
 periors ; with whom every one happens to 
 aiTociate or refide : which conftitutes the 
 effemial part of what is termed politenefs 
 of manners ; and univerfally indicates a 
 benevolent difpofition. 
 
SECTION XVIII. 
 
 VERACITY. 
 
 JT OR the purpofe of inculcating a 
 love of truth early in life the love of praife 
 fupplies the moft certain means. This 
 kind of honour has an honeft pride for it's 
 bafis : a ftory is related in one of the mo 
 dern volumes of the univerfal hiftory of 
 an inhabitant of Conftantinople, who was 
 brought to the fcaffoid for denying the 
 divine miffion of Mahomet ; and on hav 
 ing a pardon offered him, if he would 
 then declare his error, anfwered, that he 
 would not fpeak an untruth to favehis life. 
 And, I think, it is recorded, that one of 
 the fathers of the church ufed to affirm, 
 that he would not tell a lie, were he fure 
 to gain heaven by it. 
 
JO VERACITY. 
 
 I once heard an ingenious lady fay to 
 a company of her friends, that her daugh 
 ter, a young girl, who flood by with a 
 countenance flufhed with pleafure, never 
 told her a lie in her life : This happy ufe 
 of flattery was likely to produce a love for 
 veracity, which would never be deftroyed 
 by interefled motives. 
 
 The difgrace of telling a lie fliould be 
 painted in vivid colours, as totally de- 
 ftrudive of the character of a lady or gen 
 tleman, rendering them contemptible in 
 the eyes of the world ; And the inconve 
 nience of this deteflable habit of lying 
 fliould be explained from its preventing 
 their being believed, when they wifh it ; as 
 is exemplified in the fable of the fhepherd- 
 boy ; who called out "the wolf, the wolf," fo 
 often to alarm his neighbours, and thus to 
 amufe hinifelf, when no wolf was near ; 
 that when the real wolf attacked his flock, 
 he could by no vociferation prevail on any 
 
VERACITV. 71 
 
 one to come to his affiflance : Or like 
 the village-drunkard, who frequently a- 
 mufed himfelf with crying out ci fire," 
 along the ftreets on his return from the alc- 
 houfe in the night, to the great alarm of the 
 neighbourhood; till at length, when his 
 cottage was really in flames, his diftrefs 
 was not believed, and he could gain no 
 affiftance toextinguifh them. 
 
 This fincerity of character fhould be 
 confirmed by the example of the gover- 
 nefTes, who fhould themfelves pay the 
 moft exad and fcrupulous attention to truth ; 
 they ihould not exaggerate trifling errors 
 into reprehenfible faults; and, where re 
 proof is neceffary, fhould give it with kind- 
 nefs ; and fhould not only punctually ful 
 fil their own prornifes, tho' to their incon 
 venience, but exad the fame from their 
 pupils in return. 
 
 To thefe fhould be added the precepts 
 of religion, as foon as their minds are ca- 
 
7 2 
 
 VERACITY. 
 
 pable of receiving them, which uniformly 
 inculcate truth and probity in all our words 
 and actions. 
 
SECTION XIX. 
 
 PRUDENCE, JUSTICE, CHASTITY. 
 
 JL HE impreflions on the mind made 
 by recent examples placed, as it were, be 
 fore our eyes have fo much more durable 
 effects, than the more abftracted ideas de 
 livered in fyftems of moral philofophy ; 
 that I believe the moft efficacious method 
 of inculcating the virtue of prudence in 
 refpect to their own conduct is by telling 
 young people the ill confequences, which 
 have lately happened to others ; whofe per- 
 ions or names they are acquainted with :. 
 fo that a repetition, of the (lander of a 
 town, which always degrades the retailers,, 
 has fometimes its advantage as a leffon to- 
 the hearers.. 
 
 There is another kind of prudence,, 
 which it is neceffary to acquire in.fome de 
 
74 PRUDENCE, JUSTICE, CHASTITY. 
 
 gree, which arms the pofleffor againft the 
 ill defigns of others ; hence they fliould be 
 taught to beware of flatterers, gamefters t 
 drunkards, and of all ill-tempered perfons. 
 As this prudence is to be acquired by the 
 knowledge of mankind, fuch books as the 
 maxims of Rochfoucault, and others, might 
 be recommended ; but they give too gloo 
 my a pidure of human nature to be put in 
 to the hands of young ladies. 
 
 " Know yourfelf" is a celebrated in- 
 jundion, and may conftitute one depart 
 ment of Prudence, when any one under 
 takes fome great action, or great change in 
 the condition of life ; but " know other 
 people' 1 is equally necefiary in paffing along 
 this fublunary world, and may be inferted 
 with propriety as another maxim in the 
 code of prudence. The facility of know 
 ing others in the daily intercourfe of the 
 world is produced by the knowledge of 
 phyiiognomy, acquired at fchools in early 
 life ; while the paflions continue to be irn- 
 
PRUDENCE, JUSTICE, CHASTITY. 75 
 
 prefTed on the countenances of children ; 
 and which is never fo well acquired in pri 
 vate tuition ; and thus conftitutes one cf 
 the great advantages of fchool-education. 
 
 JUSTICE and CHASTITY, which are the 
 principal links, by which civilized fociety 
 is held together, are to be inculcated in 
 young minds by iirailar methods ; that is 
 by pointing out by examples the public 
 punifhment, or public difgrace, which cer 
 tainly accompanies the breach of either of 
 thefe important duties : and afterwards to 
 add the precepts of religion, when their 
 minds are capable of perceiving their force, 
 to co-operate with the effect of the laws 
 of fociety, and of the opinion of the wife 
 and virtuous. 
 
SECTION XX. 
 
 FORTITUDE. 
 
 IF female children are not treated 
 with tendernefs by a mother in their early 
 years of infancy, they are perhaps liable to 
 acquire a harfhnefs of character, and an ap 
 parent unfeelingnefs, which afterwards 
 renders them lefs amiable ; though it may 
 give them greater fortitude ; which fhoulcl 
 therefore be inculcated at their rather ma- 
 turer years., 
 
 Neither the robuft affailing courage, 
 which prompts to the performance of he 
 roic actions, nor the oftentatious patience, 
 which requires the flattery of the public 
 eye, for its fupport, belong to the female 
 character. But that ferene ilrength of 
 mind, which faces unavoidable danger 
 with open eyes, prepared to counterad or 
 
FORTITUDE. 77 
 
 to bear the neceffary evils of life, is equal-* 
 ly valuable as a male or female acquifition. 
 This is termed prefence of mind ; it de 
 pends on our judgme-nt of the real value 
 of things; and on our application of thofe 
 caufes, which contribute to turn difagreea- 
 ble circumftances to the bed advantage ; 
 and can therefore only be acquired by the 
 general cultivation of good fenfe and of 
 knowledge. 
 
 An occafional effufion of tears has been 
 thought an amiable weaknefs, and a mark 
 of delicacy of the fex. When tears are 
 ftied at the irremediable misfortunes of 
 others, it indicates an amiable fenfibility ; 
 but when young ladies indulge themfelves 
 in a promptitude of diffolving into incef- 
 fant tears at every trivial diftrefs of their 
 own, it (hews a kind of infantine debility 
 of mind, and conveys an idea of their being 
 unfit for the common duties of life ; and 
 fliould therefore be difcouraged by reafon- 
 ing on the kind and quantity of the evil, 
 
78 FORTITUDE. 
 
 which difturbs them ; and by reciting to 
 them the examples of fortitude exhibited 
 by others in difallers much more calamit 
 ous, of which there are examples in the 
 letters of LadyRufiel : And laftly by re 
 minding them of the confolations of reli 
 gion. 
 
 A flight appearance of timidity has 
 been efteemed another mark of delicacy 
 of the fex ; but timidity is the companion 
 of debility of mind rather than of delica 
 cy, and fhould not therefore be encoura 
 ged. In refpect to the exprefiions of fear 
 the violent cries and diftorted countenan 
 ces of force ladies in fituations of danger 
 exhibit them in no very amiable attitudes ; 
 while they incresfe the confufion, and 
 may be laid " to help the ftorm ;" but if 
 to thefe be added an affectation of fear 
 without cauie ; as when a young lady 
 fcreams through the whole gamut at the 
 light of a fpider, or a grafs-hopper ; the 
 fault becomes voluntary, and fhould be 
 
FORTITUDE. JQ 
 
 oppofed and conquered by the fhafts of 
 ridicule. 
 
 Impudence in common language has 
 been termed boldnefs ; and bafhfulnefs 
 has been afcribed to timidity ; but neither 
 of them with fufficient precifion ; as brave 
 men have been known to be bafhful, and 
 cowards impudent. Aflurance of counte 
 nance arifes from the pofifefTor of it rather 
 over-valuing his own abilities ; and impu 
 dence confifts in this affurance with a to 
 tal difregard of the opinions of others ; 
 but neither of them bear any analogy to 
 fortitude. On the other hand modefty 
 arifes from the pofTefTor of it rather under 
 valuing his own abilities ; and bafhfnlnefs 
 contifts in this rnodefty with great folici- 
 tude about the opinions of others ; but nei 
 ther of them are attended with perfonal 
 fear. So charming is the appearance of 
 this great fenfibility by adding a blufli to 
 the features of beauty, that no endeavours 
 fhould be ufed to extinguifh it early in 
 
80 FORTITUDE. 
 
 life. Nor fhould any means be contrived 
 to increafe it to excefs, as emban aliment 
 both of thought and adion, and even im 
 pediment of fpeech, is then liable to at 
 tend the great anxiety it occafions. 
 
SECTION XXI. 
 
 TEMPERANCE. 
 
 N C L U D E S the fubjugation of 
 ihe appetites and paffions to reafon and 
 prudence ; it conflils in our moderation 
 in the ufe of all thofe things, which con 
 tribute to the convenience, comfort, or en 
 joyment of life ; as of food, drefs, plea- 
 fures ; and in the retraining our licenti 
 ous paffions, as of anger, vanity, love, am 
 bition. The method to inflil this virtue 
 is by exhibiting the various inconvenien 
 ces, which attend unlimited indulgence ; 
 and thus to inculcate the golden rule of 
 <c nothing to excefs." 
 
 The example of the governefs will 
 have great effed in producing many of the 
 H 
 
82 TEMPERANCE. 
 
 virtues above mentioned in the minds of 
 her pupils. Juftice in the moft trivial 
 circumftance tnuft be carefully and exact 
 ly done between children in refpecft to 
 each other in their little difputes at play. 
 Moderation and felf-government ftiould al- 
 fo conftantly appear in the characters of 
 thofe, who are to teach thefe virtues to 
 -others. 
 
SECTION XXIL 
 
 RELIGION. 
 
 nn 
 
 JL HE precepts of religion are bed 
 taught by requiring the young pupils regu 
 larly to attend fuch places of divine worfhip 
 as their parents dired ; and by reading; on 
 Sundays felefl parts of the holy fcriptures, 
 and fome approved books of ferrnons ; as 
 thofe of Blair, and a few others ; and by 
 inculcating the reafonablenefs of daily 
 thankfgiving, and the duty of daily pray 
 er, to the great author of all good. 
 
 The divine morality delivered in the 
 new teftament fliould be repeatedly incul 
 cated to an infant audience, who cannot fo 
 well underftand the metaphyfical parts of 
 religion, fuch as the duty of doing to others 
 
.84 RELIGION. 
 
 as we would they fhould do unto us : to 
 love our neighbours as ourfelves : to for 
 give injuries, not to revenge them : and to 
 be kind even to our enemies. For this 
 purpofe the fermons of the old Whole du 
 ty of man are recommended ; one of which 
 might be read every Sunday evening. 
 
 Ladies of more mature years, or who 
 have finifhed their fchool-education, may 
 learn the neceffity and ufefulnefs of our ex 
 cellent religion from Baron Haller's letters 
 to his daughter, from Lady Pennington's 
 advice to her daughter, and laftly from Mr. 
 Gifborne's duties of the female fex : and 
 the defence of the truth of it may be learn 
 ed from Mr. Payley's evidences of chrifti- 
 anity ; but perhaps it is better for them 
 not to perplex their minds with many 
 works of religious controverfy. 
 
SECTION XXIII, 
 
 ADDRESS.. 
 
 JL HERE is a fafcinating manner in 
 theaddrefs of fome people, which almoft 
 inftantly conciliates the good will, and even 
 the confidence of their acquaintance. Ma- 
 chiavel in his hiftory of Caftruccio Caftri- 
 cani obferves; that his hero could affume 
 fuch opennefs of countenance ; that though 
 he was known to be a man pradifed in every 
 kind of fraud and treachery, yet in a few 
 minutes he gained the confidence of all, 
 whom he converfed with - r they went away 
 fatisfiedof his good will towards them, and 
 were betrayed to the.ir ruin.. 
 
 This enviable addrefs, which may be 
 
 ufed for good purpofes as well as for bad 
 
 ones, may be difficult to analize ; but may 
 
 poffibly confift fmiply in a countenance ani.- 
 
 II 2 
 
86 
 
 ADDRESS, 
 
 mated with pleafure at meeting and con- 
 verfing with our acquaintance ; and which 
 diffufes cheerfulnefs by pleafurable conta 
 gion into the bofoms of others ; and thus in- 
 terefts them in our behalf. It is not the 
 fmile of flattery, nor the fmile of felf-ap- 
 probation, nor the fmile of habit, nor of le 
 vity ; but it is fimply an expreffion of plea 
 fure, which feems to arife at the fight of our 
 acquaintance ; and which perfuades them, 
 that they poffefs our love, and for which 
 they barter their own in return. 
 
 However this conciliating manner may 
 have been ufed, as above related, for bad pur- 
 pofes ; it probably proceeded originally 
 from friendlinefs and opennefs of heart, 
 with cheerful benevolence ; and that in 
 thofe, who have in procefs of time become 
 bad characters, the appearance of thofe vir 
 tues has remained, after the reality of them 
 hasvanifhed. What then is the method, 
 by which this inchantment of countenance 
 can be taught ? certainly by inftilling cheer- 
 
ADDRESS. 87 
 
 fulnefs and benevolence into the minds of 
 young ladies early in. life, and at the fame 
 time an animation of countenance in ex- 
 preffing them ; and though this pleafurable 
 animation be at firft only copied, it will in 
 time have the appearance of being natural ; 
 and will contribute to produce by affocia- 
 tion the very cheerfulnefs and benevolence, 
 which it at fir/I only imitated. This is a 
 golden obfervation to thofe, who have the 
 care of young children.. 
 
 A very accomplished lady, who read 
 the manufcript of this work, wrote the fol 
 lowing with her pencil on the oppofite page ; 
 " nothing can be more juft and interefting 
 than the whole of this fe<5Uon ; yet however 
 defirable it may be to mend an unpleafant 
 abord^ might one not fufped, fmce Nature 
 has produced a diverfity of manner, that an 
 attempt to engraft this beautiful cheerful 
 nefs on a grave fet of features might produce 
 the worft of evil affectations? A natural fim- 
 plicity of manner, whether ferious or gay, 
 
88 
 
 ADDRESS. 
 
 will always pleafe ; and probably this amia 
 ble acldrefs may be rendered equally confid 
 ent with natural manners, whether ferious: 
 or gay ?" 
 
SECTION XXIV. 
 
 CONVERSATION. 
 
 EXT to the winning manners above' 
 defcribed, the art of pleafing in converfa- 
 tion feems to confift in two things ; one of 
 them to hear well ; and the other to fpeak 
 well. The perpetual appearance of attention, 
 and the varying expreffion of the countenance 
 of the hearer to the fentiments or paffions 
 of thefpeaker ; is a principal charm in con- 
 verfation; to be well heard and accurately 
 underftood encourages our companions to 
 proceed with pleafure, whatever may be 
 the topics of their difcourfe* 
 
 Thofe, who have been educated at 
 fchools, and have learnt the knowledge of 
 phyfiognomy from their playfellows in their 
 early years, underftand the pleafurable or 
 painful feelings of all with whom they con- 
 
9 CONVERSATION. 
 
 verfe, often even before their words are fi- 
 nifhed; and, by thus immediately conform 
 ing the expreffion of their own features to 
 the fenfations of the fpeaker, become the 
 interefting and animated companions a- 
 bove defcribed, which is feldom feen in 
 thofe educated in private families ; and 
 which, as before obferved, gives a pre 
 ference to fchool-education. 
 
 To fpeak agreeably in refpedt to 
 manner confifts in a voice clear, yet not 
 loud, foft, yet not plaintive ; with dif 
 tinft articulation, and with graceful atti 
 tudes rather than with graceful aftions; 
 as almoft every kind of geiliculatiori is 
 clifagreeable. In refpeft to the matter 
 it {hould be fuch as coincides with the 
 taftesor purfuits of thofe, to whom the 
 converfation is addrefled. From hence 
 it will appear, that both to hear well, 
 and to fpeak well, requires an extenfive 
 knowledge of things, as well as of the 
 taftes and purfuits of mankind ; and muft 
 
CONVERSATION. gl 
 
 therefore ultimately be the effect of a 
 good education in general, rather than a 
 particular article of it. 
 
 There are however faults to be a- 
 voided, and cautious to be obferved, in 
 the converfation of young ladies , which 
 fliould be pointed out to them by the go- 
 vernefs of a boarding fchool. Of thefe 
 I (hall mention firft, that whenever the 
 thirft of {liining in converfation feizes on 
 the heart, the vanity of the fpeaker be 
 comes apparent ; and we are difgufted 
 with the manner, whatever may be the 
 matter of the difcourfe. 
 
 Secondly, that it is always childifti, 
 and generally ridiculous, when young 
 people boaft of their follies, or when 
 they accufe themfelves of virtues; nei 
 ther of which they probably poflefs in 
 the degree, which they defcribe. A 
 young lady was heard to fay, " I am 
 frightened to death at the fight of a 
 
g2 CONVERSATION. 
 
 bird :" And another, that fhe was foin- 
 confiderate, as to give her money to the 
 poor naked children, whom (he faw in 
 the ftreetsiri winter. 
 
 : Thirdly, they fhould be apprized, 
 that there is danger in fpeaking ill even 
 of a bad perfon ; both becaufe they may 
 have been mifinformed, and becaufe 
 they (hould judge their neighbours with 
 charity. A friend of mine was once 
 afked by a young man, how he could 
 diitinguifh, whether the lady, whom he 
 meant to addieis, was good tempered ; 
 and gave this anfvver. " When any du 
 bious accufation is brought in converfa- 
 tion againfl an abfent perfon ; if fhe al 
 ways inclines to believe the word fide of 
 the queftion, (he is ill-tempered. 1 ' There 
 are fome nice diftinftions on this fubjeft 
 of good nature delivered in Lady Pen- 
 nington's advice to her daughters, which 
 are worth a young lady's attention. 
 
CONVERSATION. Q3 
 
 Fourthly, that it is dangerous for a 
 young lady to fpeak very highly in praife 
 even of a deferving man ; for if fhe ex 
 tols his aHons, (he will feem to give her- 
 felf the importance of a judge, and her 
 determinations will fometimes be called 
 inqueflion ; and to commend highly the 
 perfon of a man is in general eftimation 
 inconfiftent with the delicacy of the fex 
 at any age. 
 
 Fifthly, young ladies fhould be ad- 
 vifed not to accuftorn themfelves to the 
 ufeof ftrong afleverations, or of a kind 
 of petty oaths, fuch as " upon my ho 
 nour," in their coDverfation ; nor often 
 to appeal to others for the truth of what 
 they affirm; (nice all luch ftrong expref- 
 fions and appeals derogate fomewhat 
 from the character of the fpeaker ; as 
 they give an intimation, that fhe has not 
 been ufually believed on her fimple af- 
 fertion. 
 
 I 
 
94 CONVERSATION. 
 
 Sixthly, laughing vehemently aloud, 
 or tittering with fnort (liricks, in which 
 feme young ladies, who have left fchool, 
 indulge themfelvcs at cards or other a- 
 rnufernents, are reprehen{lh!e ; as their 
 dignity of character muft fuiTer by appear 
 ing too violently agitated at trivial circum- 
 fiances. 
 
 Seventhly, an uniform adherence to 
 fincerity in converfation is of the firfl. im 
 portance ; as without it our words are but 
 empty founds, and can no more intereft 
 our companions than the tinkling of a bell. 
 No artificial polifh of manners can com- 
 penfatefor the apparent want of this vir 
 tue, nor any acquirements of knowledge 
 for the reality of the want of it- Hence 
 though the excefs of blame or praife of the 
 actions of others may be imprudent or im 
 proper in the converfation of young la 
 dies; as mentioned in the third and fourth 
 articles of this fection ; yet in thefe, as in 
 all other kinds of converfation, their opini- 
 
CONVERSATION. 95 
 
 ons fhould be given with truth, if given 
 ar al^; but when th.j characters of others 
 are concerned, they fhouid be delivered 
 with diffidence and modefly. 
 
 LafUy, if at any time any improper dif- 
 courfe fhould be addreiTed to young ladies, 
 which has a tendency to indecency, im 
 morality, or irreligion, they fliould be 
 taught to exprefs a marked difapprobatien 
 both in words and countenance. So great 
 is the power of the fcfter fex in meliora 
 ting the charaders of men ; that, if fuch 
 was their uniform behaviour, I doubt 
 not, but that it would much contribute to 
 reform the morals of the age; an event de 
 voutly to be wilhed, and which would con 
 tribute much to their own happinefs. 
 
 To thefe might be added many other 
 obfervations from the writers on female 
 education concerning a due refpecl in 
 converfation to fuperiors, good temper to 
 
96 CONVERSATION. 
 
 equals, and condefcenlion to inferiors. 
 But as young ladies are not- expeded to 
 fpeak with the wifdom, or precifion of 
 philofophersjand as the carelefs cheerful- 
 nefs of their converfation, with fimplicity 
 of manner, and with the grace, eafe, and 
 vivacity natural to youth, fupplies it with 
 its principal charms; thefe ftiould be par 
 ticularly encouraged, as there are few ar 
 tificial accompliftiments, which couldcom- 
 penfate for the lofs of them. 
 
SECTION XXV. 
 
 EXERCISE. 
 
 r-nn 
 
 Ji HE acquirements of literature, and 
 of many arts, make the lives of young peo 
 ple too fedentary ; which impairs their 
 ftrength, makes their countenances pale 
 and bloated, and lays the foundation of 
 many difeaies; hence fome hours Ihouid 
 every day be appropriated to bodily exer- 
 ciies, and to relaxation of mind. 
 
 Such as tend to produce activity, and 
 to promote the growth of the perfon in rel- 
 pect to height, are preferred in the fchools 
 for young ladies tothofe, which render the 
 fyftem more robuft and mufcular. 
 
 Of thefe playing at ball, at fliuttlecock, 
 Twinging as they fit on a cord or cufliioii, 
 12 
 
98 EXERCISE. 
 
 and dancing, in the open air in fummer, 
 and within doors in winter, are to be pre 
 ferred. To thefe fome have recommend 
 ed an exercife of the arms by Twinging lead 
 en weights, which are called dumb bells ; 
 thefe fhould be very light, if the/ be ufed 
 at all, otherwife they load the fpine of the 
 back, and render the (boulders thick and 
 mufcular, and rather impede than forward 
 the perpendicular growth of the perfon. 
 The ringing of a real bell hung as is done 
 in churches, or the frequent drawing up 
 of a weight by a cord over a pulley, with a 
 fly-wheel. to prevent its too hafly defcent, 
 would be an exercife, which might be ufed 
 with great advantage by young people ; as 
 it both extends the fpine, and ftrengthens 
 the mufcles of the cheft and arms. 
 
 Many other kinds of exercife have been 
 recommended by authors : Madame Gen- 
 lis advifes weights to be carried on the 
 head, as milk-maids carry their milk-pails ; 
 
EXERCISE. gg 
 
 and even to add weights to the folesof the 
 fhoes of children to ftrengthen, as fhe fup- 
 pofes, the mufcles of locomotion in walk 
 ing or running. It is evident, that carry 
 ing weights on the head muft be injurious 
 to young people, efpecially when there is 
 a tendency to foftnefs of the bones; as it 
 may contribute to bend the fpine by their 
 preffure, and to impede the perpendicular 
 growth of the body; and the walking in 
 weighted fhoes may induce awkward gef- 
 tures without any adequate advantage. 
 
 There are other modes of exertion, 
 which, though graceful' in themfelves, are 
 not allowed to ladies by the fafliion of this 
 age and country ; as fkating on the ice in 
 winter, fwimming in fummer, funambula- 
 tion, or dancing on the ftreight rope : but 
 walking with a ftately meafured fiep occa- 
 fionally, like the march of foldiers, and 
 reading aloud frequently rather in a thea 
 tric manner, as well as dancing and fmging, 
 
loo 
 
 EXERCISE. 
 
 will much contribute to give flrength and 
 grace to the mufcles of locomotion, and of 
 vocality. 
 
SECTION XXVI. 
 
 AIR. 
 
 JL HE ftrength and activity of young 
 people not only depends on the perpetual 
 exercife of their limbs, as defcribed in the 
 preceding fedions, but on the purity of the 
 air, which they breathe, and even on the 
 occafional coldnefs of it. The cold air of 
 winter ads on delicate people like a cold 
 bath; as it diminifhes the adion of the fub- 
 cutaneous veffels for a time, and thus pro 
 duces an accumulation of animal power, 
 whence an increafed adion of thofe veffels 
 and a confequent warmth of the furface of 
 the body fucceeds ; and by this lefs expen 
 diture of animal power during immerfion 
 in cold air, and its confequent accumula 
 tion, ihe perfon becomes ftronger for a 
 time and more animated ; which is termed 
 
102 AIR. 
 
 in common language, ll bracing the fyf- 
 tern." Hence to ftrengtheu delicate chil 
 dren they fhould be encouraged to go into 
 the cold air of winter frequently, but (hould 
 not remain in it longer than a quarter or 
 half an hour at a time. In fummer young 
 people can fcarcely continue too much in 
 the air, where they are (haded from the 
 heat of the fun. 
 
 A conftant imrnsrfion in pure air is. 
 now known to contribute much both to 
 the health of the fyftem, and to the beau 
 tiful colour of the complexion. And this 
 atrnofphere {hould* undergo a perpetual 
 change and renovation ; that the vital air, 
 which conftitutes about one-fourth part of 
 it, may not be too much diminifhed by 
 frequent refpiration. D ue attention fhould 
 be given to this important -circumftance 
 both by frequently urging the young la 
 dies to am ale themfelves out of doors ; 
 and by the proper ventilation cf the 
 fchool-room, diiiing-room, bed-rooms, and 
 
AIR. 1O3 
 
 their other apartments. For this purpofe 
 It is convenient to faw off about one inch 
 from the top of every door of thefe crowd 
 ed rooms, and oppofite to this aperture to 
 nail along the top of the door a tin plate 
 about two inches wide, rifing at an angle 
 of about forty-five degrees; which will 
 bend the current of air up towards the ceil 
 ing ; where it will be mixed with the 
 warm air of the room, and fink down a- 
 mongft the fociety without the danger of 
 giving cold to any one : And, befides 
 thefe door-ventilators, the upper fairies of 
 every window fhould always be let down 
 a few inches, when the external weather 
 will admit of it. 
 
 In refpetfl to bed rooms, which have 
 more than one bed, the doors (hould be 
 furnifhed with firnilar ventilators for the 
 due admifficn of frefh air ; and during the 
 fummer-months a window fhculd be kept 
 a few inches open during the night as well 
 as the day ; the fafh of which fhould have 
 
AIR - 
 
 a bolt or other proper fattening for this 
 purpofe ; nor fhould the fire-place be 
 ilopt up at any feafon by a chimney- 
 board, or a bag of flraw ; as many rooms 
 are made to {hut up fo clofe, that this is 
 the only aperture, by which frefti air is 
 admitted. To this ftiould be added, that 
 the bed-curtains fhould never be drawn 
 clofe round the beds ; which confine the 
 air fpoiled by frequent, refpiration, and 
 the perfpirable matter, like a noxious at- 
 mofphere over the unconfcious fleepers. 
 At the fame time none of the beds ftiould 
 be placed very near either to an open win 
 dow, or to an open chimney, as a partial 
 current of air might be injurious by the 
 coldnefs it might occafion. 
 
 In crowded bed-rooms, where children 
 are clofe ftiut up for eight or nine hours 
 every night, not only the pale bloated 
 complexion, which is feen in children of 
 crowded manufactories ; but other difeafes 
 are produced by the impurity of the air, 
 
AIR. 105 
 
 iuch as indigeftion, difficulty of breath 
 ing, and fometimes convulfive fits, as 
 mentioned in Zoonomia, vol. II. clafs. iii- 
 1.1.5. an< ^ laftly putrid fevers ; of which 
 fatal inftances frequently occur in the 
 crowded habitations of the poor. Hence 
 parents cannot be too careful in infpeding 
 the bed-rooms, and the beds of the fchools, 
 to which they entruft their children ; as 
 not only their prefent comfort, but their 
 future health, and fometimes their lives 
 depend on this attention ; as is further 
 explained in the fedion on rheumatifm. 
 
 Befides the due ventilation of rooms 
 by a perpetual fupply of pure air in fum- 
 mer, fomething ftiould be here faid about 
 the manner of warming them in winter. 
 As the quantity of air carried up a chim 
 ney is very great, owing to its being ren 
 dered fo much lighter than the external 
 atmofphereby the heat of the fire, ftrong 
 currents of cold air prefs into the room at 
 every chink of the doors and windows 
 K 
 
Io6 AIR. 
 
 palling towards the fire ; and are liable to 
 give catarrh, iheumatifrn, kibed heels, and 
 {'welled fingers, to thole fcholars, who are 
 expofed to them. To leffen thefe cur 
 rents of cold air fetting in at every aper 
 ture, the chimney (hould be fo contracted 
 over the fire-grate, as to admit no more of 
 the warm air to go up it, than is neceffary 
 to carry up the fmoke ; and hence much 
 more of the warm air near the fire-place 
 will rife up to the cieling ; and defcend- 
 ing, as it becomes cooler, in the difiant 
 parts of the room, will form a kind of ver 
 tical eddy, and warm the whole apart 
 ment ; adding greatly to the heat produ 
 ced by the radiation from the fire. 
 
 To effed this Doctor Franklin recom 
 mended an iron or tin plate to flide under 
 the mantle-piece over the fire, fo as to con- 
 trad the aperture of the chimney to two or 
 three inches in width, all the length over 
 the fire-grate. And lately Count Rumford 
 has accomplifhed the fame purpofe by a 
 
AIR. 
 
 flat fione about twelve inches broad, and 
 eighteen inches high ; which is reared up 
 on one end at the back of the fire-place, a- 
 bout eight inches above the grate, and 
 leans forward towards the mantle piece, fo 
 as to leave an aperture, three or four inches 
 wide, and twelve or fourteen inches long, 
 over the front of the fire-place. The ufj 
 of both thefe contrivances is to contract 
 the mouth of the chimney, and thus to ad 
 mit no more warm air up it, than is necef- 
 fary to convey the fmoke. Ani the Hid 
 ing iron plate in Franklin's plan, and" the 
 end-reared ftone in Ramford's plan, are 
 deligned to be occasionally withdrawn for 
 the admittance of the chirrmey-fweeper. 
 Thefe are defcribcd in detail in the effays 
 of Dodor Franklin, and Count Rumfcrd ; 
 and it is believed, that one-third of the 
 fuel may be thus faved, and the rooms be 
 kept more equally warm, and more falu- 
 tary. 
 
SECTION XXVII. 
 
 CARE OF THE SHAPE. 
 
 JELICATE young ladies are very 
 liable to become awry at many board 
 ing fchools, this is occafioned principal 
 ly by their being obliged too long to pre- 
 ferve an eredt attitude, by fitting on 
 forms for many hours together. To 
 prevent this, the fchool-feats (hould ei 
 ther have backs, on which they may oc- 
 cafionally reft themfelves ; or defies be 
 fore them, on which they may occafion- 
 ally lean. This is a thing of greater con- 
 fequence, than may appear to thofe, 
 who have not attended to it; and who 
 wifli their children to acquire a very 
 ereft attitude. 
 
CARE OF THE SHAPE. log 
 
 When the leaft tendency to become 
 awry is obferved, they fliould be advif- 
 ed to lie down on a bed or fofa for an 
 hour in the middle of the day for many 
 months ; which generally prevents the 
 increafc of this deformity by taking off 
 for a time the preflure of the head and 
 neck and (boulders on the fpine of the 
 back ; and it at the fame time tends to 
 make them grow taller. 
 
 Young perfons, when nicely meafur- 
 ed, are found to be half an inch higher 
 in the morning than at night ; as is well 
 known to thole,, who inliil very young 
 men for fblcliers. This is owing to the 
 cartilages between the bonescf the back 
 becoming comprefleJ by the weight of 
 the head and ihoulders on them during 
 the clay. It is the fame prefilire, which 
 producer curvitures and distortions of 
 the fpine in growing children, where 
 the bones are lifter than ufual ; and 
 which may thus be relieved by an hori- 
 K2 
 
110 CARE OF THE SHAPE. 
 
 zontal pofture for an hour in the middle 
 of the day, or by being frequently allow 
 ed to lean on a chair, or to play on a 
 carpet on the ground* 
 
 Young ladies fliould alfo be d'rcted, 
 where two fleep in a bed, to change N 
 every night, or every week, their fides 
 of the bed ; which will prevent their 
 tendency to fleep always on the fame fide; 
 which is notonly liable to produce crook- 
 ednefs, but alfo to occafion difeafes by 
 the internal parts being fo long kept in 
 uniform contact as to grow together. 
 For the fame reafon they fliould not be 
 allowed to fit always on the fame fide 
 of the fire or window : becaufe they will 
 then be inclined too frequently to bend 
 towards one fide ; which in thofe confti- 
 tutions, where the bones are too foft, is 
 liable to produce crooked nefs of the 
 fpine. 
 
CARE OF THE SHAPE. Ill 
 
 Another great caufe of injury to the 
 lhape of young ladies is from the preC- 
 fure of flays, or other tight bandages ; 
 which at the fame time caufe other dif- 
 eafes by changing the form or fituation 
 of the internal parts. If a hard part of 
 the (lays, even a knot of the thread, with 
 which they are fewed together, is preiF- 
 ed upon one fide more than the other ; 
 the child bends from the fide, which is 
 uneafy, and thus occafions a curviture 
 of the fpine. To counteract this eifeft 
 fuch ftays, as have fewefl hard parts, and 
 efpecially fueh as can be daily or week 
 ly turned, are preferable to others. A 
 wife fafhion of wearing no (lift ftays, 
 which adds fo much to the beauty of 
 young ladies, has commenced fince the 
 above was written ; and long may it 
 continue ! 
 
 Where frequently lying down on a 
 fofa in the day time, and fwinging fre- 
 
112 CARET OF THE SHAPE. 
 
 quently for a fmall time by the head, with 
 loofe drefs, do not relieve a beginning dif- 
 tortion of the back, I have ufcd with fome 
 fuccefs a fwing for children to fleep in, as 
 defcribed in Zoonomia, vol. II. clafs. I 
 2. 2. 16. and alfo a crutch-chair, as there 
 delineated; and where thefe do not feemto 
 fucceed, recourfe may alfo be had to Monf. 
 Vacher's fpinal machine, firft defcribed in 
 the memoirs of the academy of Surgery 
 in Paris, vol. III. with a good print of it ; 
 and fince made by Mr. Jones in London, 
 at No. 6, North-ftreet, Tottenham-court 
 Road; which fufpends the head, and places. 
 the weight of it on the hips. 
 
 It will be from hence eafily perceived 
 that all other methods of confining or di- 
 re6ling the growth of young people fhould 
 be ufed with great (kill, fuch as back 
 boards, or bandages ; and that their appli 
 cation fhould not be continued too long at 
 a time ; leaft worfe confequences fhould 
 enfue, than the deformity they are defign- 
 
CARE OF THE SHAPE, 
 
 ed to remove. Of thefe the flocks for 
 the feet of children, for the purpofe of 
 making them turn their toes quite out, and 
 the frame for preffing in their knees, as they 
 ftand ere$, at the fame time, I fufped, 
 when carried to excefs, to be particularly 
 injurious, and to have caufed an irrecover 
 able lamenefs of hip-joint ; as explained 
 in Zoonomia, vol. II. clafs I. 2. 2. 17. 
 Thefe therefore fhould be ufed with pro 
 per caution, fo as to give no pain or un- 
 eafy feels, or not ufed at alL 
 
 To this it may be proper to add, that 
 the ftiff ered attitude, taught by fome mo 
 dern dancing mailers, does not contribute 
 to the grace of perfon, but rather militates 
 againft it; as is well feen in one of the 
 prints in Hogarth's analyiis of beauty ; arid 
 is exemplified by the eafy grace of fome 
 of the ancient ftatues, as of the Venus de 
 Medici, and the Antinous ; and in the 
 works of fome modern artifts, as in a beau 
 tiful print of Hebe feeding an eagle, 
 
114 CARE OF THE SHAPE. 
 
 paineed by Hamilton, and engraved by 
 Eginton ; and many of the figures of An 
 gelica Kauffman. And laftly, which is fo 
 eminently feen in many of the beauties of 
 the prefent day, fince they 'have left off 
 the conftraint of whale-bone flays, and af- 
 fumed the graceful drefs of the ancient 
 Grecian ftatues, 
 
 In the tendency to curviture of the 
 fpine whatever ftrengthens the general 
 conftitution is of fervice, as the ufe of the 
 cold bath in the fummer months. This 
 however requires fome reftriction both in 
 refpefl to the degree of coldnefs of the 
 bath, the time of continuing in it, and the 
 feafon of the year. Common fprings, 
 which are of 48 degrees of heat, are too 
 cold for tender conftitutions, whether of 
 children or adults; and frequently do 
 them great and irreparable injury, as I have 
 vvitnefled in three or four cafes. The 
 coldnefs of river water in the fummer 
 
CARE OF THE SHAPE. 1 15 
 
 months, which is about 65 degrees, or that 
 of Matlock, which is about 68, or of Bux- 
 ton, which is 82, are much to be prefer 
 red : The two latter are improperly called 
 warm baths, comparing their degree of 
 heat with that of common fprings ; where 
 as they are in reality cold baths, being of 
 much lower degree of heat than that of the 
 human body, which is 98. The time of 
 continuing in a cold bath fhould be but a 
 few minutes ; certainly not fo long as to 
 occafion a trembling of the limbs from 
 cold. In refpecl to the feafon of the year, 
 delicate children fhould certainly only ufe 
 cold bathings in the fummer months ; as 
 the going frequently into the cold air in 
 winter will anfwer all the purpofes of the 
 cold bath. 
 
 Other means of counteracting the de 
 bility of the fyftem, or foftnefs of bones, 
 which occafion crooked nefs, confift in tak 
 ing internally from lo to 2o grains of ex- 
 trad of bark, with as much foda phofpho- 
 
Il6 CARE OF THE SHAPE. 
 
 rata, and mixed with from five to ten drops 
 -of tindure of opium, twice a day for three 
 or four weeks ; as is further treated of in 
 Zooriotnia, vol. II. clafs I. 2. 2. 14. 
 and 16. 
 
SECTION XXVIII. 
 
 DRESS* 
 
 YOUNG Ladies fhould be inftrufl- 
 ed to fhew attention to their drefs, as it 
 gives an idea of cleanlinefs of their per- 
 fons ; which has ib great a charm, that it 
 may be reckoned amongft the inferior vir 
 tues ; for this purpofe an elegant limplici- 
 ty of drefs is to be recommended in pre 
 ference to that fuperabundance of orna 
 ment, where the lady herfelf is the leaft 
 part of her. The form cf drefs muftne- 
 verthelefs perpetually vary with the fafhion 
 cf the time ; but a perfon of tafte may 
 leflen thofe parts of a fafhionabie drefs, 
 which oppofe beauty or grace ; and bring 
 forwards thofe, which are more coincident 
 with them ; fo as to wear a drefs in fafhion, 
 and yet not devoid of tafte. 
 L 
 
Il8 DRESS. 
 
 Thus when large hoops were in gene 
 ral ufe, which fo totally militate with all 
 ideas of beauty and grace ; ladies of tafte 
 wore them as fmall, as cuftom would al 
 low. So in refped to the ear-rings of the 
 prefent day; fince piercing the tender 
 part of the ear for the purpofe of fufpend- 
 ing a weight of gold, or of precious ftones, 
 or of glafs beads to it, reminds us of the 
 favage ftate of mankind ; thofe ladies of 
 tafte, who think themfelves obliged to com 
 ply with this indecorous fafhion, ufe the 
 lighted materials, as a chain of fmall pearls, 
 to give a lefs diftreffing idea of the pain, 
 they feem to fuffer at every motion of 
 their heads. Hence alfo long pendant 
 and complicated ear-rings, however they 
 may add to the d ignity of riper years by their 
 coftlinefs, are unbecoming to young ladies ; 
 as they feem to give pain in the quicker, 
 tho' more graceful, motions of juvenility. 
 
 Sir Tofhua Reynolds, I think, obferves 
 in one of his addrefles to the academy. 
 
DRESS. 119 
 
 that hard curls of hair ftiffened with the 
 fat of hogs, and covered with the tlower of 
 wheat, cannot be admitted into pidure. 
 The fame may be obferved of that coat of 
 mail, the whale-bone flays, the ufe of 
 which is now fo happily difcontinued. 
 Both of thefe, however they may conceal 
 the grey hairs and waining figures of thofe, 
 who are advanced in life, are highly inju 
 rious to the flowing locks and graceful 
 forms of young ladies. 
 
 As beauty confifts of lines flowing in 
 eafy curves according to the analyfis of 
 Hogarth; thofe parts of drefs, which are 
 compofed of fuch lines, are always agreea 
 ble. Thus a fafli defcending from one 
 ftioulder to the oppofite hip, or a grecian 
 veil thrown back and winding carelefsly 
 down behind, are always beautiful ; but a 
 few white oftrich feathers riling on the 
 head before, and a train of filk fweeping 
 on the ground behind, add fo much grace 
 to a moving female figure, as to attrad all 
 eyes with unceafing admiration. 
 
1Q.O DRESS. 
 
 In moving forwards the hair falls back, 
 and in very fwift motion floats upon the 
 air behind ; hence by aflbciation of ideas, 
 when the hair is made to retire from the 
 cheeks, it gives an intimation of the youth 
 ful agility of the perfon ; and when it is 
 brought forwards over the cheeks, it may 
 confent with unmoving dignity, like the 
 full wig of a judge, but diminifhes our idea 
 of the adivity of playful youth. 
 
 Where the appearance of ufe in drefs 
 Can be given to ornaments, it fuggefts an 
 excufe for wearing them, and is therefore 
 to be preferred; as diamond pins, firings 
 of pearl, and a comb of fliell, to reftrain 
 the exuberant hair ; or knots of ribbons to 
 fix the flipper on the foot, to contract the 
 lleeve around the arm, to unite the veil up 
 on the bofom, or to attach the cap above 
 the forehead. And when thefe are fimilar 
 in colour, it gives an air of fimplicity, and 
 a kind of pyramidal form to the drefs ; 
 which the painters fo much endeavour to 
 
DRESS. 121 
 
 exhibit both in their landicapes, and their 
 groups of figures. 
 
 Other ornaments, which bear no analo 
 gy to ufe in drefs, ftiould be fparingly 
 worn; left they give an idea, that they 
 were defigned to difplay the pride of the 
 poffeffor, rather than to decorate her per- 
 fon. Thefe are fometimes feen fo ill 
 placed as to make deformities confpicuous, 
 as a number of rings on fingers diftorted 
 with the gout, orfplendid buckles.on turn- 
 ed-in feet. Where there is no appear 
 ance of ufe, all fliining ornaments fliould 
 be fo difpofed as to dired the eye of the be 
 holder to fome beautiful feature of the la 
 dy, who wears them ; as diamond liars in 
 the hair, and artificial flowers on the 
 bofom. 
 
 Paint and perfumes are totally inadmif- 
 
 fible in the drefs of young ladies, as they 
 
 give a fufpicion of natural defeds in ref- 
 
 peft to colour of the (kin,., and odour. 
 
 L* 
 
122 DRESS. 
 
 of the breath. Where there exifls but 
 a mediocrity of beauty, and youth is 
 in the wain, a variety of pretty or of 
 coftly ornaments on the drefs, and even 
 the whitenefs of powder in the hair, may 
 fometimes mingle with our idea of the per- 
 fon, and feem to render the whole fairer, 
 more pleafing, or more refpeciable. But 
 ornaments of every kind are ufelefs or in 
 jurious to youthful beauty ; they add no 
 power to the charm, but rather difenchant 
 the beholder by abftraciing his attention ;. 
 which dwells with undiminifhed rapture 
 on beauty arrayed by fimplicity, and ani 
 mated without affectation. Thus the ma- 
 j'eftic juno of Homer is arrayed in variety 
 of ornament, and with ear-rings, which 
 have three large pendant bobs to each, and 
 commands nniverfal homage. But his 
 Queen of Beauty is dreffed with more fim- 
 ple elegance, in her magic fafh, or ceftus, 
 and charms all eyes.. 
 
 The attention to tafte in drefs may ne- 
 verthelefs be carried into an extreme ; it 
 
DR.E3S. I-2-? 
 
 ihould not feem to be the mcft important 
 part of the education of a young lady ; cr 
 the principal objed of her care ; (he ftiould 
 rather appear to follow than to lead the fa- 
 ftiion, according to the lines of Mr. Pope. 
 
 Be not the firft, on which the-new are tried, 
 Nor yet the lad to lay the old afide. 
 
SECTION XXIX. 
 
 AMUSEMENTS 
 
 generally diftinguiflied from 
 exercife, as they relieve or exhilerate the 
 mind; Cards may be occafionally ufed by 
 children in private families, without their 
 gaming for money ; and will in general fa 
 cilitate their acquirement of arithmetic ; 
 but cannot be* allowed in fchools, left the 
 young ladies fhotild expend too much time 
 upon them, or fhould play for money clan- 
 deftinely. But the game of chefs, from its 
 bearing fo great analogy to common life, is 
 fuppofed much to improve the moft ufeful 
 powers of the mind : It has the experience 
 of the rernoteft antiquity to recommend it, 
 occafions no depraved paffions, as it is not 
 played for money; and by the caution per 
 petually neceflary to watch your adverfary, 
 
AMUSEMENTS. 
 
 and the judgment required to contrive, ar 
 range, and manage your own affairs, em 
 ploys and ftrengthens every part of the 
 underftanding. 
 
 Embroidery, drawing, mufic, as well 
 as the exercifes of dancing, Twinging, play 
 ing at ball, and fliuttlecock, fliould be 
 claffed amongH the amufemems of young 
 ladies ; and (hould be reciprocally ap 
 plied to, either in the houfe or in the 
 open air, for the purpofe of relieving each 
 other ; and of producing by fucb means an 
 uninterrupted cheerfulnefscf mind ; which 
 is the principal charm, that fits us for fo- 
 ciety, and the great fource of earthly hap- 
 pinefs. 
 
SECTION XXX. 
 
 PUNISHMENTS. REWARDS. MOTIVES. 
 
 AT is the cuftom of many fchools to 
 life fome kinds of punifhments, which 
 either give pain or difgrace to the delin 
 quent, as a fool's cap, or a meal of water 
 gruel. The ufe of thefe are feldom if 
 ever neceffary in fchools for young ladies, 
 and are always attended with difagreeable 
 confequences, as they either diminifh the 
 character of honour in the punifhed per- 
 fons, link their fpirits, or render them in- 
 fenfible to the opinions of others ; or in 
 jure their health : Infomuch that at fome 
 fchools all that can be acquired can fcarce- 
 ly compenfate the lofs of cheerfulnefs, and 
 degradation of mind, or bad health, which 
 their puniftiments produce. 
 
PUNISHMENTS. REWARDS. MOTIVES. 
 
 Thus the fitting in the public fchool 
 for an hour in a cap with bells diminifhes 
 the fenfibility of a child to the opinions of 
 her companions^ and thus gradually de- 
 ftroys one of the greateft motives to good 
 aftions, and of the greateft reftraints from 
 bad ones. For the fame reafon 'repri 
 mands and even admonitions fliould be al 
 ways applied in private, but applaufe or re 
 ward in public. 
 
 A meal of water gruel, given as a pu- 
 nifhment inftead of a meal of animal food, 
 fo frequently had recourfe to in fome 
 boarding fchools, I believe to have laid 
 the foundation of incurable debility. The 
 difeafes of debility, as fcrophula, bronch- 
 ocele, foftnefs of bones, and the confe- 
 quent diftortion of them, are very com 
 mon among the children of the-poor in 
 Derby, which on examination, I believe 
 to be owing to their food confuting chiefly 
 of gruel ; or fometimes with milk, which 
 has been twice flurmned, fo that it is total- 
 
I 28 PUNISHMENTS. REWARDS. MOTIVES. 
 
 ly deprived of its moft nourifhing part ; at 
 other times with weak fait broth, but fel- 
 dom with folid animal food. When broth 
 is weak in refped to the quantity of flefh- 
 meat boiled in it, it is the ctiftom of cooks 
 to add much fait to it to increafe the relifh 7 
 which renders it ftill more injurious to 
 weak children ; as fait contains no nou- 
 rifhrnent, and by its ftimulus increafes the 
 action of the fyftem ; and by promoting 
 great infenfible or fenfible perfpiration di- 
 miniflies the ftrength of the child more, 
 than the fmall quantity of meat diffolved 
 in the broth can counteibalance. 
 
 2. How then are refradory children 
 to be governed ? certainly by the fuperi- 
 ority of the mind of the teacher over that 
 of the pupil. When a famous lady in 
 Italy was put to the torture, and queftion- 
 ed by what forcery (lie had governed a 
 princefs of the family of Medici ; flie an- 
 fwered ct by no forcery, but by that power, 
 which fuperior minds poflefs over inferi 
 or ones." 
 
PUNISHMENTS. REWARDS. MOTIVES. 
 
 3. Befides the two circumftances, 
 which fo much govern the great world, I 
 mean hope of reward and fear of punifli- 
 ment ; in the microfcofm of a boarding 
 fchool blame and praife, if given very 
 fparingly, will be found ftrong motives to 
 the little pupils to perform their tafks well, 
 and of more efficacy ten times, than the 
 meal of water gruel, or the difgrace of a 
 cap and bells. Efleem and difgrace are 
 obferved by Mr, Locke to be of all others 
 the rnoft powerful incentives to the mind, 
 when once it is brought to regard them : 
 And if once you can communicate to chil 
 dren a love of credit, and an apprehenfion 
 of fliame, you have inftilled into them a 
 principle, which will conftantly ad, and 
 incline them to do right, tho' it is not the 
 true fource from whence our atftions ought 
 to fpring ; which ftiould be from our duty 
 to others and to ourfelves. See Effay on 
 education, feel. 56, &c. where are zaiany 
 other valuable obfervations on this fubjecfi. 
 
 M 
 
PUNISHMENTS. REWARDS. MOTIVES, 
 
 4. Emulation at feeing others excel, 
 if properly managed is another incitement 
 to indufhy. But as this is liable to de 
 generate into envy, it iliould rather be left 
 to its own operation, than be promoted 
 by pointing out the examples, which (hould 
 be copied. It is better to fay, " your taik 
 is not done to-day fo well asyoufometimes 
 do it," than to fay, " your tafk is not done 
 fo well as your fitter's." Since in the lat 
 ter cafe envy v andits coniequence hatred, 
 may fucceed ; a thing of tenfold worfe 
 confequence than the negledl of a thoufand 
 talks. 
 
 5. Tho' fome degree of flattery may 
 be ufed. with fuccefs in teaching veracity 
 to very young children, as mentioned in 
 fetfL 18. of this work, yet I think it {hould 
 be ufed very rarely indeed, and only on 
 very important occafions, left it {hould 
 become a neceffary motive of a&ion, inftead 
 of moral duty ; as obferved in Zoonornia, 
 vol. II. clafs iii. 2. i. 8. " The debi- 
 
PUNISHMENTS. REWARDS. MOTIVES. 13! 
 
 lity of the exertion of voluntary eiforts 
 prevents the accomplifhment of all the 
 great purpcfesof life. This often origi- 
 n?\tes from a miftaken education ; in 
 which pleafure or vanity is made the 
 immediate motive of action, and not fu 
 ture advantage, or what is termed duty. 
 This obfervation is of great value to 
 thofe, who attend to the early education 
 of their own children." 
 
 " I have feen one or two young mar 
 ried ladies of fortune, who perpetually 
 became uneafy, and believed themfelves 
 ill, a week after their arrival in the coun 
 try ; and continued fo uniformly during 
 their itay ; yet on their return to Lon 
 don or to Bath immediately loft all their 
 complaints ; and this I obferved to hap 
 pen to them repeatedly. All which I 
 was led to afcribe to their being in their 
 infancy furrounded with menial attend 
 ants, who had flattered them into the 
 exertions, which they then ufed. And 
 
132 PUNISHMENTS. REWARDS. MOTIVES. 
 
 that in their mature years they became 
 torpid for the want of this ftimulus, and 
 could not amufe themfelvcs by any vol 
 untary employment, but required ever 
 after to be flattered into aftivity ; or to 
 be amufed by others/' 
 
 6. Rewards have been given to 
 children to excite their indnflry in the 
 performance of particular tafks ; thefe 
 are certainly lefs eligible motives to action 
 than the fear of difgrace, the love of re 
 putation, and above all the obligations 
 cf duty. Where neverthelefs thefe are 
 thought proper, the kind of rewards re 
 quires feme attention ; which ftiould 
 confift of books, or maps, or boxes of 
 colours, or needle cafes : but not erf mo 
 ney, or of trinkets for ornamental drefs, 
 or of a glafs of wine. Where money is 
 given as a reward for indnftry in chil 
 dren, it may feem to them to be the pro 
 per motive of their actions inftead of re 
 putation or of duty 5- and may thus in- 
 
PUNISHMENTS. REWARDS. MOTIVES. 133 
 
 cluce the vice of avarice or of extrava 
 gance. Where a fine cap or gown is 
 given as a reward of diligence, the pride 
 of drefs may be produced, and become 
 their great motive of action, infiead of 
 the love of reputation, or of duty. And 
 laftly r where a glafs of wine is given as a 
 reward for induftry, a child is taught to 
 believe wine to be a mod valuable ac- 
 quifition, and a perpetual defire of it 
 even to intoxication may be the con- 
 fequence, I remember a wealthy farm 
 er, who had two drunken ions, tho 7 he 
 wa^ a fober man himfelf, who told me, 
 that he afcribed this great misfortune 
 to his having-occafionally given them in 
 their early life a cup of a!e as a reward 
 for their exertions, See Locke on edu 
 cation, feft, 52, Sec. 
 
 j. A very accurate obferver, who 
 has long had the conduct of fchools of 
 various kinds for the inftrution of the 
 youth of both fexes, acquaints me, "That. 
 
 Ma 
 
134 PUNISHMENTS. REWARDS. MOTIVES- 
 
 he has often with extreme furprize ob- 
 ferved a child make a greater progrefs 
 in fome one branch of education in three 
 months, than another of fimilar age, oppor 
 tunity, capacity, and even apparently of 
 equal application, has been able to effe6l 
 in three years." The fame observation 
 has been made by others, but he adds, 
 " That this might probably arife from 
 fome trivial circumflance, which deter 
 mined the inclination of the fortunate flu- 
 dent ; and that it is poilible, that the means 
 may fometime be difcovered of governing 
 thefe incident?, and thus producing a new 
 era in the art of education !." 
 
 Similar to this it has often been obferv- 
 ed, that the firft impreffions made on our 
 infant minds by accidental difguft, admi 
 ration, or flattery, are the frequent caufes 
 of our antipathies or averfions, and con 
 tinue through life to* bias our aifedions or 
 miflead our judgments. One of my ac 
 quaintance can trace the origin of many 
 of his own energies of aftion from fome 
 
PUNISHMENTS. REWARDS. MOTIVES. 135 
 
 fuch remote fources ; which juftifies the 
 obfervation of M. RouiTeau, that the feeds 
 of future virtues or vices are oftener fowa 
 by the mother than by the tutor- 
 
SECTION XXXI. 
 
 LISPING. 
 
 JLlSPING is a defect of pronuncia 
 tion occafioned by children's making ufe 
 of the found of the letter TH fibilant in- 
 ftead of the letter S ; as inftead of u is it 
 fo," they fay " ith it tho." To break this 
 habit they mud be taught to pronounce the 
 S, by putting the point of the tongue 
 againft the roots of the upper teeth ; and 
 not to put it between their teeth as in pro 
 nouncing the TH. This is eafily accom- 
 plifhed by putting their own finger againft 
 the point of the tongue, as it comes be 
 tween their teeth, in attempting to pro 
 nounce the letter S, and pufhing it back 
 into the mouth. 
 
 I once faw a young lady, who after (lie 
 had left fchool, had the habit of ufmg oc- 
 
LISPING. 137 
 
 cafionally, tho' not conftantly, the gutteral 
 CH infread of the letter S, which was un 
 commonly difagreeahle to Englifh ears. 
 She corrected this ill habit by being taught, 
 as above, how to place the tongue in pro 
 nouncing the S, but not without many 
 trials and much attention for fome weeks ; 
 as great efforts and pertinacious induflry 
 are required to break any habit, which has 
 been longeftablifhed. 
 
 Many children from the difficulty of 
 fpeaking it are liable to a defective pronun 
 ciation of the letter R; this is indeed al- 
 moft general in fome parts of Northumber 
 land, and is faid to be a found unknown 
 in China ; which obliged the catholic mif- 
 fionaries fent thither by Louis the 14th to 
 change the name of the virgin Mary, from 
 Maria into Malia, or from Mary into Mal- 
 ly. In fpeaking the letter R the middle of 
 the tongue is made to vibrate with femivo- 
 cal air ; whereas in pronouncing L, the 
 edges of the tongue only vibrate ; the 
 
138 LISPING. 
 
 Northumberland vernacular R is formed 
 with fibilant air initead of femivocal air, 
 or differs from the true R, as Sj differs from 
 Z. Both which fhould be explained to 
 thofe children, who have this imperfect 
 pronunciation. 
 
 Among the lower orders of the people 
 of London, who are called Cockneys, the 
 letter W is pronounced fibilant like the 
 German W, and not femivocal like our 
 vernacular one; this feems to refemble the 
 found of V to inattentive ears ; and thefe 
 Cockneys, are thence fuppofed to ufe V 
 infleadof W, as Vomen and Vine, inftead 
 of Women and Wine. This defed is rea 
 dily conquered by teaching fuch children 
 to give more vocal found to their W, by 
 founding it at fir ft like OO. 
 
SECTION XXXIL 
 
 STAMMERING. 
 
 JL HIS impediment of fpeech has ge 
 nerally for its remote caufe a too great dif 
 fidence, or baflifulnefs, joined with an am- 
 bitionof Chining in converfation ; andforits 
 immediate caufe an interruption of the affo- 
 ciationof the initial letter of a word with the 
 remainder of it. Which affociation is dif- 
 fevered by the ill-introduced fenfation of 
 awe, bafhfulnefs, defire of fliining, or fear 
 of not fucceeding ; and then violent vo 
 luntary efforts are in vain employed to re 
 join the broken affociation, and give rife 
 to various diftortions of countenance, as 
 explained in Zoonomia, vol. II. clafs iv. 
 2. 3. 1. 
 
 That this impediment of pronuncia 
 tion is altogether a difeafe of the mind, and 
 
14 , STAMMERING. 
 
 not of the organs of fpeech, is {hewn by 
 the Hammerer being able to fpeak all words 
 with perfed facility, when alone, as in re 
 peating a play ; but begins to hefitate, if 
 any one approaches ; or even if he ima 
 gines, that he is liftened to. Thofe words 
 alfo are moil difficult to him to pronounce, 
 which he is confcious, he cannot change 
 for ethers, as when he is aiked his own 
 name, or the names of orher perfons, or of 
 places ; and the more fo if he is aware, 
 that the hearer is impatient to be inform 
 ed, and that he cannot conjevfiure the 
 name, before it is fpoken. 
 
 It requires great attention, and much 
 time to overcome this bad habit ; they 
 ihould be daily exercifed in fpeaking fin- 
 gle words as in fpelling ; and when they 
 hefitate or find difficulty in announcing 
 the beginning of a word, they ftiould re 
 peat it frequently aloud without the initial 
 letter, and at length repeat it with the ini 
 tial letter in a fofter tone. 
 
STAMMERING. 
 
 Suppofe the ftammerer finds difficulty 
 in fpeakingthe word " Paper," and fays p, 
 p, p, p, repeatedly, but cannot join the a 
 after it. He muft be taught to pronounce 
 aper, aper, aper, without the initial p, for 
 many fucceffive times ; and this aper ftiould 
 be fpoken aloud with more breath than 
 common, as if an h preceded it; and at 
 length he fhould add in a fofter tone the 
 letter p to it. 
 
 This, together with an hourly atten 
 tion to fpeaking and reading flowly, and 
 practifing in this manner every word, 
 which is not readily fpoken, both in pri 
 vate and in company, I am informed is the 
 principle, on which thofe matters cure 
 this impediment, who make it a profeffion; 
 and to this (hould be added a frequent in 
 troduction to the fociety of ftrangers, in 
 order to acquire lefs agitation or anxiety 
 about the opinions of others. 
 
 N 
 
SECTION XXXIII. 
 
 SQUINTING. 
 
 JL HIS defed of vifion, which is term 
 ed ftrabifmns, may frequently be con 
 quered in children, if it be attended to 
 early, before it has been long efiablifhed 
 by habit. In this deformity it generally 
 happen?, that one eye is better than the 
 other, which induces the child to view ob 
 jects with the beft eye, and to hide the 
 center of the nofe. This greater irritabi 
 lity of one eye is often occaiioned, I fuf- 
 ped, in infancy, by tying a bandage for 
 too long a time over an eye, which has 
 happened to be (lightly inflamed, and 
 thus decreafing its power of adion by dif- 
 ufe ; in the fame mannei: the large mufcles 
 of the body become weakened by long in- 
 adion ; and the right arm is generally 
 
SQUINTING. 143 
 
 ftronger than the left from its having been 
 more frequently exercifed. 
 
 In this cafe if the bed eye be for on 
 hour or two, or longer, covered every day 
 with gauze ftretched upon a circular piece 
 of whale-bone, fo as to render the vifi^n 
 of this eye as indiftinft as that of the other, 
 the child will naturally turn them both to 
 the fame objed, and in a little time the 
 weak eye will become itronger by being 
 ufed, or the ftrong one weaker by difule, 
 and the child will ceafe to fquint. 
 
 Another kind of fquinting is owing Jn- 
 tirely to a bad habit, and conlifts in look 
 ing at objects with one eye only at a time. 
 The owl bends both his eyes upon the ob- 
 jed, which he obferves ; and by thus perpe 
 tually turning his head to the thing he in- 
 fpeds, appears tohavegreaterattention to it; 
 and has thence acquired the name of the 
 bird of wifdorn. All other birds, I believe, 
 look at objeds with one eye only* but it is 
 
SQUINTING. 
 
 with the eye neareft the object attended to; 
 whereas in this kind of ftrabifmns the pe.r- 
 fon attends to objecls with the moft diftant 
 eye only. This habit has probably been 
 produced, by a cap worn in infancy, which 
 projeded forward beyond the head on each 
 lide, like the bluffs of a coach-horfe, io as 
 to make it eafier for the child, as he lay in 
 his cradle, to view oblique objeds with 
 the eye moft diftant from them; which 
 kind of cap is therefore to be avoided. 
 
 A curious cafe of this ill habit of vifion 
 is related in the Philof. Tranfaft. vol. 68. 
 by Dr. Darwin ; which was relieved by fix 
 ing a parchment gnomon on the nofe of 
 the little boy, which projected about an 
 inch from the ridge of it, and caufed him 
 for a time to view oblique objetfs with that 
 eye, which was neareft them. 
 
SECTION XXXIV. 
 
 INVOLUNTARY MOTIONS 
 
 OY confinement in a fchool-room 
 for many fucceffive hours, and that with 
 out being fuffered to vary their poflure, 
 fome of the more ative and lively chil 
 dren are liable to gain tricks of involun 
 tary actions, as twitchings of the face,, 
 refllefs gefticulations of the limbs, biting 
 their nails, &c. which are generally at 
 firft occafioned by the want of fufficient 
 bodily exercife to expend the fuperfluous 
 animal power, like the jumping of a 
 fquirrel in a cage ; but are alio liable to 
 be caught by imitation of each, other., 
 
 To prevent this kind of deformity 
 children fhould be fuffered to change 
 their attitudes and fituations more fre- 
 N2 
 
146 INVOLUNTARY MOTIONS. 
 
 quently ; or to walk about, as they get 
 their leflbns. To counteract it the ear- 
 lieft attention is neceffary ; as a few weeks 
 frequently eftablifli a bad habit, which 
 cannot be removed without great diffi 
 culty : This however may be effe&ed 
 early in the difeafe by a bandage nicely 
 applied on the moving mufcles, or by 
 adhefive plafters put tightly over them ; 
 or by an iflue placed over them, fo as to 
 give a little pain, when the mufcles are 
 thrown into aftion under it. 
 
SECTION XXXV. 
 
 SWELLED FINGERS, 
 
 JD kibed heels, are inflammations 
 liable to affect tender children in many 
 fchools during the winter months. The 
 latter of thefe complaints is generally ow 
 ing to the coldnefs or a brick or plafter 
 floor to their feet, or to their fitting in un 
 changed (hoes and ftockings, after walk 
 ing in the wet ; and the former to their 
 being kept too long from the fire in the 
 cold parts of the fchooi-room without 
 gloves. 
 
 Nothing prevents or cures thefe mala 
 dies but a due attention to keep the ex 
 tremities of delicate children warm, either 
 by clothing, exercife, or fire. The in 
 flammation of the heels or toes may be 
 
148 SWELLED FINGERS. 
 
 fometimesremoved by covering them with 
 a double linen rag moiftened in a fatur- 
 nine foliation made by diffolving half an 
 ounce of fugar of lead in half a pint of 
 water, to be renewed morning and night. 
 As the fuelling of the fingers thus pro 
 duced is liable to continue, and to injure 
 the fhape of them, it becomes of greater 
 importance ; but may in fome meafure be 
 afterwards diminished or removed by the 
 frequent application of vitriolic Ether to 
 
 The fkin of the lips, and of the hands 
 and arms of children is liable to become 
 inflamed, and chopped, or rough, in frofty 
 weather, owing both to the coldnefs and 
 drynefs of the air. The former is re 
 lieved by the application of a lip-falve 
 made by mixing minium or red leid with 
 fpermaceti and oil to a proper confijance; 
 or by blue mercurial ointment. The lat 
 ter by wearing leathern gloves, the infide 
 of which is fmeared with fpermaceii foft- 
 
SWELLED- FINGERS. 
 
 ened with a little oil, or with pomatum ; 
 gloves thus prepared prevent too great ex 
 halation from the fkin in frofly air, and 
 the confequent too great drynefs and rough- 
 nefs of it; 
 
SECTION XXXVI. 
 
 BEDS. 
 
 JL HE rheumatifm, and other inflam 
 matory difeafes, are frequently occa- 
 fioned in crowded fchools by placing 
 fome of the beds with one fide againft a 
 wail ; where the weaker child confined 
 by a ftronger bedfellow is liable to lie 
 for hours together with fome part of it 
 in contact with the cold wall ; which 
 in the winter months has often been at 
 tended with fatal confequences ; and 
 efpecially in thofe boarding fchools, 
 where the beds are fmall, and but one 
 blanket allowed to each of them, and a 
 fcanty feather-bed. 
 
 We are indued with a very accurate 
 fenfe to diftinguifli heat and cold, which 
 
BEDS. 
 
 fhould be nicely attended to ; as the ex 
 tremes of both of them are injurious 
 to health, and more Co in our fleeping 
 than in our waking hours. The extreme 
 of heat is not much experienced in this 
 climate, except when it is artificially 
 produced ; but that of cold is the cauie 
 of numerous difeafes of the moft fatal 
 tendency, A fevere continued froft may 
 may be borne by the ftrong, who can 
 keep themfelves warm by their activity, 
 but is deflruftive to the weak and feden- 
 tary. In the year 1795 the weather in 
 January, and in one week of February 
 was uncommonly fevere ; the fame five 
 weeks in January and February 1796 
 were uncommonly mild ; and it appears 
 by the bills of mortality in London, that 
 2823 people died in theft five weeks of 
 froft in 1795 ; and that only 1471 died 
 in the fame five weeks of mild weather 
 in 1796, which is not much more than 
 half the number. See a paper by Dr. 
 Heberden in Philof. Tranfaft. for the 
 year 1796. 
 
152 BEDS. 
 
 Some mifin formed parents have con 
 ceived, that a hard bed contributes to 
 harden their children in refpet to their 
 bearing cold, and have on that account 
 laid them on itraw-mattrefies, or on beds 
 with boarded bottoms. The only dif 
 ference between lying on a foft or hard 
 bed confifts in this ; the weight of the 
 body in the former cafe preffes on a 
 larger furface, and in the latter on a lefs; 
 neither of which has any reference to 
 the habits of tendernefs or hardinels in 
 refpeft to cold and heat; unlefs indeed 
 a feather-bed is fo foft, that, as the child 
 finks down in the middle of it, the rifmg 
 edges bend over him, and in part cover 
 him. Perhaps beds made of foft leather 
 properly prepared, and inflated with 
 air, as the Emperor of Germany wasfaid 
 to ule in camp, might be preferable on 
 this account to feather-beds. 
 
 The beds for young children cannot 
 therefore be tooibft, however they may 
 
BEDS. 153 
 
 contribute to the indolence of grown 
 people provided they do not keep them 
 too warm by bending over them as a- 
 bove defcribed. But the.too great hard- 
 nefs of beds is, I believe, frequently inju 
 rious to the fliape of infants by occafion- 
 ing them to reft on too few parts at a 
 time; which hardens thole parts by pref- 
 fure, and prevents their proportionate 
 growth . It alfo occafions their fleep to be 
 lefs found by the uneafinefs it caufes, and 
 in confequence lefs refrefhing. 
 
 The feet and knees and hands of 
 weaker children are liable to become 
 cold in bed in winter, on which account 
 it is more falutary for them to fleep 
 with abed-fellow, rather than alone; 
 as they then naturally put their cold 
 knees or hands to their companion in 
 bed, and thus frequently prevent rheu 
 matic, and other inflammatory difeafes 
 of fatal event. For the fame reafon it 
 is better for a new born infant to fleep 
 O 
 
!54 BEDS. 
 
 with its mother in winter, or with a 
 young nurfe, than in a folitary crib by 
 her bed-fide; unlefsthe artificial warmth 
 of the room be. more nicely graduated, 
 than is Commonly done.. 
 
 For the fame resfon, where children 
 are too feeble from illnefs, a fire fhould 
 be allowed in their bed-chamber in cold 
 weather ; as the cold air is otherwifc 
 injurious to their lungs, which cannot be 
 clothed fo as to prevent the contact of 
 of the air, like the other parts of the bo 
 dy ; a fire contributes alfo to ventilate 
 a room, and to circulate the air in it, 
 and thence to render it more falutary ; 
 but it fhould not warm it to more than 
 60 or 65 degrees, that its temperature 
 may not differ too much from that of the 
 external atmofphere ; as thofe, who are 
 kept generally too warm, are liable to 
 take cold, at every blail of air, not from 
 the degree of cold, to which they hap- 
 
BEDS. 155 
 
 pen to be expofed, but to its difference 
 from that, whiqli they have been ac- 
 cuftomed to. See fed. xxvi. 
 
 The univerfal analogy derived from 
 other animals, which produce a feeble 
 offspring, evinces the truth of this doc 
 trine, both in refpect to the foftnefs, and 
 the due degree of warmth of their beds : 
 Birds line the neits for their young with' 
 feathers ; the eider duck, and the rabbit, 
 pluck the down from their own breads 
 to increafe the foftnefs of the beds for 
 their tender offspring ; and brood them 
 with their wings, or clafp them to their 
 boforhs for the fake of warmth. 
 
 The number of hours required for 
 falutary fieep is greater for younger chil 
 dren, than for thofe more advanced ; as 
 during our progrefs through life we ac 
 quire greater facility in ufmg our volun 
 tary power, and recruit it in lefs time 
 when exhausted. The younger claffcs 
 
BEDS. 
 
 of fcholars may go to reft at {even, or 
 eight ; but the elder fnoulcl be allowed 
 another hour for the purpofes of reading 
 or other kinds of improvement ; the 
 hour of rifing muft vary with the feafon. 
 
SECTION XXXVII. 
 
 DIET. 
 
 JLK is the food defigned by na 
 ture for young animals, and fhould be gi 
 ven them in its recent Hate. .As the 
 cream is the moft nourifhing part of the 
 milk, and is ealier of digeftion than the 
 coagulable or cheefy part ; and as milk 
 conftitutes a principal portion of the ali 
 ment of children; to take off the cream 
 once, or even twice, as is pradlifed in fome 
 boarding fchools, before it is given to the 
 children, is a fhameful circtimflance of 
 parfimony, and very injurious to their 
 healths. See fed. xxx, on punifliments... 
 
 Nor fhould the milk given to children 
 be long kept in a boiling heat ; becaufe 
 much of its fragrant oil is then evaporated,, 
 O2 
 
158 DIET. 
 
 as is evident from the fine odour of the 
 fleam of it, when taken from the fire ; and 
 its further deterioration from long boiling 
 is {hewn by its then inducing conftipation, 
 which is contrary to its effect in its recent 
 and natural ftate. 
 
 Neverthelefs even new milk does not 
 always agree with children, after they have 
 paiFed the years of infancy. For milk ta 
 ken into the ftomach muft be always pre- 
 vioufly curdled or coagulated, before it 
 can be digefted, or converted into nou- 
 rifhment : Hence milk is always found 
 curdled in the flomachs of calves, and the 
 acid juice of their ftomachs. is ufed to co 
 agulate their milk in the procefs of cheefe- 
 making : Now the flomachs of young chil 
 dren abound mere with this acid juice than 
 in their riper years, and when a fufficient 
 quantity of it is not produced for the pur- 
 pofe of curdling tha milk, which they 
 drink, it is liable to difagree. 
 
DIET. 
 
 To thefe few therefore, vvhofe ilo- 
 machs do not eafily digeil the coagulable 
 part of milk, other fluid foodfliouid be al 
 lowed to breakfaft, as gruel, or tea with 
 cream and fugar in it, and with bread and 
 butter ; and to iupper, a ilice of cold meat, 
 or of cheefe, or tart, or bread and butter, 
 with fmail beer or water for drink ; but it 
 is probable, that milk might be made to 
 agree with all ftomachs, if it was previous 
 ly curdled by rennet, as I have often re 
 commended with fuccefs to elderly per- 
 fons; or by letting it ftand, till it becomes 
 fpontaneoufly four like buttermilk, as is 
 the cuftom of the inferior people of Scot 
 land ; except neverthelefs where the dif~ 
 tafle of the child is owing to prejudice or 
 caprice, which is then incurable but by 
 time. 
 
 For dinner animal food plain drefled, 
 with vegetables or bread, and pudding of 
 wheat flour, milk, and eggs, with fugar or 
 butter, are more nourithing than vegetable 
 
l6o DIET. 
 
 fuftenance alone. Wheat flour contains 
 more nutriment than that of rice, or bar 
 ley, or oats ; as it poffeffes more ftarcli in 
 proportion to its bulk, and a gluten ap 
 proaching to animal matter. But much 
 fait or fpice fhould not be allowed in the 
 diet of children, as they are certainly un- 
 wholefome by inducing a weaknefs of the 
 capillary and a-bforbent fyflems of vefTels 
 in confequence of their too great ftimulus, 
 and contain no nourifhmenu 
 
 As butter and fugar are perhaps the 
 moft nutritive of animal and vegetable 
 fubflances, they may be more eafily taken 
 to excefs ; on which account fome miflaken 
 parents have totally prohibited the ufe of 
 them ; which is a great difadvantage to 
 weaker children, who require more nutri 
 tive diet in lefs bulk than ftronger ones. 
 
 For the drink of the more robuft chil 
 dren water is preferable, and for the weak 
 er ones, fmall beer ; but in this, as well as 
 
DIET. l6l 
 
 in the choice of folid food, their palates 
 Ihould be confulted ; for the nice difcern- 
 ment of this fenfe is beftowed on us by na 
 ture to diftinguifli, vvhat the ftomach can 
 beft digeft. It fhould however be obferv- 
 ed, that in artificial viands the tafte cannot 
 diftinguifh, what is unwholefome ; as fugar 
 may be mixed with arfenic. So in the 
 drinking of fermented liquors, as ale or 
 wine, which arc chemical productions, the 
 palate is not to be confulted ; a glafs of 
 mere wine fliould never be given to chil 
 dren, as it injures their tender ftomachs 
 like a glafs of brandy or rum or gin to a 
 grown perfon ; and induces thofe difeafes, 
 which it is often erroneoufly given to pre 
 vent ; as weaknefs of digeflion, with the 
 production of worms in confequence. 
 Wine nevertheless diluted with thrice its 
 quantity of water may be allowed, if re 
 quired, inltead of fmall beer ; or ale or 
 cider diluted with thrice their quantities 
 of water. 
 
l62 DIET. 
 
 Ripe fruits, or fruit pies, are peculiar 
 ly ferviceable to the confiitutions of chil 
 dren, as well as agreeable to their palates ; 
 as they are known to prevent biliary con 
 cretions, and confequent jaundice ; and on 
 the fame account to render the {kin clear 
 er and fairer, as well as to counteract the 
 tendency to putrid difeafes. Thefe fbould 
 therefore be allowed to children :,t all fea- 
 fons ; and may either occasionally confti- 
 tute a part of their diet ; or may be recom 
 mended to them, when they lay out part 
 of their pocket-money with huckfters, in 
 preference to feed-cakes, gingerbread, or 
 fugar-plumbs; the former of which are 
 generally made of bad flour deteriorated 
 by fpice ; and the latter are liable to be co 
 loured with gamboge, vermillion, verdi- 
 greafe, or other noxious drugs. 
 
 Too long fafling, or food of lefs nou- 
 rifhment than they have been accufiorned 
 to, are peculiarly injurious to children ; as 
 they weaken their po^ver of digeftion, im~ 
 
DIET. 163 
 
 pair their ftrength, and impede their 
 growth. The children of the inferior 
 poor, and of families, which have adopted 
 fome ill-advifed rules of abfiemious diet, 
 are frequently ftarved into the fcrophula, 
 and become pale-faced and bloated, owing 
 to deficiency of the quantity of blood, and 
 to want of fufficient ftimulus to the abforb- 
 entfyftem. 
 
 If young people are thought to be too 
 corpulent, a diminution of food with an 
 increafe of exercife, when they have ob 
 tained their full growth, may be ufed with 
 advantage ; but even then not without cau 
 tion. Since young ladies, after they have 
 left fchool, who by ill advice ufe too great 
 abftinence, are liable to become pale and 
 emaciated, and to fall into univerfal debi 
 lity; which remains through a difeafed 
 and comfortlefs life. 
 
SECTION XXXVIII. 
 
 ECONOMY. 
 
 1. J\ DUE regard to the prudent ex 
 penditure of their money, a proper care 
 of their clothes, and a pariimonious atten 
 tion to the lapfe of time, Ihould be incul 
 cated into the minds of young ladies. To 
 effed thefe purpofes one efficacious me 
 thod, where the ufual exhortations fail, 
 may be to fuffer their imprudence to pro 
 duce forne inconvenience to themfeives ; 
 which they (hould be permitted to feel to a 
 proper degree. 
 
 Thus a profufe unneceffary expendi 
 ture of their pocket money will ftiortly in 
 duce poverty ; which fliould by no means 
 be alleviated by a frefh fupply of money ; 
 till the inconvenience produced has effect- 
 
ECONOMY. 165 
 
 ed a conviftion of the impropriety of their 
 conduci. Except when the expenditure 
 has been made for fome laudable purpofe, 
 and then no time fhould be loft in reftor- 
 ing the power of repeating it. 
 
 The fame means may be ufed in ref- 
 pecl to their omiflion to take care of their 
 clothes ; they fliould find the neceffity o? 
 repairing them with their own hands, or of 
 foregoing fome vifiting amufements, till 
 new ones can be procured ; that thus the 
 confequent inconvenience may teach them 
 economy, if they are otherwife too inat 
 tentive to the ufual admonitions on thefe 
 fubje&s. 
 
 
 
 In refpedl to the economy of time the 
 hours of amufement and of exercife fhould 
 be regularly counted; and the length of 
 time young ladies employ in dreffing 
 fliould be nicely attended to ; as in adult 
 life the hours confumed at the toilet of 
 fome ladies is perfedly ridiculous, and de- 
 P 
 
166 
 
 ECONOMY.. 
 
 tains them from more important duties. 
 Perhaps a dated time might be allowed the 
 young ladies for adjulling the articles of 
 their drefs, that they might acquire a habit 
 of difpofing them with, neatnefs, talte, and 
 elegance ; and yet with expedition. 
 
 2. Men are generally trained from 
 their early years to the bufinefs or profef- 
 lion, in which they are afterwards to en 
 gage ; but it mod frequently happens to 
 ladies, that tho' deftined to the fuperin- 
 tendance of a future family, they receive 
 fcarcely any previous inftruClion ; but be 
 gin this important office with a profound 
 ignorance of the value of money, and of 
 the proper application of the things, which 
 ftirround them. 
 
 Many young ladies defHtute of mo 
 thers, and without a home, are continued 
 at fchool to a later age ; fuch ihould be 
 formed into a clafs, and properly inftrud- 
 ed in domeftic economy ; each of them 
 
ECONOMY. 167 
 
 fuperintending the bufinefs of the family, a 
 week or a month by turns ; not only pro 
 viding for the table, and directing the 
 cookery, but they fhould alib be taught 
 other parts of domeftic employment, as 
 cutting out linens, and making them up 
 with plain and ftrong needle work, either 
 for their own families, or to be given as 
 clothiijg for neceflitous infants or mothers. 
 
 Such an addition of domefric know 
 ledge and benevolent induftry to orna 
 mental accomplishments would give the 
 fchool, that procures it, a decided advan 
 tage over other fchools, which have no fuch 
 inftitution. 
 
SECTION XXXIX, 
 
 SCHOOL- EDUCATION. 
 
 Jl HE advantages of a fchool-educa- 
 tion ? where twenty or thirty children 
 are properly 5nftruled, over that in a 
 private family are derived from feveral 
 fources. Firft, it mud be obierved, that 
 almoft all our exertions in early life are 
 owing to our i spit at ing others; in child 
 hood we are mod liable to imitate th.e 
 actions of thofe, who are fomewhat old 
 er than ourfelves ; and in manhood, of 
 thofe who are in fomewhat higher life ;. 
 whence the general prevalence of fa- 
 fliion in drefsand manners. Now there 
 arc more examples to catife imitative 
 a&ivity in well concluded fchools, and 
 the children in confequence become 
 more aflive in the purfait of their ftu- 
 
SCHOOL-EDUCATION. l6g 
 
 dies, and in the acquirement of their ac- 
 coinpHthmciits. 
 
 It maybe added, that not only chil 
 dren, before they have acquired the ufe 
 of reafon or voluntary deliberation, but 
 that the greateft part of adult mankind 
 learn all the common arts of life by imi 
 tating others ; and that even dumb 
 creatures feem capable of acquiring 
 knowledge with greater facility by imi 
 tating each other, than by any methods, 
 by which we can teach them. Thus 
 dogs, when they are fick, learn of each 
 other to eat grafs as an emetic ; and cats 
 to moiften their paws for the purpofe of 
 wafhing their faces. And the readieil 
 way to inftrudt all brute animals is by 
 practiiing them with others of the fame 
 fpecies ; which have already learnt the 
 arts, we wiih them to acquire, as cxr 
 plained in Zoonomia, vol. I.feft. 22. ?. 
 
 P 2 
 
1 7 SCHOOL-EDUCATION* 
 
 A fecond advantage of fchools, when 
 well conducted, is that children often 
 take pleafure in teaching each other, in- 
 fomuch that at boy's fchools I have of 
 ten obferved, that the lower clafleshave 
 learnt more from their fchool-fellows of 
 the higher clafles, than even from their 
 matters ; which has fomednies arifen 
 from the friendlhip, or vanity of the el 
 der boy, and fo me times from the folicita- 
 tion of the lower one ; but has in all cafes 
 been advantageous to both of them. 
 
 A third fupertority of fchool -educa 
 tion arifesfrom an emulation, which na 
 turally exifts, where many purfue the 
 fame ftudies, but which fhould not be 
 encouraged by rewards or degradations ; 
 as it then may degenerate iq,to envy or 
 hatred ; butfnould in general be left in- 
 tirely to its own operation ; as mention 
 ed in feet. xxx. 
 
 A fourth advantage of fchool-educa- 
 ion is from the children acquiring a 
 
SCHOOL-EDUCATION. 1 'Jl 
 
 kind of pradical phyfiognomy ; which 
 renders them more intelligent, and more 
 interefting companions ; and is of- great 
 er confequence in our paflage through 
 life, than aimoft any fingle accompliih- 
 ment, as explained in fedu vi. and fe&.. 
 xxiv. of this \vork. 
 
 Fifthly, where languages are learnt 
 by converfation, as is generally pralifed 
 in teaching the French language, a 
 fchool-eclucation properly conducted, is 
 much fuperior to that of a governefs in 
 a private family. And languages are for 
 much eafier taught to children by con 
 verfation than by the abftracft rules of 
 grammar, that Mr. Locke is felicitous to 
 have the latin and greek languages taught 
 by converfation in boys' fchools ; and 
 thinks the time of learning words might 
 thus be much fliortened, which now^occu- 
 pies feven or eight years ; part of which 
 might be much better employed in acquir 
 ing the knowledge of things. 
 
1 7*2 SCHOOL-EDUCATION. 
 
 The Philofopher, who defpifing the 
 goods of fortune faid, " he was rich, though 
 he carried about with him every thing, 
 which "he poffeffed," meant to affert, that 
 ftrength of mind joined with (Irength of 
 body, were fuperior to any other advan 
 tages of life. A good education furnifhes 
 us with this ineftimable treafure ; it ac 
 companies us at home, travels with us a- 
 brcad 5 delights us in folitude, graces us 
 in fociety ; comforts us in misfortune, 
 guards us in profperity ; contributes to the 
 happinefs of others, and enfures our own, 
 
SECTION XL. 
 
 CATALOGUE OF BOOKS. 
 
 JL BEG leave to apprize the reader r 
 that I have inferted a great part of the fol 
 lowing catalogue of books for the younger 
 children, becaufe they were recommend 
 ed to me by ladies, whofe opinions I had 
 reafon to regard, and not from my own at 
 tentive perufal of them ; which has been 
 prevented by my other neceflary occupa 
 tions. Such of them therefore v as are lefs 
 generally known, a parent or governefs 
 willpleafeto read, before they put them in 
 to the hands of their children. And I can 
 only add, that if I had myfelf been better 
 acquainted with them, the collection would 
 probably have been lefs numerous. 
 
CATALOGUE OF BOOKS. 
 
 LEARNING TO READ. SEC. 3. 
 
 OPELLING-Book, by D. Fenning. 
 
 Harry and Lucy. 
 
 Mrs. Barbauld's Spelling-Books. 
 
 Mrs. Barbauld's Leflbns. 
 
 Fabulous Hiftory of Robins, by Mi's. Trimmer* 
 
 Fairy Spectator. 
 
 Circuit of Human Life. 
 
 Scenes for Children. 
 
 Rational Sports. 
 
 Rational Dame. 
 
 Hiftory of England, with cuts. I vol. 
 
 Looking-Glafs for the Mind, with cuts by Bewick. 
 
 Cobwebs to catch Flies. 2 vols. 
 
 Little Truths. 2 vols. Little Mentor. 
 
 Blind Child. Poor Child's Friend. 
 
 Davenport Family. Letitia Lively. 
 
CATALOGUE OF BOOKS. 1 75 
 
 Vifit for a Week, or Hints on the Improvement of l^ime. 
 
 Village School. 2 vols. 
 
 Prince Le Boo. 
 
 Sandford and Merton. 3 vols. 
 
 Parent's Afiiftant. 3 vols. 
 
 Evenings at Home, 6 vols. 
 
 Leifure Hours, by P. Wakefield, 2 vols. 
 
 Mental Improvement, by P. Wakefield, 2 vols. 
 
 Juvenile Anecdotes. 
 
 Pleafing Inftru&or, 2 vols. 
 
 Rudiments of Reafon, 3 vols. 
 
 Rural Walks, byCh. Smith, 2 vols. 
 
 Rambles farther, by Ch. Smith, 2 vols. 
 
 Juvenile Magazine. 
 
 Governcis of an Academy. 
 
 Progrefs of Man and Society, by Trufler. 
 
 Beauties of the Creation, by Riley. 
 
 Mentoria, by Ann Murry. 
 
 Gay's Fables. Dodfley's Efop's Fables. 
 
 There are innumerable other books publifhed for the 
 ufe of children from one penny to a {hilling and upwards 
 by almoil every bookfellcr in London. Many of the 
 above are the works of reputable writers ; and the others 
 have been recommended to me by thofe, who have pe~ 
 rufed them. 
 
CATALOGUE OF BOOKS. 
 
 GRAMMAR. SECT. 5. 
 
 Grammatical Introduction. 
 
 Mrs. Devis' Rudiments of Grammar. 
 
 Lowth's Introduction to Englifli Grammar. 
 
 Am's Grammar. Smetham's pra&ical Grammar* 
 
 Johnfon's Englifh Dictionary, Oct. edit. 
 Entick's Spelling Di&ionary. 
 General Grammar, by Mefifrs. Port Royal. 
 Took's Epea Pteroenta, or Diverfions of Purley. 
 Jeu de Grammaire, par de Gaultier. 
 
 Thefe three lad treat of Grammar too minutely and 
 artificially, rather as a fcience itfelf, than as an aid to 
 facilitate the acquirement of languages, and are there 
 fore lefs adapted to fchools. 
 
 -FRENCH LANGUAGE. SECT. 6. 
 
 Chambaud's Grammar and Vocabulary. 
 
 Cours de Lectures pour Les Enfans, par Abbe Gaultier. 
 
 La Bagatelle, 2 vols. 
 
 Petites Mifcel. pour les Enfans. 
 
 Le Magazin des Enfans, par M. de Beaumont. 
 
 Education complete, par M^ de Beaumont. 
 
 Inftru&ion pour les Jeunes Dames. 
 
CATALOGUE OF BOOKS. Ijl 
 
 Theatre d'Education, par Mde. de Gerilis. 
 
 Les Veillies du Chateau, par Mde. de Genlis. 
 
 L'Ami des Enfans, par Berquin. 
 
 L'Ami des Adoletcents, par Berquin. 
 
 Mythologie des Jeunes Demoifelles, par M. de la Mi- 
 
 mardiere, 2 vols. I2mo. Fr. & Eng. 
 Converfations d'Emilie, French & Englifh. 
 Lodoick, French & Englifh, 6 vols. * 
 Idylles de Gefner. 
 
 Oevres de Florian. Les Petites Montagnards. 
 
 La Campagne de la JeunefTe. Varietes Hiftorique. 
 
 L'Eleve efe fon Inilrudlrice. 
 
 Drames et Dialogues de Mad. de la Fite. 
 
 Queilions par Mad. de la Fite. 
 
 Fables de Cambray. 
 
 Letters de Mad. de Lambert a fon fils. 
 
 Difcours fur 4'Hiftoire univerfal, par Bofluet. 
 
 Gil Bias. Paul et Virginie, par St. Pierre. 
 
 Letters d'une Peruvienne. Lettres de Sevignc. 
 
 Voyages de Cyrus. Numa Pempilius. Telemaque. 
 Voyages de Jeune Anacharfis, 6 vols. 12 mo. 
 
 ITALIAN LANGUAGE. SEC. 6. 
 
 Metaftafio. Seled Plays of GoldonL 
 
 Scelta Italiane. 
 
 A fekdion of Metaftafio's Works, in 2 vols. fmall. 
 
 a 
 
1y CATALOGUE OF BOOKS. 
 
 Ganganelli. Bentivoglio. Pallor Fido. 
 
 Gil Bias, tranflated into Italian. 
 
 Lettres d'une Peruvienne, tranflated into Italian, with 
 
 accents. 
 
 Telemaco, a tranflation from Telemaque. 
 Baretti's Italian Grammar. 
 Baretti's Italian Di&ionary. 
 Baretti's Italian Library, 8vo. 
 
 The greateft part of thefe French and Italian books 
 for the ufe of children, as well as very many Englifh 
 ones, may be had at Mr. Peacock's juvenile library, Ox- 
 ford-ftreet, London. 
 
 ARITHMETIC. SEC. 7. 
 
 Vife's Tutor's Guide. Button's practical Arithmetic. 
 Wingate's Arithmetic. 
 Walkingam's Tutor's Afiiftant. 
 
 GEOCRAPHY. SEC. 8. 
 
 Large well-colour'd four fheet Maps of the World, of 
 Europe, Afia, Africa, and America, and of 
 England. 
 
 Geographical Cards by Newbury, 
 
CATALOGUE OF BOOKS. 179 
 
 Geographical Cards by Bowles. 
 
 Geographical Cards with prints of dreffes 
 
 Fairman's Geography, 8vo. 
 
 Turner's Geography, I2mo. 
 
 Faden's Maps with blank outlines. 
 
 Moral Syftem of Geogrophy, 12 mo. 
 
 Harris on the Globes 
 
 Guthrie's Geographical Grammar. 
 
 Brookes' Gazetteer. 
 
 Abbe Gaultier'a jeu de Geography* 
 
 CIVIL HISTORY. SEC. 9. 
 
 Hiftory of England, with prints. 
 
 Chara&ers of Kings of England, with heads by 
 
 Bewick. 
 
 Trimmer's Hiftories of England, Greece, and Rome. 
 Riley's hiftorical pocket Library, 6 vols. 12 mo. 
 Rollin's Ancient Hiftory. 
 Goldfmith's Hiilories of Greece, Rome, England, and 
 
 Scotland. 
 
 Millot's Elements of Hiftory. Plutarch's Lives. 
 
 Prieftley's Lectures on Hiftory. 
 
 Prieftley's Chart of Hiftory. 
 
 Pvieftky's Chart of Biography. 
 
 Mrs. Chapone's Letter on Chronology. 
 
 Circle of Sciences, by Newberry, yth v. on Chronology 
 
l8o CATALOGUE OF BOOKS. 
 
 Voyages and Travels, by Mayor, now publishing in Nos. 
 
 Beauties of England. 
 
 Beauties of Nature and Art, 13 vols. I2mo. 
 
 Hume's and Henry's Hiftories of England ; Robert- 
 Ton's Hiftories of Charles the 5th, and of America ; 
 with Rollin's and Mil lot's antient and modern Hiftories, 
 are too voluminous for fchool books. 
 
 NATURAL HISTORY. SEC. IO. 
 
 Galton's Treatife on Birds, 3 vols. izmo. 
 Natural Hiftory of Beads and of Birds, i vols. 
 Hiftory of Quadrupeds, by Mrs. Teachwell, 2 vols. 
 
 Rational Dame. Bewick's account of Quadrupeds. 
 
 Goldfmith's Animated Nature, 8 vols. 8vo. 
 BufFon's Natural Hiftory abridged, 2 vols. Svo. 
 
 Dictior.aire Raifonne, par Bomare, 6 vols. Svo. is a 
 very ufeful work on Natural Hiftory to be occafionally 
 referred to, rather than to be read as a fchool book. 
 Pennant's books of Zoology ; Barbut's Hiftoire des In 
 fects ; White's Natural Hiftory of Selbourn ; and ma 
 ny other works with numerous plates, are too volumi 
 nous or too expenfive for the ufe of fchools. 
 
CATALOGUE OF BOOKS. l8l 
 
 , 
 RUDIMENTS OF TASTE. SEC. II. 
 
 Spe&ator, vol. 6, No. 411, 10422. Burke on 
 
 Sublime and Beautiful. 
 
 Blair's Lectures. Hogarth's Asalyfis of Beauty. 
 
 Akenfide's Pleafures of Imagination, 8vo. 
 
 Longinus on the Sublime, tranflateci by Smith. 
 
 Mafon's Engli/h Garden. Wheatly on ornamental 
 Gardening. 
 
 Price's EfTay on Picturefque. Gilpin's Pic^urefque 
 
 Views. 
 
 Sir Jofhua Reynolds' Difcourfes to the Acaderay. 
 
 Clio on Taile. Beauties of Shakefpear. Of 
 
 Pope, 2 vols. Of Johnfon, Of- Rambler, 
 
 Adventurer, &c. 2 vols. Of Stern, Of 
 
 Spe&ator, Tatler, Sec. 2 vols. 
 
 Warton's Hiftory of Poetry. ; Pope's Effay on 
 
 Criticifm. 
 
 Addifon's Criticifms on Milton in the Spectator. 
 
 Spence's Criticifm on Pope's OdyfTy. Mrs. Mon 
 tague's Effay on Shakefpear. 
 
 Warton's EITay on Pope, 2 vols. 8vo. 
 
 Lord Kaim's Elements of Criticifm, 2 vols. 
 
 This lad work is highly ingenious, but too abflrufe 
 for young ladies, who might more eafily improve their 
 tafte in refpedt to vifible objects by frequctstly being (liewn 
 with proper remarks a felel collection of the prints of. 
 beautiful landfcapes, or of beautiful figures. 
 
 0.2 
 
l8<2 CATALOGUE OF BOOKS, 
 
 HEATHEN MYTHOLOGY. SEC. I 
 
 Young Ladies Mythology, by Mil's de la Mlmardiere, 
 
 2 vols. i 2mo. 
 
 BelPs Pantheon, 410. -The notes In Pope's tranfia- 
 
 tion of Homer. 
 
 Dannet's Dictionary, in French or Englifh, 4to. 
 Inftruction fur le Metamorphofes d' Ovide, par M. 
 
 Ragois. 
 
 Garth's Tranflation of Ovid's Metamorphofes. 
 Spence's " Polymetis, folio. Bryant's Mythology, 
 
 3 vols. 4to. 
 
 Abbede Pluche's Hiftory of the Heavens, 2 vols. 8vo 
 
 Thefe three laft works are, too difficult or too volu 
 minous for young ladies, who might learn heathen my 
 thology more eafily and more agreeably from a felecl: 
 collection of the imprefiions from antique gems and 
 medallions, or of prints of antient ilatues. 
 
 DISSERTATIONS. SEC. 14. 
 
 Spectator, 8 vols Guardian, 2 vols. 
 
 Tatler, 6 vols. The World, 4 vols. 
 
 Rambler, 4 vols. Adventurer, 4 vols. 
 
CAT.ALCGUE OF BOOKS. 183 
 
 Mirror, 3 vols.- -Anacharfis, tranfiated from the 
 
 French, 7 vols. Svo. 
 
 Converfations of Emelia, 2 vols. Turkifh Spy. 
 
 E flays for young Ladies, by Mifs H. Moore. 
 Improvement o'f the Mind, by Mrs. Cliapone, 
 Lambert's Advice to a Son and Daughter, 
 Gregory's Advice to a Daughter. Locke on 
 
 Education.. 
 
 
 
 Mifs Bowdler's Works, 2 vols. Svo. Mifs TaibotY 
 
 Works, 2 vols. 
 
 Calendar of Nature, by Dr. Akin, 
 Introduction to the Knowledge of Nature. 
 Hallifax's Advice to a Daughter. Fitzcfborr/s 
 
 Letters, 
 
 Con Phillips's Whole Duty of Woman. 
 Lord Chefterfield's Letters ;. the ifl volume only, 
 
 4 vols. Svo. 
 
 Some of Lady W. Montague's Letters, 2 vols. 
 Rollings Belles Lettres, 4 vols. 12 mo. 
 
 Britiih Plutarch. Johnfon's Lives of the Poets. 
 
 Aikin's Life of Howard. Keir's Life of Day. 
 
 Franklin's Life, by himfelf. Enfield's Speaker. 
 
 Elegant Extracts, 3 vols. large olavo. 
 Preceptor, 2 vols. 
 
 The ERglidi and French profe tranflation of fome of 
 the antient claffics fhould be added, as Mrs. Carter's 
 Epift^tus ; Mrs. Fielding's Xenophon ; Melmouth's 
 
184 CATALOGUE OF BOOKS. 
 
 Epiftles of Pliny, and of Cicero to his Friends ; and 
 the Abbe Mongauh's of thofe to Auiciio ; and- many 
 Others. 
 
 PLAYS. SEC. 14. 
 
 AddJfoirs Cato. Thomfon's Tragedies. 
 
 o 
 
 Cara&acus^nd Elfrida, by Mr. Mafon. 
 
 Edgar and Elfrida .Cumberland's Comedies. 
 
 Sheridan's Comedies. -Beauties of Shakefpear. 
 
 Sacred Dramas, by Mifs Moore. Sacred Dramas, 
 
 by Mad. de Genlis. 
 Sacred Dramas, by Metaflafio. 
 L'Arni des Enfans. Theatre of Education, by 
 
 Mad. de Genlis. 
 Tragedies de Racine. Tragedies de Corneille. 
 
 NOVELS. SEC. 14. 
 
 Sandford and Merton, 3 vols. 
 
 Children's Friend, by Berquin. 
 
 New Robinfon Crufoe. 
 
 Adelard and Theodore, by Mad. de Genlis. 
 
 Tales of the Caille, by Mad. de Genlis, 5 vols. 
 
 Moral Tales, by Dr. Percival, 
 
 Moral Tales, by Mils MitchiJ, 2 vols. 8vo, 
 
 Stories from Life, by M. Wolitencrcft, 
 
CATALOGUE CF BOOKS. 185 
 
 RafTelas, by Dr. Johnfon, with Continuation. 
 
 Agatha, i vol. I2tno. Plain Senfe, 3 vols. I2mo. 
 
 Difobedience, 4 vols. izmo Edward, by the 
 
 Author of Zelucco. 
 Evelina, by.Mifs Burney, 2 vols. Cecilia, by MiTs 
 
 Burney, 5 vols. 
 
 Camilla, by Mifs Burny, 5 vols. 
 Emmeline and Ethelinda, by Ch Smith. 
 Simple Story, by Mrs. Inchbald. 
 Emily Montao-ue,,by Mifs Brooks. 
 
 Femak Qwxotte, 2 vob. 
 
 Belifarius, by Marmontel, Caroline de Leitchfield, 
 
 Les Romans de L'Abbe Prevot. 
 Laure, 5vols. izmo. 
 
 POEMS. SEC. 24. 
 
 Gay's FabL'S. Thomfor/s Seafons. 
 
 Gifborne's Walks in a Foreft Moore's Fable's 
 
 for the Female Sex. 
 
 Hayley's Serena, and his Epidles. Co\vper ? s Tafk. 
 
 Gray's Poems, Collins' Poems. 
 
 Goldfmith's Poems, 2 vob Lord Lyttleton's 
 
 Poems. 
 
 Addifon's Poems. Carter's Poe.ms. 
 
 Aikin's Poems. Jerninghanrs Poems. 
 
 Akenfide's Pleafures of Imagination. 
 
l86 CATALOGUE OF BOOKS. 
 
 Mafon's Works, 3 vols. 8vo. Milton's Poetical 
 
 Works. 
 Pope's tranflation of Homer's Iliad. 
 
 of Homer's OdyfTey. 
 
 Pope's Works, Dr. Warton's edition. 
 
 Garth's tranflation of Ovid's Metamorphofes. 
 
 Dryden's, or Pitt's tranilation of Virgil. 
 
 Hoole's tranflation of TafiVs Jerufalem delivered, 2 vols. 
 
 Mickle's tranflation of Camoen's Lufiad* 
 
 Botanic Garden, 2 vols. 
 
 Dodfley's Colleftion of Poems. 
 
 Elegant Extra&s, in vcrfe. 
 
 Henriade de Voltaire. 
 
 ARTS AND SCIENCES. SEC. 15. 
 
 Lee's Introdu&ion to Botany. 
 
 Botanical Dialogues, for the ufe of Schools, by M. E. 
 
 Jackfon. 
 
 Families of Plants, tranflated from Linneus, 2 vols. 
 Syftem of Vegetables, from Linneus, 2 vols. 
 Notes on vol. II. of Botanic Garden. 
 Curtis's Botanical Magazine, with coloured prints ; 
 
 many volumes of which are already publifh'd and 
 
 which continues to be now publifh'd at one milling 
 
 a number, 1797. 
 
 Martyn's tranflation of Rofleau's Letters on Botany. 
 Lavoifier's Elements of Chymiftry, 2 vols. 8vo, 
 
CATALOGUE OF BOOKS. 187 
 
 Fourcroy's Philofophy of Chymiftry, 
 
 Watfon's Chymical EfTays. 
 
 Kirwan's Mineralogy, 2 vols, Svo. 
 
 Notes on Vol. 1^ of Botanic Garden. 
 
 Grey's Memoria Technica. 
 
 Gurney's Short-Hand. 
 
 Ladies' Encyclopedia, by Seally, 3 vols. I2mo. 
 
 Circle of Sciences, 7 vols. frnall. 
 
 Introduction to Arts and Sciences, by Turner, I vol. 
 
 MORALITY. SEC. 21. 
 
 Elements of Morality, tranflated from Salzraann, 3 vols. 
 
 Gifborne't Duties of the Female Sex. 
 
 Letters of Lady Ruffel, Svo. 
 
 Economy of Human Life. 
 
 Old Whole Duty of Man. 
 
 Paley's Syftem of Morality. 
 
 Gifborne's Anfwer to Palcy. 
 
 Thefe two lafl works are too fcientific for young minds 
 to encounter. 
 
 RELIGION. SEC, 
 
 Select parts of Scripture. 
 
 Barbauld's Hymns. 
 
 Sacred Dramas, by Charl. Smith 
 
 i by Mad. de Genlis. 
 
 . by Metaftafio. 
 
l83 CATALOGUE OF COOKS. 
 
 Old Whole Duty of Man. 
 Blair's Sermons, 4 vols. 
 
 Carr's Sermon's. Ogden's Sermons. 
 
 Baron Haller's Letter to his Daughter. 
 
 Lady Pennington's Advice to her Daughter. 
 
 Fafhionable Religion, by Mifs H. Moore. 
 
 Wifdom of God in the Creation, by Ray. 
 
 Durham's Phyiico-Theology. 
 
 Divine BeneVblence afTerted, by Dr. Balguy. 
 
 Trimmer's Sacred Hiftory, 6 vols. 
 
 Butler's Analyils. 
 
 Paley'sEvidences of Chriftianity, 2 vols. Svo. 
 
 Books of controrertial divinity are not recommended 
 to Ladies. 
 
RUDIMENTS 
 
 O F 
 
 TASTE 
 
 IN A SERIES OF LETTERS 
 
 A MOTHER TO HER DAUGHTERS. 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 ' O R N E L I A, daughter of Scipio 
 African us, and mother of the Gracchi, was 
 not more diftinguifhed by the Nobility of 
 her rank, than by the luftre of thofe vir 
 tues which adorned her character a mod 
 pleating and amiable trait of which, (hines 
 in that little incident recorded to hsr im 
 mortal honour. A Lady of Ionia coming- 
 one day to vifit her, impatiently expected 
 to be {hewn the fplendor and magnificence 
 of her toilette, which flic fuppofed, from 
 her rank and fortune, to be very fuperb. 
 The illuftrious Roman prolonged the con- 
 verfation till her children were at hand, 
 and then introducing them to her vifitor 
 u Thefc, fays fhe, are my jewels." 
 
2OO PREFACE. 
 
 The writer of thefe Letters has fo great 
 a veneration for the domeftic charader of 
 this Lady, that (he thinks (he cannot do 
 better than give them to the public, under 
 the fignature of Cornelia. And whatever 
 their other defeds may be, they have this 
 at lean: to recommend them, that the fame 
 fentiments of maternal tendernefs which 
 influenced the Roman Matron, gave rife 
 to thefe epiflles, and prompted a fond Mo 
 ther to become an Author. 
 
RUDIMENTS OF TASTE. 
 
 LETTER L 
 
 A DESIRE of happinefs is the full 
 propenfity of the heart. It is born with 
 us, and to attempt its fuppreffion were e- 
 qually fruitlefs and wrong ; ferine Author 
 of Nature has done nothing in vain, and 
 the happinefs he lias imprinted on the 
 mind fo clear an idea of, has fomewhere 
 an exiftence.. 
 
 Hitherto you have obeyed the impulfe 
 of nature in the aiiieis puriiiits of child 
 hood ; but the time ;y a;, hand, when this 
 fweet tranquillity v vili be interrupted by 
 the buitle of the world, which will not 
 longer perm-it you to repofe in the fimple 
 amufernents of dreffing dolls, purfuing 
 butterflies, or plucking daifies. Sweet 
 R 2 
 
202 RUDIMENTS OF TASTE. 
 
 dear delights of innocence : on which, as 
 you climb the rugged heights of life, you 
 will look back with fond regret. 
 
 But we are not born for ourfelves a- 
 lone ; and therefore have duties to per 
 form, obligations to difcharge, and diffi 
 culties to encounter ; in the courfe of 
 which, many a fevere check is given to 
 this happinefs which we all fo ardently 
 feek ; yet the defire of it will even acquire 
 flrength by the repulfe, and there was ne 
 ver yet a wretch who had found it dimi- 
 nifhed by misfortune. I wifh the fuccefs 
 of this paffion could be fliewn-as demon- 
 ftrable as its exifience. 
 
 But the truth is, all mankind are run 
 ning after the fame objeft, though in fuch 
 oppoiite directions, that if it were not for 
 their concurrent teftimony, it would be 
 fcarcely credible that they had each the 
 fame view. Yet it is the fate of moft of 
 them to fit down at laft, in the very fame 
 
RUDIMENTS OF TASTE, 203 
 
 difpofition which Solomon was in when he 
 complained, rather peevifhly it muft be 
 owned, that all was vanity and vexation of 
 fpirit. Man walks indeed in a vain (ha- 
 dow, and 'tis pitiable to reflect that a being 
 of fo tranfient a duration fliouid yet wafte 
 the trifling portion of time allotted him in 
 vain and fruitlefs purfuits, and after all 
 the fchemes of the fanguine, and the la 
 bours of the aclive, to find the delired at 
 tainment, as. far off as. ever.. 
 
 But this has been the cafe of millions, 
 and I am afraid will continue to-be fo, at 
 leaft till we are unanimous in deciding on 
 that grand point wherein this good, of 
 which we have all fo high an idea, con- 
 fifts : an agreement from which alas, we 
 are at the fartheft diftance imaginable. 
 And here, my deareft girls, lies the whole 
 of the miftake. The Creator has not been 
 . wanting to provide a happinefs exalted as 
 the mind itfelf can conceive ; but man 
 himfelf errs in the purfuit of it ; feme 
 
TAST E. 
 
 placing it in riches, fome in power, fcarce- 
 ly one in an age fuppofing it to be where 
 it really is in the pra&ice of virtue. 
 
 But while the human heart is fet on 
 acquirements, in which U can find no fa- 
 tisfacflion if attained, the fpan of life mufl 
 neceffarily be palled in refllefs anxieties 
 and melancholy difappointrnent. It was 
 the aim of philofophy, to draw juft efti- 
 mates of things, and to prevent its pupils 
 from ^being dazzled with the fplendor of 
 wealth and power ; it taught that the fo- 
 vereign good was to be found in re<5Htude 
 of will. It would be a {harne for us to be 
 at a lofs on fuch an important fubjed, who 
 have received leffons from a much better 
 matter than ever gave iedtures jn the 
 fchools of Athens. 
 
 Refc affured that in the exerci/e of fo- 
 cial and religious duties, the mind will find 
 her folicl happinefs. Wandering in reft- 
 lefs fearch, like Noah's dove, 'tis here (lie 
 
RUDIMENTS OF TASTE. 
 
 finds at length the welcome olive, the 
 branch whofe verdure blooms for immor 
 tality. Should you doubt the affertion, 
 be prevailed on at leaft to try the experi 
 ment. 
 
LETTER II. 
 
 PLEASURE has fomething fo allur 
 ing in the very name, that it is not fur- 
 prifing it finds fo great a number of vota 
 ries. On no account would I have you 
 infenfibleto its attractions, but rather lead 
 you to its flowery paths, and condudl you 
 to the moft refined delights. Thefe how 
 ever you can never obtain, except you are 
 guided in the choice by tafte and judg 
 ment. A tafte in pleafure is neceflary for 
 the feleclion of fuch as are above the en 
 quiries of the vulgar, fuitable to delicate 
 and refined minds, and correfpondent to 
 the nobleft fentirnents; of courfe depend 
 ant more on intelle<5lual, than on corporeal 
 faculties. Taite never fails to rejed what 
 ever is grofs and fenfuai ; yet even among 
 the more refined pieaiures, a found judg 
 ment is wanted, to difcriaiinate the folid 
 
RUDIMENTS OF TASTE. 
 
 and rational, from the frivolous and fafti- 
 dious. The elegant hand of falhionable 
 diffipation has often given a polifh to what, 
 in its own nature, can never deferve the 
 name of pleafure. 
 
 Under this head muft be comprehend 
 ed the various fpecies of fashionable araufe- 
 ments, which are injurious either to health 
 or fortune. One would fcarcely fuppofe 
 fuch purfuits as tliefe fliould ever be dig 
 nified with the name of pleafure. Yet 
 when numbers are daily feen hazarding, 
 not only extravagant fums, but peace of 
 mind alfo, at the gaming-table When 
 the order of nature is inverted, and the re- 
 fremments of repofe are bartered for mid 
 night rou's, \$e muft conclude that fuch 
 valuable fjonnces are not mad : but with 
 the expectation of forne fupreme pleafure 
 to reward them : how feldom fuch rewards 
 are found, can beft be determined by the 
 teftimony of the didipated and gay, who 
 after they have wafted the inert valuable 
 
RUDIMENTS OF TASTE. 
 
 gs of I;fe 7 as time, health, fpirits, ike. 
 ii genera -17 ci . . ft dial they have never 
 found the iailsn, :,ey icuVit afcer. 
 
 To be able to direft real enjoyment 
 from the falfe glolfes the world has put up 
 on it, is a piece of wiidom becoming a 
 philofopher; but it is a piece of wifdom, 
 you my dear girls, muft alfo acquire, if 
 you expe<ft to be happy. Fafhion has ar 
 rogated to ilielf ' the prerogative of fixing 
 the criterion of pleafure ; but fafhion is 
 often a dangerous director, and is at beft 
 an irn perfect one ; for who has a power of 
 effectually biaffing the natural difpofition 
 of another ; if therefore what is called 
 amufement be not agreeable to the real 
 turn of the mind, it ceafes to be viewed in 
 that light, and can only be confidered as 
 an irkfome conformity to the tafles of 
 others. 
 
 Yet, abjecft as fuch a fubmiffion un 
 doubtedly is, there are thoufands who vo- 
 
RUDIMENTS OF TASTE. 
 
 luntarily yield to it who are content to 
 live, move, and ac% not as they like them- 
 felves, but as the polite world thinks fit to 
 didate. I am no advocate for affecfted fin- 
 gularity in things merely indifferent ; but 
 when the idol fafhion breaks in upon the 
 rules of virtue, as it too often does, or the 
 true enjoyment of life, this is fo mean a 
 flavery that a rational being might be ex 
 pected to defpife it. 
 
 When therefore reafon and religion 
 have given the clue to your pleafures, re- 
 folve always to have them of your own 
 chufing, and not of other people's. The 
 fandion of numbers is the cauie that draws 
 youth from virtue and happinefs : reafon, 
 when aided by a proper education, would, 
 if left to herfelf, point out the way to both. 
 
 There are pleafures, my dear girls, to 
 
 be met with in this journey of life, pure 
 
 and fublime ones too, if we look for them 
 
 through the medium of unvitiated tafte. 
 
 S 
 
21 O RUDIMENTS OF TASTE. 
 
 Did ycu ever discharge a focial duty, but 
 upon looking into your heart, you there 
 perceived a glow of latisfaction ? But if 
 VOM aim at more exalted, more rapturous 
 fenfations, give full fcope to the impulfes 
 of benevolence ; try what it is to heal the 
 broken-hearted; diffufe joy through the 
 manfions of forrow, and refcue merit from 
 the preffure of indigence and misfortune. 
 
 Thefe employments are capable of 
 
 yielding plenfures fuitable to the moft ex 
 alted capacities, boundlefs as the moft fan- 
 guine imagination can paint them. 
 
 But if fo vail a multitude have erred in 
 the purfuit of pieafure, through levity, not 
 an inconftderable number, of a very oppo- 
 fite temper, are at equally as great a dif- 
 tance from it : thefe are the morofe and 
 cynical, who will not condefcend to the 
 fober fatisfa&ions that are to be found in a 
 domeilic circle, u here the focial affections 
 are cultivated : if the gay and volatile mif- 
 take the nature of pieafure, thefe feem to 
 
RUDIMENTS OF TASTE. Cl 1 
 
 queftion its very exiftencc, and pafs tliro' 
 life without Hooping to pick up even one 
 of the fair blaQbins which nature has icat- 
 tered in the way. 
 
 Ever be your hearts open to the f\veet 
 emotions of focial love, and you uTll not 
 have caufe to complain that the pa:li of 
 human life affords nothing but briars and 
 thorns. 
 
 Nor is it from the relative duties alone 
 we can derive happinefs ; the amufing, 
 the interfiling book of nature is open to 
 all who can read it : here you rneet with 
 eternal variety, order, and beauty ; a thou- 
 fand charms await the mind which pofieffes 
 a tafte for fimple pleafures; to fuch the 
 whole creation is a boundlefs fource cf 
 rational amufements. Happy, ineffably 
 happy, they who can be pleated with art- 
 lefs nature, and contemplate, with delight, 
 the noble imagery with which {he abounds. 
 For my part, I fliould dsfire no greater 
 
RUDIMENTS OF TASTE. 
 
 proof of the purity and elegance of your 
 tafie, than to hear you fpeak in raptures of 
 the graceful foliage of a wood, the beauty 
 of a lawn, or any of thofe charming rural 
 fcenes which are fo often over-looked, for 
 the far lefs nobler productions of art. 
 
 Efteem me ever the moft affeftionate 
 of your friends. 
 
LETTER III. 
 
 VERY one knows that human life 
 is expofed to various miferies ; bat every 
 one does not know, at lea ft does not con- 
 fider, that the far greater part of thefe mi 
 feries fpring from the pafllons : yet the 
 paflions, you reply, are implanted in us by 
 nature we cannot eradicate them. 
 
 That is true ; you cannot eradicate the 
 paflions, nor is it expedient you (hould ; 
 for as we are the workmanfhip of Infinite 
 Wifdom, fo doubtlefsly the prcpenfities 
 He has formed us with, are in thernfelves 
 very good; but then their good or ill ten 
 dency muft be determined by this fingle 
 queftion, Whether they govern us, or we 
 govern-them ? In the latter csfe they re-- 
 femble thofe falucary breezes, which waft 
 health and fweetnefo en their wings :. in 
 S 2 
 
214 RUDIMENTS OF TASTE. 
 
 the former they may be compared to cer 
 tain hurricanes, which tear up all before 
 them, and deform the beauteous afpecft of 
 the moft luxuriant climates. There is 
 more felicity to be found in the world 
 than is often fuppofed ; but never let us 
 pretend to look for it before we have fi- 
 lenced the pafficns ; the perpetual con 
 tention we muit have with them will elfe 
 interrupt our fuccefsful fearch. 
 
 Pride, my dear girls, is a vice that 
 fprings up in the mind, almoft without her 
 attending to it : its charaders are an im 
 moderate felf-love, conceitednefs, and ar 
 rogance, with a profound contempt of 
 every other perfon ; ever infatiable in its 
 defire of refped, extremely fufceptible of 
 the flighted affronts, and jealous of the 
 leaft tribute of applaufe paid to another. 
 Perfons cf this caft cannot in the nature 
 of things be hsppy, as they may be faid to 
 live in a fiate of hoflility with all the world ; 
 like Ifhmael, they have their hands againft 
 
RUDIMENTS OF TASTE. 21 5 
 
 every man, and every man's hand is againft 
 them. 
 
 Ambition condemns its wretched vo 
 tary to forego the fvveets of content andpre- 
 fent eafe, for the uneafy dreams of rank 
 and power. It is happy for the world 
 when fate denies to the ambitious that 
 power to which their defires are perpetu 
 ally afpiring. Innumerable are the hor 
 rid deeds, which the hiiroric page records, 
 that have been perpetrated by the impulfe 
 of this reftlefs paffion ; yet if in pity to 
 mankind; its direful effecfts are retrained, 
 ftill the bofom where it rages muft be a 
 prey to inexpreffible agonies. 
 
 Envy is a natural attendant on pride 
 and ambition : it has very aptly been com 
 pared to .a vulture preying on the vitals, 
 and there could not poffibly have been'de- 
 vifed a more expreffive fimilitude. That 
 mind which is capable of regarding with 
 the leaft degree of regret, the more fortu- 
 
21 6 RUDIMENTS OF TASTE. 
 
 nate acquirements of another, has a per 
 petual fource of difquietude, and muft ever 
 pine beneatli the inexpreiiijie mifery, 
 which is both the confequence and the pu- 
 nlihment of fo bafe a piopeiifity. As en 
 vy is the meanefi of ail the paff.ons, fo in 
 its own nature it is the moil oppofife to 
 happinefs. 
 
 Covetoufnefs is a vice that abforbs eve 
 ry finer feeling of the foul. Whatever 
 fordid fatisfadion the rniler may feel in a- 
 mafling his treafures, yet the cares which 
 unavoidably attend it, and the foiicitude 
 the prefervation of it demands, more than 
 balance the felfiili gratification. He knows 
 nothing of the fweet emotions of charity 
 and benevolence, and muft be ever a ftran- 
 ger to the noble fenfations they excite. 
 It is well if the fuggeftions of his bonnd- 
 lefs avarice do not prompt him beyond the 
 bounds of integrity. The honefty of a 
 covetous perfon can be but doubtful at the 
 
RUDIMENTS OF TASTE. 0,1 J 
 
 A revengeful difpolition is as dreadful 
 to fociety as burdenfome to itfelf : it is 
 the whirlwind of the foul, which under 
 its dominion refembles a fury of the in 
 fernal regions. What fad cataftrophes 
 have been effected by revenge ! what in- 
 expreflible torment overwhelms the heart, 
 where that dreadful venom operates ! 
 
 It is eafy to perceive, by the flighted 
 glance, that every one of the paffions here 
 enumeratedaretotallydeftructive of peace: 
 there can be no fuch thing as tranquillity 
 in the breaft which they inhabit. Let it, 
 then, be the care of my dearefi. girls, to 
 guard againft the fatal afcendancy of either 
 of them. There cannot be a more lame n-*- 
 table object than a human being who fub- 
 mits to become the iport of paffions : a 
 barque in a ftorm, driven by winds, and 
 fhattercd by the tempeft, exhibits but a 
 faint picture of fuch a wretch, whofe days 
 pafs in continual anguilh ; he looks for 
 peace, but finds defpair ; cafts oblique re- 
 
2l RUDIMENTS OF TASTE* 
 
 flecftions on the wifdom and goodnefs of 
 Providence ; diftrufis his attributes ; curf- 
 es his own being and dies if poffibie more 
 wretched than^he lived. 
 
 The infinitely wife and good Creator 
 faw the abundant evil that would accrue to 
 mankind from the degeneracy of the paf- 
 fions, and therefore in his goodnefs deter 
 mined at an appointed time to promulgate 
 a religion, the aim of which fhould be to 
 regulate the pafiions, and direct them to 
 their proper channel ; fuch is the Chrif- 
 tian revelation ; in its ends and nature an 
 antidote to moral evil. 
 
 Perhaps the natural paffions of the hu 
 man mind may be reduced to two the 
 love of pleafure and the love of praife ; 
 and from the corruptions of thefe may be 
 traced every irregular affection of the 
 heart when men no longer knew the true 
 fource from whence to lock for happinefs, 
 or approbation, it is not much wonder it 
 
UUDIJMENTS OF TASTE. ' 2lp 
 
 fliould be fought in power, riches and pre 
 eminence ; not that the love of thefe 
 fliould branch into felf-love, vain glory, 
 and all the other evil paiiions, which caufe 
 fo much rniferv in the world. 
 
 The regulation of the heart and its de- 
 fires, is a point then of the utmoft impor 
 tance, finc'e on it depends your prefent 
 peace and eternal glory. lt Keep thy 
 heart with all diligence, for out of it are 
 the iiTues of life." And when you have 
 repelled the approach of any paffion, 
 guard ftill more effectually againft its en 
 trance, by endeavouring to eftablifh in 
 your mind the contrary virtue ; as for in- 
 ftance, fubdue pride and cheriih humility ; 
 guard againft the deiire of power and lich- 
 es, by attaining that poverty of fpirit which 
 is content with little, and defires no ap- 
 plaufe but that of Heaven. 
 
 Never lofe fight of this truth that 
 there is no happinefs adequate to the ca- 
 
22O 
 
 RUDIMENTS OF TASTE. 
 
 pacities of the human foul, but what is 
 found in the exercife of piety and virtue ; 
 nor any praife worthy her regard, but what 
 refults immediately therefrom. 
 
LETTER IV. 
 
 JL HE moft glorious conqueft you can 
 poffibly obtain is that of yourfelves. So 
 lomon was of opinion, that he who could 
 govern his own fpirit, had attained a much 
 higher point of dominion, than if he 
 ftiould rule a kingdom. It is certainly 
 much eafier to give wife and upright laws 
 to others, than to obey them o\irfelves ; 
 and when you can controul your o\vn in 
 clination, you will have learned the whole 
 effence of moral philofophy. 
 
 But a negative virtue is not all that is 
 to be attained, although thoufands content 
 with it, maintain through life the character 
 of good fort of people. The epithet, 
 however, contains no very high eulogium, 
 thofe good kind of folks feldom rife above 
 a mediocrity in goodnefs. It certainly is 
 T 
 
222 RUDIMENTS OF TASTE. 
 
 not Sufficient to abnain from evil, a chrif- 
 tian mail be diflinguiflied by aclive virtue. 
 
 The Chriftian religion is a beautiful 
 comment on the moral law. The pried 
 who palled by the wounded Jew, was, for 
 aught we are told to the contrary, a very 
 good fort of man, and had fome femiments 
 of compafiion, for he went and looked on 
 ib.3 poor creature, and no doubt kindly 
 ^ijhed it bad been in his power to relieve 
 him ; but the good, the benevolent Sama 
 ritan, was the generous, atth-e friend, 
 whofe character will never be read without 
 being admired. The lawyer alfo poflefied 
 a tolerable (hare of negative merit, having 
 always kept the commandments ; yet fays 
 our Saviour, thou lacked one thing that 
 heroic benevolence, which disregards all 
 attention to felfifli gratification, in the no 
 ble ardour with which it contributes to the 
 neceliities of mankind. 
 
 Thefe inftancesare fine illuftrations of 
 the Mofaic difpenfation, and eminently 
 
RUDIMENTS OF TASTE. 223 
 
 tend to exalt human nature to the higheft 
 poffible perfection. It is not enough, fay 
 the gofpel tenets, that ye refrain {rein ac 
 tual violence to any one you fhaii love 
 your enemies, and do good to thofe that 
 hate you. Severe injunftion ! yet you 
 fee by it to how refined a pitch the virtue 
 .of a chriitian inuft afpire. 
 
 Do not then reft fatisfied with being as 
 Tuft or kind as the letter of the law exacts 
 be actively good, and fed-: occafions of 
 exercifing your kindnefs and charitv to 
 achninifier as far as we are able to the 
 wants of our fellow creatures ic reclaim 
 the vicious to vindicate the character of 
 the injured alien the cbiir-s of the friend- 
 lefs and oppreiTed reconcile differences, 
 and be indefatigable in die promotion of 
 peace and happinefs to all within the com- 
 pafs of our ability, are employments wor 
 thy of a rational being. 
 
 There are many cafes that occur in 
 life, wherein thofe who will obey only the 
 
224 RUDIMENTS OF TASTE. 
 
 rules of legal judice, mud fall fhoit of 
 thole notions of honefiy, which natural 
 reafon and confcience fugged ; as a good 
 mind wants not the bonds of human laws, 
 fo on fome qccafions it rifes to a generofi- 
 ty that is fuperior to their narrow limits. 
 Obey the innate ideas of redlitude which 
 God himfelf has damped on the human 
 foul and think it not fufficient to be juil, 
 except you are generous alfo. 
 
 Let your conduct be regulated by the 
 nice ft rules of propriety and prudence ; 
 and let your bofoms glow with the enthu- 
 fiafm of virtue, that you may ever ftiine 
 forth the deady, zealous friend, the bene 
 volently adive neighbour, 'arid the truly 
 ufeful member of fociety ; considering 
 yourfelves as citizens of the world, whofe 
 only bufinefs it is to do good. 
 
LETTER V. 
 
 BUT 
 
 fo exalted and refined a turn 
 of fentiment is never the production of 
 ignorance. It is only in cultivated minds 
 we mud look for it ; for the prime fruits 
 of virtue grow not in the foil that lias 
 never been broken up by moral indruc- 
 tion, A virtuous and intelligent friend 
 is perhaps the mod: valuable acquisition 
 a young perfon can make ; but as one 
 of this defcription may never fall to your 
 lot, iupply the want thereof, as well as 
 you can, by book's. 
 
 By all means cultivate a tade for 
 reading, but take care that your tade be 
 a jud one that is, be more clcfirous of 
 inftruftion than arnufement or you will. 
 profit but little by literary purfuits. 
 Thofe who read merely to pleafe the 
 T 2 
 
226 RUDIMENTS OF TASTE. 
 
 imagination, may be fare of not reading 
 to advantage, and do feldom acquire a 
 relifti for works of folid merit and utility, 
 I have never known a young perfon who 
 was paffionately fond of novels capable 
 of relifliing any thing fuperior to them. 
 For my own part, I had rather fee a girl 
 .wholly ignorant of the alphabet, than at 
 tached to that fpecies of writing ; for I 
 am convinced that infinitely more have 
 erred in the conduct of life from that 
 caufe, than from any other. The fenti- 
 ments and ideas they imprefs, are fatal 
 illufions to miflead the poor reader, who, 
 after wafting days and years in the ftudy, 
 is ftill an utter ilranger to the world fhe 
 lives in and, what is worfe, infpired 
 with the mod erroneous notions of it, 
 which commonly lead to fome falfe ftep, 
 or ill-judged connection, that fecures her 
 a wretch for life. It cannot be other- 
 wife .for the fcenes, charaters, and in 
 cidents, thefe books dcfcribe, are to be 
 found no where but in the author's ro- 
 
RUDIMENTS OF TASTE. 
 
 mantic fancy. They have nothing to 
 do with the real knowledge of the world ; 
 and confequently, thole who think to 
 fleer through it by fuch guides, muft 9 in 
 the end, find themfelvcs miftaken. Juit 
 as well may a traveller think to make 
 the tour of Europe by a chart of Afia r 
 
 If curiofity muft be amufed, and the 
 imagination pleafed, why may not the 
 underltanding be improved at the fame 
 time ? This is very practicable, for 
 there are many works of genius extreme 
 ly well calculated to anfwcr each of 
 thefe ends ; but they are not the hifto- 
 ries of Sir fuch a one, Mifs what d'ye 
 call urn, or any of thofe futile produc 
 tions, which the prefs daily emits, to vi 
 tiate the tafte, and corrupt the princi 
 ples of the age. 
 
 There is a certain mental vigour ne- 
 ceflary to virtue as well as to happinefs, 
 but modern novels, under the fpecious 
 
228 
 
 iUvlS OF TASTE. 
 
 maf]< of refined ft aliments, nurochice a 
 dangerous foftncfs that has oft-. .v. dcfcroy- 
 ed both. True refinement Is the glory 
 of a rational creature, hut whatever en 
 ervates the inin:i, mull d'cbafe it. Ly- 
 curgjs thought fo, I fuppofe, when lie 
 banifhed the poets from his common 
 wealth ; yet furely he lived near enough 
 to Athens to have learned to draw a 
 proper line between ferocity and effemi 
 nacy. 
 
 The pailion for novelty, fo inherent 
 in youth, may be abundantly gratified, 
 by thefludy of hiftory. Here you meet 
 with new and uncommon events be 
 come acquainted with a variety of cha- 
 radters, and are enabled to form a juft 
 efcimate of mankind ; for except allow 
 ing for a few local cuftoms or prejudi 
 ces, human nature was the fame two 
 thoufand years, ago as at this time. There 
 is fomething extremely agreeable to the 
 mind in weighing and examining the 
 
RUDIMENTS OF TASTE. . 
 
 aftions of celebrated perfonages, who, 
 in their day, made the mighty tremble 
 in marking the rife or fall of empires, 
 and to be able to determine the fecret 
 caufes of thofe revolutions which once 
 artonifhed the world. 
 
 The ages appear as inconfiderable 
 points,, to thofe who are acquainted with 
 hiftory they fee the various nations of 
 the earth pafs in review before them, and 
 trace a more than human power bufy in 
 the affairs of men by taking in at one com- 
 prehenfive view fo vafl a trad of time, 
 they difcern the nice connections of that 
 fcheme of Providence, which often appears 
 broken and irregular, when contemplated 
 only through the medium of a few years* 
 
 It is almoft impoffible to be well verfed 
 in the characters of the politer nations of 
 antiquity, without watching fomething of 
 that magnanimity which diftinguiftied 
 them ; and I know not why an acquaint- 
 
23 RUDIMENTS OF TASTE. 
 
 ance with their manners fhould not be 
 thought as neceftjiry in the fyftem of FE 
 MALE EDUCATION, as it ufually is in that of 
 the other fex. If the Greek and Ro 
 man veterans difplayed qualities which 
 the heroes of the prefent day would be 
 proud to imitate, their wives and daugh 
 ters were often patterns of fuch virtue, as 
 would be allowed to dignify a lady of the 
 eighteemh century. 
 
 Read modern hifiory as well as antient 
 the knowledge of the nations who inha 
 bit the globe as well as yonrfeh r es, is amuf- 
 ing and interefting -he heart, too, may 
 be the better for it narrow prejudices 
 are removed, and the better mankind be 
 come acquainted with each other, the more 
 the divine principle of philanthropy muft 
 be extended. National enmfty has no 
 other parent but ignorance the enlight 
 ened, the philofophic mind, even through 
 the veil of different tongues and cufioms, 
 can diicern a kindred being a mem- 
 
RUDIMENTS 0? TASTE* 231 
 
 ber of that uriiverfal family, whole head 
 is the Deity. 
 
 Next to travelling itfelf, nothing tends 
 more to enlarge the ideas than journals of 
 travels and voyages, if the writers have 
 been faithful and accurate; and you will 
 read them with infinite pleafure, if you 
 have been careful to acquire a knowledge 
 of geography. This renders you familiar 
 with the countries you read of You re- 
 collect their foil, climate, and productions 
 know their refpedive boundaries, and 
 can readily mark out their place on the 
 globe. 
 
 Having thus, my dear girls, pointed 
 out to you fo exhauftlefs a fource of amufe- 
 rnent, I will only for the prefeitt add, that 
 I am, Sec. 
 
LETTER VI. 
 
 S long as curiofity continues a 
 leading feature in the human character, 
 Biography will form a favourite fpecies of 
 reading. Every body is eager to pry into 
 the private chara<fter of a celebrated per- 
 fonage, and are better pleafed to know, 
 how fuch an one afts in domeftic life, than 
 in the fenate, or the field. And, indeed, 
 it is there that the beft eftimate of the real 
 defcription can be formed. 
 
 The private lives of famous perfons 
 afford much edification to the reader ; the 
 vice or meannefs too often there difplayed, 
 teaches us not to be dazzled by the blaze 
 of popularity or power ; and to contemn 
 that Virtue which is built on the defire of 
 fame alone. If on the other hand, by 
 following thefe darlings of fame to the clo- 
 
RUDIMENTS OF TASTE. ^33 
 
 fet, or the fire-fide, we difcover the fame 
 noblenefs of heart that diftinguiflhes them 
 with the multitude, juflly they become 
 patterns for our example; the mind re 
 joices to find fomething about them that 
 is writable, for though few are called forth 
 as diilinguifhed aflors on the theatre of 
 the world, all may, if they pleafe, be great 
 in private life : That is, may acquire thofe 
 amiable qualities of mind, which can on 
 ly conftitute real greatnefs; without which 
 the hero is no more than a hypocrite, and 
 even the robe of royalty, but a tinfel or 
 nament to cover real meannefs. 
 
 Your chief aim thould be the know 
 ledge of the human heart, and that is in 
 general more fully difcovered in trifling 
 traits and circumfiances, than by impor 
 tant actions performed under the public 
 eye. But you no where find human na 
 ture fo impartially delineated, as in the 
 facred writings. There the hiftorians, 
 neither influenced by paflion nor preju- 
 U ' 
 
234 RUDIMENTS OF TASTE. 
 
 dice, relate both adions and their fe- 
 cret fprings with unerring candour; never 
 calumniating enemies, or Hooping to flat 
 ter the favourites of their nation. 
 
 The JewiCh writers had the faireft op 
 portunities imaginable for exaggerating 
 the virtues of their heroes, confidering 
 the miraculous powers fo often exerted in 
 their behalf. JSuch an adventure as that 
 of David with Goliah, would have been 
 thought by a Pagan writer, fufficient 
 grounds for exalting his favorite to a God : 
 yet the infpired Biographer has drawn that 
 Prince with all his frailties about him ; all 
 the inequality of humanity ; fometimes 
 globing with the rapturous devotion of a 
 
 Seraphim ; at others, enflaved by the 
 
 meaneft paffions. Such inftances of can 
 dour, coniidered with the national pride 
 of the Jews, leave no room to doubt the 
 veracity of the facred penman on any oc~ 
 calion. 
 
RUDIMENTS OF TASTE. $35 
 
 The fcriptures alfo- finely iiluftrate 
 many parts of profane hifiory : we are 
 told of embattled armies, and cities level 
 led with the duft ; but it is only in holy 
 writ we find thofe armies prophetically 
 marfhalled, and that definition denoun 
 ced perhaps an hundred years before the 
 event. Thefe are inftances which im- 
 prefs the mind with reverence for the fa- 
 cred records, and fill it with augnft ideas 
 of the eternal Providence. 
 
 The works of owr bed rnoralifis will 
 not be unentertaining to you, if your tafte 
 for reading be as good as I with it. A- 
 mongft the productions of this kind, are 
 the Spectator and the Rambler; asconfpi- 
 cuous for the elegance of their language, 
 as the foundnefs of their morality. But 
 there are no better rules for the moral con- 
 dud of life, than are found in the writings 
 of Solomon, and the Son of Sirach; which, 
 though compofed fo m-sny ages ago, may 
 yet be read to much advantage, by thofe 
 
236 RUDIMENTS OF TASTE. 
 
 \vho would pafs through life happily and 
 and refpeftecl. 
 
 If you are fond of poetry, be careful 
 to read only what is good of it. There is 
 a kind of verification that tends to debafe 
 the mind ; wherever immortality or in- 
 -delicacy is found, fuch mu'ft ever be the 
 efied. Elegance of numbers though a re- 
 quifite, is yet the lowed recommendation 
 of good poetry ; its charaderiftics are 
 dignity of thought, purity of expreffion, 
 and, above all, the be ft principles of piety 
 and morality. For this reafon, thofe poe 
 tical pieces extant in the Bible, are by good 
 judges, allowed to be truly fublime. Poet 
 ry in its original flate, being only the har 
 monious effufions of a mind glowing with 
 elevated fentiments of generofity, gratitude 
 and devotion. Many of the Pfalms are 
 noble compositions, and neither for beau 
 ty of figure, or energy of exprefiicn T have 
 ever been excelled. 
 
RUDIMENTS OF TASTE. 237 
 
 Natural hiftory affords a delightful ftu- 
 dy it is not however expeded that you 
 fhould have a fyftematic idea of every ve 
 getable, animal, or infeft ; but it is un 
 pardonable, for one who is bleit with lei- 
 fure and opportunity, not to have at lead 
 a general knowledge of the moft confpicu- 
 ous of Nature's works : to be ignorant of 
 the beauty and properties of thofe, is to 
 wander over the fair creation, as Thomfon 
 exprefles it, ic with brute unconfcious 
 gaze/' The curious and intelligent fpec- 
 tator finds the variegated face of nature, a 
 fource of rational amufement, and reads 
 irL glowing chara<fters the wifdom of the 
 Deity. It is not in fuch puriuits that the 
 human mind acquires thofe illiberal fen- 
 timents which fo often difgrace it ; all it 
 here finds is noble and beneficent, worthy 
 that Divine Author, whom to know and 'a- 
 dore, is the proper glory of an intelligent 
 being. 
 
 US 
 
RUDIMENTS OF TASTE. 
 
 Akenfide has fo elegantly exprefled the 
 pleafures attending a tatte for the iludy and 
 beauties of nature, that I will relieve you 
 from the tedioufnefs of this epiflle,by tran- 
 fcribing a few of his admired lines. 
 
 O ! bled of Heaven, whom not the languid fongs 
 
 Of luxury, the fyren ! not the bribes 
 
 Of fordid wealth, nor all the gaudy fpoils 
 
 Of pageant honour, can feduce to leave 
 
 Thofe ever blooming fweets, which from the ftore 
 
 Of Nature, fair Imagination culls 
 . To charm th' enlivened foul ! .What tho' not all 
 
 Of mortal offspring can attain the height 
 
 Of envied life ; tho' only few poifefs 
 
 Patrician treafures, or imperial flate ; 
 
 Yet Nature's care, to all her children juft 3 
 - Endows at large whatever happy man 
 
 Will deign to ufe them. 
 
 ""For him the fpring 
 
 Diftils her dews, and from the filken gem 
 Its lucid leaves unfolds ; for him the hand 
 Of Autumn tinges every fertile branch 
 With blooming gold, and bluflies like the morn.. 
 Each palling hour fheds tribute from her wings ; 
 
RUDIMENTS OF TASTE; 239 
 
 And Hill new beauties meet his lonely walk, 
 And loves unfelt attract him. Not a breeze 
 Flies o*er the meadow, not a cloud imbibes 
 The fetting fun's effulgence, not a drain 
 From all the tenants of the warbling (hade 
 Afcends, but whence his bofom can partake 
 Frefh pleafure unreprov'd : nor then partakes 
 Frefh pkafure only ; for the attentive mind, 
 By this harmonious action on her pow'rs, 
 Becomes herfelf harmonious ; wont fo oft 
 In outward things to meditate the charm 
 Of facred order, foon (he feeks at home 
 To find a kindred order, to ex tit 
 Within herftlf this elegance of love, 
 This fair infpired delight ; her temper'^ powers 
 Refine at length, and ev'ry paffion wears 
 A charter, milder^ more attractive mein.. 
 
 Thus the men 
 
 Whom nature's works can charm, with God himfelf 
 Hold converfe ; grow familar day by day 
 With his conceptions ; acl on his plan ; 
 And form to his the relifh of their fouls. 
 
LETTER VII. 
 
 AMONGST the accomplifhments 
 neceffary to the female character, I think 
 needle work may claim the firft place, it 
 having fo clofe a connection with neatnefs 
 which is indifputably requifite to render 
 you comfortable to yourfelves, or amiable 
 in the efteem of others. The ladies of 
 the laft century certainly held needle-work 
 in much greater eftimation than thofe of 
 the prefent ; witnefs the many laborious 
 performances that yet remain as proofs of 
 their amazing induftry in this refpetft 
 but the world is ever prone to extremes, 
 and becaufe this art was then purfued to 
 the exclufion of every intellectual accom- 
 plifhment, there are many in our days who 
 feem to think it beneath their fludy or 
 ambition. 
 
 The Mahometan fentiment which pre 
 vailed fome years ag, of the inferiority of 
 the female mind, feems exploded in this 
 
RUDIMENTS OF TASTE. 24 1 
 
 age of univerfal refinement : and a wo 
 man of cultivated underftanding is no 
 longer a phenomenon. The paths of 
 knowledge are rendered acccffible men 
 of learning have (looped from the eleva 
 tions of fcience to accelerate the improve 
 ments of the other fex they abridge, com 
 pile, explain for their affiftance and ad 
 vancement in polite literature. 
 
 Make all the ufe you poffibly can of 
 iuch advantages, and be convinced that the 
 cukivaiion of the mind will exalt you- in 
 the eftimaiion of rational beings will 
 open to you exhauftlefs fources of amufe- 
 ment and delight, of which the ignorant 
 can have no conception. Yet be careful, 
 my dear girls, never to overlook one femi 
 nine grace or accomplishment. There is 
 a line of character drawn between the iex- 
 es, which neither can pafs without becom 
 ing contemptible. It is not to make you 
 defpife thofe acquirements which have ever 
 been appropriated to the female fex, that 
 
242 RUDIMENTS OF TASTE* 
 
 you are incited to mental attainments, but 
 to render you ftill more valuable as wo 
 men ; and the better your minds are cul 
 tivated, the more you will fee the proprie 
 ty of attending to thofe minutiae which be 
 come the condition in which Providence 
 has placed you. 
 
 I do not fee how you can acquit your- 
 felves tolerably in domeftic life, without a 
 knowledge of needle- work ; but granting 
 your rank and fortune may place you above 
 the abfolute neceffity of learning that part 
 of it which is called plain work yet cori- 
 lider how far the ornamental kinds may be 
 of ufe to amufe the intervals of pleafures, 
 or other purfuits, as well as to promote the 
 difplay of an elegant tafte. Even our in 
 nocent amufements require variation, and 
 the mind may be agreeably relieved, by 
 imitating with the needle the beautiful 
 productions of nature but there is fome- 
 thing which places a flcill in needle work in 
 a much more important point of view, 
 
RUDIMENTS OF TASTE. 243 
 
 and that is, the inconflancy of fortune, 
 which in her capricious moods has been 
 often known to compel thofe, whom once 
 (he fmiled on, to procure their fubfiftence 
 by thofe very arts which were acquired 
 only for amufement. Whatever may be 
 a refource again ft that mutability which 
 marks all human affairs, becomes an object 
 of importance. 
 
 A proficiency in the arts of domeftic 
 management andoeconomy, ought juftly to 
 be ranked among the accomplifhm^nts of 
 a young lady. You muft be unacquainted 
 with nothing that appertains to good houfe- 
 wifery. Some girls have I known profefs 
 fo violent an attachment to literary pur- 
 fuits, that they are content to remain igno 
 rant of common attainments. This (hews 
 a pitiable weaknefs elevated minds are 
 attentive to every thing ; and, believe me, 
 it is very poflible to poflefs a competent 
 knowledge of polite literature, and be well 
 verfed in the methods of well governing a 
 
244 RUDIMENTS OF TASTE. 
 
 ho rife at the fame time- the latter quali 
 fications have of themfelves conftituted 
 many an ufeful character in female life, 
 which is more than can be faid of the for 
 mer. Blend, therefore, my beloved girls, 
 polite with ufeful acquirement, and you 
 will be what 1 wifh you. 
 
 In writing, acquire, if poffible, a good 
 hand, yet that is not fo effentially neceflary 
 as the being able to write grammatically- 
 the violation of the common rules of gram 
 mar, is an indifputable mark of low breed 
 ing ; and although my Lord Cheflerfield 
 farcaflically faid that bad fpeliing was only 
 allowable in a woman, it certainly is not 
 allowable in any one, who pretends to an 
 education above the vulgar. Could you 
 
 write as fine a hand as even A n foim- 
 
 felf, bad fpeliing would difgrace the whole. 
 The fubftituting have for has, are for /j, 
 &c. infallibly links you in the eftimation 
 of well bred perfons. In order to avoid 
 errors of this kind, habit is to be particu- 
 
RUDIMENTS OF TASTE. 45 
 
 larly guarded againft. If in your early 
 years you are not careful to write and fpeli 
 corredly, it is a thoufand to one if you 
 ever do. You fee, therefore, of what con- 
 fequence it is that you pay a prefent atten 
 tion to thefe points. 
 
 I reckon among the ufeful attainments, 
 the ability of penning an epiftle with pro 
 priety and elegance many fortunate cir- 
 cumftances in life may be facilitated there 
 by a well written letter has often eft'ed- 
 ed what verbal requefls have fought in 
 vain befides this confideration, how great 
 ly mud the fweet intercourfe of friendfhip 
 be improved by a free and intelligent cor- 
 refpondence ! Two friends,- though placed 
 at the extremities of the globe, may thus 
 enjoy all the pleafures of fuch a connec 
 tion ; but except you attain the defirable 
 habit of expreffing your fentiments with 
 out embarraffment, hope not to enjoy any 
 thing of fo delicate a fatisfadion. Letters 
 fliould be the pidures of the foul ; and fo 
 V 
 
246 RUDIMENTS OF TASTE. 
 
 they always would be if people acquired 
 only the fkill of expreffing their thoughts 
 juft as they arife. Write as you would 
 fpeak, were the perfons you addrefs imme 
 diately before you. There is no more 
 than this neceflary to eftablifh that eafmefs 
 of ftyle which is the chief beauty of epif- 
 tolary correfpondence. That good breed 
 ing which I hope will be habitual to you, 
 will dictate thofe terms and forms of ad 
 drefs, the condition of thofe to whom you 
 write requires, We do not always find 
 the moft learned people write the moft 
 agreeable letters perhaps for no other 
 reafon than that they take too much trou 
 ble about it, and, like the good Archbifhop 
 of Benevento, rejed the firft thought that 
 occurs. Some that I have known indite an 
 epiftle in fuch a (tiff and formal ftyle, and 
 load it fo difguftfully with tautology, that 
 one would almoft take it for an A<5t of Par 
 liament. When you write a letter, my 
 dear girls, forget the idea of pen, ink and 
 paper fuppofe only you are fpeaking to 
 
RUDIMENTS OF TASTK. 247 
 
 the perfon, and you will write an agreea 
 ble, if not a fine letter to effect the latter, 
 fomething muft have been effected by 
 dame Nature however, this I know 
 that the moft elevated fentiments would 
 not look graceful in fuch competitions, ex 
 cept accompanied by perfecl eafe and ex- 
 preffion, and have the appearance of flow 
 ing fpontaneoufly from the heart. Many 
 excellent models of epiftolary writing have 
 been recommended to young proficients. 
 You cannot have better than thofe afcrlbed 
 to Pope Ganganelli ; whoever was the 
 author, he has certainly hit on that eafe, 
 fprightlinefs and elegance, which it is my 
 earned wifh may charaderife whatever 
 falls from your pen. Would to Heaven 
 that all the world poffeffed the fame can 
 dor and liberality of fentiment which 
 breathes through every one of thofe ele 
 gant epiftles. 
 
LETTER VIII. 
 
 W MEN you compare the auk ward 
 u.i.-tioiis of a ruftic, with the genteel 
 and graceful movement of a per ion of 
 education, you cannot but be allured of 
 the utility of dancing, but it ftiould ne 
 ver be forgotten, that to give this fupe- 
 riority of mein and air is the chief end 
 of that polite accomplifnment ; to lofc 
 fight of this idea, is to take away the 
 real worth of that branch, of genteel ed 
 ucation : to reduce it to an unimpor 
 tant, if not pernicious attainment. How 
 ever a knowledge of dancing may fome- 
 times conduce to focial pleafure, and in 
 that light be efteemed an agreeable and 
 innocent recreation, I cannot help think 
 ing, that the fame application that is rc- 
 quifite to form an opera dancer, may 
 very well be difpenfed with in a young 
 lady of a different character. The ex 
 travagant leaps and geftures of fome fa- 
 
RUDIMENTS OF TASTE. 
 
 (liionable females, make me think of the 
 fpeech of Philip of Macedon to his fon, 
 on another occafion 1 am ready to afk 
 if they " are not aftiamed to dance fo 
 well." 
 
 There is fcarcely a human foul, how 
 ever apparently dead to feniibility, but 
 is in fome meafure alive to the extatic 
 charms of mufic. The ftory of Orphe 
 us is more than a fable minds almoft as 
 inert and inanimate as trees themfelves, 
 have been moved by the power of har 
 monious (bunds : why elfe does the gap 
 ing ruflic, follow with fuch manifeft de 
 light, the itinerant mufician ; and why 
 but that the effect of mulic on the paf- 
 fions is fo inconteflibly proved, has the 
 army adopted the fons of Apollo with 
 thofe of Mars ? Since then this icience 
 has fo great an influence on the feelings 
 of the foul, is it not fur prizing that the 
 polite world ihould not be more ambi 
 tious of enjoying thofe fubiime fenfatioiis, 
 V 2 
 
250 RUDIMENTS OF TASTE. 
 
 which the bcft pieces are fo abundantly 
 capable of exciting, and not reft poorly 
 fatisfied with the hike warm pleafures of 
 {ing-long, while the noble compoiitions 
 of great matters, lie bye totally difre- 
 garded. Indulge, my dear girls, a turn 
 for mufic, if nature has given you fuch ; 
 but do not permit a fong tune, or an 
 opera air to be the limits of your excel 
 lence in that enchanting fcience. 
 
 Drawing, painting, fkc. juftly form a 
 part of polite education, becaufe they fur- 
 nifli an agreeable, as well as rational amufe- 
 inent. They lead to a familiarity with 
 the beauties of nature, and that can fcarce- 
 ly fail to advance the mind a degree high 
 er, even to the contemplation of her Di 
 vine Author. But if it had not this hap 
 py tendency, drawing is ftill a laudable a- 
 rnufement, becaufe an innocent one; and 
 whatever furnrfhes a recreation of that 
 character, may certainly be deemed an 
 auxiliary Jo virtue, 
 
RUDIMENTS OF TASTE, 25! 
 
 An acquaintance with the languages of 
 palite nations, greatly enlarges the mind. 
 It is the property of ignorance to eileem 
 nothing valuable that a foreign country 
 produces ; and fcarcely to allow that its 
 inhabitants are human. Nothing tends 
 more immediately to remove fuch illibe 
 ral prejudices, than Undying the language 
 of the people thus defpifed. The fuper- 
 cilious contemner is furprifed to find them 
 rational, and exprefling iimilar ideas with 
 tbofe of his own country. 
 
 If necefiity or inclination ever leads 
 you from your native land, a previous ac 
 quaintance with the language of tbofe you 
 re fide among, would much facilitate your 
 pleaiure and convenience ; would open 
 to you the avenues of focial love and 
 friendfhip, and take off much from thofe 
 comfortlefsfenfations the mind is apt to 
 feel in the idea of being amongft a people 
 it knows not. For this end, perhaps it 
 may be fufficient to acquire a knowledge 
 
RUDIMENTS OF TASTE. 
 
 of the French tongue, that being general 
 ly underftood by intelligent perfons of 
 every European nation. But there is 
 another advantage attending this branch 
 of polite accomplifhrnent, and which pro 
 bably to you, my dear girls will be the 
 moil ufeful I mean the being able to read 
 in their original, thofe beautiful compofi- 
 tions which lofe many of their excellencies 
 by tranflation ; for this reafon become ac 
 quainted alfo with the Italian : but Ho 
 mer and Virgil you tell me have beauties 
 that can never be tranflated true, yet 
 thefe, I fancy, you mufi be content to tafte 
 as pure as the labors of the learned afford 
 them ; the Greek and Latin tongues, form 
 ing no part in the polite fyftem of female 
 education at prefent, nor certainly ever 
 can in the ufeful. 
 
 Arithmetic is a dry fludy, yet certain 
 ly a very ufeful one, to thofe who would 
 manage their affairs with ceconomy and 
 prudence ; a thorough knowledge of the 
 
RUDIMENTS OF TASTE. 
 
 four firft rules, is fufficient to enable you 
 to do it. 
 
 From a total ignorance of letters in 
 female life, we are advanced to an age 
 which requires every girl to be made a 
 grammarian ; yet it unfortunately hap 
 pens, that of the numbers who profefs to 
 have ftudied the grammar of their na 
 tive tongue, few fpcak or write it with 
 that accuracy which could be wiflied ; 
 indeed the progress that women ufually 
 make in that fcience, is fcldom of itfelf 
 fufficient to give an habitual elegance of 
 expreilton ; they are more indebted for 
 it to frequent reading of the bed authors, 
 and the converfation of thofe who have 
 themfelves acquired it perfect ; what 
 you can, acquire of v grammar by fuch 
 adiilances of thefe. There is an indif- 
 penfable neceffity for you to write and 
 fpeak Engtifii correftly ; acquire that 
 qualification as eafily as you can, but 
 nothing will more facilitate it than the 
 methods I have mentioned. 
 
254 RUDIMENTS OF TASTE. 
 
 Geography is a ftudy that will pleafe 
 you an hundred times better this is not 
 like the former, a fet of dry rules, but 
 almoft every advance you make therein, 
 will abundantly repay your pains by the 
 novelty of the information it produces. 
 Befidcs, I cannot imagine how the fre 
 quent relations that occur in common 
 difcourfe will be intelligible, without 
 fome acquaintance with this ftudy. I am 
 fure if you are no geographer, even a 
 newfpaper will be as inexplicable as an 
 Egyptian hieroglyphic. Attain a com 
 petent knowledge of the globe on which 
 you live, that your apprehenfion of infi 
 nite wifdom may be enlarged ; which it 
 will be in a much higher degree, if you 
 take care to acquire a general idea of the 
 ftru&ure of the univerfe. It is not ex- 
 pefted you fhould become adepts in aftro- 
 nomy, but a knowledge of its leading 
 principles you may and ought to obtain. 
 The French, with their ufual attention 
 to the fex, have procured them a gentle- 
 
RUDIMENTS OF TASTE. 255' 
 
 man uftier, if I may fo fpeak, to the pla 
 netary orbs, Fontanelle introduces 
 
 them to an acquaintance with that bril 
 liant aflembly it is not the firft inftance 
 in which our agreeable neighbours have 
 blended the refearches of the fcholar, 
 with the politenefs of a fine gentleman. 
 
 Avail yourfelves of fuch ingenious af- 
 nceSj and be all your Cornelia wifnes. 
 
LETTER IX. 
 
 
 
 jC\N accomplished character, has fo 
 many charms, that nothing needs be faid 
 to induce you to ivi/b, at leaft, for its at 
 tainment. Yet painful application muft 
 render that wifh effeflual a reflexion 
 however that fhould excite your emulation, 
 rather than defpondency trivial acquire 
 ments may content the indolent and timid, 
 but the arduous and difficult are the pro 
 per aim of elevated minds. Courage be 
 longs not to the warrior alone it is as of 
 ten found in the clofet, as the field. 
 
 That refokuion which is neceiTary for 
 every valuable purpofe of life, is the fruit 
 only of acflive minds, and was never found 
 with indolence and (loth ; -determine 
 therefore to conquer every tendency to an 
 inactive temper. ^ henever you feel in 
 yourfelves an inaptitude for doing what 
 necelTarily ought to be done, rouze that 
 
RUDIMENTS OF TASTE. 
 
 moment, or you will give ground to an 
 enemy the moft deftrudlive to happinefs 
 and virtue ; and who once entrenched is 
 hard to be diflodged. Never defer to the 
 next hour, that which fliould be the bufi- 
 iiefs of the prefent. " Whatever thy 
 hand iindeth to do, do it, with all thy 
 might," faid a very wife man many hun 
 dred years ago ; indeed there is no pre 
 cept throughout the facrecl writings, in 
 culcated with greater energy than this 
 of diligence. It is the foul of virtue 
 the foundation of honor and effluence. 
 
 Many a bright and mining talent lies 
 hid in a napkin, for want of activity to 
 unfold it ; nor do we unfrequently meet 
 with perfcns ftruggling with diftreflc-s, 
 which require only their own exertions 
 to remove. Indolence takes hold of the 
 difpoiition muchoftener'than is acknow 
 ledged ; it is pofiible to be wholly under 
 its dominion, and yet iulpetl nothing of 
 it ; and, what is yet more ftrange, to be- 
 W 
 
2^ RUDIMENTS OF TASTE. 
 
 lieve one's felf to be the moft diligent 
 perfon in the world at the very time. 
 You have feen numbers of bulling peo 
 ple, who are always in a hurry, and fo 
 perplexed do they appear with bufmefs, 
 as never to be able to enjoy a friend or 
 thcmiclves. It would feern hard at firil 
 fight, to accufe them of indolence, and 
 yet they are of all people mod com 
 monly under its power : for an ha 
 bitual diligence would fo comfortably 
 arrange the affairs of life, that none would 
 be found to intrude on another. Conii- 
 c!er the furprifmg difpatch with which 
 fome in public ftations, manage a multi 
 plicity of the moft important concerns ; 
 to contemplate them, one would al- 
 moft conclude, nothing too extenfive for 
 the compafs of the human mind ; dili 
 gence is the charm which effedts it all. 
 
 In that difmal catalogue of difeafes 
 which imbitter mortality, not a few owe 
 their exiftence to indolence. The indi 
 gent labourer who toils for daily bread, 
 
RUDIMENTS OF T.ASTE. 259 
 
 knows nothing of that fad train of ner 
 vous diforders which render life itfelf 
 burdenfoine to the wealthy. In fome 
 cafes, poverty might jnftly be called a 
 bleffiiig. Great are the achievements 
 which refolution and diligence. can effect: 
 in nothing is their power more confpi- 
 cuoufly feen, than in the cultivation of 
 the mind ; to reflecl on the progrefs of the 
 human underftanding -to compare the 
 refinements of philosophy with a ftate of 
 favage nature a. Newton, with an inhabi 
 tant of New Holland, we fhould alrnoft 
 conclude fome fupernatural power muft 
 have contributed to give the former fo in 
 finite a, fuperiority in the fcale of beings. 
 Without the quality I have reco.mm ended 
 it could never have been attained, for 
 though much be owing to accidental ad 
 vantages, fuch as the being born in an en 
 lightened country afford, yet no inconfi- 
 derable portion of diligence is required to 
 render thefe advantages perfonally effec 
 tual- It is this, my dear girls, that makes 
 them yours, and without it, the foul will 
 
*6o RUDIMENTS OF TASTE. 
 
 remain as uninformed as if deflined to a 
 i where fcience never dans a cheering 
 beam. 
 
 Ic may feem flrange to tell you of old 
 nge, before you have fcarcely paiTed your 
 infancy ; yet I muft not conceal from you, 
 that a period will arrive, when exterior at 
 tractions will be no more : when mental 
 acquirements will prove your higheftlufire 
 and fublimeft comfort. However defpi- 
 cable an ignorant woman appears at any 
 part of her life, in the decline of it (he is 
 fure to become far more contemptible ; at 
 that time it is the improvements fhe has 
 made in early days, that give' dignity of 
 character. An old age of cards neceffari- 
 ly fucceeds a youth of folly. Pope could 
 not have faid any thing more deftrudttve 
 of the infignificancy of thofe ancient ha 
 bits, than he has expreffed in that concife 
 fatire. If you would avoid the contempt 
 which never fails to attend a frivolous old 
 age, you muft pafs a youth of diligence and 
 application. 
 
RUDIMENTS OF TASTE* 261 
 
 But then the pleafures refulting from 
 it furpafs defcription, the fatisfadions of a 
 rich cultivated mind are only fully known 
 to the happy pofTeffor ; one of them, we 
 areaffured, is a noble independence, which 
 creates, if I may fo fpeak, its own happi- 
 nefs ; is not indebted to diffipation, or the 
 caprice of others ; but can derive from 
 itfelf, exhauftlefs refources for folitude or 
 fociety. Ordinary perfons are obliged tg 
 fly from Ennui to the regions of amufe- 
 ment, but fuperior beings, who have tra- 
 verfed the fields of ufeful and polite know 
 ledge, can from themfelves ieled materi 
 als for the moll exquifite enjoyment. 
 
 Do you think this an acquifition worth 
 deftring then never forg'et that it can be 
 obtained only by diligence and aclive in- 
 duftry. Habits of indolence are deftruc- 
 tive of every valuable attainment, and 
 they are as much fo of happinefs, as they 
 are known to be of virtue. 
 W2 
 
LETTER X. 
 
 CULTIVATED minds have plea- 
 fnres which furpafs the vulgar apprehen- 
 fion. They have their pains a:s well 
 for there is an evil peculiar to refined 
 feeling, of which the untaught ruftic is 
 happily ignorant. This happens when 
 refinement, or at leaft the affectation of 
 it, is carried to fuch an extreme, that 
 it degenerates into falfe delicacy. The 
 fyrnptoms of the malady are a kind of 
 fccret dilfatisfaftion with every thing 
 the common bleifings of life are defpiied, 
 as inadequate to the refinement of their 
 ideas, and every petty flight augmented 
 by fuch aquicknefsof perception , as leads 
 them to fee affronts, when none perhaps 
 have been intended. And this peevifh- 
 ]y irritable temper they are pleafcd to 
 dignify with the name of fenfibility, and 
 pique themfelves on a difpofition that 
 difqualifies them for focial virtue or focial 
 
RUDIMENTS OF TASTE. 
 
 happinefs. What pity, that a quality 
 meant to highten every real bleffing, 
 fhouldbeafcribed to the mere chimera of 
 ailckly brain! Never may you, my dears, 
 by indulging theie fi&itibus feelings, re 
 fine away the felicity which a kind Pro 
 vidence -fcattersinyourpath of life. Nou- 
 rifh in your bofoms humility and good na 
 ture thefe will teach you to make the 
 bed of your lot, whatever it be, and give 
 a reliili to every enjoyment all is i'erene 
 where they refide. Humility, by arro 
 gating nothing to herlelf, remains un 
 hurt at the fuperciiious (corn of igno. 
 ranee or pride; and good-nature, by 
 calling a veil over the foibles of others,, 
 prefents to our view the bed fide of this 
 motley fcene. 
 
 Without doubt, fuperior minds have 
 a quicker fenfe of what is beautiful in 
 nature, or deferable in life, than a pea- 
 fant, whofe ideas extend not beyond his 
 daily occupations perhaps they feel al- 
 
SC^ RUDIMENTS OF TASTE. 
 
 ib more acutely the evils of their condi 
 tion ; yet theperfons \vh noil by 
 this affected ienfibility are nui they who 
 have the greateit lhare of cfflldive events, 
 but the idly fpeculative, who being em 
 ployed to no good pnrpofe, have time to 
 nourifh thofe artificial feelings which 
 Nature knows nothing of. 
 
 Senfibility ! What is it ? Is it not 
 that delicate perception of natural and 
 moral beauty, which the Creator has 
 implanted in the foul to exalt its happi- 
 nefs, and awaken its nobleft paffions ? 
 How greatly, then, do they err who fub- 
 ftitute in the room of this bed gift of 
 Heaven, that which is the very weaknefs 
 of humanity, pride and peevifhnefs ? 
 
 It is paying a very poor compliment 
 to literary purfuits, to fuppofe they are 
 productive of that foftnefs which unfits 
 the mind for enduring the common ac 
 cidents of life. And thofe attainments 
 
RUDIMENTS OF TASTE. $5 
 
 are of little value that ferve no better 
 purpofe than to barb the arrows of mis 
 fortune with flings which the enlighten 
 ed never feel. But probably they who 
 dream of fuch effects are the fuperficial, 
 who never dived beyond the furface of 
 literature, and whofe feeble intellects are 
 unable to digeft even the little they have 
 imbibed. 
 
 If you have really made any advance 
 ment in mental improvement, it will in 
 vigorate the powers of the foul, and in- 
 fpire her with that magnanimity which 
 is certainly neceflary to the happinefs 
 of a being, who is every moment expof- 
 ed to forrow and difappointment. Va 
 lue not yourfelves on any refinements 
 that are (hort of this effeft. 
 
 Some, I know, are even reftrained 
 from the exercif : of benevolence by this 
 affectation of fenfibility ; their feelings 
 are too tender to bear with fcenes of dif- 
 
266 RUDIMENTS. OF TASTE. 
 
 trefs, and too refined for the duties of 
 focial life ; they therefore keep at an 
 unfriendly diftance from fociety, left 
 the ignorance or rudenefs they there 
 may meet with, fhould wound their ex- 
 ceffivci delicacy , but how is this obey 
 ing the injun&ion of the Apoftle, who 
 exhorts us to be kindly affeclioned one 
 to another, bearing with each others in- 
 firmities ? 
 
 In fine, my dear girls, come to the 
 feaft of focial life, accompanied by the 
 virtues of humility and charity, and you 
 will not arife diflatisfied from the enter* 
 tainment. 
 
LETTER XI. 
 
 HAVE often thought that the great 
 prevalence of vice arifes chiefly from a 
 culpable weaknefs of temper for there is 
 nothing fo amiable in it that it fhould be 
 followed for its own fake. It is the mere 
 want of refolution that betrays fuch num 
 bers into the dreadful abyfs of fin and mi- 
 fefy. 
 
 " The world's dread laugh 
 " Scarce e'en the firm Philofopher can bear." 
 
 But, in my opinion he muft be a poor 
 philofopher who cannot, and would have 
 made but a forry figure in the portico or 
 lyceum. 
 
 It is not meant to inculcate to you a 
 boifterous, imperious carriage. May my 
 girls poffefs every feminine grace and vir 
 tue, but thefe cannot be fupported with 
 out fome portion of refolnlion. There is 
 
268 RUDIMENTS OF TASTE. 
 
 a proper firmnefs, without which neither 
 virtue, happinefs, or dignity of character 
 can be long maintained. Diftruft thofe 
 who extol the foft irrefolution of the lex 
 it is the very rock on which thoufands of 
 deluded females have been loft. 
 
 Be pofTefied of the true principles of ho 
 nour and reditude, and dare to adhere to 
 them in fpite of felicitation, or that ftill 
 more powerful means of temptation, ridi 
 cule. Elrablifh your opinions on truth and 
 realbn, and maintain them, when neceffa- 
 ry, with firmnefs; fome people give up 
 both their faith and their friends, for want 
 of refolution to defend them. 
 
 Too weak to think, too indolent to chufe. 
 
 In bufmefs, and the affairs of life, a 
 proper firmnefs is indifpenfably neceffary. 
 Thofe who can be influenced by every ad- 
 vifer, or intimidated at every appearance 
 of difficulty, rauft of courfe be defuitory 
 
RUDIMENTS OF TASTE. 
 
 and unfettled. They effe<5t nothing of con- 
 . fequence, becaufe they know not how to 
 perfevere in any undertaking. Obftacles 
 will attend the belt concerted fchemes, and 
 mankind will ever think differently about 
 them ; but the truly wife will await with 
 fteady patience the iffue of thofe meafures 
 they have been careful to found in pru 
 dence and the moral fitnefs of things. 
 Some will undertake nothing, till they 
 fee the path fmooth before them, and 
 attain almoft a certainty of fuccefs. Such 
 will find their lives wafted, before they 
 have determined on the plan of it. Thofe 
 who bed know the (late of humanity, will 
 be convinced, that to defign prudently 
 and aft firmly, is all that can be done 
 by mortals. 
 
 Without refolution, it will fometimes 
 be impoflible to ad agreeably to the dic 
 tates of right reafon, and virtue, for thefe 
 are not always the ton y and when that is 
 the cafe, no inconfiderable (hare of forti- 
 X 
 
RUDIMENTS OF TASTE. 
 
 tude is requifue to repel the attacks of ri 
 dicule or amuiement nor can the trea- 
 fures of knowledge be explored, without 
 a portion of it for, " there is nothing 
 truly valuable to be attained without pains 
 and labour." Difrcayed at the profped, the 
 indolent, cs defcribed by Solomon, cry, 
 " a lion is in the ftreet" Rather may my 
 dear girls be animated with a nobler ar 
 dour, to iurmount every difficulty which 
 would retard their acquifition of merit and 
 felicity. ParnaiTus itfelf was a craggy rock, 
 but then the mufes, dwelt on its top. 
 
 But if refolution be neceflary to the 
 attaining whatever is valuable or defirable 
 in life, it is no lefs fo to the fupporting 
 us under a deprivation of it. The race is 
 not to the fwift, nor the battle to the 
 ftrong hence it follows, .that the wifeft 
 meafures do not always meet with fuccefs, 
 nor can virtue itfelf prevent the encroach 
 ments of afflicfi ion in fuch circumftances 
 fortitude gives a dignity to fufYering, and 
 
RUDIMENTS OF TASTE. f l"]\ 
 
 tends alfo to alleviate the weight of it. 
 Every one knows the fentiment of the phi- 
 lofopher " that a good man ftruggling 
 " with adverfity, is a fight on which the 
 " gods themfelves might look down with 
 " delight." However that be, it is certain 
 that fuch a character never fails to com 
 mand the refped and veneration of man 
 kind. Magnanimity, of all the qualities 
 f the mind, feems moll fecure of admi 
 ration. The Saviour of the world incul 
 cated it, when having forvvarned his difci- 
 ples of their approaching fuiferings, he 
 enjoined them to poffefs their fouls in pa 
 tience. Patience is amongft the Chriftian 
 duties, what magnanimity is in the lift of 
 heroic virtues. They are fynonimows 
 termsboth imply that calm, unfhaken 
 fortitude, which is at once charaderiftic 
 of the hero and the Chriftian. 
 
 But do not conclude this firmnefs of 
 mind this laudable refolution is calcula 
 ted only to be admired. It is of the high- 
 
272 RUDIMENTS OF TASTE*. 
 
 eft a<5Uial fervice to the unfortunate, not 
 only by enabling them to fuftain the bur 
 den of their fufferings, but by opening a 
 way to better profpecfts. The timid and 
 irrefolute fink at the approach of adverfity, 
 into a defpondency the moft "unfriendly to 
 their affairs, by precluding that courage 
 ous induftry which might render them 
 more tolerable; and therefore, by the na 
 ture of things, 'augment the very evils of 
 which they complain. 
 
 Cultivate in all circuuiftances this in 
 nate conftancy it will aid you in the at 
 tainment of every good and valuable end. 
 In profperity, will fecure you from the 
 corruptions of vanity impart dignity and 
 ferenity to adverfity. In fine, you cannot, 
 I think, but be fleady in the praftice of 
 virtue, if you are firm in the expectation 
 ef its rewards. 
 
LETTER XII. 
 
 .Y epiftles to you, ray dear girls, 
 are written without the leaft attention to 
 method ; their refpective fuhjeds have 
 more the appearance of chance, than de- 
 fig n ; and therefore, may be juftly cal 
 led curfory thoughts on various fubjeds. 
 Young folks, I know, do not love precife 
 rules, and perhaps you deem the irregu 
 larity of my letters their chief merit. Al 
 low them, however, one more that of 
 fincerity, and believe that the fentiments 
 they contain, flow from the heart ; I be 
 lieve, I need not add the word fponta- 
 neoujly* 
 
 As I difclaiin all methodical arrange 
 ment of my fubjeds, I will here give you 
 my thoughts, on that very important part 
 of female ftudy, drefs. Be not afraid thst 
 I am about to confine you to a primitive 
 plairmefs, though prcbably, fucli a mode 
 
274 RUDIMENTS OF TASTE. 
 
 may be found more advantageous to beau 
 ty and elegance, than modern finery ; 
 yet I fhall recommend that which is at 
 once agreeable to fafhion, and your own 
 rank and circumflances. To reconcile 
 thefe three conditions, is no eafy tafk, yet 
 herein lies a chief perfedion of the female 
 character ; few women poflefs the happy 
 art; yet thofe who do, muft be allowed 
 a very fuperior degree of merit. It is no 
 inconfiderable trait in the character of an 
 amiable young lady, that {he knows how 
 to fupport a genteel appearance ; and yet 
 pay a juft regard to the frugality, which 
 probably her limited circumflances re 
 quire. 
 
 A fantaftical and cxpenfive turn in 
 drefs, is the certain mark of a little mind ; 
 but that attention to it, which principally 
 regards neatnefs, is extremely laudable. 
 Refolve to be always neat, or you can ne 
 ver be well-drefied? a dirty ruffle, a 
 lorn apron, &e. are fufficient to difgrace 
 
RUDIMENTS OF TASTE. 2.75 
 
 the mofl fplendid apparel. Neatnefs is al 
 ways in your power, and will always ren 
 der you refpeftable in whatever rank of 
 life you are placed ; but finery without it 
 is nothing more than a ridiculous glare, 
 which is never feen but with difgufK 
 
 Fafhion has impofed fome general 
 rules, which may innocently be followed 
 under the reftridions I have mentioned. 
 Your clothes may be made according to 
 the mode, though the materials which 
 compofe them, be lefs coflly than if they 
 belonged to a dutchefs. An uncouth, ill- 
 fafhioned habit, derogates even from the 
 importance of a philofopher; and it is not 
 till after a near acquaintance, that merit is 
 difcovered through a (liabby garment 
 fo much are mankind governed by appear 
 ance. 
 
 11 Prithee good Xenocrates (faid Plato 
 to his pupil) facrifice to the graces." That 
 great man knew how much the mental ac- 
 
2y6 RUDIMENTS OF TASTE. 
 
 complifliments might be iliuftrated and 
 adorned by a pol : ihed exterior ; a wife 
 perfon, it is true, would not make this al 
 together the criterion of merit, yet per 
 haps, would not readily look for worth be 
 neath an ungraceful exterior. 
 
 After all, my dear girls, efteem the 
 frivolous, though often troublefome arts 
 , of drefs, but as a tax you are in fome 
 fort obliged to pay to the folly of the age. 
 Remember on all occalions, that external 
 ornaments cannot make you better or hap 
 pier women. Great minds, however they 
 may have judged it necefiary to conform 
 to infigniricant "cuftoms, have always re 
 garded them in their proper light, The 
 attention fuch are feen to fhew to the idol 
 faftiion, is only a good natured condefceti- 
 iion to the weaknefs of mankind, in points 
 they judge of an indifferent nature, and 
 much too trifling to become the objects of 
 their ferious cares. The filly and ignor 
 ant are they who love drefs for its own fake. 
 
LETTER XIII. 
 
 EXT to our own principles, we 
 are to regard thofe of our companions ; 
 for they are almoft of as much impor 
 tance to us, as by long and intimate ac 
 quaintance they generally become our 
 own. Virtuous habits are ftrengthened 
 by example fo are vicious ones, but in 
 a much h'-ghcr degree ; nothing there 
 fore can be a point of greater confe- 
 quence than the choice of companions. 
 
 A great deal has been written on the 
 fubjeft, and every one who has the care 
 of youth, fails not to inculcate the keep 
 ing good company ; the only misfor 
 tune is, that the term has feldotn been 
 fufficiently explained, and the young 
 mind is left to annex to it the ideas of 
 birth and fortune, till by degrees the cx- 
 preffion is fuppofed to imply both thefe 
 qualifications. 
 
2y RUDIMENTS OF TASTE. 
 
 The refult has been the diilurbance 
 of all order in focial life ; each clafs of 
 people quitting their own fphere to a 
 fociate with thofe of fuperior rank ; and 
 thefe again, infpircd by the fan,ie fenti- 
 ment, repel with (corn the ambitious at 
 tempt folicitous only to attract the no 
 tice of ftill greater folks than themfelves. 
 Thus in the room of that focial amity 
 with which the human heart (hould over 
 flow, it is unhappily divided between 
 the throbbings of ambition, and the 
 pangs of offended pride, 
 
 It is evident, that in this buftle, great 
 er attention is paid to the accidental cir- 
 cumfiances of rank and affluence, than 
 to real merit ; we fliould not elfe fo of 
 ten fee people of the middling rank, 
 when flattered by the notice of a fupe 
 rior, fo elated with the honour of keep 
 ing, what they call good company ; 
 when perhaps, that fuperior is confpicu- 
 ous for ahnoit every vice and meanncfs. 
 
RUDIMENTS OF TASTE. 
 
 This is a grand miftakc iurely as fatal 
 to happine-:^ as to morals. 
 
 Good company can only mean perfons. 
 of noble fentiments, refined manners, and 
 enlightened underftandings. But thefe 
 qualities are not to be expected, where the 
 learnings of fortune, has abfolutely exclud 
 ed the means of education ; for the human 
 mind becomes every thing by culture. It 
 is therefore found, that in the lower ranks 
 of fociety, where poverty has denied time 
 and abilities for that happy employ, the 
 worft habits, and moft depraved morals 
 prevail ; for this reafon you are not to 
 chufe companions from fuch a clafs. 
 
 In fine, your aflbciates muft be thofe 
 of a liberal and virtuous education. It 
 may happen you may find a friend of this 
 defcription, whofe relative or neceffary 
 connection, may not be eligible for you. 
 In this cafe (he is by no means a proper 
 companion, as her own merit, however 
 
280 RUDIMENTS OF TASTE. 
 
 great, will not compenfate for the danger 
 you incur in frequently mingling with per- 
 fons of improper charader. 
 
 A cultivated mind is the proper foil 
 for every moral and focial virtue it is 
 moft likely to be found where Heaven has 
 beftowed an eafy fortune, confequently 
 the genteeler ranks of life will be moft 
 likely to afford you proper companions. 
 But here let merit alone, and not adven 
 titious circumftances, influence your felec- 
 tion defpife that contemptible weaknefs 
 which piques itfelf on the rank, rather than 
 the mental value of an acquaintance ; and 
 never let a principle of vanity lead you to 
 the fervile imitation of vice or folly, how 
 ever farufHoned by wealth or titles. Little 
 minds are ever dazzled by (hew and fplen- 
 dour it is the property of the enlighten 
 ed only todiftinguifh peifonal worth from 
 external advantages. I fhould think you 
 difgractd by an acquaintance with anEm- 
 pre-s, if (he was not as much diftinguifhed 
 by virtue as power. 
 
RUDIMENTS OF TASTE. 281 
 
 Be careful not to form an acquaintance 
 too haflily many a virtuous girl has funk 
 for ever in the efleem of the world, by be 
 ing feen in company with thofe of doubt 
 ful reputation. In vain fhe declares her 
 ignorance of the real character of her com 
 panions. She having admitted them to 
 her fociety without the requifite invefti- 
 gation of that point, infallibly renders her 
 own prudence fufpected. 
 
 A very extenfive acquaintance is not 
 neceflary to focial happinefs. A few fe- 
 led friends will mod conduce to that end; 
 and it is among thefe that 
 
 << The free full converfe of the friendly heart" 
 
 flows with uninterruption and delight 
 unfeigned chearfulnefs and real enjoy 
 ment exift much oftener in thefe little 
 circles, than in large and ceremonious af- 
 femblies. But fhould your flation in life 
 render a large acquaintance unavoidable, 
 Y 
 
282 RUDIMENTS OF TASTE. 
 
 you will obferve to all, a free unreftrain- 
 ed politenefs, without admitting every one 
 indifcriminately to your confidence. Be 
 ever frank and eafy, without revealing 
 your own fecrets, or thofeof your friends, 
 and make none your intimates but thofe of 
 worth and honour. 
 
 Much, very much of human happinefs 
 depends on the proper choice of acquain 
 tance an ill chofen friend has power to 
 mar our felicity as much as an amiable and 
 faithful one contributes to it. The heart 
 is formed for focial intercourfe ; and when 
 that intercourfe is founded on the moral, 
 and religious virtues, it gives a zeft to 
 the other enjoyments of life. 
 
LETTER XIV. 
 
 
 
 HERE are certain reftri&ions ne- 
 cefTary to render the gift of fpeech what 
 the great Creator defigned it a princi 
 pal means of happinefs to hisrationl crea 
 tures. The iirft of thefe is an habitual 
 care never to violate the laws of truth. 
 The pleafures refulting from mutual con- 
 verfation vanifh entirely, when no de 
 pendence can be placed in the fpeaker's 
 veracity. Thofe who fpeak merely from 
 the fuggeftions of imagination, or, what 
 is worfe, malignity, are juftly charge 
 able with half the ftrife that diiiurbs the 
 peace of fociety. Such perfons are the 
 moil dangerous companions, arid need 
 only to be known to be generally difpif- 
 ed and avoided. Indeed, ib high a re 
 gard veracity obtains among people of 
 refinement, that you cannot ofFe, a. more 
 grofs affront than to accufe them of the 
 violation of it. 
 
284 RUDIMENTS OF TASTE. 
 
 Of all that has been fa id in admira 
 tion of Cato's character, nothing reflects 
 fo grea? a luflre on it, as that linking, 
 though tacit eulogiurn, beftowed on him 
 in one of the Roman Courts of Judica 
 ture, where a caufe being to be tried 
 which required two witneiTes, and one 
 only appearing, the Judge declared he 
 could not ciifpenfe with the law, even 
 though Cato hlmfdf ivere the tuitne/s. 
 
 Befides, as Archbifhop Tillotfon fine 
 ly .obferves, a conftant adherence to 
 truih has the lead trouble and difficulty 
 in it, it fits always upon the lips ; where 
 as a lye is troublefome,and needs a great 
 many more to make it good. 
 
 Next to the character of a liar, that 
 of the detradter is the mofl odious a 
 habit of traducing the reputation of 
 others, by fpeaking all the ill we have 
 heard of them, or putting the word con- 
 itrutionsoLi their aftions, is totally op- 
 
RUDIMENTS OF TASTE. 2^ 
 
 polite to the fpiritof Chriftianity, which 
 breathes nothing but candour and cha 
 rity. There is alto fomething extreme 
 ly mean in the practice, as the accufed 
 perfons have leklom an opportunity of 
 refuting the charge. The cruel alper- 
 iioii is borne on the wings of fcandal 
 from circle to circle, nor perhaps reach 
 es the injured party till the wound given 
 to reputation is too deep for cure. 
 
 Barbarous as Rich a cuflom is, I need 
 not fay how. greatly it prevails in almoft 
 all companies. I have, however, the 
 charity to believe it does not al ways pro 
 ceed from malice or envy. When no 
 knowledge has been treafured up in the 
 mind no ufeful information acquired, 
 converfation cannot receive aid from in- 
 telleftual ftores what then, muft be 
 come of it? muft it flag and filence 
 dreadful iilence reign ? No, fomething 
 rnuft re-kindle it ; and when no ration 
 al fubjedt ariies, that fomething muft be 
 Y2 
 
286 RUDIMENTS OF TASTE. 
 
 fcandal. This, though it maybe a pal 
 liation of the crime, is yet no excule ; 
 for the wounds given by unmeaning ig 
 norance are as deep as thofe inflicted by 
 premeditated rancour. How fhameful 
 is it that an impertinent eagernefs for 
 talking ftiould thus wantonly explore 
 the fecret receffes of domeftic life, and 
 prefume to judge of aftions, the motives 
 of which cannot be fcanned by thefe ig- 
 corant prattlers ! 
 
 The moll effectual way to fecure 
 yourfelves from the comrniffion of this 
 vice, will be the adorning your minds 
 with fuch acquifitions of knowledge, and 
 ufeful intelligence, as will enable you to 
 furnifti ibbjefts for converfation, with 
 out defcending to frivolity or detraction. 
 But (hould you not be fo happy as to pof- 
 fefs thefe defirable refources, I hope you 
 will have fo much candour and good 
 nature as to be content with being ac 
 counted a dull and lifelefs companion, 
 rather than indulge an eagernefs for talk- 
 
RUDIMENTS OF TASTE. 287 
 
 ing at the expence of other people's good 
 name, 
 
 Detra&ion is not only a violation of 
 the rules of religion, but is alfo fo impo 
 litic a crime, as no one who wiihes to 
 be well received in the world would 
 ever commit for a perfon who is ad 
 dicted to fcandal, is a terror to ibciety ; 
 the refpeft they receive, refembles the 
 homage the Indians are faid to pay to 
 the Devil, rather to evade his maligni 
 ty, than procure his love. And how 
 ever curiofity may, for a while, liftea 
 to an ill-natured anecdote, yet be affur- 
 ed, the relator is regarded with a fecret 
 difguft by every benevolent perfon, who 
 naturally experts to meet the fame cen- 
 forious fate, when opportunity ferves. 
 
 Good policy will therefore correct a 
 cenforious difpofition ; yet, I truft your 
 reftraint will be derived from a fuperior 
 motive, namely, the obligations of reli 
 gion, which forbid to fpeak evil of any, 
 
238 RUDIMENTS QF 'TASTE. 
 
 or to judge uncharitably of another. The 
 confciouthefs of having always obeyed 
 thefe divine injunctions, v, ill ailord the 
 conlblatton, under the pain you may 
 perhaps feel from the unjuil afperfions 
 of others for fuch, probably, you will 
 meet with in your journey of life, as no 
 innocence can always be a defence from 
 unmerited cenfure; and when this chan 
 ces to be your cafe, you will derive un- 
 fpeakable comfort, from the reflection 
 of having treated the world more gene- 
 rouily than it has treated you. 
 
 Whatever you fay, fliould be meant 
 for the entertainment or inftrutUon of 
 tiie company, rather than the gratifica 
 tion of vanity. Many are fo much actu 
 ated by felt-love, that they never fpeak 
 or adt, but to be applauded. Hence ari- 
 fes affectation the moll difgufting qua 
 lity in nature. Diliver your fentiments 
 as they occur, without affeCting more 
 graces in your tone or geliure than 
 
RUDIMENTS OF TASTE* 289 
 
 are your own thefe, well managed, 
 will be enougli to render you amiable. 
 All may be agreeable in their natural 
 fphere, but when they innovate on that 
 of others, the attempt is commonly 
 fruftrated. 
 
 Above all, never affeft that kind of 
 wit which aims at fevere retorts and re 
 partee it lias generally ill-nature for its 
 bails, and (eldom makes a Tally but it 
 procures an enemy, if it does net lofe a 
 friend. There is nothing in it to be ad 
 mired but the readinefs of thought, 
 which gives it birth but when the qua 
 lity feems aimed at, rather than poffeffed, 
 it is abfolutcly contemptible. 
 
 In fine fincerity; candour, and good 
 fcnfe, mnft be the ornaments of your 
 converfaUon. Politenefs will give an 
 agreeable ludre to thefe qualities, but 
 remember, it can never be a fubftitute 
 for them. 
 
LETTER XV. 
 
 JnLAIL politenefs, power divine !" 
 fays the fonnet, and furely no necefTary 
 invocation ; for politenefs, dear girls, is 
 the friend of focial happinefs and dome- 
 ftic peace ; if it was the fafhion, in this 
 age, to have houfehold gods, I would 
 furelygiveit a pre-eminent place amongft 
 them. 
 
 I know not how it happens, but peo 
 ple fcem to think, they are obliged to 
 be polite every where but at home 
 and there it is they are mod required to 
 be fo ; for the refined fatisfadtion of fo 
 cial intercourfe, cannot long fublift with 
 out it. I am convinced, that domeflic 
 quarrels and difgufbs, would much lel- 
 domer arife, if the parties were always 
 as polite as affectionate. 
 
 But what is poiitenefs is it the law 
 of faPaion, or a fyftem of rules? No 
 
RUDIMENTS OF TASTE. 
 
 it is the divine principle of benevolence, 
 branched into a thoufand little chan 
 nels, and flowing through all the mi 
 nutiae of human life. Education may 
 improve, but can never give it, for it 
 muft be founded in the foul, or is never 
 feen in full perfection. A painter may 
 learn the rules of defign, and the com 
 pendium of colours ; but if he pofieiTes 
 not the enthufiafm of the art, his pic 
 tures will be lifelefs and infipid. 
 
 i Politcnefs is that amiable difpofition, 
 which delights in the happinefs of others 
 confults their eafe prevents their 
 wants and yields them every poffible 
 convenience. This is the fource of thofe 
 civilities and attentions, which diftin- 
 guifti a well-bred pcrfon without it, 
 etiquette dwindles into unmeaning cere 
 mony. 
 
 You perceive then, that not only an 
 attention to external graces, but a regu- 
 
2p2 RUDIMENTS OF TASTE. 
 
 lation of the difpofition is neceffary to 
 conftitutc a polite perfon. Acquire the 
 amiable temper I have defcribed, and 
 you will infallibly pleafe with that na 
 tive eafe which is thought fo requifite 
 to be attained, that the world has fub^ 
 flituted in its room its wretched refem- 
 blance, effrontery : but no more like 
 the amiable original, than an ordinary 
 ftatue to the Venus of Medicis. 
 
 I have often thought, that the beft 
 Chriftian is likely to be the mo ft polite 
 perfon. This is an aflertion you have not 
 been ufed to hear, yet may well enough 
 be warranted by the tenor of the gofpel 
 precepts, which inculcate the being ten 
 der of another's weaknefs to prefer each 
 other in honor to give refpeft where 
 due with others to the like purpofc. 
 Now if thefe excellent lefTons contain 
 (as I think will be allowed) the fubftance 
 of what, at this clay, is termed good 
 breeding. St. Paul muft be a better 
 
RUDIMENTS OF TASTE. 293 
 
 teacher than my lord Chefterfield him- 
 felf, fmce he breathes the enlivening 
 fpirit, without which the ceremonial 
 code is a lifelefs fyftem, calculated per 
 haps to difguife the heart, but not to add 
 one iota to the real happincfs of focial 
 life. 
 
LETTER XVI. 
 
 NOTHING is more talked of than 
 religion nothing lefs underilood with 
 out comprehending what it really is, the 
 fpirit of bigotry would arrogate the whole, 
 nor allow of its being without the contra 
 cted pale of a particular fed. 
 
 I have j ufter notions of religion fee 
 it as it is not a mode of ceremonies, but 
 a divine principle influencing the whole 
 moral conduit; its finaple, fixed and de 
 terminate fenfe, is briefly love of God, 
 and good will to mankind. This, dear 
 girls, is the fum of all religion; without it, 
 vain were the oblations of the Jewifh 
 church vain are the ceremonials of the 
 Chriftian. 
 
 The " love of God," is an expreffion 
 that, of late years, has been as groflly abu- 
 fed as the word religion. Strange as it may 
 
RUDIMENTS OF TASTE. 
 
 appear, there have been thofe, who lead 
 ing the. mod immoral lives, have ftiled 
 themfelves the lovers of the God of puri 
 ty whofe tongues could utter a pious eja 
 culation, while their hands were com 
 mitting the moft flagitious crimes. But 
 be not deceived this exalted character 
 belongs neither to bigotry irj-r enthufi- 
 aftn. The love of God is not a paffion, 
 but a rational principle; it is thofe fenti- 
 nients of reverence and gratitude, which 
 naturally arife in a generous mind when 
 reflecting on one fuprerne beneficent pow 
 er, who is the immediate author of ail 
 good, and the fountain of all perfeflion. 
 This convidion is the parent of unaffect 
 ed piety; the foul cannot but adore the 
 Being {he believes to be all-wife, almigh 
 ty, and eternal; he cannot but love 
 him who is the fource of unnumbered 
 bleffings; or chufe, but dread' to offend 
 him whofe nature ftie believes to be holi- 
 nefs. Hence the fource of moral virtue 
 fin is avoided, becaufe difpleafing to the 
 
2g RUDIMENTS OF TASTE. 
 
 will of the Deity; and virtuous difpofi- 
 tions are acquired, becaufe agreeable to a 
 Power who is able to reward every endea 
 vour to pleafe him, with eternal and un- 
 fpeakable happinefs. 
 
 Such a filial, rational love, muft be the 
 fruit of every mind that is not ignorant 
 of the being and attributes of God 5 or 
 that has not received from bigotry or fu- 
 perftition, any miflaken notions of him. 
 To prevent being difturbed by the fpiri- 
 tual pride of hypocritical fanatics, remem 
 ber there is an invariable teft by which 
 you may know if you have the love of 
 God. Afk your own heart, if it feeks 
 the favour of the Deity above every other 
 confideration? If it values this more than 
 itsdeareft interefts, and even life itfelf, a 
 ready affirmative puts the queftion out of 
 all doubt. 
 
 Be affured, my dear girls, that 
 nothing fo highly elevates and adorns 
 
RUDIMENTS OF TASTE. 
 
 the human character, as a fteady ration 
 al piety nor is any thing capable of 
 yielding fo pure and exalted a happinefs 
 to the foul, as an habit of devotion. No 
 one who has experienced the viciffitude 
 of fublunary things, but muft highly value 
 the privilege of pcfTeffing a friend, that 
 would at all times be acceptable ready 
 to -hear the complaints of affliftion, and 
 all powerful to relieve them. 
 
 Such a friend you may enjoy in the 
 Divine Being ; of what confequence is 
 it then that you acquire a tafte for the 
 exercifes of devotion ; that you cultivate 
 $ friendfhip with heaven, and accuftom 
 your hearts to talk with God. This is 
 an emphatical expreilion of David, and 
 gives you an idea of rational and fmcere 
 prayer which confifts not in formal 
 addrefles, but is the genuine language 
 
 of the heart. Such a divine intimacv 
 
 * 
 
 hasfomething in it extremely fuitable to 
 the noblefb fenfations of the foul ; and 
 Z 2 
 
2g8 RUDIMENTS OF TASTE. 
 
 therefore may well be fought after as a 
 fource of refined and exquifite felicity. 
 In trouble, you will find it more precious 
 than the balm of Gilead it will fhed a 
 ray of facred peace when the dark clouds 
 of adverfityobfcure your path in death. 
 But here my pen mud ftop there can 
 be no doubt but at that final, that awful 
 period, the divine attachment breaks 
 forth into a feraphic fiame. 
 
LETTER XVII. 
 
 JL HE generality of people fiyle them- 
 felves Chriftians, without underffanding 
 the value or the neceflky of chrifiianity ; 
 and perhaps neither the one nor the other 
 can be feen in a proper light, without 
 taking a comparative view of the human 
 foul before and after the fall. 
 
 It is not for my humble pen to illuftrate 
 the excellency of a fyftem which has God 
 himfelf for its author nor is it my defign 
 to attempt-a.tafk fo far above my abilities : 
 yet that you may not wholly take your re 
 ligion upon truft, I would call your atten 
 tion to what man was when firft created,. 
 
 But a little inferior to angels, his reafon 
 was clear, his foul all purity, and his mind 
 all intelligence fit companion for natures 
 wholly fpiritual, and enjoying the moft 
 familiar intercourfe with them. That 
 
30O RUDIMENTS OF TASTE. 
 
 grand queftion which has fince agitated 
 the fchools of philofophy, of what was the 
 chief good of man, was all apparent to the 
 firft of the human race : he law perfectly 
 clear, that it confided in the entire aflimi- 
 lation of his will to that of the Deity and 
 in the purfuit found a full unmixed felici 
 ty. But he was created with the power 
 of doing otherwife, or where would have 
 been the merit of obedience ? The duty 
 of free agency, mull be far preferable to 
 that which arifes from blind neceffity. 
 
 Adam continued a happy being as long 
 as his will remained confonant to that of 
 his Maker ; but at the inftant it deviated 
 therefrom, he fell from happinefs and per 
 fection. The concifenefs of the fcripture 
 hiftory, leaves unthinking minds in doubt 
 as to the nature of Adam's tranfgreffion, 
 but undoubtedly it originated in the mere 
 defire of doing contrary to the divine com 
 mand ; he forgot that the Diety was his 
 happinefs, and he fought it in his own will. 
 
RUDIMENTS OF TASTE. 
 
 It was herein he finned, and not fimply 
 by eating the forbidden fruit, for at the 
 very moment Adam became capable of 
 imagining there might be a good abftraft 
 from the favour of God that moment he 
 fell. 
 
 The Creator faw at one comprehenfivc 
 view, the miferies which would accrue to 
 mankind, from the voluntary perverlion 
 of the intellectual and moral powers; 
 then was the fcheme of Chriilianity devif- 
 ed, as an effectual means of refloring hu 
 man nature to the happinefs and perfection 
 it originally poffefled. The purpofed 
 Ceding was gracioufly announced in that 
 prediction, that the pofterity of Eve ihould 
 crufli the ferpent's head. 
 
 The human reafon thus clouded, it is 
 almoil furpriling to refled by what rapid 
 fteps the world became immerfed in the 
 worft ignorance and vice. Thofewho dill 
 retained fome idea of the Sovereign Crea- 
 
3O2 RUDIMENTS OF TASTE. 
 
 tor, had recourfe to a -viable fymbolofhis 
 Majefty ; for their intelledual faculties 
 were too grofs to apprehend an immateri 
 al Deity it foon happened that the fym- 
 bol itfelf was made the object of divine 
 worfhip ; and hence, doubtlefs, the origin 
 of idolatry, which in the time of Abraham 
 had fo generally fpread over the earth, 
 that it appeared neceffary 10 the Supreme 
 Governor of the Univerfe to call that good 
 man from his country and his kindred to 
 ordain him the father of a nation ; who 
 being, by numerous and peculiar laws, fe- 
 parated from the reft of the world, might 
 preferve, uncorr-upr, the knowledge of the 
 Divine Nature. The Bible will convince 
 you how ineffectual,, not only thefe laws, 
 but the frequent and fignal manifeftations 
 of Almighty power were to fecure that 
 people from the groffeft idolatry, the rights 
 f" which were now become fo terrible to 
 the imagination, that they even burnt their 
 children alive, in facrifices to their horrid 
 idols. What a pitfure is here of human 
 
RUDIMENTS OF TASTE. 303 
 
 nature ! that nature which once fo nearly 
 approached the angelic ! Do you not be 
 gin to fee the neceffity of a Redeemer ? 
 Let us purfue the thread of hiftory, and 
 take a fuperficial view of the moft cele 
 brated nations which peopled the earth 
 before the glorious aera of his appearance. 
 
 The Egyptians were very earlyefteem- 
 ed for learning, laws and arts they were 
 a numerous, powerful, and wealthy people, 
 but fo grofsly idolatrous, that they not on 
 ly worshipped images, but beafts, infedls, 
 and even vegetables. The manufactures 
 and extenfive commerce of Phoenicia, fup- 
 pofe fome advance in refinement but 
 national intercourfe in thofe wretched 
 times ferved but to promulgate national 
 idolatries. Babylon, that mighty feat of 
 empire furpaffed moft other nations in the 
 fuperb materials of her Gods. Aflrono- 
 mers there obferved the motions of the 
 Heavens, and bowed in adoration to the 
 fplendid hofts that adorned them. Cyrus, 
 
304 RUDIMENTS OF TASTE. 
 
 who ere<5led the Perfian on the ruins of 
 the Babylonifti Monarchy, knew nothing 
 of the Almighty Being who named him, 
 an age before he had exiftence, as the in- 
 ftrument of Liberty to his captive people. 
 Alexander, who in his turn fubverted this 
 extenfive empire, could only blend his 
 Grecian idols with the Periian -for dark, 
 deplorably dark, was every corner of the 
 habitable earth, except the inconfiderable 
 land of Jukea, where only a few defpifed, 
 enfeebled tribes, poffeffed the light of fa- 
 cred knowledge. 
 
 What a fpe&acle for the Father of the 
 univerfe ! who produced a world to know 
 him and be happy ! how much muft his 
 divine compaffion be excited, on contem 
 plating his glorious work in ruins! to 
 redeem it was an effort worthy of himfelf- 
 
 We now come to the enlightened ages 
 of Greece and Rome a period when I 
 fancy I fee the human foul like a brilliant 
 
RUDIMENTS OF TASTE. 305 
 
 gem, illuftrious in the duft. What noble 
 ftruggles did then the human reafon make 
 to free itfelf from the incumbent load of 
 darknefs and error! Then lived thofe nu 
 merous worthies, whofe names are yet 
 precious to pofterity. What greatnefs of 
 foul what a tafte for folid glory- what 
 elevated fentiments did they not difco- 
 ver ? Yet thefe men, fo far fuperior to the 
 reft of their fpecies, acknowledged a mul 
 tiplicity of deities, whofe moral charac 
 ters were infinitely inferior to their own, 
 and to whom they fcrupled not to afcribe 
 adions which themfelves would have blufh- 
 ed to acknowledge. Every paffion of the 
 human mind was perfonified, and deified ; 
 ftatues graced every corner of their flreets. 
 Yet were there not wanting fome among 
 them who made bold advances in fearch 
 of better information like benighted tra 
 vellers, they followed the moil diftant 
 gleam of light, yet all they could obtain was, 
 doubt and obfcurity. 
 
 A a 
 
300 RUDIMENTS OF TASTE. 
 
 At this period, when reaibn had done 
 all it could do to regain ite native ri^h:. 
 
 ;:r-v lieges the Saviour of the \vorld 
 . - cared, a: whofe facred prefence idola 
 try fled, and the knowledge of the one 
 true God b-gan to enlighten mankind. 
 Tliey were no longer compelled to en- 
 'here is God our maker?" They 
 .im, and were inftruded in his di 
 vine worQiip. The doctrines which the 
 divine Meffiah taught, eminently tended to 
 reitore human nature to the reftilude and 
 hapnin^fs it had loft they were calcula 
 ted to harmonize the paffions, regulate the 
 affections, and exalt the foul to a fenfe of 
 her own dignity, by revealing in the clear 
 ed: terms, the immortality of her nature 
 a Doint which phiiofophy had long fought 
 to explore through the dim veil of pro 
 bable conjecture. 
 
 A ci-rfory view of the tenets of Chrifti- 
 anity is fufficienl to evince, that they are 
 defigned to eilablifh the happinefs of man- 
 
RUDIMENTS OF TASTE. 307 
 
 kind even in the prefent life. Confider 
 the benevolence and charity th. y incul 
 cate the patience, me: iob, 
 contempt of worldly n 1 ;0y- 
 ments, the generous clemency to ene 
 mies; with the reft of that, bright affbm- 
 bljge of virtues they enjoin, and you 
 will confefs it a matter of v. the 
 felicity of Eden is not already ;I to 
 thofe countries where the reiigk 
 is profeffed and the reafon it is not ib 
 can be none other, than that of the thou- 
 fands who daily make profeffion of it, fo 
 few have a competent knowledge of its na 
 ture and deiign. Born in aChriftian land, 
 they think fuch a fcrutiny fuperfluous. 
 Thus they call themfelves Chriftians, with 
 out having any thing of the fpirit of Chrift. 
 And thus the human race is fiill ob 
 noxious to a thoufand miferies, for want 
 of applying to themfelves the remedy 
 which alone could put an end to moral 
 evil. 
 
308 RUDIMENTS OF TASTE. 
 
 May you, my dear girls, be effectually 
 convinced of the ineftimable value of this 
 divine difpenfation, and think with Dr. 
 Young, that 
 
 " A Chriflian is the higheftftyle of man. }> 
 
 There are no virtuous difpofitions- 
 no generous affections no truly noble 
 fentiments, that are not comprifed in that 
 fublime character. Poffefs it, my young 
 friends, for no higher diftindtion, or grea 
 ter felicity, can poffibly be wifhed you by 
 
 CORNELIA.