ing my aunt's permiffion, when the ar rived, for my refiding at least some time in every year with them: this indeed was a circumftance that I affented to with no lefs gratitude than pleasure, and was confequently a witnefs, not only to the most endearing fcenes of conjugal felicity that can poffibly be imagined, but alfo to all the arts of domestick administration, as they were practifed in their highest perfection; to the niceft ceconomy, and yet to the appearance of great fplendor and magnificence; to all the tender offices of friendship, without the base alloy of mercenary views, without affectation, without grimace; in fhort, to the diffusion of univerfal benevolence, and a most extenfive charity but the manner of life of this happy pair, as it may perhaps be thought fomewhat fingular in the prefent age, I intend to make part of the fubject of my next chapter. CHA P. XV. Some few occafional remarks of the authorefs upon the fubject of education in general: the happy effects of a good one, exemplified in the whole conduct of Hortenfius and Arfpacia: fome particular anecdotes concerning them, which give an additional Splender to opulence, and at the fame time do bonour to humanity: Arfpacia's publick and private character, widely different from that of the generality of modern fine ladies; her love of knowledge, tho' great, was ftill as free from the affectation of appearing learned, as it was from the folly of neglecting the oeconomy of her boufheld on that account: the difinterested integrity of Hortenfius farther illuftrated by fome few of his opinions on matters of government. WHENEVER I happen to make the business of education the fubject of my reflections, and find occafion, perhaps from fome recent occurrences, to remark with what extraordinary circumftances of advantage a good education is most commonly attended, I am really at a lofs to determine whether of the two is greater, my aftonishment or indignation, at the general inattention of parents to their children's true intereft in fo critical a concern this capital error, if I conceive the matter right from the accounts which I have had, arifes chiefly from hence, that in the male part of the fpecies, the cultivation of genius alone is always confidered as their principal object in view; though the management even of this, except I have been greatly mifinformed, is generally conducted in a way that is liable to many juft objections; but of what cannot be fuppofed to come fully and properly under my cognizance, fuch as a matter of this nature, I by no means allow myself to be a competent judge, and confequently prefume not to give my opinion therein: in the female part, however, 'tis too evident, that the diftinction, or cultivation of genius has nothing at all to do; a few fpecious accomplishments, that are merely exterior, make up, as I have more than once before obferved in the course of this work, the whole fum of their acquirements; but by what inducement. of utility, or true grace, fo exceptionable a plan could have been fo long continued, and ftill is fo inflexibly adopted, for the direction of rational creatures; or indeed by the fanction of what authority, excepting meerly that that of tyrant-custom, it could have been fo univerfally enforced, I confefs, I am wholly at a lofs to conjecture; yet this I believe to be a fact, and I appeal to the constant experience and observation of mankind for the confirmation of what I affert, that the true end, both of male and female education, but efpecially of the latter, as it is generally managed, is much oftener defeated than ic is obtained; where it happens otherwife, which is indeed but feldom, except by the affiftance of fome better plan, I look upon it to proceed, rather from a critical concurrence of fome favourable accidents, or from a peculiar temperament in the conftitution of body and mind, in a child, than from any rectitude of judgment or method, either in the parent or pedagogue. My reafon for this affertion, and fome -reafon I certainly ought to affign, fince begging the question, or, in other words, afferting without proof, is but acting the part of Drawcanfir in an argument; I fay therefore, my reason for the affertion just advanced is this, that I think the true bafis of education in general is very improperly laid, or at least not fo fedulously attended to, as a point of that infinite importance deferves; I mean chiefly in regard to the care of imbuing the tender minds of young people with an early tincture of moral K 6 good goodness; and not only fo, but that the fame care should indifpenfably be continued, as they grow up, and conftantly co-operate with every other means of inftruction, to the confirmation of their principles in virtue, as well as to the cultivation of their genius in matters of literature: the more licentious and immoral the world is grown, and most indifputably grown fo in a great measure from fuch neglect, the greater furely is the neceffity for this precaution; but the truth is, where the views of parents are fordidly contracted to the fingle point of advancing their children's fortunes at all events, a juft regard to the improvement of their morals makes but a very fmall, if any part at all, of their scheme; fo that the most material part of education, and that which would in truth rather facilitate than impede the reft, is in a man ner totally omitted; yet fo it happens, that this very omiffion is not unfrequently punifhed, as it justly deferves, in the abfolute difappointment of their fuccefs; fo far at leaft as the enjoyment of true happiness can with propriety be admitted as the end of fuch fuccefs; for if it be impoffible, in the nature of things, as is most unqueftionably is, that the vicious and immoral man, fo long as he continues fuch, can ever be a true friend even to himself, let his |