chased without a certain portion of present pain. If virtue be on one side connected with felicity, it is on the other linked to self-denial: and if wisdom and honour are the companions of knowledge, knowledge is herself the offspring of diligence and application.

All the decorums of life, all the graces which constitute the charm of polished manners, are the offspring of restraint imposed on inclination; nor till they have acquired the force of habits, are they adopted by nature as her own. Before this can be accomplished, how many painful sacrifices must be paid!

When I affirm that labour and selfdenial are the appointed tutors of the human race, to whom all must submit, who would attain to excellence; I do not wish to check the playful vivacity of the youthful fancy, by anticipated

anticipated views of suffering and sorrow. The doctrine which I now inculcate, is indeed of such extensive application, as to embrace every state and period of our existence: but Providence which wisely ordereth all things, while it has rendered the wholesome discipline of restraint alike necessary, in youth and in age, to future happiness and glory, has, with regard to childhood, softened the rigour of the decree, by bestowing such an elasticity of spirits, as prevents any bad effects from momentary dejection. The instant restraint is taken off, the light heart rebounds to joy. The tear of sorrow is arrested in the eye of innocence by the smile of pleasure. The sigh of disappointment is no sooner breathed than it is forgotten!

It is not the child, but the parent, or those who without a parent's name experience

experience the yearnings of parental tenderness, that are then the real sufferers. I know not that the virtue of fortitude can be put to a severer test, than when called on to inflict any degree of pain on the objects of affec

tion.

To check that gaiety, which is perhaps the sole enlivener of existence; to enforce obedience at the moment that one wishes to impart delight; to cross inclination when the heart dissolves in tender love; and to suffuse with tears those angel eyes, which beam their sweetness on the soul, requires no mean effort of resolution. Unless when the parent's mind is blessed with such powers of comprehension, as to see clearly what sacrifices the future good demands, and possesses sufficient firmness to make the sacrifice demanded, it is not to be expected that such efforts will be

made,

made. But when they at any time are made by a fond and indulgent friend, it will be to an amiable child a source of future happiness and gratitude. May you, my amiable young friend, profit alike by the indulgence which anticipates your wishes, and by the disappointments which cross them! May the one increase benevolence, without impairing the power of self-control, and the other teach you resignation, without lessening benevolence! Adieu.

West Ham, Nov. 21st, 1805.

VOL. I.

LETTER III.

HAVIN

AVING in my last letter explained to you how much our happiness, through every period of life, depends on the conduct of the preceding period, I shall now give you the best directions in my power for improving this important truth into a principle of action.

It is impossible for us, at an early period of life, or indeed at any period, to have clear views concerning the remote consequences of our actions; but if we do not live in a constant habit of self-deception, we can seldom be at a loss to know the

motives