Elements of a Polite Education

[merged small][ocr errors][merged small]

THERE is not any book extant in our own, or perhaps in any other

language, which contains fuch a fund of ufeful practical knowledge as Lord Chesterfield's Letters to his Son, Impreffed with this opinion, I had procured a copy, from which I meant to expunge every exceptionable padage, for the ufe and inftruction of my own children. On cafually mentioning the circumftance before fome intelligent perfone, who, as well as myself, were fathers of families, they united in a wish that the benefit might be more extenfively diffufed; and that an edition might be published, from which every fentiment thould be carefully expunged which might injure or pervert the morals of youth;-they further recommend ed that the publication might have the fanction of fome name, not altogether unknown in the religious world, to give it that currency which its utility deferved.

The fyftem of education pursued by the Earl of Chesterfield was that which is peculiarly adapted for forming a man of buknefs, a man of the world. The Ufes of this publication inay therefore be comprifed in few

words.

ift. It will ferve as an excellent guide, a text book to parents and tutor, with respect to the courfe of ftudies, and the choice of books in the earlier Stages of education, and it includes much elementary knowledge, convey ad in a ftyle and manner which must be pleasing and instructive to the young Atudent bifelf.

adly. It is well calculated to form a correct and elegant taste in polite literature: it conveys a variety of ufetul inftructions relative to style and manner, both in compofition and in converfation.

3dly. Moft of the common and ufeful topics of converfation are treated of in this work, and in a lively manner, and the political and historical anecdotes fcattered through thefe letters are fuch as are likely at once to excite a fpirit of inquiry in the minds of youth, and to furnish them with materials both for thought and converfation.

4thly. I do not know fuch perfect models of the epiftolary ftyle as the letters of Lord Chesterfield; indeed, as Dr. Johnfon well remarks of an author, whoever wishes to attain an English ftyle, familiar but not coarie; and elegant but not oftentatious," will find his time not mifpent in the perafal of this volume.

Sthly. The knowledge of mankind difplayed in these letters is profound, without being fyftematic-practical, without being trite. I really do not know a work in which the human heart is fo well laid open, nor the manners of the world fo accurately, fo faithfully depicted. To a young man entering into life, we may,with fome truth, when speaking of thele letters, apply the faying of Lord Mansfield with refpect to Blackstone's Commentaries, "That had that work been published when he was a young man, it would have faved him at least seven years study.'

Laftly. To every young perfon who has been brought up in retirement. the Tales of good-breeding, and the biervations on the manners of poliú ed fociety, which he will find here, will prove highly inftructive; from the ra he will learn at once how to conduct himself, and to judge with accuracy of the manners and behaviour of others.

I have only to add, that I believe I have preferved in this volume ali that is really ufeful in the four volumes of Lord Chesterfield's Letters; i have omitted only what was exceptionable, or what was mere repetition, which, though well adapted to a private correfpondence fuch as this, in order to enforce principles already laid down, can be only confidered as lumber in a compilation for the public eye. The epiftolary form is cautufly preferved; and the ftyle, as well as the fentiments, are entirely thofe of the author. For the benefit of the English reader, the pati from other languages are tranflated, and I have added a few notes the object wanted elucidation.

Books