and enjoin both tutor and son to give, at every stage, an account of whatever they observed curious and remarkable, not omitting the minutest occurrences. By this means, and the probability that he might hear of them and their proceedings, from his friends, acquaintance, and relations, who might fall in with them, or at whose seats they might sometimes be entertained, they would have a greater regard to their conduct; and so much the more, if the young gentleman were to keep an account of his expenses, which, upon his return, he might lay before his father. By seeing thus the different customs, manners, and economy of different persons and families (for in so mixed a nation as ours is, there is as great a variety of that sort to be met with as in most), and from their different treatment at their several stages, a great deal of the world may be learned by the young gentleman. He would be prepared to go abroad with more delight to himself, as well as more experience, and greater reputation to his family and country. In such excursions as these, the tutor would see the temper and inclination of the young gentleman, and might give proper notices to the father if anything was amiss, that it might be set right while the youth was yet in his reach, and more under his inspection than he would be in a foreign country: And the observations the young gentleman would make at his return, as well as in his letters, would show how fit he was to be trusted, and how likely to improve when at a greater distance. After England and Wales, as well the inland parts as the sea coasts, let them, if they behave according to expectation, take a journey into Scotland and Ireland, and visit the principal islands, as Guernsey, Jersey, &c., the young gentleman continuing to write down his observations all the way, and keeping a journal of occurrences: and let him employ the little time he will be on board of ship in these small trips from island to island, or coastwise, in observing upon the noble art of navigation; of the theory of which it will not be amiss that he has some notion, as well as of the curious structure of a ship, its tackle, and furniture a knowledge very far from being insignificant to a gentleman who is an islander, and has a stake in the greatest maritime kingdom in the world: and hence he will be taught to love and value that most useful and brave set of men, the British sailors, who are the natural defence and glory of the realm. Hereby he will confirm his theory of the geography of the British dominions in Europe: he will be apprised of the situation, conveniences, interests, and constitution of his own country; and will be able to lay a ground-work for the future government of his thoughts and actions, if the interest he bears in his native country should call him to the public service in either house of parliament. With this foundation, how excellently would he be qualified to go abroad! and how properly then would he add to the knowledge he had attained of his own country, that of the different customs, manners, and forms of government of others! How would he be able to form comparisons, and to make all his inquiries appear pertinent and manly! All the occasions of that ignorant wonder, which renders a novice the jest of all about him, would be taken away. He would be able to ask questions, and to judge without leading-strings. Nor would he think he has seen a country, and answered the ends of his father's expense, and his own improvement, by running through a kingdom, and knowing nothing of it but the inns and stages at which he stopped to eat and drink. For, on the contrary, he would make the best acquaintance, and contract worthy friendships with such as would court and reverence him as one of the rising geniuses of his country. Whereas most of the young gentlemen, who are sent abroad raw and unprepared, as if to wonder at everything they see, and to be laughed at by all that see them, do but expose themselves and their country. And if at their return, by interest of friends, by alliances or marriages, they should happen to be promoted to places of honour or profit, their unmerited preferment will only serve to make those foreigners, who were eye-witnesses of their weak ness and follies, when among them, conclude greatly in disfavour of the whole nation; or, at least, of the prince and his administration, who could find no fitter subjects to distinguish. This, my dear friend, is a brief extract from my observations on the head of qualifying young gentlemen to travel with honour and improvement. I doubt you'll be apt to think me not a little out of my element; but since you would have it, I claim the allowances of a friend; to which my ready compliance with your commands the rather entitles me. I am very sorry Mr. and Mrs. Murray are so unhappy in each other. Were he a generous man, the heavy loss the poor lady has sustained, as well as her sister, my beloved friend, in so excellent a mother, and so kind a father, would make him bear with her infirmities a little. But really I have seen on twenty occasions, that notwithstanding all the fine things gentlemen say to ladies. before marriage, if the latter do not improve upon their husbands' hands, their imputed graces, when single, will not protect them from indifference, and probably from worse; while the gentleman perhaps thinks he only, of the two, is entitled to go backward in acts of kindness and complaisance. A strange and shocking difference, which too many ladies experience, who, from fond lovers prostrate at their feet, find surly husbands trampling upon their necks! You, my dear friend, were happy in your days of courtship, and are no less so in your state of wedlock. And may you continue to be so to a good old age, prays Your affectionate and faithful friend, P. B—. LETTER CII. Mrs. B- to Lady G MY DEAR LADY G—,—I will cheerfully cause to be transcribed for you the conversation you desire, between myself, Lady Towers, and Lady Arthur, and the three young ladies, their relations, in presence of the dean and his daughter, and Mrs. Brooks; and glad I shall be if it may be of use to the two thoughtless inisses your neighbours; who, you are pleased to tell me, are great admirers of my story and my example; and will therefore, as you say, pay greater attention to what I write, than to the more passionate and interested lessons of their mamma. I am only sorry that you should have been under any concern about the supposed trouble you give me, by having mislaid my former relation of it. For, besides obliging my dear Lady G——, the hope that I may be able to do service by it to a family so worthy, in a case so nearly affecting its honour, as to make two headstrong young ladies recollect what belongs to their sex and their characters, and what their filial duties require of them, affords me high pleasure; and if it shall be attended with the wished effects, it will be an addition to my happiness. I said, cause to be transcribed; because I hope to answer a double end by it; for, after I had reconsidered it, I set Miss Goodwin to transcribe it, who writes a very pretty hand, and is not a little fond of the task, nor indeed of any task I set her; and will be more affected as she performs it, than she could be by reading it only; although she is a very good girl at present, and gives me hopes that she will continue to be so. As soon as it is done I will enclose it, that it may be read to the parties without this introduction, if you think fit. And you will forgive me for having added a few observations to this transcription, with a view to the cases of your inconsiderate young ladies, and for having corrected the former narrative in several places. MY DEAR LADY G,―The papers you have mislaid, relating to the conversation between me and the young ladies, relations of Lady Towers, and Lady Anne Arthur, in presence of these two last-named ladies, Mrs. Brooks, and the worthy dean, and Miss L (of which, in order to perfect your kind collection of my communications, you request another copy), contained as follows: I first began with apprising you that I had seen these three ladies twice or thrice before, as visitors, at their kinswomen's houses; so that they and I were not altogether strangers to one another: and my two neighbours acquainted me with their respective tastes and dispositions, and gave me their histories, preparatory to this visit, to the following effect: 6 That Miss Stapylton is overrun with the love of poetry and romance, and delights much in flowery language and metaphorical flourishes; is about eighteen; wants not ' either sense or politeness; and has read herself into a ' vein that is more amorous (that was Lady Towers's word) than discreet; has extraordinary notions of a 'first-sight love; and gives herself greater liberties, with a pair of fine eyes (in hopes to make sudden conquests in pursuance of that notion), than is pretty in her sex and age; which makes those who know her not, con'clude her bold and forward; and is more than sus'pected, with a mind thus prepared for instantaneous impressions, to have experienced the argument to her own disadvantage, and to be struck by (before she has stricken) a gentleman whom her friends think not at all 'worthy of her, and to whom she was making some indis'creet advances, under the name of PHILOCLEA to PHILOXENUS, in a letter which she intrusted to a servant of 'the family, who, discovering her design, prevented her 'indiscretion for that time. 'That, in other respects, she has no mean accomplish |