not their share of it. Sauces, and ragouts, and foods disguised by all the arts of cookery, must tempt their palates, when their bellies are full and then, for fear the stomach should be overcharged, a pretence is found for the other glass of wine, to help digestion, though it only serves to increase the surfeit.

Is my young master a little out of order? the first question is," What will my dear eat? what shall I get "for thee?" Eating and drinking are instantly pressed: and every body's invention is set on work to find out some. thing luscious and delicate enough to prevail over that want of appetite, which nature has wisely ordered in the beginning of distempers, as a defence against their increase; that, being freed from the ordinary labour of digesting any new load in the stomach, she may be at leisure to correct and master the peccant humours.

And where children are so happy in the care of their parents, as by their prudence to be kept from the ex cess of their tables, to the sobriety of a plain and simple diet; yet there too they are scarce to be preserved from the contagion that poisons the mind. Though by a discreet management, whilst theylare under tuition, their healths, perhaps, may be pretty well secured; yet their desires must need yield to the lessons, which every-where will be read to them upon this part of epicurism. The commendation that eating well has every-where, cannot fail to be a successful incentive to natural appetite, and bring them quickly to the liking and expence of a fashionable table. This shall have from every one, even the reprovers of vice, the title of living well. And what shall sullen reason dare to say against the public testimony? or can it hope to be heard, if it should call that luxury, which is so much owned, and universally practised by those of the best quality.

This is now so grown a vice, and has so great supports, that I know not whether it do not put in for the name of virtue; and whether it will not be thought folly, or want of knowledge of the world, to open one's. mouth against it. And truly I should suspect, that what I have here said of it might be censured, as a little satire out of my way, did I not mention it with this

view, that it might awaken the care and watchfulness of parents in the education of their children; when they see how they are beset on every side, not only withd temptations, but instructors to vice, and that perhaps in those they thought places of security was so beau I shall not dwell any longer on this subject; much less run over all the particulars, that would show what pains are used to corrupt children, and instil principlesys of vice into them: but I desire parents soberly to con-b sider, what irregularity or vice there is, which children w are not visibly taught; and whether it be not their duty i and wisdom to provide them other instructions. you $38. It seems plain to me, that the princi Craving b ple of all virtue and excellency lies in a powers of denying ourselves the satisfaction of our own desires, where reason does not authorise them. This power ist to be got and improved by custom, made easy and fami-d liar by an early practice. If therefore I might be heard, I I would advise, that, contrary to the ordinary way, d children should be used to submit their desires, and goon without their longings, even from their very cradles The very first thing they should learn to know, should be, that they were not to have any thing, because it is pleased them, but because it was thought fit for them.is If things suitable to their wants were supplied to them,ed so that they were never suffered to have what they once e cried for, they would learn to be content without it o would never with bawling and peevishness contend for t mastery; nor be half so uneasy to themselves and others d as they are, because from the first beginning they are not thus handled. If they were never suffered to obtain sy their desire by the impatience they expressed for its they would no more cry for other things, than they dow for the moon. new day of pasibodo nos $39. I say not this, as if children were not to be in es dulged in any thing, or that I expected they should, in id hanging-sleeves, have the reason and conduct of coun- ed sellors. I consider them as children, who must beg tenderly used, who must play, and have play-things s That which I mean is, that whenever they craved what ov was not fit for them to have, or do, they should not be

permitted it, because they were little and desired it: nay, whatever they were importunate for, they should be sure, for that very reason, to be denied. I have seen children at a table, who, whatever was there, never asked for any thing, but contentedly took what was given them: and at another place I have seen others cry for every thing they saw, must be served out of every dish, and that first too. What made this vast difference but this, that one was accustomed to have what they called or cried for, the other to go without it? The younger they are, the less, I think, are their unruly and disorderly appetites to be complied with; and the less reason they have of their own, the more are they to be under the absolute power and restraint of those, in whose hands they are. From which I confess, it will follow, that none but discreet people should be about them. If the world commonly does otherwise, I cannot help that. I am saying what I think should be; which, if it were already in fashion, I should not need to trouble the world with a discourse on this subject. But yet I doubt not but, when it is considered, there will be others of opinion with me, that the sooner this way is begun with children, the easier it will be for them, and their governors too: and that this ought to be observed as an inviolable maxim, that whatever once is denied them, they are certainly not to obtain by crying or importunity; unless one has a mind to teach them to be impatient and troublesome, by rewarding them for it, when they are so.

$40. Those therefore that intend ever to go-... Early. vern their children, should begin it whilst they.. are very little; and look that they perfectly comply with the will of their parents. Would you have your son obedient to you when past a child? Be sure then to establish the authority of a father, as soon as he is capa ble of submission, and can understand in whose power he is. If you would have him stand in awe of you, imprint it in his infancy; and, as he approaches more to a man, admit him nearer to your familiarity; so shall you have him your obedient subject (as is fit) whilst he

VOL. IX.

D

is a child, and your affectionate friend when he is a man. For methinks they mightily misplace the treatment due to their children, who are indulgent and familiar when they are little, but severe to them, and keep them at a distance, when they are grown up. For liberty and indulgence can do no good to children: their want of judgment makes them stand in need of restraint and discipline. And, on the contrary, imperiousness and severity is but an ill way of treating men, who have reason of their own to guide them, unless you have a mind to make your children, when grown up, weary of you; and secretly to say within themselves, "When will

father?"

you die,

§ 41. I imagine every one will judge it reasonable, that their children, when little, should look upon their parents as their lords, their absolute governors; and, as such, stand in awe of them: and that, when they come to riper years, they should look on them as their best, as their only sure friends: and, as such, love and reverence them. The way I have mentioned, if I mistake not, is the only one to obtain this. We must look upon. our children, when grown up, to be like ourselves; with the same passions, the same desires.. We would be thought rational creatures, and have our freedom.; we love not to be uneasy under constant rebukes and brow beatings; nor can we bear severe humours, and great distance in those we converse with. Whoever has such treatment, when he is a man, will look out other company, other friends, other conversation, with whom he can be at ease. If therefore a strict hand be kept over children from the beginning, they will in that age be tractable, and quietly submit to it, as never having known any other: and if, as they grow up to the use of reason, the rigour of government be, as they deserve it, gently relaxed, the father's brow more smoothed to them, and the distance by degrees abated: his formeri restraints will increase their love, when they find it was only a kindness for them, and a care to make them ca+ pable to deserve the favour of their parents and the esteem of every body else.

$42. Thus much for the settling your authority over children in general. Fear and awe ought to give you the first power over their minds, and love and friendship in riper years to hold it: for the time must come, when they will be past the rod and correction; and then, if the love of you make them not obedient and dutiful; if the love of virtue and reputation keep them not in laudable courses; I ask, what hold will you have upon them, to turn them to it? Indeed, fear of having a scanty portion, if they displease you, may make them slaves to your estate; but they will be never the less ill and wicked in private, and that restraint will not last always. Every man must some time or other be trusted to himself, and his own conduct; and he that is a good, a virtuous, and able man, must be made so within. And therefore what he is to receive from education, what is to sway and influence his life, must be something put into him betimes: habits woven into the very principles of his nature; and not a counterfeit carriage, and dis sembled outside, put on by fear, only to avoid the present anger of a father, who perhaps may disinherit him. § 43. This being laid down in general, Punishments. as the course ought to be taken, it is fit we come now to consider the parts of the discipline to be used a little more particularly. I have spoken so much of carrying a strict hand over children, that perhaps I shall be suspected of not considering enough what is due to their tender age and constitutions. But that opinion will vanish, when you have heard me a little farther. For I am very apt to think, that great severity of pu nishment does. but very little good; nay, great harm in education: and I believe it will be found, that, cæteris paribus, those children who have been most chastised, seldom make the best men. All that I have hitherto contended for, is, that whatsoever rigour is necessary, it is more to be used, the younger children are; and, having by a due application wrought its effect, it is to be relaxed, and changed into a milder sort of government. $44. A compliance and suppleness of their wills, being by a steady hand introduced by parents, before children have memories to retain the beginnings

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