who are suffered to saunter away their time without any specific object of pursuit.

Boys at school should be supplied with books to read in their leisure hours: I do not mean to recommend mere epitomes or story-books ("which are the novels of youth"*), but long substantial works and by thus having their attention fixed on one particular subject during several weeks, they will retain what they read much better, than when they only devour a number of trifling publications, each of which treats perhaps of twenty different subjects. Voyages and travels, biography and natural history, are the fittest books for children from ten to fifteen years old. It would be very advantageous were boys required to write to their friends every Sunday, and give them some account of what they have re ad during the week. This would afford an excellent opportunity to judge of their improvement, provided the master did not correct their letters.

Where a striking difference appears in the abilities of two brothers, it is perhaps better not to send them to the same school, particularly should the youngest have the superiority.

It is now generally allowed that a private education is best for girls, and where that cannot be obtained, a good day-school is considered the most desirable substitute. In some few cases, however, parents may be justifiable in sending their daughters to boardingschool, viz.

1st, Where a child's health renders it necessary for her to live entirely out of town, and it is not conve、 * Edgeworth.

nient for the whole family to be removed into the country.

2ndly, Where a mother is not well enough to have her children constantly with her during the hours they are at home from day-school.

3dly, Where any member of the family is in so bad a state of health that the children cannot be properly attended to, or suffered to be as lively and cheerful as is desirable for all young persons.

4thly, Where a father's line of business renders it improper for the daughters to live at home.

5thly, Where either parent is habitually guilty of some great immorality, such as drunkenness, indelicate or prophane conversation, violent passion, or continual ill-humour.

6thly, Where the father is a widower, and it does not suit him to have a private governess for his daughters.

In these cases girls had better be sent from home, provided due attention be paid to the choice of a school.

The lower orders of tradesmen should send their daughters to some school where the fashionable accomplishments are not taught, but where they may learn reading, writing, arithmetic, book-keeping, and needlework in all its branches, which will fit them for serving in their father's shop, or for assisting their husbands in business, should they marry. French, music, and dancing are by no means desirable for girls in this class, unless they be intended for governesses or teachers. If they merely learn them by way of amusement, they will probably be led to neglect the duties of their

station and despise their parents and less accomplished companions.

Parents even in genteel life should not make too great a point of their daughters being instructed in the polite arts, as young ladies can make but little progress either in music, French, or drawing, during the short lessons they receive at school. In fixing on a school then for their daughters, they should only insist on the greatest attention being paid to their morals, health, and temper, and on their being completely instructed in reading, writing, dancing, and needle and fancy works, all of which are perhaps better taught at school than at home. When the young ladies leave school, they may take private lessons in music, French, or drawing, whichever they discover the most taste for, and they will generally improve more by one year's instruction at home, than by learning several years at school. Besides it is particularly desirable that they should not imagine their education is finished, because they have quitted school, since this sudden transition from constant employment to comparative idleness, frequently produces ennui and a whole train of nervous disorders. Parents should therefore contrive that their daughters may pass a certain part of each day in some regular employment, such as taking lessons of a master, as also in attending to domestic concerns, until they see that they possess sufficient energy of mind and diligence to be safely entrusted with the entire disposal of their own time..... These remarks are equally applicable to young ladies educated at home, who should not be led to suppose that they are to be no longer under the controul of

their mother or governess, because they have attained a certain age, and the important and long-expected epocha is arrived when they are to come out, as it is termed, in the fashionable world; or, in other words, "when they are to go forth and conquer.!"

It is perhaps needless to add, that girls brought up at school should be employed during the vacations in the same manner as above recommended for boys.

Those mothers, who object to a private* governess, and prefer having their daughters entirely under their own care, would save themselves much time and trouble were they to engage some well-behaved young

*One of the principal objections to private governesses is the difficulty of learning their true characters previously to their being intrusted with the care of the children. Hence their pupils may imbibe many dangerous opinions and prejudices from their conversation unperceived or unknown by the parents.

Indeed it has been observed that in this respect a good school is sometimes preferable to private tuition; since, in the former, the children see so great a variety of characters, and hear so many different opinions, that they are led to think and judge for themselves: whereas, by being constantly with a private governess, they will often implicitly adopt her sentiments, without considering whether they are right or wrong.

To obviate these objections, parents should be more particular in their inquiries into the moral character of a governess, than into her abilities and accomplishments. Mothers should also sit in the teaching-room, when not otherwise engaged, and have the children as much as possible with themselves, the governess not being present, in order to discover by their conversation, when free from restraint, whether they may have acquired any false or improper ideas. But this perhaps is begging the question, and taking it for granted that all parents are fit to be intrusted with the management of their children, which unfortunately is very far from being always the case.-Editor.

person, who has been carefully brought up, to come for a few hours every day to teach their children needlework and other inferior branches of education, and occasionally superintend them during the absence of their parents. Were this plan commonly adopted, it would afford an excellent employment for many young women, who might be glad to increase their pocketmoney though not obliged to earn their bread, and be a great assistance to those ladies who educate their daughters at home.-Editor.

CHAPTER XV.

On the Duties of the Female Sex, and on the Education of Girls.

I MUST tell you that no respect is lasting, but that which is produced by our being in some degree useful to those who pay it. Where that faileth, the homage and the reverence go along with it, and fly to others where something may be expected in exchange for them. And upon this principle the respects even of the children and the servants will not stay with one that doth not think them worth their care, and the old housekeeper shall make a better figure in the family than the lady with all her fine clothes, if she wilfully relinquishes her title to the government. Therefore take heed of carrying your good-breeding to such a height, as to be good for nothing, and to be proud of