in the fashionable sphere, while she exhibits the transitory gloss of novelty, but soon drops her honours, like the gaudy tulip, and is no more remembered.

SOME HINTS ON EDUCATION.

A SELFISH indifference to whatever does not immediately concern our own ease, pleasure, or interest, is perhaps too much the characteristic of present manners. Few feel the generous glow

of virtue that takes interest in the concerns of another, and is willing to be active for the good of society. It is thus that manners steal silently on to corruption, till custom gives sanction to the wildest extravagance, and the multitude of the profligate gives countenance to the most pernicious vices. If we look into the world, we shall find this at present strongly exemplified, when many pursue without a blush what formerly would have been reckoned a crime.

There is no axiom more clear, than that a people are happy in proportion as they are virtuous; and it will be allowed that the virtue of the individual greatly depends on the first principles

and habits of youth. To have the stream pure, care must be had that the fountain is not polluted. The rising generation will soon occupy the places of their predecessors, and constitute society. If they bring vice, ignorance, and corruption to fill the important stations of life, society must of course be contaminated, and will hasten to ruin. Those who have not experienced a strict and virtuous education, will scarcely attend, or rather are incapable of giving it to those who are to follow. And thus when private virtue sinks, public virtue must also fall. The great and manly lines of duty are obliterated. A regard to the rights of others is neglected or despised, and selfishness and false pleasure become the governing principles, which have always been the sure indications of a falling nation.

The only means, perhaps, of restoring a people to virtue, who are already far advanced in corruption and luxury, is by a strict attention, from an early period, to the education of youth; and this ought to be an object of attention in a wise legislature, as well as it is the private duty of a parent. Partial reforms in a people in the state of false refinement and corruption, are nugatory and chimerical, unless they are made to originate in the virtue and manners of the individuals. It is perhaps the fault of the present

times, that too little restraint is put on the inclinations of youth; that they are too early introduced into company and public amusements, and consequently soon commence mere men of the world. A disposition to licentiousness is formed, before proper principles or tastes are established; and thus all authority is despised, and habits contracted which too often end in profligacy and ruin, or form characters ignorant, vicious, or despicable. A young man formerly valued himself on his acquisitions in useful knowledge and mental accomplishments. It is but too common now, that they value themselves on their progress in profligacy and intemperance, and the beau and the blackguard are too frequently found united in the same person. The term a gentleman seems to be in a rapid change of its meaning.

That freedom from restraint, and early introduction into life, before sense and principles are acquired, is equally hurtful to the female character, as it is to the other sex. Fashionable education introduces Miss into company as a woman at fourteen, but raw and ignorant of every thing but coquetry. Simplicity and innocence of character are thought awkward; but ease and familiarity are at that age high breeding.

The late Dr Gregory, in his valuable little

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treatise, entitled, "A Legacy to his Daughters," observes, that the behaviour of the ladies of the preceding age was very reserved, which had the effect of making them more respected and attended to than they are at present. By the present mode of female manners, the ladies seem to expect to hold their ascendancy, by being always at public places, and conversing with the same unreserved freedom that the men do with one another. But, says he, never allow any person, even under the sanction of friendship, to be so familiar as to lose a proper respect for you. The sentiment of allowing innocent freedoms, is both grossly indelicate and dangerous, and has proved fatal to many of the sex. How the respect of

the other sex is to be preserved, must be a serious question, where women, weak by nature, do not fortify themselves by estimable qualities. These qualities, too, are not only necessary before a young woman's state in life is determined, but must, in single life or in marriage, affect her respectability and her comfort. She is not merely in the condition of the other sex, who find, after a youth spent in idleness, little to amuse old age from past recollections or early habits. She has all the toil of forcing society to keep her in mind when she has ceased to add to its brilliance, with the disadvantage, that every imprudence which

was forgiven in the fascination of youth, is repaid by double censure when that plea is gone.

I do not mean to say that the present age has much degenerated from the past; yet there are habits of expense, and foolish plans of education pursued, which do not correspond with the rough character of bygone times. It is well if we can make life happy, and embellish education while we keep it moral; still we must be aware, that the descent from comfort to luxury, and thence to vice, is rapid and easy.

In the introduction to these remarks, I alludedto the common-place axiom, that a nation is always safe when its members connect their individual conduct with its general prosperity. This they do when they obey the law, and carry this obedience into the economy of their families and ordinary transactions. The same rule should prompt them to prepare such as are to fill their places for acting a proper part in the succeeding stage of society. Experience may shew them how ineffectual education often is in correcting the vices of nature. But one consideration is always at hand to conquer this misgiving. If the best endeavours be often thwarted, what degree of profligacy may not be feared for that mind, which wants the means, equally with the desire, of improvement. Some hint remembered, may