of fare. Let there be always such plenty, that if any accidental guest drop in, you need not blush or apologize for his entertainment; but no superfluity at your own board, or waste at your servants'. Even when you entertain, which I hope will be as seldom as possible, do not swell out the pride of a day to such an exorbitant size, as to make a reduction of your expenses necessary for a month to come: but remember your whole life ought to be of a piece; and that, though you were to entertain a lord, a tradesman must defray the charge. Neither think it beneath you to be your own caterer: it will save you many a pound at the year's end, and your kitchen will be much better supplied into the bargain.

A maxim of the same prudent nature, is, to go to market always with ready money: for whoever runs in debt for provisions, had better borrow at ten per cent. and will find it easier to balance his accompts.

To which may be added, that idle profusion only excites envy in your inferiors, hatred in your equals, and indignation in your superiors; who are, moreover, apt to think every extraordinary item in your banquet, is made an article in their bill; and, therefore, will incline, with a certain witty duke, to deal with one who scarce affords himself necessaries, and dinc with you.

Of Education of Children.

As to what concerns the education of your children, recollect your own; recollect the precepts I here present you with, for the conduct of your future life, and you cannot be at a loss to render them wise, honest, and thriving men. First, take care of their health; then, their morals; and, finally, of their making their way successfully through the world. Under which last head, I recommend it to you, in the most earnest manner, not only to make them scholars, or even gentlemen, in case your fortune will afford the means, but men of business too. It is the surest way to preserve an estate when got, to amass together money enough to purchase one, or keep the wolf of poverty from the door, in case of misfortunes. How many descendants of eminent citizens have I seen undone, through a neglect of this rule? who, set up early in polite life, have been even ashamed of their origin, and would, if possible, have disowned their fathers, to whose indulgence and application they owed the very means of living idly and prodigally; the only title they had to be ranked among the gentry!

Of Politics.

I shall close all, with two important hints, which, as more fitted for the consideration of

your riper years, I have purposely reserved for the last. In England, it is impossible for a man, who has a vote to give, not to have some concern in public affairs. The talk of the times, the very news of the day, will make him a party, whether he will or no. In your own defence, then, and even to preserve yourself from the fallacies of interested men, make yourself acquainted with the history of the British constitution in general, and that of your own times in particular: the right of the citizen, the privilege of parliament, the power of the crown, the pretences of patriots, and the designs of ministers; the rise, growth, extent and importance of our commerce; the expediency of taxes; the danger of a military force, and the real views of all the different parties that have worked the nation into its present ferment. But make this your amusement, not your business; that, when you are called upon to name your representative in parliament, you may be able to judge for yourself of the virtue or ability of the candidate; explain the services you expect from him; and, if need be, furnish out a test to know how far he may be depended upon, to enforce privileges, redress grievances, and stand in the gap between the encroachments of power, however disguised, and the liberties and properties of a defenceless people. But I charge you, upon my blessing, to wear the badge of no party whatever. Be assured, it is a badge of

slavery, and, under the pretence of procuring you esteem and confidence, will render you unworthy of both. To be free, is to be independent: and, if you would continue so, consult your own conscience, and act only according to its dictate. Despise flattery on one side, disdain corruption on the other; and let the venal of all ranks know, that your traffic is not in infamy, nor your gains the wages of corruption.

[Party excitement is more frequently witnessed under free governments, such as ours, than where less power has been retained by the people. This is one of those evils, which appears, constituted as we are, almost necessarily to result from the unrestrained enjoyment of a great and positive good. Be cautious, therefore, of going all lengths with any party; for, unless the superhuman quality of perfection can be ascribed to party, it must sometimes be wrong. "In choosing men who are to discharge the highest offices," we are told by St. Bernard, "the safest conduct is to take the man who goes out of his way in order to decline, and not the man who intrudes boldly for it."]

of Religion.

Religion, with which I conclude, I would have you both usefully reverence, and devoutly practise; but not as the hypocrites do, as a sort of commutation with the world for living like a

cannibal, and preying upon your fellow creatures. God is a spirit; worship him, then, in spirit and truth; not with unmeaning jargon, and ostentatious ceremonies. Come before him with the incense of an innocent and virtuous life, and, wherever you address him, either with prayer or praise, he will not be slow to hear, or backward to accept the grateful offering. As to believe you are always within the reach, and under the care of his providence, is an everlasting source of comfort; so to remember you are ever in his eye, and that all your actions, words and thoughts, are registered before him, will preserve you sinless, though surrounded with temptations.

Finally, though I would have you consider the present life as a state of probation, and the future as the certain rectifier and rewarder of all the good and evil committed here; yet live innocently, live honestly, live usefully, if possible, apart of that interesting consideration. Men discharge their duty to the world, who act uprightly, whatever is their motive: but they are best acquitted to themselves, who love and practise virtue for its own divine perfections.