thing might be done in it, by a prudent man, that would well confider the temper and inclination of his pupil. For he that is wearied either with ftudy or dancing does not defire prefently to go to fleep, but to do fome-thing else, which may divert and delight him. But this must be always remembred, that nothing can come into the account of recreation, that is not done with delight.

§ 198. Fencing and riding the great horse, are locked upon fo neceffary parts of breeding, that it would be thought a great omiffion to neglect them; the latter of the two being for the most part to be learned only in great towns, is one of the best exercises for health, which is to be had in those places of cafe and luxury: and upon that account, makes a fit part of a young gentleman's employment during his abode there. And as far as it conduces to give a man a firm and graceful feat on horfeback, and to make him able to teach his horfe to ftop and turn quick, and to reft on his hanches, is of ufe to a gentleman both in peace and war. But whether it be of moment enough to be made a business of, and deserve to take up more ofhis time, than fhould barely for his health be employed at due intervals in fome fuch vigorous exercife, I fhall leave to the difcretion of parents and tutors; who will do well to remember, in all the parts of education, that

moft

moft time and application is to be bestowed on that which is like to be of greatest confequence, and frequenteft ufe, in the ordinary courfe and occurrences of that life the young man is defigned for.

Fencing.

$199. As for fencing, it feems to me a good exercife for health, but dangerous to the life: the confidence of their skill being apt to engage in quarrels, thofe that think they have learned to use their fwords. This prefumption makes them often more touchy than needs, on point of honour, and flight or no provocations. Young men, in their warm blood, are forward to think they have in vain learned to fence, if they never fhew their skill and courage in a duel; and they feem to have reafon. But how many fad tragedies that reafon has been the occafion of, the tears of many a mother can witnefs. A man that cannot fence, will be more careful to keep out of bullie's and gamefler's company, and will not be half fo apt to ftand upon punctilio's, nor to give affronts, or fiercely juftify them when given, which is that which ufually makes the quarrel. And when a man is in the field, a moderate fkill in fencing rather expofes him to the fword of his enemy, than fecures him from it. And certainly a man of cou rage, who cannot fence at all, and therefore will put all upon one thruit, and not and

parrying,

parrying, has the odds against a moderate fencer, especially if he has skill in wrestling. And therefore, if any provifion be made against fuch accidents, and a man be to prepare his fon for duels, I had much rather mine fhould be a good wreftler, than an ordinary fencer, which is the moft a gentleman can attain to in it, unless he will be conftantly in the fenceing-fchool and every day exercising. But fince fencing, and riding the great horfe, are fo generally looked upon as neceflary qua lifications in the breeding of a gentleman, it will be hard wholly to deny any one of that rank, thefe marks of diftinction. I fhall leave it therefore to the father, to confider how far the temper of his fon, and the ftation he is like to be in, will allow, or encourage him to comply with fashions, which having very little to do with civil life, were formerly unknown to the moft warlike nations, and feem to have added little force or courage to those who have received them; unless we think martial skill or prowess, have been improved by duelling, with which fencing came into, and with which, I prefume, it will go out of the world.

S 200. These are my prefent thoughts oncerning learning and accomplishments. The great business of all is virtue and wisdom :

Nullum

Nullum numen abeft fi fit Prudentia.

Teach him to get a maftery over his inclinations, and submit his appetite to reason. This being obtained, and by conftant practice fettled into habit, the hardest part of the task is over. To bring a young man to this, I know nothing which fo much contributes, as the love of praife and commendation, which fhould therefore be inftilled into him by all arts imaginable. Make his mind as fenfible of credit and' fhame as may be; and when you have done that, you have put a principle into him, which will influence his actions when you are not by, to which the fear of a little fmart of a rod is not comparable, and which will be the proper flock whereon afterwards to graff the true principles of morality and religi

on.

S 201. I have one thing more to

add, which as foon as I mention I Travel. fhall run the danger of being fuf

pected to have forgot what I am about, and what I have above written concerning education, all tending towards a gentleman's calling, with which a trade feems wholly inconfittent. And yet I cannot forbear to fay, I would have him learn a trade, a manual trade; nay, two, or three, but one more particularly.

§ 202. The bufy inclination of children being always to be directed to fomething that may be useful to them, the advantages propofed from what they are fet about may be confidered of two kinds : 1. Where the fkill itfelf that is got by exercife, is worth the having. Thus fkill not only in languages and learned fciences, but in painting, turning, gardening, tempering, and working in iron, and all other ufeful arts is worth the having. 2. Where the exercise itself, without any confideration, is neceffary or ufeful for health. Knowledge in fome things is fo neceffary to be got by children, whilft they are young, that fome part of their time is to be allotted to their improvement in them, though those employments contribute nothing at all to their health. Such are reading and writing, and all other fedentary ftudies, for the cultivating of the mind, which unavoidably take up a great part of gentlemens time, quite from. their cradles. Other manual arts, which are both got and exercised by labour, do many of them, by that exercife, not only increase our dexterity and fkill, but contribute to our health too, especially fuch as employ us in the open air. In thefe, then, health and improvement may be joined together, and of thefe fhould fome fit ones be chofen, to be made the recreations of one whofe chief bufinefs is with books and ftudy. In this