earnest Christians, or who truly lov'd the Prosperity of their Country: And as upon this occasion there was reason to be sensible that nothing operates so powerfully as the example of Princes; some have been of later Years induc'd to hope for a revolution in our Manners, no less advantageous than what has hitherto secur'd those Civil and Religious Liberties, without which it is impossible for Vertue to subsist among any People whatsoever. But Experience shows that Humane Nature is much easier led into Evil, than reduc'd from it; and that inveterate Maladies are difficultly cur'd.

When Men's Practices have infected their Principles and Opinions; and these have had time again reciprocally to confirm them in their Vicious Habits and Customs, the whole Constitution is corrupted; and the Personal Vertue then of the Prince (however conspicuous) will not, without a concurrence of other means, influence farther than to make (it may be) some change in the Garb, or Fashion of Men's Vices.

A due and vigorous Execution of proper Laws against Immorality and Prophaneness, is that alone which will effectually restrain them: And a right care had of Education, is the only humane means of making People truly Vertuous. Whenever our inferiour Magistrates shall be such as will be a terror to Evil doers, and encouragers of those who do well, and when Parents shall be perswaded that it is in their power to procure to their Children more valuable Treasures than Riches and Honours; the ancient Vertue of our Ancestors will then quickly be equall'd, if not surpass'd, by that of their Posterity: But till then, it is in vain to expect that any great Advances should be made towards an Amendment, as necessary to our present and National, as to our Personal and Future Happiness.

What the force of Education is upon our Minds, and how by a due regard had to it, Common-wealths and Kingdoms have flourished, and become famous; and how much this has been recommended by Wise Men in all Ages, requires but a small consideration of Humane Nature, and Acquaintance with History to inform us; nor is any thing more obvious to observe than the power of Education. This matter yet has no where been ordinarily look'd after, proportionably to the moment it is visibly of: And even the most sollicitous about it, have usually employ'd their care herein but by halves with respect to the Principal Part in so great a concernment; for the information and improvement of the Understanding by useful Knowledge, (a thing highly necessary to the right regulation of the Manners) is commonly very little thought of in reference to one whole Sex; even by those who in regard of the other, take due care hereof. But to this omission in respect of one Sex, it is manifestly very much to be attributed, that that pains which is often bestow'd upon the other, does so frequently, as it does, prove ineffectual: Since the actual assistance of Mothers, will (generally speaking) be found necessary to the right forming of the Minds of their Children of both Sexes; and the Impressions receiv'd in that tender Age, which is unavoidably much of it passed among Women, are of exceeding consequence to Men throughout the whole remainder of their Lives, as having a strong and oftentimes unalterable influence upon their future Inclinations and Passions.

As those Persons who afforded that agreeable Conversation I have mention'd, were the greater part of them Ladies, it was not strange if they express'd much displeasure at the too general neglect of the Instruction of their Sex; a Reflection not easily to be avoided by them, when their thoughts upon the miscarriages and unhappiness of Mankind in general, terminated in a more peculiar Consideration of that part which those of their own Condition had in the one, and the other. Wherein the Conversation concluded where it had begun; the occasion which introduced it having been the Enquiry of a Lady, What was the Opinion of one in the Company concerning a Book Intitled Conseils d'Ariste sur les Moyens de conserver sa Reputation? Of which (she said) she had heard divers Persons of Merit and Quality, speak very differently: Some as if it contained the most useful Instructions that could be given for the rendring any young Lady such as her best Friends could wish she should be; and others, as relishing too much of an Antiquated severity, not indulgent enough either to the natural and agreeable Gaiety of Youth, or to that innocent Liberty now in use, deriv'd like most of our other Fashions, from that Nation where these Counsels were thought needful.

I remember not the Book you speak of enough to answer to your desire, (reply'd the Person to whom this Enquiry was address'd) but what you say is objected to these Conseils is without doubt impertinent, unless the Precepts therein meant to be condemn'd, are shown to be in themselves faulty; it being certainly otherwise no matter of exception to them that they are not Indulgent to what an Age, the Manners whereof they were intended to correct, had establish'd or found agreeable. This Objection yet can hardly (I think) be less just, than such a Character of any Book of this Nature, as some it seems give of this: the Author whereof pretended not (as I suppose) to so much in his Design, as these People find in his Performance. And the nature and extent of a Christian's Duty is but little in their thoughts, who think that any Rules dictated by Prudence, or Experience of the World, and directed to the Glory of a good Name, are such Instructions as can render any one what they ought to be. A solid Vertue can alone do this; the Possession whereof is infinitely preferable to that of Reputation; with which yet it is so rarely unattended, that one may affirm there is no so secure and easie a way (especially for a Lady) to acquire and conserve the Reputation of being Vertuous, as really to be so.

But Vertue is not (tho often so misrepresented) included in Innocency; or does consist in a partial Practice of Actions praiseworthy; for its extent is equal to our liberty of Action; and its Principle the most Active one of the Mind; Vertue being the natural result of a sincere desire to conform in all things to the Law set us by our Maker; which who so truly endeavours, will not find much occasion for such kind of Advices as the above-mentioned ones, either to correct their Faults, or teach them to put a mask over them; an ill use sometimes made of this sort of Instructions: However a better might be, since it is true, that young People from the Experience of others may learn many things in reference to their Conduct, the knowledge whereof they would buy too dear at their own. The difficulty yet that there is in applying general Rules to particular Cases, makes (I presume) Books of this sort, how good soever in the kind, of less advantage to those who most need them, than some imagine them to be.

This which was then said on the Subject of these Conseils (lying by accident in the way) suggests to me now two things, wherein the Documents ordinarily given to such young Ladies, as are intended to have the best care taken of their Instruction, are, I think, very defective; and the fitter to be redress'd, as being of peculiar ill consequence in a Sceptical, loose and unthinking Age; wherein Wit is apt to pass upon many for Reason.

The first of these is, That those Notions, or Ideas of Vertue, and consequent Rules of Action, which are usually given to such young Persons, do rarely carry along with them an entire conviction of their Truth and Reasonableness: Whence if these Instructions at any time happen strongly to cross the Inclinations of those to whom they are given, it will appear rational to question their Solidity: And when Principles that thwart People's passions or interests, come once to be doubted of by them, it is great odds, that they will sooner be slighted, than better examin'd.

Now, this want of apparent Truth and