same early period, be inspired, I give a new motive to maternal virtue. Such, at least, is the glorious aim I have in view; and were all mothers possessed with the same zeal for the happiness of their offspring as is felt by my friend, I should not despair of its accomplishment.

Adieu.

LETTER III.

Examination of the associations which produce passions of the malevolent class.-Consequences of early impressions of terror -The nature of timidity investigated.-The fear of death, the consequences of early association

Examples.

THE first class of associations that comes under our consideration, are those which are rendered permanent by means of strong sensation. These are chiefly, if not entirely, of the painful kind; the sensations that excite aversion being much stronger than those which produce pleasure; and as hatred is the source of all the malevolent passions, and gives rise to all the malevolent dispositions of our nature, every association which produces it, is particularly deserving of our attention.

That the infant mind is at an early period sus|ceptible of terror, is a discovery unhappily made by every ignorant nurse. This instinct, implanted by the wise Creator as a protection to the helpless state of infancy, is an instrument in the hands of senseless ignorance-too frequently applied to the worst

of purposes. It is the first, the constant engine of tyranny. In proportion as it is made to operate, the mind will be debased and enfeebled; deprived of its power and energy, it will remain the willing slave of sensation.

In one of the woes denounced against a sinful people in scripture, it is declared by the Prophet, "that they shall be afraid where no fear is." I can scarcely form an idea of greater calamity; and yet to this calamity is many an innocent being exposed by the injudicious treatment of the nursery. Of the many unhappy methods employed to induce a quiet submission to the arbitrary decrees of the nurse, notice has been taken in a work of such deserved celebrity, that I must suppose you are acquainted with its contents.* However I may take the liberty of differing in some points from the able and ingenious authors of that judicious treatise, I consider it, upon the whole, as an inestimable treasure of useful hints and sensible observations; and, therefore, earnestly recommend it to your attentive perusal. In the chapter to which I have alluded, the injudicious method employed to quiet the clamours which have been injudiciously excited, are considered with regard to their tendency towards hurting the temper. In addition to this evil of mighty magnitude, I consider the frequent employment of the engine of terror, as having a tendency to debilitate the powers of the mind, and to introduce malevolence and selfishness into the dispositions of the heart.

*

Edgeworth on Practical Education. See the chapter o

Toys.

Timidity, when considered merely as an enemy to vigorous exertion, will be found an obstacle to every species of excellence; as by fettering the mind it is particularly friendly to prejudice, and inimical to truth. That self-possession which seems the inheritance of great minds, is, in reality, but the triumph of reason over the passions of surprise and fear; which on no emergency can be promptly conquered by minds accustomed to the early dominion of terror. It surely, then, is our business to guard as much as possible against the early introduction of a passion which is in its excess equally injurious to happiness and virtue.

"This may be all very truly observed," you will perhaps, say," with regard to boys; but in females timidity appears so graceful and engaging, that in them it ought by all means to be encouraged."

I beg your pardon; I thought we were speaking of the best method of cultivating the powers of human beings, so as to bring them to the greatest perfection of which they are capable; and of watching over the impressions and associations of early life, so as to preserve it from the influence of prevailing errors. In this I can make no distinction of sex; it being my opinion, that the mind which is most sedulously preserved from the influence of prejudice, will be best prepared for pursuing the line of conduct best adapted to its situation and circumstances. Females are, indeed, seldom placed in those where the exertion of active courage is required. Whatever is unnessary is absurb; the affectation of it is disgusting. But of that passive cou

See Letter I.

rage which takes the name of fortitude, where is the woman, who, in some period of life, is not called on for its exertion?

By the delicacy of her frame exposed to inevitable suffering from bodily pain, ought not her mind to be strengthened to support it with firmness? Unhappy the friends, doubly unhappy the attendants, who are doomed to listen to the querulous murmurs of amiable weakness, under the pressure of bodily infirmity! Here, I believe, it would be readily excused, even by the most strenuous advocate for the charms of feminine imbecility. But having once deprived the mind of strength and energy, we must take all the consequences: of these the incapacity of supporting pain with any degree of firmness is, perhaps, not the worst. The selfishness almost always connected with extreme timidity of temper is a consequence we should still more strongly deprecate. Active benevolence requires a degree of resolution, a dereliction of self, to which the timid can never attain. Let us compare the two by examples from real life.

Is it an uncommon thing to see a lady, who is the slave of foolish fears with regard to her own personal safety, show very little concern for the safety of others? I have seen one who, if a cow but looked at her in her walks, would scream with terror, and run from it as she would from a Bengal tiger: yet, with great sang froid, permit her child to face the formidable animal, and turn it from the path!

It is the nature of cowardice and pussillanimity to direct the mind exclusively to the attention of self. On a mind thus occupied, the sufferings of

others can make no impression; nor can the social or sympathetic affections in such circumstances exert their influence over the heart. How mistaken is it then, to confound the idea of gentleness, of which the feelings of benevolence and complacency are the constituents, with that cowardice which is the consequence of an unmixt regard to self!

Permit me to illustrate the union of gentleness and fortitude by an apt example, with which my memory now furnishes me.

Mrs. B.-a lady whose gentleness arose from the pure source of Christian meekness and unbounded philanthropy after having suffered with unrepining patience the painful progress of a cancer, was advised to submit to an operation, from which a faint hope of cure was entertained by her medical friends. It happened, that one of her servants (I believe her kitchenmaid) had, about the same time, contracted a white swelling on her knee, for which amputation was pronounced the only remedy. During the progress of her disorder, Mrs. B. took infinite pains to strengthen the weaker mind of her fellow-sufferer, and to bring her to that calm resignation to the Divine will, of which she was herself so bright an example. At length the day appointed for the performance of the two operations arrived. The amiable mistress, who was mother of a large family, spent the morning in giving such admonitions to her children, and such instructions concerning them, as were suggested by a sound understanding, a pious mind, and a benevolent heart. But not even the affecting idea of a last interview (for so she considered it) with her beloved children could so far conquer her feelings as to render her