861] Letters from a Father to his Son. [862 A year of probation is allowed them, entertaining, and possibly instructive at the expiration of which period they history, might be compiled by any antient may, if they choose, return to the world and well-disposed inhabitant of such a and all its cares; but such a resolution is prison-house! A LAURENTIAN. [Gent. Mag. June 1817.] an event of rare occurrence. What an My dear Son, LETTERS FROM A FATHER TO HIS SON. LETTER II. eva made in sentiments at all favourable to to the object of them. which ought to weigh with every man in TH HE Roman moralist whom I have every gradation of public life, but more quoted in my first letter, has given especially ought it to influence the young you a general axiom, which may form a man, because it is in the blossom that useful basis for self-examination in every men usually anticipate the fruit; and action of your social life; as such, it although it would not be naturally just should constantly remind you that every to insist upon a fructification commenstation, whether public or private, active surate with the early promise, yet if the or retired, has its peculiar and appropriate cause of disappointment should originate duties and that, whatever be your conin the wilfulness or indifference of the dition in society, your reputation will de- individual himself, from whose powers pend upon your performance or neglect of intellect and opportunities of applying of the obligations which it comprehends. them this expectancy has originated, the To this I shall add, that no pursuit ought expression of regret is not likely to be to be adopted by you which may cause you to disregard them; since every sion of their claim upon your attention, You will then, I would hope, my dear and every apology for their omission, G, perceive the obligatory nature must necessarily imply, or will be consid- of those duties which are attached to ered by those who observe your conduct, the department that requirese your exas justifying the inference that you ad- ertions. I say department, for however mit this claim and are conscious of hav- subordinate it may be, while you coning done wrong in neglecting it. But consider it as a step of that progression whatever may be this feeling, you ought by which you are to rise in the scale of always to remember that, so long as the promotion, it behoves you, if you would duty is acknowledged by yourself, its realize your expectations, to avoid ali claim upon your exertions is positive; desultory inconsiderateness in your estiand every excuse for not performing it mation of its importance and to divest is merely referential to circumstances yourself of all self-reference, which may which society will assert its right to ap- induce you to think that your qualificapreciate, not perhaps in concurrence with tions are superior to the demand upon your consideration of them, but most com- their industrious appropriation to the monly in reference to the obligation which task which may be allotted you. you have pledged yourself to fulfil I have indeed witnessed this self-reference in many young men who have been as well educated as yourself, and It may be reckoned upon, therefore, as a certain consequence of supineness in the performance of your public duty, that I have heard them inveighing heavily you will suffer in that character by which against the mechanical sameness of the you are publicly known, if you become routine in which their efforts have been careless as to the manner in which you put in requisition. I have been told by comport yourself. And you will find it to them of the "bore of office”—“ the tæbe a general opinion, that no one ought dium of daily recurrence of the self to be invested with an office, however same mechanical operations of duty; subordinate, who does not attend to its that it was intolerable to think of men business with personal conformity and of education being compelled to submit professioual application. This, indeed, to the daily drudgery of a toil which the is a character of general responsibility, most ignorant could get through!" But 863] Letters from a Father to his Son. [864 why has all this discontent escaped them? Be punctual in your hours of attendance, for such punctuality will always be regarded by your superiors as an evidence of assiduity, and as a proof that you do not allow matters of extraneous import to interfere with the concerns of your employ; for in whatever employment of business a young man is engaged, that ought always to be esteemed by him as his principal object, and as superseding every inferior pursuit. Not because they got through this drudgery better, but because they did not conform their minds to the duties which they were conscious were incumbent upon them. This is wrong, and must have a very injurious tendency; since, at the same time that it unsettles their minds, it gives them a conceit of their own importance, which the thinking part of society will not justify; for it is always the opinion of judicious men, that there is no merit to be admitted in exclusion of that which consists in a man's regulating his conduct by the obligations of his station. thing of the character of your mind, I should conclude that there is too much of emulation in it to submit it to the mortifying reflection, that others of less intelligence are better acquainted with the nature of your office than yourself. Do not permit yourself to suppose that the minutia of office are beneath your notice; since whatever relates, although in the remotest degree, to the knowledge of you occupation is worthy I do not, nay, I will not presume, that of inquiry, as increasing your stock of the truth of these remarks is identified information. Every pursuit of business in your instance; for assuredly they has its principia, and he who would be ought not to apply to you by any parity deemed an intelligent agent must possess of reasoning; you have chosen for himself of the elementary principles of yourself the condition of life in which his employ. Indeed, if I know any you are engaged. But it may happen, that the independence of mind which a liberal education usually produces, may incline you to look upon yourself as somewhat above the subordinacy of your situation. I confess to you I should be sorry for this effect in your case; be- When engaged in your duties be totus cause all education having one direction, in illis, and avoid all trifling and unseathat of expanding the intellect and form- sonable conversation which may divers ing the heart, I should grieve to find in your attention from what ought to occuyou such a weakness of judgment, and py it. It is, I believe, generally found by so much pride of self-opinion, as would men of application, that the powers of prove that your mental acquirements had the mind, when put into a uniform direcproduced no other effect than to make tion, are always most effective; and the you, what I hope you will never be, thoughts once concentrated, they are not unworthy of the advantages which you easily brought back to the same focus if sufhave enjoyed; besides, your present fered to diverge towards irrelevant objects. Occupation is the result of your choice; I have heard it remarked, and by adoptan election made also without any pre- ing the observation I would not willingvious consultation of my wishes, or con- ly subject myself to the charge of severity, sideration of those views which I might that the conversation of young men is have formed of your future prospects. seldom of that valuable nature which can After such a decision, therefore, on your justify a moment's interruption of their part, I should seriously lament that you official engagements. Be this as it may, should fall into the error to which I have you may justly conclude that, whatever alluded. To your choice I have sur- is out of time and place is not merely unrendered my parental power of con- seasonable, but may be pernicious, at least straint, but not the right of admonition; the chance is, that it may be unprofitable; and, having made that surrender, I would and this is sufficient reason for your not. employ this right in supplying the defi- encouraging the intrusion upon your ciency of my own satisfaction, by increas more important avocations. ing the possibilities of establishing your's. I would, therefore, press upon the conviction of your common scense these few dictates of paternal anxiety. There are, my dear G, minds of so insipid a composition, as to hold every important claim upon their attention in an inferior degree of consideration, and to 865] Letters from a Father to his Son. [806 estimate it only in proportion to the time dence in persons of their own age and which it leaves at their own disposal. condition and subject to the same reHence it is, that they submit with impa- straints and command of authority as tience to the authority by which this claim themselves. js insisted upon, and treat with levity the What I have thus far pressed upon duties which it inforces. They take every your attention, relates principally to the indirect method to evade the rules which disposal of that portion of your time are prescribed for punctual attendance, which the affairs of your office require and boast of the subterfuges which they from you as a young man first introduced make use of to escape detection. They into the path of public life; and certainly waste that time, which by personal com- you will admit that so much of the rela pact they have pledged to their employ- tive importance of the station in which ers, in frivolous deviations from the busi- the eye of society is accustomed to reness in hand, and plume themselves upon gard you, ought not to be held by you a certain carelessness of manner in the in light concern, since your reading and performance of what they do condescend observation will shew you that far the to get through. The vacuity of sentiment, greater part of most eminent characters which in their foolishness they are in the in public life have risen into consequence constant habit of professing, betrays an and estimation from subordinate employ: oscitancy of thought, if I may be allowed which may be considered as a species of the expression, which shews that no in- probationary progress, as essential to dustrious avocation can interest them, and justify public confidence as it is indisno principle of virtuous emulation excite pensable to produce that primary know! them to energy of effort. Their ideas, edge of business, without which the when no topic of prurient talk occupies qualifications of the superior officer cannot them, seldom extend beyond the limits of be completed; for he who would know a play-bill, the cut of their coats, or the how to direct others,must himself undermake of their boots; a vicious affectation stand the service which he insists upon. of the follies of those, whom they absurd- But, my dear G, there is one ly take for their fashionable standard, more preliminary observation which I pervades all they say and all they do. In am not willing to omit, and to which I this vague course they unthinkingly pro- request your special attention. ceed until, as it not unfrequently happens, I need not remind you, I presume, they lose by their negligence what they that the few hours in which you are offimight have secured by their industry; cially engaged do not comprise all your and the progress of that very hope of pro- active opportunities, and that the remotion, which they flatter themselves mainder of your time, which you dewill be realized, notwithstanding all this nominate leisure, is not to be thrown inconsiderateness on their part, is cut away as of no consideration. short by a just dismissal; and not only If when you lock your desk for the their own hope is frustrated, but that of day you turn the key upon your mind, their relatives and friends, who had con- and exclude from it all desire of farther gratulated themselves that they were intelligence than what the mere mechaplaced in a situation which produced an nical process of your office affords, you immediate emolument,and held out a pro- will not only run the risk of losing all spective expectancy of future advantage. the attainments of your education, but I should think it were unnecessary for will also put it out of your own power to me to caution you against all assimila- form that interest with your superiors in tion of mind and manners with such society, on whom you must depend for young men, whom I should rightly cha- such promotion as industry might secure racterize as the most insignificant of to you; and thus, instead of rising above buman beings, were there not a criminal the level of your compeers, you will sink tendency in their folly to corrupt the below that which at all events you might early impressions of those who, with have preserved in the character of a well better intentions, but perhaps with un- educated youth-for nothing can be more guarded hearts, are deceived by such repulsive to men of judgment and good factitious gaiety and spurious indepen- information, than to see a young man 867] Letters from a Father to a Son. [868 sacrificing his early store of intelligence again, that through the intervention and to the empty gratifications of a vacant influence of some friend you should rise mind; contenting himself with the daily in your official character, every step highdischarge of his perfunctory duties: er requires more intelligence than that without emulation of farther progress, from which you ascend; and if you have and satisfied with the idle reflection that not made the best use of your former leihe has not left unfinished the exact sure to qualify yourself for all extraordimeasure of his task.-What would you nary demands upon your ability, would think of a man who, pretending to ex- there uot be some danger of losing, in plore a country, should travel only by proportion to your deficiency, so much the high road, and confine his observa- of your influence over the respect of those tions to those scenes which lie within below you, and of the esteem of those the narrow compass of his view? You who have the power to command you— would certainly look upon him as a very not to mention the possible disgrace of insufficient authority, and condemn him being detected in your mistakes by the as an idle pretender, unworthy of your former, and reprimanded for them by the notice. The same conclusion may, cate- latter? If, therefore, you would vindicate ris paribus, be drawn with respect to a your claim to preferment, you will not young man who sits down to his regular slumber over your opportunities, but be occupation, and rises up from it with no constantly awake to every improvement other reflection than that of having gone of them that may warrant your anticipathrough its ordinary course, and without tions of future advantage. And suffer having given himself the trouble of con- me to add, my dear G- that the mind templating the respective dependencies never remains stationary in its action; it which its several combinations may asso- is either retrograde or progressive; it ciate in their relative connexion with oth either loses what it has acquired, by a er branches of official knowledge. To ex- natural lapse of recollection, or it increa emplify this remark, suppose that, among ses its former acquirements by applying the various papers you have to copy, there them to the attainment of some higher be any references to peculiar modifica- object; and hence you will find, that the tions of commerce, to the exchanges of mechanical habits of official business, different countries, to their comparative which seldom vary from their general ordinances and customs, their geographi- course, as they do not require any other cal positions, their manufactures, and action of the intellect than what is suffimany other points which are commonly cient to provide for common accuracy in included in our commercial regulations, transcript, so if, after they have been apboth at home and abroad; would you plied to their ordinary purposes, you regard think that you would stand acquitted to them as your sole concern, and consider yourself if you were to copy such papers yourself at full liberty to use the leisure, without noting for the subsequent inquiry which they leave to you, in the trifling of some leisure hour all these relative par- amusements of a passing hour, or in the ticulars, as subjects which it would be equally unprofitable reading of frivolous useful to you to be better acquainted with? publications, you will neglect the preWould the simple act of copying them cious store which education has made satisfy your mind? I think not; because you master of; and as land, allowed to I am disposed to infer, that its natural remain uncultivated, becomes useless in activity would convince you, that there itself and unprofitable to the owner, that was more to engage its contemplation and store will be valueless to you; but with excite its research than so slight an exer- this difference, that the soil of the mind tion would justify you to yourself in pas- deteriorates in its intrinsic powers of fersing over. There is, however, another tility, the longer it remains in a neglected motive, which, altho' I would not have state. So long as a field continues un it form your principal excitement; yet, worked, the profit of its powers of fructi as I may fairly use it here to strengthen fication is lost to its owner; but a worse my argument, I shall urge in its support; consequence ensues to him who neglects I inean your personal interest. Suppose the cultivation of his mind; to him, the 3K Eng. Mag. Vol. I. fructifying power itself is lost; and when 8691 Letters from a Father to a Son. [870 he shall be, at any future time, convinced metical and geographical part of your of the injustic done to himself and to so- education, I should recommend your ciety, and shall be anxious to repair his getting a knowledge of the system of exfault by resuming his intellectual exertions, he will find that the very seeds of knowledge have perished, and that it is too late to sow them over again. change, as well as of the boundaries of the different nations and people who carry on any trade with us;-the nature of their commodities, both in the raw I would not have this unhappy result and the manufactured article,—their form a part of your future regrets, and I laws and manners; so that you may mention it because I would preserve to possess a general information upon every you all the best satisfactions of a good possible subject that bears the remotest mind-among which there is none more reference to the business which may valuable than to be able, in mature life, come within your cognizance and directo reflect that you have neglected nothing tion.-And when you may be inclined in your early years which might promote to indulge your classical taste, I would your just advantage, and have done every suggest the propriety of making yourself thing that might secure it :-and with acquainted with those authors whom this satisfaction, whatever disappointment your school studies did not include. may traverse your expectations or frustrate your hope, you will not have the mortification of recollecting that you have yourself to blame. Now you will say, perhaps, that I have marked out a scale of reading far too extensive even for your opportu. nities of leisure-Let us see, my dear G, whether this be indeed the case Let me, then, persuade you to rescue your leisure hours from that dangerous Your time is apportioned as distinctly vortex of senseless dissipation, which, by degrees, almost imperceptible to yourself, draws the best part of your time into that abyss of the past, out of which it can never be recovered. I would, therefore, take upon me to advise a systematic apportionment of those hours; first, to the keeping up of your scholastic attainments; for if your education was a duty attached to my care, its improvement and retention becomes an obligation of that gratitude which you, doubtless, will not consider burthensome in acknowledgment, while you feel the causes so beneficial in application ;--besides, you will allow me to add, that what cost so much in the purchase, ought to be precious in your estimation on whom it was bestowed as a gift. to your official avocations as the hours to the dial-from ten o'clock in the morning to four in the afternoon-during which period your attendance goes on in one unvarying routine from the beginning to the end of the year.-How much do you think you read over and write by the time the year comes round? I will anticipate your answer-a great deal more than you would have thought it possible to have accomplished had the aggregate mass been placed before you at the beginning of it.-And how have you accomplished it? Why, by regular attendance so many hours in a day.The same regulation of your leisure hours, in much less time than you may now be inclined to admit, will put you in possession of the information to which I have alluded.-Much more may be done by a regular division of our time than by a casual seizure of a flying hour; The next appropriation of these hours that I should suggest, would be the reading of such books as relate to those subjects which I have enumerated as com- nothing, indeed, proves more plainly ing before you in the various documents the advantage of system than the appliof your office for instance, the history cation of our time; and I have no hesiof your own country, its polity, its tation in asserting, that two hours in an foreign dependencies and relations, its evening, regularly appropriated, will, in manufactures, its imports and exports the course of a single year, make you with this you may blend the history of master of all the subjects which I wish other countries, and especially those to impress upon your attention. Of this with which the commercial connexions I shall hope to convince you when I of your own are formed.-In order, shall make the disposal of your time also, that you may not forget the arith- the express subject of my epistolary |