to that fame which men have engrossed to themselves, and will not suffer us to share.  You will tell me I have not observed this rule myself; but you are mistaken:  it is only inevitable accident that has given me any reputation that way.  I have always carefully avoided it, and ever thought it a misfortune.  The explanation of this paragraph would occasion a long digression, which I will not trouble you with, it being my present design only to say what I think useful for the instruction of my granddaughter, which I have much at heart.  If she has the same inclination (I should say passion) for learning that I was born with, history, geography, and philosophy will furnish her with materials to pass away cheerfully a longer life than is allotted to mortals.  I believe there are few heads capable of making Sir I. Newton’s calculations, but the result of them is not difficult to be understood by a moderate capacity.  Do not fear this should make her affect the character of Lady——­, or Lady——­, or Mrs.——­:  those women are ridiculous, not because they have learning, but because they have it not.  One thinks herself a complete historian, after reading Echard’s Roman History; another a profound philosopher, having got by heart some of Pope’s unintelligible essays; and a third an able divine, on the strength of Whitefield’s sermons:  thus you hear them screaming politics and controversy.

It is a saying of Thucydides, ignorance is bold, and knowledge reserved.  Indeed, it is impossible to be far advanced in it without being more humbled by a conviction of human ignorance than elated by learning.  At the same time I recommend books, I neither exclude work nor drawing.  I think it as scandalous for a woman not to know how to use a needle, as for a man not to know how to use a sword.  I was once extremely fond of my pencil, and it was a great mortification to me when my father turned off my master, having made a considerable progress for a short time I learnt.  My over-eagerness in the pursuit of it had brought a weakness on my eyes, that made it necessary to leave it off; and all the advantage I got was the improvement of my hand.  I see, by hers, that practice will make her a ready writer:  she may attain it by serving you for a secretary, when your health or affairs make it troublesome to you to write yourself; and custom will make it an agreeable amusement to her.  She cannot have too many for that station of life which will probably be her fate.  The ultimate end of your education was to make you a good wife (and I have the comfort to hear that you are one):  hers ought to be, to make her happy in a virgin state.  I will not say it is happier; but it is undoubtedly safer than any marriage.  In a lottery, where there are (at the lowest computation) ten thousand blanks to a prize, it is the most prudent choice not to venture.  I have always been so thoroughly persuaded of this truth, that, notwithstanding the flattering views I had for you (as I never intended you a sacrifice to