University of Virginia Library

I take the liberty to send you Bennet's
Letters. When my mamma put them into my
hand, Sophia, said she, I recommend this book
to your attentive perusal. It highly deserves it,
and will richly reward your labour. You have,
indeed, completed your school education; but
you have much yet to learn. Improvements
in knowledge are necessarily progressive. The
human mind is naturally active and eager in
pursuit of information; which we have various
and continual means of accumulating: but never
will you have a more favourable opportunity for
the cultivation of your mind, than you now
enjoy. You are now free from those domestic
cares and avocations, which may hereafter fall
to your lot, and occupy most of your time.
Speculation must then give place to practice.
Be affiduous, therefore, to increase the sund, that
it may yield you a competent interest, and afford
you a constant resource of support and enjoyment.

With these words she withdrew, while I was
still listening to the sweet accents of maternal
tenderness and discretion, which vibrated on my
ear, even after her departure.

I find it worthy the recommendation of so
good a judge. As a moral writer, the precepts
and observations of its author are excellent; as a
religious one, his piety is exemplary, and his
instructions improving. His selection of books,
which he deems most proper for our sex, though
too numerous, perhaps, may, notwithstanding,
assist and direct the young, in their course of
reading.

Who would not imitate his Louisa? In her
he has forcibly displayed the beauties of an
amiable disposition, and the advantages which
even that may derive from a virtuous and
religious education.

These letters are not scholastic and elaborate
dissertations; they are addressed to the heart;
they are the native language of affection: and
they can hardly fail to instil the love of virtue
into every mind susceptible of its charms.

If you have not read them, I will venture to
predict that they will afford you entertainment,
as well as instruction; and if you have, they will
bear a second perusal. Indeed, every valuable
book should be re-perused. On a first reading,
our curiosity to know something of all it contains,
hurries us forward with a rapidity which out-strips
both the memory and judgment.

When this predominant passion is gratified, an
attentive review will commonly furnish many

useful and important lessons, which had nearly
or quite escaped our notice before.

This, by some, is deemed too laborious a task.
They prefer company and conversation to reading
of any kind; and allege, in defence of their
opinion, that a knowledge of the world, and of
human nature, together with that ease and gracefulness
of manners, which are of the utmost
consequence to all who would make a respectable
figure in life, are much better obtained in this
way, than by the cold and unimpassioned perusal
of books.

But is not every acquisition of this sort merely
superficial? Need we not a guide, superior to
our own judgment and experience, to point out
the line of duty and propriety, in the various
conditions and relations of our existence?

Our acquaintance with living characters and
manners can afford us but a very limited view of
mankind, in the different periods and stages of
society. The inquisitive mind labours to extend
its knowledge to the most distant climes and remote
antiquity; and craves other materials for
the exercise of its reflecting powers, than can be
derived from occasional and desultory conversation.
Now, by what means can this laudable
curiosity be so effectually satisfied, as by the perusal
of judicious and well chosen books? Not
that I would depreciate the value of good company
(for I esteem it highly;) but add its many

advantages to those which reading affords. This
combination must have a happy tendency to give
us possession, both of the virtues and graces;
and to render our attainments at once solid and
ornamental.

What think you, Caroline? Do you agree
with me in opinion? Let me hear from you
by the first opportunity; and believe me your's
most sincerely.