ble miſs, whoſe perſon is taken from one public place to another, richly capariſoned. Yet, mixing in the giddy circle under reſtraint, theſe butterflies long to flutter at large, for the firſt affection of their ſouls is their own perſons, to which their attention has been called with the moſt ſedulous care whilſt they were preparing for the period that decides their fate for life. Inſtead of purſuing this idle routine, ſighing for taſteleſs ſhew, and heartleſs ſtate, with what dignity would the youths of both ſexes form attachments in the ſchools that I have curſorily pointed out; in which, as life advanced, dancing, muſic, and drawing, might be admitted as relaxations, for at theſe ſchools young people of fortune ought to remain, more or leſs, till they were of age. Thoſe, who were deſigned for particular profeſſions, might attend, three or four mornings in the week, the ſchools appropriated for their immediate inſtruction.
I only drop theſe obſervations at preſent, as hints; rather, indeed, as an outline of the plan I mean, than a digeſted one; but I muſt add, that I highly approve of one regulation mentioned in the pamphlet[1] already alluded to, that of making the children and youths independent of the maſters reſpecting puniſhments. They ſhould be tried by their peers, which would be an admirable method of fixing ſound principles of juſtice in the mind, and might have the happieſt effect on the temper, which is very early ſoured or irritated by tyranny, till it becomes peeviſhly cunning, or ferociouſly overbearing.
- ↑ The Biſhop of Autun's.
