Chapter I: HAVE thus given you my opinion on some of the most important articles

of your future life, chiefly calculated for that period when you are just entering the world. I have endeavoured to avoid some peculiarities of opinion, which, from their contradiction to the general practice of the world, I might reasonably have suspected were not so well founded. But in writing to you, I am afraid my heart has been too full, and too warmly interested, to allow me to keep this resolution. This may have produced some embarrassment, and some seeming contradictions. What I have written has been the amusement of some solitary hours, and has served to divert some melancholy reflections.—I am conscious I undertook a task to which I was very unequal; but I have discharged a part of my duty.—You will at least be pleased with it, as the last mark of your father’s love and attention.

THE END.

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CONTENTS.

page

Modesty, 7

Lying, 12

Good-Breeding, 15

Genteel Carriage, 21

Cleanliness of person, 25

Dress, 26

Elegance of Expression, 28

Address Phraseology, and 33
small-talk,

Observation, 35

Absence of Mind, 37

Knowledge of the World, 39

Choice of Company, 51

Laughter, 55

Sundry Little 57
Accomplishments,

Employment of Time, 71

Dignity of Manners, 74

Rules for Conversation, 79

A Father’s address to his 93
Daughters,

Religion, 96

Conduct and Behaviour, 102

Amusements, 110

Friendship, Love, 116
Marriage,

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● Transcriber’s Notes:
○ Missing or obscured punctuation was silently corrected.
○ Typographical errors were silently corrected.
○ Inconsistent spelling and hyphenation were made consistent only
when a predominant form was found in this book.
○ Text that was in italics is enclosed by underscores (_italics_).