The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1824-02-27

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by Sir Mathew Hale, Lord thi'
Justice in the Reign nr { harles II.
The first edition of this work was pull
iished few N"ara aga Ia SO crndea stat
II 10 excite u doubt uf It's authenticity 8; In
: present edition IL, We are assured, pnnfe
from an ufigini Manuscript aad eollatei
with The copy Ia the British Museum.
appears 10 hatr originated la the loss %
, SIR MalhcN's eldest sou, Robert, WI.
died nj The age OF thirty aud his widow
having survived him only fr~ months
their Eve children came under the care o
their grandfather. Deeply impressed viii
the idea that there was h.tlc probability 81
his living 10 see lhcmgruw up, he compo-
sed this Letter rs "A valuable legacy which
might bs 10 them a true FREUD and wise
councillor when he should be no more.
Asthe book WAS written tor the use Of
children, the eldest at whom waB only
eight yeais old when II was begun, the
venerable writer has expressed himself
with admirable simplicity mingled with an
antetionate warmth But IL must not he
supposed that il is calculated for children
only lhnsr parts which have mol become
inappcable IN consequence of the changes
that II hundred aud flty years have made
IN the habits of society, will be found
suitable Ia all classes and conditions.
| Those parts of the work which, as we
! have said, are not SO applicable III the
present slate Of society, are hnwever in.
tet.siing, us presenting failhlul aud
curious pfcttnnof thc nlOdc III ilNipR nj tial
period. Some striking differences in the
mode Of ednca ing young people oi both
sexes will excite surprise, aud NOW and
then perhaps smile. We do mol get our
I II
Aristotle, nor demand Of young indies, Of
The rank Of Sir Mathews granddaught era,
The performance of the various duties
" hich he requires. A more extraordinary
difference appears in the age then Judged
proper for contracting the bond Of mar
rage for Sir Matthew, after forcbly de-
pfecalng premature marriages, adds,
would not willingly, without extreme ur.
gent Necessity, haNC n Young lnhn Ia
marry before one and twenty yours old, |
nor n Young woman belorcseScnteen iol
about those ages they begin 10 under |
stand themselves aud To have some
stradiness, and oetilcdncss of mind. y Sui |
the prospect of pro, ding for a family must |
have been favorable, when such advice
could be given, as caution against Too
early marriages.
Alter mn allrctionatc introduction, the
FIRST Chapter, Concerning the present
Danger of the Times in relation To Re
ligion," gives an affecting picture OF the
corrupt state of morals al that time, WIN
respect 10 religion, the author notices, ~
nanp athnr aviIs "a gr..ut tnndnney Ia
many 10 return TO Popery great giddl.
ness and instability in religion, new sects
and doctrines, new models of divinity,
placing religion IN things wherein religion
hath little To do; IN short, making HE
Christina religion another Thing than ever
CHRIST our Lord Intended it aud strange
spirit Of atheism that is gone out into the
world, den, ing the existence of God and
his providence, and The immortality oil
the soul, drspising and dcrldlng tie holy
Scriptures, and estrcning all Religion Ia he
hui mere fiction, TO keep men IN ORDER
and under government.
One would think he was speaking siiil
more distinctly of the present tifnfs wi1en
he adds, 3" the next instance Of the oorrnp
ion OF this present age is IN relation IL
morals, which yet account part ol rell-
zion, and great part thereof
Tie laint aud lrprUsy Of dgbaurhcry and
pride hath iul, ctrd the whole Kingdom,
aud bath eat out The very habit ol sohlieiy,
prudence, aud common honesty, hmohg |
all conditions, professions, and sexes II
is rare Jew 81 TO find Il sober or temperate |
master, or u sober aud faithful scranf /
II sober and discreet husband, or prudent |
aud modest wiz nay, tbs rlague hath m
fcclrd many ul the clergy, which brings |
them aud religion into contempt among The
iuostf sort al men"
After pointing oul in the three following |
chapters the dangers incident 10 their age,
lheir condition, &c. he proceeds IN lie |
next eight chapters, 10 the important sub.
iect Of religion, from which, however, Ne
shall not quote, wishing rather to induce
our readers To refer to the work itself
In his Recommendation Gf employment
To his grandsons, Sir Matthew strongly nd.
,iscs the choice of a profession, which,
c, en- il they should not be Under the ne
ccssiiy of following il for Subsistence, Tar
from being burden ar dishouOnr, VII be
"A great advantage at least lie would nave
Them nossess a competent kpo"lsdgt III
divinity. the laws of the land, and physics,
esprciilly anatomy lie desires them 10
lac p,rfceily we'll acquainted with husban-
dr. as In, most necessary aud innocent
enrIo, rnent, becoming the first genile-
man in England and which, though II
reanircs attendance and industry, as wei
as know ledge and experience, leaves sui
iicieni time for such other studies aud fin-
ployments as may become scholar OF q
gentleman, good patriot or justice N
his country. 10 GIl up their leisure
time, he recommends the reading "i
history or mathematics, experimental
philosophy, botany, natural history pfae-
! ieal mathematics for instance land inca.
suring, or some OF the more eieanIy me-
chanlcal arts.
For the sake Of our fair readers, We
quote The chapter on 'the Empioymenis
Of young Gentewomen."
- In former times the education and
emnloynent Of young genlrwomen was
,elinioas, sober and serious, Their carriage
modest, and cfeditabe was their habit
and dress. When they were young they
. learned 10 read and to sew; as they grew
90 they learned to spin, to knit, to make
M their own garments they learned