to contemplate with veneration and love, in the actions and sentiments of his Royal Highness the late Duke of Kent.

To your Royal Highness this calamity is severe, and this loss irreparable; and while so many have reason to deplore it, an humble individual may well be supposed to share in a concern for the loss of him, who generously and nobly gave the support of his Royal name, and prevailed on your Royal Highness to grant that of your gracious patronage, to exertions, which have for their sole end, the improvement of mankind.

Under the shelter of that name, so justly dear to your Royal Highness, and to this country, I humbly beg leave to present to your Royal Highness this volume on the management of children. It has been written, not so much with a view to the forming of their characters to greatness, as to goodness; to accomplishment as to virtue; and is, in consequence, fitted equally to the inferior ranks, as to the most exalted personages of the empire. For to excel in goodness should be the aim of all; to be great, can be attempted but by few.

May you, MADAM, now again blest in the tenderest of all titles, that of mother, may you, in your Royal Offspring, see real greatness and nobleness of mind

joined to the happiest dispositions for receiving good. impressions, and putting in force every habit of virtue. A child is a gift of God; but a child that is endowed with a soul inclined to goodness, and giving early indications of future excellence, is a gift which a mother may prize as the first of all earthly blessings which the Almighty deigns to bestow.

That you, MADAM, may be so favoured, is the sincere wish, as, if virtue be hereditary, it is also the expectation, of her, who is with the highest respect,

MADAM,

Your Royal Highness's,

Most humble,

Most obedient and devoted servant,

ELIZABETH APPLETON.

PREFACE.

IN offering this volume upon Education to the Public, it may be thought requisite to give some reason for adding another to the many works on this important subject.

The author begs then to say, that she would never have ventured to go beyond the limits marked out in her former work (which has been so favourably received by the Public) but for the suggestions of a lady, herself the mother of a numerous family, and the daughter of a much esteemed friend. "The Private Education," she observed, was not suited to the age of infancy, and she should be glad to see from the same pen, a sequel, on the instruction of children." The gentleman, in reporting his daughter's opinion, likewise seriously urged the undertaking.

66

In pursuance of this advice, the author, above three years since, sketched a few pages, and offered them to the friend alluded to, for his approval or objection; when, having obtained sufficient encouragement to induce her to proceed, she persevered, and has, at length, completed her task.

There are, probably, many errors in the following system, and they will, doubtless, be soon detected. Yet the author fears not

* W. Porden, Esq., of Berners Street, in whose vicinity had the author chanced to have resided when this work was finished, she would have been most happy to have submitted it to his correction, and have profited by the judgment and taste for which he is so highly distinguished.

generous, liberal criticism; a criticism which is ready to commend where praise is, in some degree, due, and which discovers a spirit to point out the faults which are more or less to be found in every human system, not with malignity, but with fairness and candour, as well as acuteness; and with some just consideration for the feelings of a writer; a consideration which every civilized being is bound to shew to another.

In sending this volume forth, the author must, however, beg the indulgence of the Public for those parts of it, which may at the first glance appear most tedious and tautological. It is indeed almost impossible to consider the education of infancy and childhood, but after the manner of a miniature picture, in which ten thousand touches,' and those too of the most delicate form, are employed to produce the effect we desire; and if the painter must labour by repeated fine strokes, to produce a perfect resemblance to his original, so must the writer, who attempts to describe what a little child should do, to bring his nature to perfection, in the establishment of harmony between good principle and action. The author ventures to think that a good mother will excuse this fault, if such it be, which originates only in a wish to leave no important point untouched. As for the rest, she will cheerfully attend to any suggestions for the improveinent or correction of her system, whenever its errors are fairly stated, and the means of improvement described.