TABLE OF CONTENTS.

INTRODUCTION.-Page 7.

LETTER I-Page 13.

Preliminary observations.-Influence of early association

exemplified in the characters of the Hindoos and Ame-

ricans. Subject of education divided into two branches,

viz. the culture of the heart, and of the understanding.

-Reasons for treating the former first.-Association

explained-Necessity of ascertaining the end and ob-

ject of education.

LETTER II.-Page 31.

Associations deeply fixed in the mind, either by means

of strong impression or frequent repetition.-Associa-

tions of the former class generally those of aversion.

-Examples.

LETTER III-Page 38.

Examination of the associations which produce passions

of the malevolent class.-Consequences of early impres-

sions of terror.-Nature of timidity investigated.--

Fear of death, the consequences of early association.

LETTER IV.-Page 53.

ASSOCIATIONS OF AVERSION CONTINUED.

Danger of early inspired antipathies.-Prejudice.-Its
injurious effects upon the mind.-Treatment of ser-
vants.-Illustrations.

LETTER V.-Page 72.

AGREEABLE ASSOCIATIONS.

Religion. Consequences of affixing gloomy associations

with the performance of religious duty.-Advantages

resulting from impressions of an opposite tendency.

LETTER VI.—Page 88.

SUBJECT CONTINUED.

Inutility of endeavouring to impress belief upon subjects
which are beyond the present powers of conception.-
The affections of the heart liable to be influenced by
desire or aversion, before the judgment is capable of
deciding upon the truth of abstract propositions; for
which reason the religious instruction of children ought
chiefly to be addressed to the heart.-Illustrations.

LETTER VII.-Page 105.

ASSOCIATIONS PRODUCING BENEVOLENCE.

State of infancy favourable to the cultivation of the bene-

volent affections.-Tendency of every passion to pro-

duce passions of the class to which it belongs.-Male-

volent and dissocial passions inspired by the gratifica.

tion of self-will.

LETTER VIII.-Page 127.

SAME SUBJECT CONTINUED.

Inefficacy of the usual methods employed to counteract

the effects of injudicious indulgence.-Vanity: its con-

sequences.-Indolence of parents renders them frequent-

ly blind to the faults of their children.-Happy conse-

quences of early obedience.

LETTER IX-Page 143.

ASSOCIATIONS DESTRUCTIVE OF BENEVOLENCE.

Pernicious effects of parental partiality.—Of ridicule.—Of

contempt for the female character.

LETTER X-Page 167.

ASSOCIATIONS PRODUCTIVE OF SELFISHNESS.

Wisdom of self-denial.-Danger of associating the idea of

happiness with sensual gratification.-Effects of an

early indulgence of the palate.-Illustrations.

LETTER XI-Page 183.'

ASSOCIATONS PRODUCTIVE OF VANITY.

Advantages resulting from directing the attention to an

examination of the objects of sense.-Associations be-

getting preference for the splendid, and contempt for

the useful.-Illustrations.

LETTER XII.-Page 195.

ASSOCIATIONS PRODUCTIVE OF SELFISHNESS AND

PRIDE.

Love of wealth: how inspired.-Effects of the love of

wealth upon individuals and society.-Advantages of

keeping this desire in subjection.-Observations.

LETTER XIII.—Page 216.

ASSOCIATIONS PRODUCTIVE OF SELFISHNESS AND

AMBITION.

Objections answered.-Love of power.-Love of glory; of

praise; of dress; and of admiration.

LETTER XIV.-Page 234.

ASSOCIATIONS PRODUCTIVE OF PRIDE.

Danger of inspiring false notions of superiority.-Pride

of birth.-Pride of station.-Consciousness of impor

tance.-Effects of some modern improvements for shor

tening the road to information.--Conclusion.

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