C. Baldwin, Printer,

New Bridge-street, London.

CONTENTS OF VOLUME I.

PREFACE

vii

LETTER I.

Preliminary Observations.-Influence of early As-
sociation, exemplified in the Characters of the
Hindoos and Americans.—Subject divided into
two Branches, viz. the Culture of the Heart, and
of the Understanding.-Reasons for treating of
the former first.-The End and Object of Edu-
cation to be thoroughly ascertained...

1

LETTER II.

Use of the Term Association.-Associations pro-
ductive of Aversion.-Their Tendency to Male-
volence, illustrated by Examples........

LETTER III.

Examination of the Associations which produce
Passions of the malevolent Class.-Consequences

22

of early Impressions of Terror.-The Nature of

Timidity investigated. The Fear of Death, the

Consequences of early Association.-Examples 31

LETTER IV.

ASSOCIATIONS OF AVERSION CONTINUED.

Danger of early inspired Antipathies.-The Nature

of Prejudice examined. Its injurious Effects

upon the Mind.-Examples and Observations.. 57

LETTER V.

ASSOCIATIONS PRODUCING THE MALEVOLENT

PASSIONS.

State of Infancy favourable to the Cultivation of the

benevolent Affections.-Tendency of every Pas-

sion to produce Passions of the Class to which it

belongs. Malevolent and dissocial Passions in-

spired by the Gratification of Self-will.-Exam-

ples....

LETTER VI.

SAME SUBJECT CONTINUED.

Inefficacy of the usual Methods employed to coun-

teract the Effects of injudicious Indulgence.-

87

Vanity; its Consequences.-Indolence of Parents

renders them frequently blind to the Faults of

their Children.-Happy Consequences of early

Obedience

121

LETTER VII.

ASSOCIATIONS DESTRUCTIVE OF BENEVolence.

Pernicious Effects of Partiality.-Of Ridicule.-

Of Contempt for the Female Character ..... 145

LETTER VIII.

SELFISHNESS.

Selfishness acknowledged to be odious.-How ex-

cited in the infant Mind.-Consequences of pam-

pering the Appetite for Dainties.-Of giving

Children the Power of controlling their Desires.

-Examples

....

186

LETTER IX.

Examination of the Associations which produce

the Desire of Distinction.-The Love of Glory

how perverted.-Love of Dress.-Love of Ad-

miration.-Exemplified..

215

LETTER X.

Wealth.-Rank.-Fashion.-How rendered Ob-

jects of Esteem, and Preference.-Consequences

of these Associations.-Necessity of counteract-

ing them.-Hints, and Observations.....

LETTER XI.

239

Origin of the Love of Wealth.-Passions con-

nected with it.-These Passions destructive of

Benevolence.-Method of counteracting them.

-Love of Power examined.-Its Consequences.

-Association productive of Pride and Arro-

gance. How produced.-How counteracted.. 270

LETTER XII.

RELIGIOUS INSTRUCTION.

Preliminary Observations in Answer to Objections.

-Correspondence between the Divine Pre-

cepts, and the Nature of the human Mind.-

Love of God.-How it operates on the Affec-

tions.-Productive of Benevolence. - Happy

Effects of Religion on the Character.-Examples. 302

LETTER XIII.

SAME SUBJECT CONTINUED.

te.

335