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 State of Infancy favourable to the Cultivation of the benevolent Affections.-Tendency of every Passion to produce Passions of the Class to which it belongs.-Malevolent and dissocial Passions inspired by the Gratification of Self-will.-Examples... 87 LETTER VI. SAME SUBJECT CONTINUed. Inefficacy of the usual Methods employed to counteract the Effects of injudicious Indulgence. 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.- LETTER VIII. SELFISHNESS. Selfishness acknowledged to be odious.-How excited in the infant Mind.-Consequences of pampering 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 Admiration.-Exemplified.. .... LETTER X. Wealth.-Rank.-Fashion.-How rendered Ob- } jects of Esteem, and Preference.-Consequenees of these Associations.-Necessity of counteracting them.-Hints, and Observations.... LETTER XI. 239 Origin of the Love of Wealth.-Passions connected with it.-These Passions destructive of Benevolence.-Method of counteracting them. -Love of Power examined.-Its Consequences. -Association productive of Pride and Arrogance. How produced.-How counteracted.. 270 LETTER XII. RELIGIOUS INSTRUCTION. Preliminary Observations in Answer to Objections. -Correspondence between the Divine Precepts, and the Nature of the human Mind.— Love of God.-How it operates on the Affections.-Productive of Benevolence. — Happy Effects of Religion on the Character.-Examples. 302 LETTER XIII. SAME SUBJECT CONTINUED.... te. 335 PREFACE TO THE FIFTH EDITION. THE respect which is due to the purchasers of the former editions of the Letters on the Elementary Principles of Education, renders an account of the alterations that have been made in the present edition, and of the motives that led to them, not only proper, but obligatory. To the many parents who acknowledge having derived material assistance from the work in its former state, it may afford satisfaction to be assured, that it is from an increased and confirmed conviction of the truth of the principles that were then unfolded, that the author has been led to aim at correcting such defects in the style of the writing, or in the mode of illustration, as her more ripened judgment, and more intimate knowledge of the subject, enabled her to discern. Impressed with a deep conviction of the efficacy and importance of the principles she had endeavoured to elucidate, she willingly listened to the proposal of the worthy bookseller* in whom the copy-right was vested, who, in the spirit of that philanthropy which distinguished his character, wished the circulation of a work, which he believed calculated to be useful, should be extended by a reduction in its price. This could only be effected by compression or abridgment. The idea of abridgment did not correspond with the author's views: Ignorant of the difficulties attending her plan, she proposed not merely to condense the matter contained in the several letters, but to give them a new arrangement; and while she endeavoured to simplify the style, and free every part of the subject from obscurity, to introduce a few of the many observations, to which additional experience had given rise. Had she foreseen the consequences, or made any calculation of the time and labour which it was to cost her, the design would probably have been relinquished. But now that the task is finished, she looks forward in the spirit of hope, to that rich compensation which must await her, if she has the happiness of knowing that her labours have not been altogether fruitless. * The late Mr. Johnson, St. Paul's Church-yard. |