Servants not to be oppressed.

Having proceeded thus far to secure you from being injured by them, I shall now drop a hint or two on the other side of the question, to dissuade you from being the aggressor. In order to which, behave to them with mildness and affability; not passionately abusing them, or peevishly caviling with them, to gratify your own splenetic humour; but giving orders with decency, and reprehending faults with temper; that conviction may wait on the one, and respect on the other. For nothing more impairs authority, than a too frequent, or indiscreet exertion of it. If thunder itself was to be continual, it would excite no more terror than the noise of a mill, and we should sleep in tranquility when it roared the loudest.

To be used with Lenity.

If your domestics fall sick in your service, remember you are their patron, as well as their master; and let your humanity flow freely for their preservation: not only remit their labours, but let them have all the assistance of food and physic which the malady requires.

Again, never let your ears be too curious in listening to their conversation. Passages will sometimes occur among the best servants, that will argue much levity, and little respect; yet

are void of rancour; and, as not expected to be in overheard, are not fit for your notice or resentment.

In one word, rather exceed your contract with them, than make the least abatement; what is a trifle to you, is of importance to them, and nothing is more reasonable, than to let them be gainers, in proportion to the time they have spent in your service. As I would advise you to keep them close to their business, so I recommend it to you, likewise, to indulge them, now and then, in certain hours of recreation. Their lives, as well as our's, ought to have their intervals of sunshine: it keeps them in temper, health and spirits; and is really their due, in equity, though you may, politically, bestow it as an act of grace. To conclude on this head, if they have any peculiar whims in their devotions, leave their consciences free: you may take what care you please of their moral conduct, but, in their opinions, they are accountable to none but God and themselves.

Of taking Apprentices.

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If you take an apprentice, do not let the bribe of so much money paid down at signing his indentures, or the prospect of a seven year's service, induce you to accept one of an untoward disposition, evil inclinations, or unprincipled in virtue and good manners. It is not to be ima

gined what disorder such will create in your family, and what vexation to yourself. But, for the sake of good qualities, sober education, and a tractable, obliging temper, abate in the consideration. Peace is worth infinitely more than money, since money cannot purchase it; and, if such a one should fall to your lot, treat him more like a son than a servant. Remember that he is descended from your equal, and that he will, one day, be the same himself: nor, when that day comes, have occasion to blush at reproaches he may justly make, and you will be unable to answer. In fine, look back into your own life, to recollect what you suffered or expected, when in the same circumstance yourself; and, looking forward, imagine what sort of treatment you would wish a master should use to a child of your own.

Of the choice of a Wife.

I have before promised you to treat more at large of your choice of a wife: it is now a proper place to make it good. For though this topic is, at present, much too carly for your consideration, I am willing thus far to disarm death of his sting; and, while I yet live, give you the instructions, which, when more seasonable, may be out of my power.

And first, with regard to marriage itself: as a duty to nature and the commonwealth, I can

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not help recommending it: but, with regard to your own easy passage through life, I am half inclined to the contrary. The shrewd Mr. Osborne, in his advice to his son, is pleased to insinuate, that it is the creature of policy only.

But, if you rather incline to venture on this critical state, I charge you to look upon it as a point on which your whole happiness and prosperity depend, and make your choice with a becoming gravity and concern. I charge you, likewise, with equal earnestness, if, by ill fortune or ill conduct, your affairs should be in ruins, not to make marriage an expedient to repair them. I do not know a worse kind of hypocrisy, than to draw in the innocent and unsuspecting, by false appearances, to make but one step from ease and affluence, to all the disappointments, shame and misery, of a broken fortune. If, therefore, you must sink, sink alone, nor load yourself with the intolerable reflection that you have undone a woman who trusted you, and entailed misery on your offspring, who may have reason to look on you with abhorrence for having cursed them with being.

Till, therefore, you are not only in a thriving way yourself, but have a fair prospect that wedlock will, at least, be no incumbrance to your fortune, never suffer yourself to think of it at all. The portions received with wives pay so large an interest, by the increase of family expenses, that, in the end, the husband can hard

ly be said to be a gainer. Do not be deceived, therefore, with that bait; but build on your own bottom; and calculate your charge as if there was no such thing as a fortune to be depended upon at all.

Which done, proceed in your choice on the following rational principles.

Let her be of a family not vain of their name, or title, or antiquity; those additions, on her side, being certain matter of insult to the defects on yours; but remarkable for their simplicity of manners, and integrity of life. Let her own character be clear and spotless, and all her pride be founded on her innocence. For, however unjust it is, the blemishes of parents are a reproach to the children; nor can time wear it out, or merit itself efface the remembrance.

Let her also be alike free from deformity and hereditary diseases; the one being always, and the other often entailed on the breed, and witnessing the father's indiscretion from generation to generation.

Of Beauty.

Neither fix your eye on a celebrated beauty! It is a property hard to possess, and harder to secure. To such a one, a husband is but an appendix: she will not only rule, but tyrannize; and the least demur to the most capricious of