“It is a saying of Thucydides, ignorance is bold, and knowledge reserved.  Indeed, it is impossible to be far advanced in it without being more humbled by a conviction of human ignorance, than elated by learning.  At the same time I recommend books, I neither exclude work nor drawing.  I think it as scandalous for a woman not to know how to use a needle, as for a man not to know how to use a sword.  I was once extremely fond of my pencil, and it was a great mortification to me when my father turned off my master, having made a considerable progress for a short time I learnt.  My over-eagerness in the pursuit of it had brought a weakness on my eyes, that made it necessary to leave it off; and all the advantage I got was the improvement of my hand.  I see, by hers, that practice will make her a ready writer:  she may attain it by serving you for a secretary, when your health or affairs make it troublesome to you to write yourself; and custom will make it an agreeable amusement to her.  She cannot have too many for that station of life which will probably be her fate.  The ultimate end of your education was to make you a good wife (and I have the comfort to hear that you are one):  hers ought to be, to make her happy in a virgin state.  I will not say it is happier; but it is undoubtedly safer than any marriage.  In a lottery, which there are (at the lowest computation) ten thousand blanks to a prize, it is the most prudent choice not to venture.  I have always been so thoroughly persuaded of this truth, that, notwithstanding the flattering views I had for you (as I never intended you a sacrifice to my vanity), I thought I owed you the justice to lay before you all the hazards attending matrimony:  you may recollect I did so in the strongest manner.  Perhaps you may have more success in the instructing your daughter:  she has so much company at home, she will not need seeking it abroad, and will more readily take the notions you think fit to give her.  As you were alone in my family, it would have been thought a great cruelty to suffer you no companions of your own age, especially having so many near relations, and I do not wonder their opinions influenced yours.  I was not sorry to see you not determined on a single life, knowing it was not your father’s intention, and contented myself with endeavouring to make your home so easy that you might not be in haste to leave it.”

Lady Mary’s views on the education of children were well in advance of her day.  They were certainly not the stereotyped opinions current among governesses or even parents somewhat more enlightened than the rest, and evidently she had given much consideration to the subject before she put her thoughts on paper.