I mean the having a Multitude of Children. These
I cannot but regard as very great Blessings.
When I see my little Troop before me, I rejoice
in the Additions which I have made to my Species,
to my Country, and to my Religion, in having produced
such a Number of reasonable Creatures, Citizens,
and Christians. I am pleased to see my self
thus perpetuated; and as there is no Production comparable
to that of a human Creature, I am more proud of
having been the Occasion of ten such glorious Productions,
than if I had built a hundred Pyramids at my own
Expence, or published as many Volumes of the finest
Wit and Learning. In what a beautiful Light
has the Holy Scripture represented Abdon,
one of the Judges of Israel, who had forty Sons
and thirty Grandsons, that rode on Threescore and
Ten Ass-Colts, according to the Magnificence of
the Eastern Countries? How must the Heart of
the old Man rejoice, when he saw such a beautiful Procession
of his own Descendants, such a numerous Cavalcade
of his own raising? For my own part, I can
sit in my Parlour with great content, when I take
a review of half a dozen of my little Boys mounting
upon Hobby-Horses, and of as many little Girls tutoring
their Babies, each of them endeavouring to excel
the rest, and to do something that may gain my Favour
and Approbation. I cannot question but he who
has blessed me with so many Children, will assist
my Endeavours in providing for them. There
is one thing I am able to give each of them, which
is a virtuous Education. I think it is Sir Francis
Bacon’s Observation, that in a numerous
Family of Children the eldest is often spoiled by
the Prospect of an Estate, and the youngest by being
the Darling of the Parent; but that some one or
other in the middle, who has not perhaps been regarded,
has made his way in the World, and over-topped the
rest. It is my Business to implant in every one
of my Children the same Seeds of Industry, and the
same honest Principles. By this Means I think
I have a fair Chance, that one or other of them may
grow considerable in some or other way of Life, whether
it be in the Army, or in the Fleet, in Trade, or
any of the three learned Professions; for you must
know, Sir, that from long Experience and Observation,
I am persuaded of what seems a Paradox to most of those
with whom I converse, namely, That a Man who has
many Children, and gives them a good Education,
is more likely to raise a Family, than he who has
but one, notwithstanding he leaves him his whole Estate.
For this reason I cannot forbear amusing my self
with finding out a General, an Admiral, or an Alderman
of London, a Divine, a Physician, or a Lawyer,
among my little People who are now perhaps in Petticoats;
and when I see the Motherly Airs of my little Daughters
when they are playing with their Puppets, I cannot
but flatter my self that their Husbands and Children
will be happy in the Possession of such Wives and
Mothers.
’If you are a Father, you will not perhaps think this Letter impertinent: but if you are a single Man, you will not know the Meaning of it, and probably throw it into the Fire: Whatever you determine of it, you may assure yourself that it comes from one who is
’Your most humble Servant, and Well-wisher,