Mr. B. asks me how I relish Mr. Locke’s Treatise on Education? which he put into my hands some time since, as I told your ladyship.  I answered, Very well; and I thought it an excellent piece in the main.

“I’ll tell you,” said he, “what you shall do.  You have not shewed me any thing you have written for a good while.  I could wish you to fill up your leisure-time with your observations on that treatise, that I may know what you can object to it; for you say in the main, which shews, that you do not entirely approve of every part of it.”

“But will not that be presumptuous, Sir?”

“I admire Mr. Locke,” replied he; “and I admire my Pamela.  I have no doubt of his excellencies, but I want to know the sentiments of a young mother, as well as of a learned gentleman, upon the subject of education; because I have heard several ladies censure some part of his regimen, when I am convinced, that the fault lies in their own over-great fondness for their children.”

“As to myself, Sir, who, in the early part of my life, have not been brought up too tenderly, you will hardly meet with any objection to the part which I imagine you have heard most objected to by ladies who have been more indulgently treated in their first stage.  But there are a few other things that want clearing up to my understanding; but, which, however, may be the fault of that.”

“Then, my dear,” said he, “suppose me at a distance from you, cannot you give me your remarks in the same manner, as if you were writing to Lady Davers, or to Miss Darnford, that was?”

“Yes, Sir, depending on your kind favour to me, I believe I could.”

“Do then; and the less restraint you write with, the more I shall be pleased with it.  But I confine you not to time or place.  We will make our excursions as I once proposed; and do you write to me now-and-then upon the subject; for the places and remarkables you will see, will be new only to yourself; nor will either of those ladies expect from you an itinerary, or a particular description of countries, which are better described by authors who have made it their business to treat upon those subjects.  By this means, you will be usefully employed in your own way, which may turn to good account to us both, and to the dear children, which it may please God to bestow upon us.”

“You don’t expect, Sir, any thing regular, or digested from me.”

“I don’t, my dear.  Let your fancy and your judgment be both employed, and I require no method; for I know, in your easy, natural way, that would be a confinement, which would cramp your genius, and give what you write a stiff, formal air, that I might expect in a pedagogue, but not in my Pamela.”

“Well, but, Sir, although I may write nothing to the purpose, yet if Lady Davers desires it, you will allow me to transmit what I shall write to her, when you have perused it yourself?  For your good sister is so indulgent to my scribble, she will expect to be always hearing from me; and this way I shall oblige her ladyship while I obey her brother.”