But were we to speak to the generality of parents, I fear this would be an almost insuperable objection to a home education.  For (I am sorry to say it) when one turns one’s eyes to the bad precedents given by the heads of some families, it is hardly to be wondered at, that there is so little virtue and religion among men.  For can those parents be surprised at the ungraciousness of their children, who hardly ever shew them, that their own actions are governed by reasonable or moral motives?  Can the gluttonous father expect a self-denying son?  With how ill a grace must a man who will often be disguised in liquor, preach sobriety? a passionate man, patience? an irreligious man, piety?  How will a parent, whose hands are seldom without cards, or dice in them, be observed in lessons against the pernicious vice of gaming?  Can the profuse father, who is squandering away the fortunes of his children, expect to be regarded in a lesson of frugality?  ’Tis impossible he should, except it were that the youth, seeing how pernicious his father’s example is, should have the grace to make a proper use of it, and look upon it as a sea-mark, as it were, to enable him to shun the dangerous rocks, on which he sees his father splitting.  And even in this best case, let it be considered, how much shame and disgrace his thoughtless parent ought to take to himself, who can admonish his child by nothing but the odiousness of his own vice; and how little it is owing to him, that his guilt is not doubled, by his son’s treading in his steps!  Let such an unhappy parent duly weigh this, and think how likely he is to be, by his bad example, the cause of his child’s perdition, as well as his own, and stand unshocked and unamended, if he can!

It is then of no avail to wish for discreet servants, if the conduct of the parents is faulty.  If the fountain-head be polluted, how shall the under-currents run clear?  That master and mistress, who would exact from their servants a behaviour which they themselves don’t practice, will be but ill observed.  And that child, who discovers excesses and errors in his parents, will be found to be less profited by their good precepts, than prejudiced by bad examples.  Excessive fondness this hour; violent passions and perhaps execrations, the next; unguarded jests, and admiration of fashionable vanities, rash censures, are perhaps the best, that the child sees in, or hears from those, who are most concerned to inculcate good precepts into his mind.  And where it is so, a home education must not surely be chosen.

Having thus, as well as my slender abilities will permit, presumed to deliver my opinion upon three great points, viz. the qualifications of a tutor; the necessity of having an eye to the morals of servants; and the example of parents (all which, being taken care of, will give a preference, as I imagine, to a home education); permit me, dear Sir, to speak a little further to a point, that I have already touched upon.