And as Providence gives the Hint, Men should take it, and follow the Conduct of Genius in the Course of their Studies, and Way of Employment in the World; and in the Education and Disposal of their Children.  Men too often in this Case consult their own Humour and Convenience, not the Capacity and Inclination of the Child:  And are governed by some or other external Circumstance, or lower Consideration; as, what they shall give with them, or to whom to commit the Care of them, &c.  Thus they after contrive unsuitable Marriages, on the single View of worldly Advantage.  From this Cause proceed fatal Effects, and many young Men of great Hopes, and good Capacities, miscarry in the after Conduct of Life, and prove useless or mischievous to the World.  They turn off from a disagreeable Employment, and run into Idleness and Extravagance.  If People better consider’d the peculiar Genius or proper Talents of their Children, and took their Measures of Treatment and Disposal thence, we should certainly find answerable Improvements and lasting good Effects.  The several Kinds of Learning and Business would come to be more advanced, and the Lives of Men become more useful and significant to the World.

I have known a large Family of Children, with so remarkable a Diversity of Genius, as to be a little Epitome of Mankind.  Some studious and thoughtful, and naturally inclin’d to Books and Learning; Others diligent and ambitious, and disposed to Business and rising in the World.  Some bold and enterprizing, and loved nothing so well as the Camp and the Field; or so daring and unconfined, that nothing would satisfy but going to Sea and visiting Foreign Parts.  Some have been gay and airy, Others solid and retired.  Some curious and Observers of other Men; Others open and careless.  In short, their Capacities have been as various as their Natural Tempers or Moral Dispositions.

Now what a Blunder would be committed in the Education of such a Family, if, with this different Turn of Mind in the Children, there should be no difference made in the Management of them, or their Disposal in the World.  If all should be put into one Way of Life, or brought up to one Business.  Or if in the Choice of Employment for Them, their several Biass and Capacity be not consulted, but the roving Genius mew’d up in a Closet, and confounded among Books:  And the studious and thoughtful Genius sent to wander about the World, and be perfectly scattered and dissipated, for want of proper Application and closer Confinement.  Whereas, one such a Family wisely educated, and dispos’d in the World, would prove an extensive Blessing to Mankind, and appear with a distinguished Glory; was the proper Genius of every Child first cultivated, and he then put into a Way of Life that would suit his Taste.