TOWARDS THE

FORMATION OF CHARACTER,

WITH REFERENCE CHIEFLY TO

SOCIAL DUTIES.

BY A PLAIN-SPOKEN ENGLISHWOMAN.

"Correct the heart, and all will go right."

BISHOP PORTEUS' LECTURES.

LONDON:

SIMPKIN, MARSHALL, AND CO.
1843.

Introductory

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER I.

CHAPTER II.

1

Humility-Pride and Selfishness-Pride of the Pagan World

-Pride of the Jews Family Pride-Pride of wealth

-Pride of Mothers in male offspring-Pride of sex-

Pride of talent-Emulation-Education of the affluent-

Counterfeit humility-Vanity-Vanity in females-Self-

respect contrasted with Pride-Prevailing desire for great

acquaintance—Reprobated in Scripture—Its consequences

CHAPTER III.

Toleration-Religious Intolerance-Early Heresies-Rise

and Power of the Romish Church-Persecution for Opinion

sake-Toleration in the minor details of Life-Intolerance

of Youth-Intolerance of the Aged-Exclusivism in High

Life-Religious Exclusivism

CHAPTER IV.

Ostentation-Luxury-Disparities between Rich and Poor

-Christianity the Religion for the People-Ostentation

cruelly exacting-Folly of Ostentation-Advantages of

Simplicity-Pretension

18

47

67

GHAPTER V.

Luxury of Female Attire-Its pernicious Effects-A Love of

Dress to be checked instead of encouraged--Its Conse-

quences to the Lower Class of Females-Good Taste in

Dress Dress in Advanced Life-A Love of Dress detri-

mental to the Character of the Aged-Modern Female

Accomplishments-Their Character and Intention-Their

Interference with Domestic Duties, and generally Dete-

riorating Effect-Display and Matrimonial Scheming

destructive of Female Happiness and Respectability

-Celibacy not necessarily productive of Unhappiness—

Unrecognized Claims and Merits of Single Women

CHAPTER VI.

Ambition-Its Effects upon the Character-Literary Am-

bition-Anecdote of a Village Schoolmaster-Misery of an

unsuccessful Literary Career-When successful, far from

satisfying-Involves, through its avidity, a loss of Self-

respect...

85

111

CHAPTER VII.

Presumption and Precocity of Youth at the present day-

Necessity of Filial Subordination-What mode of Disci-

pline proper to be adopted-Disadvantages of Precocity

-Juvenile Amusements-The Orphan Sisters-Ex-

pectancy and Ingratitude.........................

CHAPTER VIII.

The Benevolent Affections-Earliest Demonstrations of them

in Infancy-What Circumstances most favourable to their

developement-Distinction between Parental Love and

Parental Instinct-Conventional character of our Benevo-

lence— Self-denial- Infant Sympathies—Importance of

Parental endearments-Family Exclusiveness

CHAPTER IX.

............

Temper-Bad Temper fatal to Domestic Happiness-Self-

control-Bad Temper often the result of Nursery Mis-

management-Irritable Temperament not incompatible

with the finest qualities-Various causes and exhibitions

of it-Obstinacy-Its probable cause, and cure-Gentle-

ness-A Fundamental Law of our Religion-An excellent

thing in Woman

..................

CHAPTER X.

Courtesy-English Character generally, deficient in it-Con-

ventional Manners-Reprehensible Traits marking them-

A few Simple Rules-Formation of Manners in Children-

Courtesy to the Aged-Courtesy to Inferiors-Unreason-

127

145

166

able Expectations in regard to Servants-Relation proper

to be observed between Children and Servants-Importance

of Parental Companionship.....

CHAPTER XI.

Sensibility-True and False Sentiment-Constitutional and

Educational Sensibility-Favouritism-Benevolence to the

Inferior Animals-Considered in reference to Education-

How best induced

183

203

CHAPTER XII.

Truth-Illustrations and Motives of Falsehood-Children

and Servants prone to falsify-Rousseau's Confession of a

Falsehood-Sincerity-Insincerity the Vice of polished life

-Sincerity degenerating into Rudeness Affectation-

Exaggeration-Justice-Confused notions of it-May be

rendered intelligible to Children.

CHAPTER XIII.

Discretion-Indiscretion of the Female Tongue-Nonsense-

talkers-Great Talkers-Personal Talk-Anecdote of

Fuseli Grievance-tellers-Economy-Economy degene-

rating into Meanness-Avarice-Extravagance

CHAPTER XIV.

..... ......

Fortitude-Petty Vexations most formidable to Women-

Religion the best teacher of Fortitude-Fortitude under

Calumny-Suspense-Prayer

CHAPTER XV.

Friendship and Love-Disappointments in Love-Dangerous

Fallacies-Matrimonial Disappointments-How originat-

ing-Best Remedy for them-Improvident Marriages

CHAPTER XVI.

215

235

256

...

268

Rational Recreations-Drawing-Tableaux Vivants-Music

-Taste and Imagination-Books-Education considered

as a Recreative pursuit-Conversation - Observation-

Usefulness

CONCLUSION...

279

323