e to be shoving aside _the point of honour_ of the _noblesse_. I can
look beyond the evils of the moment, and do not expect muddied water to
become clear before it has had time to stand; yet, even for the moment,
it is the most terrific of all sights, to see men vicious without
warmth--to see the order that should be the superscription of virtue,
cultivated to give security to crimes which only thoughtlessness could
palliate. Disorder is, in fact, the very essence of vice, though with the
wild wishes of a corrupt fancy humane emotions often kindly mix to soften
their atrocity. Thus humanity, generosity, and even self-denial,
sometimes render a character grand, and even useful, when hurried away by
lawless passions; but what can equal the turpitude of a cold calculator
who lives for himself alone, and considering his fellow-creatures merely
as machines of pleasure, never forgets that honesty is the best policy?
Keeping ever within the pale of the law, he crushes his thousands with
impunity; but it is with that degree of management, which makes him, to
borrow a significant vulgarism, a villain _in grain_. The very excess of
his depravation preserves him, whilst the more respectable beast of prey,
who prowls about like the lion, and roars to announce his approach,
falls into a snare.

You may think it too soon to form an opinion of the future government,
yet it is impossible to avoid hazarding some conjectures, when every
thing whispers me, that names, not principles, are changed, and when I
see that the turn of the tide has left the dregs of the old system to
corrupt the new. For the same pride of office, the same desire of power
are still visible; with this aggravation, that, fearing to return to
obscurity after having but just acquired a relish for distinction, each
hero, or philosopher, for all are dubbed with these new titles,
endeavours to make hay while the sun shines; and every petty municipal
officer, become the idol, or rather the tyrant of the day, stalks like a
cock on a dunghil.

I shall now conclude this desultory letter; which however will enable you
to foresee that I shall treat more of morals than manners.

Yours ------

* * * * *

FRAGMENT
OF
LETTERS
ON THE
MANAGEMENT OF INFANTS.

CONTENTS.

Introductory Letter.
LETTER II. Management of the Mother during pregnancy: bathing.
LETTER III. Lying-in.
LETTER IV. The first month: diet: clothing.
LETTER V. Th