course the _have_ must make the expression of regret
or anxiety undesirable, since both are unavailing. I hope it is the
lady you spoke of in your letter to me, for I like very much the
description you give of her, and in answer to the doubt you express
as to whether _I_ could be pleased with a person wanting in
superficial brilliancy and refinement of intellect, I can reply
unequivocally _yes_. I could be well pleased with such a person for
my own companion, if the absence of such qualities were atoned for
by sound judgment and sterling principle; and I am certain that
such a person is best calculated to undertake the task which she is
to perform in our house with good effect. The defect of our home
education is that from the mental tendencies of all of us, no less
than from our whole mode of life, the more imaginative and refined
intellectual qualities are fostered in us in preference to our
reasoning powers. We have all excitable natures, and, whether in
head or heart, that is a disadvantage. The unrestrained indulgence
of feeling is as injurious to moral strength as the undue excess of
fancy is to mental vigor. I think young people would always be the
better for the influence of persons of strong sense, rather than
strong sensibility, who, by fortifying their reason, correct any
tendency to that morbid excitability which is so dangerous to
happiness or usefulness.

I do not, of course, mean that one can eradicate any element of the
original character--that I believe to be impossible; nor is direct
opposition to natural tendencies of much use, for that is really
cultivating qualities by resistance; but by encouraging other
faculties, and by putting aside all that has a tendency to weaken
and enervate, the mind will assume a robust and healthy tone, and
the real feelings will acquire strength by being under reasonable
control and by the suppression of factitious ones. A----'s
education in point of accomplishments and general cultivation of
taste and intellect is already fairly advanced; and the lady who
is, I hope, now to be her companion and directress will be none the
worse for wanting the merely ornamental branches of culture,
provided she holds them at their due value, and neither _under_ nor
_over_ estimates them because she is without them.