I understand your Lordship. I know, that, for want of better arguments
in support of this foreign breeding, weak or unworthy parents are ready
to take up with such as these:
They tell us, especially if of rank and quality, that their children
have suffered more than enough already, in their passage through our
public and vulgar schools; that, together with many illiberal habits,
they have contracted many low and illiberal friendships, which are, in
all reason, to be shaken off; that these unworthy companions follow
them to the University, and are, if not the bane, yet the dishonour
and incumbrance of their future lives; that an absence of some years
abroad loosens these hasty and ill-timed connexions; and leaves them,
on their return, at full liberty to contract others, more suitable to
their birth and quality, and more conducive to their views of fortune,
as well as of reputation, in the world; that indeed they might remove
the young man immediately from his school into their own house; but
that much of their time is necessarily spent in the metropolis, the
licence of which is not to be guarded against by any care of their
own, or of the best governor; that his low illiberal acquaintance would
haunt him even there; at least, that the youth of his own age and rank
would naturally flock about him, and, under a thousand pretences of
civility or amusement, engage him in all the follies, and perhaps the
vices, of this great town; that, on the whole, his only refuge from
these mischiefs is in the way of foreign travel; whence, at length, he
may return in riper age and with better judgment to take his station
in the world.
To this popular talk (which your Lordship, I suppose, glanced at, but
would not condescend to enforce directly) it is enough to reply, that
part of the inconveniences, here enumerated, are feigned at pleasure,
and the rest exaggerated; that the authority of a father, if he
deserve that name, in concurrence with honest friends and an ordinary
governor, will prevent them all, or at least palliate them; and that,
to take matters at the worst, his son will be exposed to still greater
inconveniences any where else. But in truth I cannot see, if a college
be excepted against, and the business be to see the world, as it is
called, why _London_ should not be esteemed as fit a scene for the
purpose, as any other great town in _Europe_. I think it contains
as much good company as any other; and I doubt whether it be more
licentious; or, if it be, there are three restraints upon it, which, I
am sure, will not be found abroad: I mean, “the parental authority;”
“domestic government;” and “a regard to reputation, under the eye and
notice of his friends.”
So that, in every view, whether on your Lordship’s plan, of entering
directly on the great study of the world, or on mine, of only preparing
for it, our young man cannot possibly do better, at his years, than
stay at home; where, if your Lordship please, we will then leave
him; at least, till we have tried the force of your next, and, as I
remember, LAST argument in behalf of foreign travel, “which arose out
of the mighty benefits, supposed to attend the study and cultivation of
what are called the FINE ARTS; in short, from the lustre and importance
of the virtuoso character.”
Your Lordship, who has so acknowledged a taste in these things, and
of course has so exquisite a sense of their value, may be excused for
enlarging so particularly on this head. But to me, who am of a plainer
make and cooler disposition, they appear, if not frivolous, yet of
little importance, when compared with those other things, which are the
proper and more immediate objects of education.
It would, I doubt, disgust your Lordship, should I speak my mind freely
of them; or even insinuate, that I take these studies, when entered
upon in early youth, and proposed as matters of serious pursuit and
application, to have indeed the most pernicious tendency; as breaking
the nerves and force of the mind, and inspiring I know not what of a
trifling and superfluous vanity.
To render these pursuits serviceable in any degree, or even harmless,
they should in all reason be postponed to riper years, when the
confirmed judgment will of course take them but for what they are, for
nothing more than elegant and polite amusements.
Not to insist, that to excel in this species of taste, as in all
others, a previous foundation is required, of reflexion and good
sense: for I agree with your favourite poet; of every polite study and
indulgence even of the imagination,
SAPERE, _est et principium et fons_.
These and still stronger objections might be made to your partiality
for the _fine arts_. But I am contented to wave them all; as indeed
they would come with an ill grace from one, who must acknowledge
himself to have no particular skill or discernment in them, and who
should not therefore presume to enter the lists with so consummate a
master of them as your Lordship.