HINTS

TOWARDS THE

FORMATION OF CHARACTER,

WITH REFERENCE CHIEFLY TO

SOCIAL DUTIES.

BY A PLAIN-SPOKEN ENGLISH WOMAN.

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

BISHOP PORTEUS' LECTURES.

LONDON:
SIMPKIN, MARSHALL, AND CO.

1843.

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER I.

Introductory

1

.........

CHAPTER II.

Humility-Pride and Selfishness_Pride of the Pagan World

-Pride of the Jews_Family Pride-Pride of wealth

-Pride of Mothers 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 18

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

47

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

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

85

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...

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.......

127

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

145

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

166

able Expectations in regard to Servants-Relation proper

to be observed between Children and Servants-Importance

of Parental Companionship.....

183

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

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

215

CHAPTER XIII.

Discretion_Indiscretion of the Female Tongue-Nonsense-

talkers - Great Talkers - Personal Talk - Anecdote of

Fuseli-Grievance-tellers—Economy-Economy degene-

rating into MeannessAvarice_Extravagance

235

CHAPTER XIV.

Fortitude-Petty Vexations most formidable to Women-

Religion the best teacher of Fortitude–Fortitude under

Calumny-Suspense-Prayer

256

CHAPTER XV:

Friendship and Love_Disappointments in Love Dangerous

Fallacies—Matrimonial Disappointments—How originat-

ing-Best Remedy for them–Improvident Marriages 268

CHAPTER XVI.

Rational Recreations_Drawing-Tableaux Vivants-Music

- Taste and Imagination-Books Education considered

as a Recreative pursuit - Conversation — Observation –

Usefulness

279

-

..........

CONCLUSION

323