[dateline] London july 19th 1786
[salute] My dear sister
Accept my thanks for your kind Letter of March 18th and for the pleasing favourable
account you have given of your Nephews. May they ever continue to deserve the approbation
of their Friends.
From an Eye so disserning as my sisters, I did not suppose that the fault which too
easily besets a Young Gentleman, would long lie conceald. He might have informd You
that his Pappa was often correcting him for it, and his Mamma gently reminding that
young Men should never be possitive.
There are few persons upon a candid inquiry, who will not recollect and find that
upon many occasions they have been faulty in this respect, yet must condemn it; in
most instances, as a Breach of good Manners and politeness. Nor is a person let; his
Learning be ever so extensive and his abilities ever so splendid; capable of rendering
himself so usefull to Mankind: if at the same time, he discovers an overbearing and
dogmatical disposition.
1 The late Dr Johnson, Author of the Ramblers and compiler of the dictionary was a
very striking proof of this assertion, and he plainly discovers his sentiments in
an observation which he makes in his Lives of the Poets, “Whoever is apt to hope good
from others is diligent to please them, but he who believes his powers strong enough
to force their own Way, commonly tries only to please himself.”
2 Pope has juster Ideas upon this Subject and discovers a Greater knowledge of Mankind,
which will be best convey'd to you in his own words.
“Tis not enough your counsel should be true
Blunt Truths more Mischief than nice falshoods do
{ 264 } Men must be taught as if you taught them not
And things unknown, propos'd as things forgot
Without good Breeding truth is disapprov'd
That only makes superiour sense beloved.”3
Three of as Learned Men, as ever I had the honour of knowing, are three of the modestest
Dr Priestly, Dr Price, and mr Jefferson, in neither of whom a self importance appears
or a wish to force their sentiments and opinions upon Mankind. Whoever thinks too
highly of himself will discover it, and just in proportion as he overvalues his abilities,
will mankind endeavour to mortify and lessen them nor will they suffer him to take
that as a right, which they claim the privelege of bestowing as a reward.
I hope however that your Nephew will strive to correct this disposition, and that
he will never want a kind Friend like his Aunt, to reason with him from regard and
affection, which have the surest effect upon generous minds and I feel no small satisfaction
when I say to you, that I do not know an other fault which he has. Perhaps I discover
the blind Partiality of a Parent.
Your Neice will write to you I presume under the signature of a Name once very familiar
to you, and with it she has acquired a Man of Honour, Virtue and integrity for her
Partner and companion. Sensible delicate and affectionate just the Character you would
have chosen for your Neice, whose prospect (in this New connection), for happiness
appear to be rationally founded. May Heaven Smile upon and bless their union is a
petition in which I know you will join me. The only unpleasing Idea which attends
it, is, that we must in all probability live in different states, perhaps in different
Countries. But how small is this consideration, when compared with others? I gave
her to him with all my Heart, he was worthy of her.
I want to return Home, and bring them with me, we should all be happier in America.
There we should find sentiments and opinions more agreeable to us, society and Friends
which the European World knows not of. It is all lost in ceremony and Parade, in venality
and corruption, in Gameing and debauchery, amongst those who stile themselves polite
People, the fashonable World. I would not check the Benevolence of my Country Men,
but I would have them grow more cautious where; and upon whom they bestow it. This
Nation surely has no claim to be considerd as the most favourd.
4 I wish a general Spirit of Liberality may prevail towards all Mankind. Let them be
considerd as one Nation equally intitled to our regard
{ 265 } as Breathren of the same universal Parent. Let Learning personal Merit and virtue
create the only distinctions,
5 and as we have taken the Lead of all other Nations with respect to Religious toleration,
let us shew ourselves equally Liberal in all other respects. Than will our Nation
be a Phenomenon indeed, and I am Sure the more we cultivate peace and good will to
Man, the happier we shall be.
Pray how does my Friend Mrs Allen? is the family like to increase?
6 I do not wonder as I formerly used to, that persons who have no children substitute
cats dogs and Birds in their stead.
I design to write to mr Thaxter if I have time. I suppose I may congratulate him upon
his Nuptials, or shall I say to him in the Words of Shakspear, “here is Benidict the
Married Man.”
7 I believe I ought to rally him a little, but all my Authorities are in America filed
in the Letters he used to write me. I never believed his vows of celibacy of insensibility
&c.
8 Young people are fond of Boasting sometimes not considering how great they make the
merrit of the conquerer: Good Dr Price told us last sunday that Marriage was a Natural
state, an honorable State, and that no man could be so happy out of it, as he might
be in it, that those who by lose connections unfitted themselves for that state, perverted
the order of Nature and would suffer a punishment concequent upon it. He also pointed
out those virtues and qualifications necessary to a happy union, and the Duties resulting
from that union. The Dr has been giving us a number of discourses upon Relative duties.
You may judge of our value for his Sermons when we go six miles every Sunday to hear
him.
9 He preaches only once a day.
Captain Callihan will sail next week. My Letters must all be ready this, and I have
more than a dozen to write yet; provided I fullfill all my engagements. Next Monday
I go into the Country to spend a week with mr Hollis at his Country Seat. Mr and Mrs
Smith accompany us. Remember me to mr Shaw I hope the Books reachd him.
10 Be so good as to send one of the Phamplets to mr Allen with my compliments. Love
to Billy and Betsys from your Ever affectionate Sister