Ihave read with extreme pleasure, my dear child, the account you gave me of your daughters. There is but one thing which appears to want an explanation and to be examined into. You give your children money for their pocket expences, when they are only ten years old, and are too young to be capable of spending it properly. Duclos says, ‘All that the laws require, that morality recommends, and conscience dictates, is contained in this one proverb so well known, but so little explained: do not do that to others which you would not have done to yourself. The exact observation of this maxim leads to probity: do to others what you would have done to yourself. This is virtue. Her distinguished character and nature consists in conquering yourself in favour of others. It is by this generous effort that we make a sacrifice of our pleasures to those of other people.’

We may inspire a child with probity, because it is founded upon a justice, which is to be found in all hearts; however narrow the understanding, the principles of it may always be conceived; but it will not make a child virtuous, because he is not made to attain to perfection, or even near it. If you would have a child of ten years old be learned, witty, understand Greek, talk on the beauties of Homer, feel the charms and graces of Fontaine, and the sublimity of Corneille; that child will always be a fool and a pedant. In the same manner, if you expect him to be benevolent, prudent, a Saint, or a Hero, all the good actions you make him perform will appear to him painful. He will forget the end to be obtained and the object; and will only remember the sacrifice he has made, and he will find virtue too severe and too difficult for him ever to love it.