I would by no means exclude the kind of reading, which young people are naturally most fond of: though I think the greatest care should be taken in the choice of those _fictitious stories_ that so enchant the mind; most of which tend to inflame the passions of youth, whilst the chief purpose of education should be to moderate and restrain them. Add to this, that both the writing and sentiments of most novels and romances are such as are only proper to vitiate your style, and to mislead your heart and understanding. The expectation of extraordinary adventures--which seldom ever happen to the sober and prudent part of mankind--and the admiration of extravagant passions and absurd conduct, are some of the usual fruits of this kind of reading; which, when a young woman makes it her chief amusement, generally render her ridiculous in conversation, and miserably wrong-headed in her pursuits and behaviour. There are however works of this class in which excellent morality is joined with the most lively pictures of the human mind, and with all that can entertain the imagination and interest the heart. But I must repeatedly exhort you, never to read any thing of the sentimental kind without taking the judgment of your best friends in the choice; for, I am persuaded that, the indiscriminate reading of such kind of books corrupts more female hearts than any other cause whatsoever. Before I close this correspondence, I shall point out the course of history I wish you to pursue, and give you my thoughts of geography and chronology, some knowledge of both being, in my opinion, necessary to the reading of history with any advantage. I am, my dearest Niece, Your ever affectionate. FOOTNOTE: [28] There has been lately published a work particularly adapted to the use of young ladies, entitled, "_A Dictionary of Polite Literature, or Fabulous History of Heathen Gods and Illustrious Heroes._ Two Vols. with Plates." _Editor._ LETTER IX. ON GEOGRAPHY AND CHRONOLOGY. _MY DEAREST NIECE_, I HAVE told you, that you will not be able to read history, with much pleasure or advantage, without some little knowledge of _Geography_ and _Chronology_. They are both very easily attained--I mean in the degree that will be necessary for you. You must be sensible that you can know but little of a country, whose situation with respect to the rest of the world you are entirely ignorant of; and, that it is to little purpose that you are able to mention a fact, if you cannot nearly ascertain the _time_ in which it happened, which alone, in many cases, gives importance to the fact itself.