SECT. 5. Boys commonly endeavour on these days to dispatch a letter or two privately. It will be your business to intercept them; they may be negligently written; there may be solecisms in them, or misrepresentations of facts, which might be displeasing to their friends. CHAP. V. DISCIPLINE. SECT. 1. Remember always to exercise your first severity on poor people's children, and day-scholars. The first floggings are a perpetual disgrace, and it is but reasonable that they should bear it, by whom you are least profited. SECT. 2. Never punish the favourite of a family, if he have any younger brothers. SECT. 3. Boys who bear flogging best are commonly those who most deserve it. If four be accused, therefore, he who bears flogging best is always in the fault. SECT. 4. If a father gives you full power over his son's posteriors, be not afraid to use it, but make him the scape-goat of the school as often as convenient. In this, and many other rules, the reasons are too obvious to be particularly noticed. SECT. 5. No good to be done with a boy who has not a good opinion of his master. If a boy, therefore, accuses you, or your ushers, of ignorance or incapacity, take the first opportunity to expel him, especially if he be clever, and likely to make a progress, in which you may be ill-qualified to accompany him. SECT. 6. Insolence to ushers is to be punished with great caution. This will best maintain a proper distinction between you and them. SECT. 7. If some untouchable youth happens to be detected in expressing his insolence, your wife, or the person he has offended, must beg him off. SECT. 8. Severe discipline is never to be inflicted immediately before the school breaks up, or very soon after the return. SECT. 9. Setting a maid upon her head, or pissing upon a mistress's new gown, is a flogging matter, no more; it might look like partiality. SECT. 10. The best punishment for idleness is confinement and short commons. By an adherence to this rule you will not endanger the children's health; you will save your victuals, expose your scholars to sufficient disgrace, and give them an opportunity of learning their book. CHAP. VI. INSTRUCTION. The instruction of youth you must commit in a great measure to your ushers; it is for this purpose you employ them, (see article USHER.) But not to omit any thing material, which may concern you, take the following rules. SECT. 1. If your principal boys ask too hard questions, make it a rule never to tell them; it would be excusing them from a necessary part of their duty. Tell them it is easy enough, and send them back; the more pains they take to acquire their learning, the longer they will retain it. SECT. 2. If you be ever obliged to have a hard lesson said to you, busy yourself in writing letters, or take an occasional nap; the boys will be glad of it, and it may prevent their accusing you of ignorance.