You must remember how, that from your Birth to this day, I have taken care for your Education. And you have hitherto been within my Eye, and under Tutors, and Governours, and that now, You, alone, Launch forth into ye World by your Self, to be steered and governed. Many Storms, and Rubbs, many fair and pleasing Baits, shall you meet withal, Company most infectious and dangerous, so that your Cheif Safety must be ye Protection of God Almighty, whom you must daily importune to direct your wayes, as hitherto I doubt not but you have done, Else your Carriage and course of Life had not been so commendable.
If this Golden time of your Youth be spent unprofitably, ye whole Harvest of your Life will be Weeds: if well husbanded, it will yeild you a profitable return in ye whole Course of your Life.
The time you remain there I would have Spent as followeth,—
1. Dayly Praying to Almighty God for his Blessing on you.
2. To endeavour to attain ye French and Italian Tongues.
3. To mend your Writing and learn Arithmetick.
As for Horsemanship, and other qualities of a Gentleman, a smatch would doe well.
And having attained to knowledge, if you doe not alwayes remember, both in discourse and Pashion, not to be transported with hast, But to Think before What you intend to speak, and then treatably to deliver it, with a distinct and Audable Voice, all your labor and pains is Lost. For altho you have indifferently well reformed it, yet it is Defective, and care yet may Perfect you in your speech.
Your Loving Father, careful of your Good,
W. Cowper.