150 ON THE EDUCATION OF 



peal. In such a situation, he might also be favourably af- 

 fected by the novelty of finding every surrounding object ac- 

 companied by a label, of which he would be provided with a 

 duplicate. The discipline employed must be steady ; but there 

 is no occasion for harshness. Although he has hitherto been 

 suffered to follow the impulse of his own wishes, it will be re- 

 membered that in one instance a mild and decisive step was 

 taken to deter him from exposing himself to danger *. He was 

 observed creeping over a narrow wooden bridge which crossed 

 a river at a point where the stream was deep and rapid ; and, 

 that he might not again make the same hazardous attempt, a 

 servant was directed to plunge him, as soon as he was secured, 

 once or twice into the river. This expedient had the desired 

 effect. All the discipline required would partake of this 

 character, and would only differ in being dictated by a regard 

 for his improvement, and not by any apprehension for the 

 safety of his life. The disappointment of his habitual expec- 

 tations of indulgence, and the passion or chagrin which this 

 would at first occasion, should not be considered as any greater 

 obstacles to perseverance than in proceeding with the domestic 

 controul of children. Miss Mitchell's influence over him is 

 highly reputable to her, as showing her dexterity in kindness 

 under circumstances of difficulty ; but it would be an object 

 of some importance to make him easily manageable by other 

 persons. There is every reason to think that, by a very short 

 separation and subjection to well-concerted rules, he would, on 

 returning to the society of his friends, find himself much hap- 

 pier than before, and capable of giving them more pleasure, 

 and that it would afford him great delight to find that his sis- 

 ter understood the language which he had learned, and could 

 maintain with him intelligent communications. Finding him- 

 self now of greater importance in the scale of society, and pos- 



sessing 



* See Vol. vii. p. 27. 



