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TO Dance sometimes will not be imputed to you as a fault, but remember that the end of your Learning it, was, that you might know the better how to move grace∣fully; it is only an advantage so far; when it goeth beyond it, one may call it excelling in a Mistake, which is no very great Commendation: It is better for a Woman never to Dance, because she hath no skill in it, than to do it too
often, because she doth it well; the easiest as well as the safest Method of doing it, is in private Companies, as a∣mongst particular Friends, and then carelesly, like a Diver∣sion; rather than with Solem∣nity, as if it was business, or had any thing in it to deserve a Months preparation by seri∣ous Conference with a Dance∣ing-Master.
Much more might be said to all these heads, and many more might be added to them; but I must restrain my thoughts, which are full of my Dear Child, and would overflow into a Volume, which would not be fit for a New-Years-Gift. I will conclude with my warmest Wishes for
all that is good to you, that you may live so as to be an Ornament to your Family, and a Pattern to your Sex, that you may be blessed with a Husband that may value, and with Children that may inherit your Vertue; that you may shine in the World by a true Light, and silence Envy by deserving to be esteemed, that Wit and Vertue may both conspire to make you a great Figure; when they are separa∣ted, the first is so empty, and the other so faint, that they scarce have right to be commended: May they there∣fore meet and never part; let them be your Guardian An∣gels, and be sure never to stray out of the distance of
their joint-protection: May you so raise your Character, that you may help to make the next Age a better thing, and leave Posterity in your Debt for the advantage it shall receive by your Exam∣ple: Let me conjure you, My Dearest, to comply with this kind Ambition of a Father, whose thoughts are so ingaged in your behalf, that he rec∣koneth your Happiness to be the greatest part of his own.