Chiefs of Grant > Correspondence

1770.] THOMAS (ROBINSON), SECOND BARON GRANTHAM. 451
respect to the former, you will always find that young folks gather'd together in numerous
societies acquire, indeed, a certain degree of cleverness and the perfect use of what talents
nature has given them ; but they seldom fail to acquire, at the same time, habits of vice, or
at least a tendency to such habits. I directed myself by this principle in the education of
my only son ; for I kept him at home, under my own eye, till he was full fourteen, when I
thought him so established in moral principles as to be safe from the corruptions of a
numerous society. With respect, again, to industry, much, I acknowlege, depends on the
schoolmasters ; and supposing them to be good, which will not always be the case, yet there
is no means to make the schollars so industrious as they will be under a master who profites
by their work.
But let me add another consideration of great importance, which is, that the health of
the children would be much better provided for in the houses of their parents than in a
public school devoid of auy personal affection.
A more simple, less expensive, and more effectual plan for carrying your pious views
into execution seems to be what follows. Take pains to provide your town with the best
artists that work in such things, for which there is a demand in the Highlands, wheelwrights,
ploughwrights, house carpenters, etc., smiths, masons, weavers. In that view, I promise you
a good lift from the annexed estates who have an annual sum to lay out in breeding
apprentices, of which you shall have your full proportion. Good artists will not come from
a distance without considerable encouragement, which you must resolve to lay out ; but if
you find the scheme like to be expensive, you may go on the slower ; and, indeed, precipita-
tion generally ruins the best laid schemes : there is nothing like giving them time to ripen.
As I have tired myself, I cannot doubt but I have also tired you, and, therefore, I break
off without so much as having patience to tell Mrs. Grant that no woman alive is more at
my heart. Indeed, this piece of information is for form's sake only, for she knows it as well
as I do.
Yours,
Henry Home.
529. Thomas (Robinson), second Baron Grantham, to Mr. Grant of Grant —
His residence at the Court of Madrid.
Escurial, 12th November 1770.
My dear Jemmy, — I cannot tell which of us two is most to blame ; you for never enquiring
after, or I for never letting you know that I was not worth enquiring after. Yet I can throw
the ballance of blame against you, because a letter from this house remains unanswer'd, and
Waddilove despairs of ever hearing from you, unless I induce you to write to us. We have
now been here above an year, during which time we have experienced all the sameness of our