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Ninety years ago a small part of the Ninth Earl of North- umberland's Advice to his Son, now edited by Mr. G. B. Harrison (Henn, 8s. 6d.), was published in the journal of a learned soc- iety; but for this his advice is now offered to the public for the first time. The friend and fellow-prisoner of Raleigh, it throws light upon what might be the attitude of an Eliza- bethan aristocrat towards his children, his servants, and his wife. We say "might be" because much that he says is obviously individual rather than typical. For example, his counsels to a young husband are completely coloured by the fact that he hated his wife—the sister of Essex. Their un- happy relations were a standing joke at Court. For children he had a great love. They are to be surrounded by affection, to hear no "idle tales," and see no 'ugly spectacles." Any vice in a tutor is less objectionable than choler." Children are not to be overtasked by a multitude of studies, which will only make them "witty in show when they are young and well-appearing fools in their age." Much of this advice can hardly concern the boy till he has sons of his own, but the father looks forward and writes for probable guardians. Ills heir will be a rich mail ; he will feel early the "tick-hug pleasure of commanding." • A great man's dependants should be made content, but the "endearing of servants" is, he thinks, unwise. Every man in a subordinate position should be treated fairly and generously, but never allowed to imagine that he cannot be replaced. As to the choice of a wife, she should "bring her meat in her mouth." Her husband should give her very little •authority, since women do not develop intellectually after their early years and remain incapable of " ratiocination." Burleigh, whose advice on the same subject is here quoted, was far more modern in Isis notions ; an able man, he thought, should marry a woman of ability, otherwise her talk will "irk him," and he will learn that "there is nothing so fulsome as a she-fool"
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