Chap. I.]

THE DOMESTIC RELATIONS.

157

chief encouragement and spring of the excellence at which everyyouth ought to aim. Without this self-responsible feeling, thisself-reliance, this main spring of the character, as it may be called,a high standard of excellence will not often be attained. Anyinterference on the part of parents beyond mere suggestions, ad-vice given in a spirit of moderation and candor, and informa-tion which, by reason of their youth and inexperience, they can-not have had the means of obtaining for themselves, impairs, ifit does not destroy, this self-reliance and self-responsibility ; andindifference to the attainment of excellence, discouragement,broken hopes, and ultimate failure are the too common conse-quences. The more delicately and judiciously, and in generalthe more indirectly, this right of advice is used, in influencing ason’s choice of his profession, the more beneficial will be itseffect. Much more, too, depends on the manner in which theadvice is given, than on the advice itself.

The same observations, in substance, apply to the other par-ticular, on which the advice and counsel of parents is usuallysupposed to he most valuable, — the marriage connexions whichtheir children may be inclined to form. There should be thesame delicacy of interference, and the same caution not to im-pair the self-reliance and personal responsibility, on which I havebefore enlarged. And it must not be forgotten, that, in this mostintimate of all human relations, so much of the happiness of theparties depends on their personal preference of one another, thatany but the most delicate and cautious interference must be at-tended with the utmost hazard of great and enduring evil. Stillthere may be cases, both in the choice of a profession and inthe forming of marriage connexions, in which the direct and de-cisive interference of parents is justifiable, and may be useful.Such are extreme cases ; no minuteness of remark or descriptioncan reach them, and they must be acted on according to the bestjudgment of the parents under the peculiar circumstances.

But the duty of parents towards their children is not finished,when they have given them maintenance, education, advice inthe choice of a profession, and aid in qualifying themselves forthe pursuit of it. Without some outfit with which to begin, ayoung man will find it extremely difficult to make his way in the