Letters to His Son, 1752 - On the Fine Art of Becoming a Man of the World and a Gentleman

These personal letters from a father to his son in 1752 provide valuable insight into the social structure of masculinity in the 1700s. They are interesting to read and contain details of actual events of the time, making this work historically significant. Excerpt "MY DEAR FRIEND: Laziness of mind, or inattention, are as great enemies to knowledge as incapacity; for, in truth, what difference is there between a man who will not, and a man who cannot be informed? This difference only, that the former is justly to be blamed, the latter to be pitied. And yet how many there are, very capable of receiving knowledge, who from laziness, inattention, and incuriousness, will not so much as ask for it, much less take the least pains to acquire it!"