An essay on the government of children, under three general heads, viz. health, manners, and education

This eighteenth‑century essay opens with a gracious appeal to a noble patron, arguing that the happiness of society rests on how we raise children. The author frames child‑rearing as a public good, linking health, manners, and education into a single programme of parental governance. By addressing both the moral responsibilities of mothers and the broader social impact, the work sets a tone of earnest, reasoned guidance rather than mere moralizing.

The treatise surveys the common mistakes of contemporary upbringing and proposes a more natural, rational method for each stage of a child's development. It treats infant health, the cultivation of proper conduct, and the shaping of intellect as inter‑dependent, offering practical observations drawn from everyday experience and Enlightenment thought. Readers will find a blend of prescriptive advice and reflective commentary that aims to equip parents with a coherent framework for nurturing well‑balanced, virtuous children.