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I have such a realizing sense of the "March of Mind, & of the improvements that have been going on in Customs in Manners and in knowledge of infinitely various kinds and feel such a crushing weight of ignorance awkwardness & inability - that I have a great desire to warn you to make great exertions to keep up with the times Possibly your children may remain boorish & ignorant all their days there is a large class of people that are so - & will be so - But you would rather they should rise & shine as lights in the world - Any one is culpable if they do not thrive to improve such advantages as they have & secure such benefits to themselves and their children as are attainable You have the mind and the ability to do some good in the world besides just what you can do with your hands & probably there is somewhere a fit part for you to be in, in order to do it if you could only find it - However one ought not to think of that for you can and ought to do a great deal of good where you are or wherever you are - tho' I think your situation & circumstances have been such as would not call out the best powers of the mind to the greatest extent