Iam, intirely, Sir, of your opinion, that the Chevalier de Valmont will not game any more. The best lesson that he could have received is not the having lost two thousand guineas; but the depriving you in one moment of the fruits of twelve years œconomy, practised for his sake, and the seeing you sell your jewels and pictures to pay for his folly. This ought to reclaim for ever a young man of feeling and generosity. Besides, I think, with you, that the passion for play is not innate in the Chevalier: had you not brought him up in a manner to preserve him from it, you would now attempt it in vain. A young man, educated in the modern style, without decency, principles, or restraint; from his cradle taught to think that riches alone can give him consequence; from having seen his parents contract debts to display their pomp, and be guilty of mean actions to procure money; such a young man at eighteen will be full of his most childish vanities. Be his fortune what it will, he must have trinkets, expensive cloaths, fine horses, magnificent carriages, a villa most elegantly furnished, and many other extravagancies; to support which, he will have recourse to the gaming-table. He little cares that his being a gamester may hurt his marrying, or his advancement. He seeks not a proper match; neither does he aim at places or honour. He is resolved not to marry at all, or for money; and, if he is ever ambitious, he turns courtier with a view of inriching himself. Unhappy father of such a son: You are the cause of his irregularities and thirst after riches. If you educated him yourself, the fault was in you: if you trusted him to another, you are yet more culpable. Was it worth while, for the sake of increasing his fortune, to make over to a stranger your most sacred and important duty? You should have made his happiness your object. He had better have been virtuous and moderate, than rich, vicious, and dissipated.