210 ON FEMALE ACQUIREMENTS. 



cultivated, and that perhaps highly; he would, then, naturally, in 

 entering upon the matrimonial state, like to meet with a partner 

 whose mind and acquirements might respond to his own ; but this 

 is rarely found, and in saying this I do not mean entirely to vindi- 

 cate our sex ; because I know that the time which is at the disposal 

 of most of them might generally be turned to much better advantage 

 than it usually is; and that they might, by their own private exer- 

 tions and application, improve and cultivate their minds to a very 

 great extent, and thereby supply, in a great measure, the deficiency 

 caused by the gross neglect of those entrusted with the care of their 

 earlier education. 



The only means by which the intellectual improvement of the 

 female part of the community can be facilitated, is by allowing them 

 the same opportunities of acquiring information as men enjoy : they 

 should be allowed more of their society and that too during the no- 

 bler employment of the mind. They should not be debarred, as is 

 the case not only in this town, but in many others from attending 

 lectures* or scientific and literary institutions, but should be admit- 

 ted with such restrictions as decorum might prescribe; for frequent- 

 ly, and indeed very generally, the effect of these institutions on mo- 

 ral and intellectual improvement is very beneficial. From the 

 collision and interchange of sentiment and opinion, which take place 

 at these meetings, much valuable information is elicited ; and the 

 advantages consequently arising from this are highly valuable; yet 

 from all these benefits we are excluded. How then, I would ask, 

 can females, let them be ever so desirous of acquiring information, 

 ever hope to keep pace with the other sex in the cultivation of their 

 minds when debarred from participating such privileges ? Women, 

 it is said, by some, have neither brains nor capacity to receive or 

 estimate instruction of this kind, but this, Sir, has yet to be proved, 

 and I query very much if any man, whose education had been as 

 limited as that of the generality of females, would exhibit a much 

 higher or more expanded degree of intellect than they do. 



But granting, however, that they are at present, in some measure, 

 unfit for this species of instruction ; whence, I would ask, does this 

 unfitness arise? is it from any incapacity of their mind, or neglect 

 of their own improvement? or is it not rather the fault of those who 

 possess such numerous advantages and steadfastly withhold them? 

 As proofs of this, I cite the names of Mitford, Barbauld, Carter, 



* We are happy to inform our fair correspondent that the members of the Athe- 

 naeum have it in contemplation to deliver a course of lectures to the ladies during 

 the ensuing months. ED. 



