ON FEMALE EDUCATION AND OCCUPATIONS. 177 



ture in order to render her more beautiful ; take mea- 

 sures for the virtue and harmony of your famiUes by 

 uniting their young minds early in the soft bonds of 

 friendship : by the rational intercourse thus established, 

 both sexes will find that friendship may be enjoyed 

 between them without passion. The wisdom of your 

 daughters will preserve them from the bane of coquetry, 

 your sons will look for something more solid in women 

 than mere external graces and accomplishments.' — 

 * How much feebleness of constitution has been ac- 

 quired, how many nervous diseases contracted by false 

 ideas formed of female excellence !' Some degree of 

 difference in corporeal strength naturally, it is certain, 

 exists between the sexes; this difference barbarous 

 nations abused to the subjugation of woman; and even 

 amongst the most civilized, pride and sensuality will 

 blind men to their own true interest and happiness. 

 If false notions of beauty enfeeble the physical powers 

 of woman, her offspring, whether male or female, will 

 suffer the consequences. It is also truly said (by an- 

 other able and eloquent advocate for her sex) that 

 ^ in the regulation of a family, in the education of chil- 

 dren, understanding, in an unsophisticated sense, is 

 particularly required ; strength of body and of mind.' 

 — ^ Reason is absolutely necessary to enable a woman 

 to perform any duty properly.' Of w^oman it may be 

 said, as of the luxurious and rich, ^ they have acquired 

 all the follies and vices of civilization, and missed the 

 useful fruits.' Again it is observed, and justly obser- 

 ved, by the same sensible writer, ^ Woman has always 

 been either a slave or a despot, each of which situa- 

 tions equally retards the progress of reason. The 

 grand source of folly and vice is narrowness of mind ; 

 and the very constitution of civil governments has put 

 almost insuperable obstacles in the way to prevent the 

 cultivation of the female understanding ; yet, on no 

 other foundation can virtue be built.' — To become 

 respectable, to acquire independence of character, the 

 exercise of the reason is necessary ; even gentleness, if 

 it is not mere imbecility, must be the perfection of 

 VOL. II.— 1833. " Y 



