STUDY XIV. 



357 



whom they are one day to judge and to govern 

 as men. Children, likewife, are citizens in mi- 

 niature. A nobleman of the higheft rank, and 

 of the moft eminent accomplifhments, fliould 

 have the general fiiperintendance of thefe National 

 Schools, more important, beyond all contradidion, 

 than that of the ftuds of the kingdom ; and to the 

 end that men of letters, given to low flattery, might 

 not be tempted to infert in the public papers, the 

 days on which he was to vouchjafe to make his vi- 

 fits to them, this fublime duty Ihould have no re- 

 venue annexed to it, and the only honour that 

 could poffibly be claimed, (hould be that of pre- 

 (idingo 



Would to God it were in my power to conci- 

 liate the education of women to that of men, as at 

 Sparta ! But our manners forbid it. I do not be- 

 lieve, however, that there could be any great in- 

 conveniency in aflbciating, in early life, the chil- 

 dren of both fexes. Their fociety communicates 

 mutual grace ; befides, the firft elements of civil 

 life, of religion, and of virtue, are the fame for the 

 one and for the other. This firft epoch excepted, 

 young women fhould learn nothing of what' men 

 ought to know ; not that they are to remain al- 

 ways in ignorance of it, but that they may receive 

 inftrudion with increafed pleafure, and one day 

 find teachers in their lovers. There is this moral 

 A a 3 difference. 



