MISCELLANEOUS ESSAYS. 
ing nor giving in marriage, we are 
nottold. For though moralists have 
agreed that the tenor of life seems 
to prove that man is prepared by 
various circumstances for a future 
state, they constantly concur in ad- 
vising woman only to provide for the 
present. Gentleness, docility, and 
a spaniel-like affection are, on this 
ground, consistently recommended 
as the cardinal virtues of the sex ; 
and, disregarding the arbitrary eco- 
nomy of nature, one writer has de- 
clared that it is masculine for a wo- 
man to be melancholy. She was 
created to be the toy of man, his 
rattle ; and it must jingle in his ears 
whenever, dismissing reasou, he 
chooses to be amused. 
To recommend gentleness, in- 
deed, ona broad basis, is strictly 
philosophical. A frail being should 
labour to be gentle. But when for- 
bearance confounds right and 
wrong, it ceases to be virtue ; and, 
however convenient it may be found 
in a companion,—that companion 
will ever be considered as an infe- 
rior, and only inspire a vapid ten- 
derness, which easily degenerates 
into contempt. Still, if advice 
could really make a being gentle, 
whose natural disposition admitted 
not of such a fine polish, something 
towards the advancement of order 
would be attained; but if, as might 
quickly be demonstrated, only af- 
fectation be produced by this indis- 
criminate counsel, which throws a 
stumbling-block in the way of gra- 
dual improvement, and true melio- 
ration of temper, the sex is not 
much benefited by sacrificing solid 
virtues to the attainment of superfi- 
cial graces, though for a few years 
they may procure the individual's: 
regal sway. 
As a philosopher, I read with in- 
463 
dignation the plausible epithets 
which men use to soften their in- 
sults ; and as a moralist, I ask what 
is meant by such heterogeneous 
associations, as fair defects, amiable 
weaknesses? &c. If there is but 
one criterion of morals, but one 
archetype for a man, women appear 
to be suspended by destiny, accord- 
ing to the vulgartale of Mahomet's 
coffin; they have neither the uner- 
ring instinct of brutes, nor allowed 
to fix the eye of reason on a perfect 
model. They were made to be 
loved, and must not aim at respect, 
Jest they should be hunted out of 
society as masculine. 
But to vew the subject in ano- 
ther point of view. Do passive in- 
dolent women make the best wives ? 
Confining our discussion to the pre- 
sent moment of existence, let us see 
how such weak creatures perform 
their part. Do the women who, by 
the attainment of a few superficial 
accomplishments, have strengthened 
the prevailing prejudice, merely 
contribute to the happiness of their 
husbands? Do they display their 
charms merely to amuse them ? 
And have women, who have early 
imbibed notions of passive obedi- 
ence, sufficient character to manage 
aftamily or educate children? So 
far from it, that, after surveying the 
history of woman, I cannot help 
agreeing with the severest satirist, 
considering the sex as the weakest 
as well as the most oppressed half 
of the species. | What does history 
disclose but marks of inferiority > 
and how few women have emanci- 
pated themselves from the galling 
yoke of sovereign man!—So few, 
that the exceptions remind me of 
an ingenious conjecture respecting 
Newton :—That he was probably a 
being of a superior order, acciden- 
tally 
