i.^gy. SOPHIAON THE EDUCATION OF YOUNG LADIES. 217 

 fuited to their bodily ftrength, and to the decency re- 

 quiied in their behaviour. 



The faults that have been uniformly afcribed to our 

 fex, as arifing from the fceblenefs of our frame, are at- 

 tachment to fenfual pleafures in preference to thofe of 

 the underflanding, fuperftition, bigotry in religion, 

 love of admiration direfted to our pergonal charms on- 

 ly, impatience of contradi£lion, inability to give 

 reafons for our moral or political condu£t, attachment 

 to the fplendor of drefs, exceffive curiofity to difcover 

 fecrets, and exceflive delire of prying into the trifling 

 bufinefs of our acquaintance, love of public Ihows of 

 all kinds in cur youth, and attachment to card playing 

 in our old age, &c. &.c. All thefe faults, Sir, 

 are evidently the confequence of the want of fub- 

 Ilantial knowledge acquired by regular education, 

 and are equally incident to ill educated men. 1 fpcak 

 here feelingly. Sir, from experience, and hope thole 

 vvho have not experienced the fame vicilfitudes in life 

 as myfelf, will be inclined to give me a little credit on 

 this head. Where the pleafures of the imagination, 

 and the pleafures arifing from the acquifition of know- 

 ledge are not felt, the pleafures of fenfe muft be the 

 only objects of purfuit ; and as intellctl ual delight can- 

 not be procured, without a very g-reat degree ot cul- 

 ture and f)ftematic education, the mode of educating 

 women in all ages and countries, has effeftualiy pre- 

 cluded them from being what the men are foolifti 

 enough to expeft. As well might the philofophers of 

 China hold the women in that empire, who are of bet** 

 ter condition, cheap, becaufe they cannot walk without 

 difliculty and aukwardnefs. The men of Europe have 

 cruihed the lieads of the women in their infancy, and 

 then laugh at them, becaufe their brains are not fo 

 well ordered as they would defire, j% 



Ia:Ti perfectly convinced, that the Hate and educa* 

 tion of women, is a remain of th." feudal fyllem of 

 Alia, — of the tyranny and jealoufy of the call, wljich, 



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