464 SOPHIA ON FE\fALE EDUCATtOW. June 29, 



O my dear friend, faid 1, would that we were like 

 fwalloA's ; but how do vou think we fliall ever be able 

 to manage our children this way ? I fear 1 fhall never 

 be able to teach my lirtle hen fwallows to catch flies 

 and fhift for themfelves when they become too big for 

 the ncft. 



My hufband then carting upon me a look of inexpreffi- 

 ble fenfe and benevolence, and gently fqueezing my hand 

 faid to me, my deareft Sophia, you have perlormed hi- 

 therto the part of the old hen fo exactly according to 

 nature, that you have only to go on by her inftrudlions 

 and all will be well ; hereafter you will teach your 

 young fwallows to hs independent, and to catch flies 

 for themfelves. Continumg our delightful walk, our 

 converfation was fixed on the fubjecl of female educa- 

 tion : My dear Sophia, faid Eugenius, it is difficult in- 

 deed for us to teach that which we ourfelves have not 

 been taught either by experience or inilitution j but you 

 have been taught by the firft and the belt, and difre- 

 garding the prejudices of fociety, you will form the 

 minds of your daughters to virtue, indullry, rational 

 curiofity, refj.eftable employment, to happinefs and 

 heaven. You know very well, that the foibles which we 

 men afcribe to the fex, are not inheient, but artificial } 

 they have fprung from the vicious nature of civil go- 

 vernments, from our jealoufies, and from our careleff- 

 nefs (o remove them ; I might fay from our difpofition to 

 lofter and increafe them for our glory and your abafe- 

 ment. Women, it is faid, from the relaxed and feeble 

 nature of their conftitution, are incapable of high mental 

 attainments ; they are cowardly, revengeful, obftinate, 

 inquifitive, fenfual, diffipated and idle, fond of drefs 

 and fliow, of change of place, of admiration of their per- 

 fonal charms only. 1 he poet has fatirically faid, 



" Some men to bufincfs, fome to pleafure take, 

 " But every woman is at heart a rake." 



All thefe defedts and vices, fuppofing them to bs 

 true in their utmoft extent with refped; to women, are 

 to be traced to negleft, o;- vicious education. 



