126 Education. [Chap. XXV. 



may be considered as peculiarly unfriendly to 

 health and long life, yet it is certain, that, within 

 a few years past, the inquiries on this subject, 

 and the theoretical and practical works in relation 

 to it published, have been more numerous, more 

 enlightened, and more conducive, so far as re-* 

 duced to practice, to the union of health, delica- 

 cy, and virtue, than the wisdom of former ages 

 produced *. 



But perhaps one of the most striking peculiari- 

 ties of the eighteenth century, on the score of 

 education, is the change of opinion gradually in- 

 troduced into society respecting the importance, 

 capacity, and dignity, oiihe female sex, and the 

 consequent changes in the objects, mode, and ex- 

 tent of their instruction. It is much less than a 

 hundred years since female education v»'as lamen- 

 tably, and upon principle, neglected tliroughout 

 the civilised world. Until the age under review, 

 " no nation, ancient or modern, esteemed it an 

 object of public importance ; no philosopher or 

 legislator interwove it with his system of general 

 instruction 5 nor did any writer deem it a subject 

 "worthy of full and serious discussion. Many sys- 

 tems of instruction have been adopted for the. 

 other sex, various as the countries, the govern- 



* Some of the Tiiethods employed by the ancients, for promo- 

 ting the expansion, vigour, and longevity, of the human body, 

 ■svere by no means consistent w^ith delicacy or virtue, especially 

 in the case of the female sex. In modern times, by more care.- 

 fully studying and more generally understanding the philosophy 

 of diet, exercise, air, dress, and general regimen, the improvers 

 of physical education have been enabled to do much in a way 

 iiitogetiier cou^isteat both A^ith decorum and pure morals. 



