CllAP. XXV.] Education. 135 



iiabits, may be supposed to have degraded the fe- 

 male character ; but it is nearly if not equally so 

 among savages, where women, instead of being 

 wholly or chiefly sedentary, are rather the more 

 laborious sex. How shall we account for this fact ? 

 Does it not seem to indicate a difference of em- 

 ployment and destination? Is it conceivable that 

 there should be so much difference of structure 

 between beings intended for precisely the same 

 sphere of action F No one can suppose this, who 

 believes that the various departments of nature 

 are all formed by a Being of infinite wisdom, and 

 that in the economy of creation and providence 

 means are adjusted to ends. 



Again ; the important offices of gestation and 

 parturition being assigned to women, plainly 

 point out the difference of situation, pursuit, and 

 employment, for which we are contending. The 

 various circumstances of infirmity and confine- 

 ment resulting from these offices present insur- 

 mountable obstacles in the way of that sex en- 

 gaging in many employments destined for men. 

 If all distinctions, except in the business of love, 

 ought to be confounded, then females ought to be 

 called to sit on the bench of Justice, to fill the 

 seats of legislation, to hold the reins of executive 

 office, and to lead the train of war. But would 

 such a kind of activity as any of these stations 

 suppose, comport with their sexual duties ? The 

 slightest reflexion, it is presumed, will be sufli- 

 cient to convince every unprejudiced inquirer, 

 tiiat there is a total incompatibility between 

 them. 



Secondly J To meike the education and the em- 



