OF NATURAL HISTORY. 'I^iS- 



The focial intercourfe of women foftens the difpofitions, 

 and foothes the cares and labours of the men. Their 

 little female humours, caprices, and follies, give rife to many 

 exertions of virtue. They excite in us compaflion, humani- 

 ty, and tendernefs of affection. The delicacy of their bodies, 

 and the v/eaknefs of their minds, require our fupport and 

 proteftion. In return, the gentle and infinuating manner^ 

 of the women have a dire£t tendency to foften and fmooth 

 the natural roughnefs of men. In moft governments, wo- 

 men have the entire management and training of children, till 

 their characters and difpoiitians are almoft fixed for life. 

 This is an important office ; and would require more edu- 

 cation and {en{e than they commonly receive either from 

 nature or art. But their perfevering and unremitting atten- 

 tion to their charge, efpecially when children are fick or 

 weakly, is fo truly aftonifhing, that no man could have pa- 

 tience to perform the laborious and painful talk. Womeii 

 are iikewife faid to fufl'er bodily pain with more refolution 

 than men. Women reafon rapidly ; but their reafoning, 

 though often acute, is feldom folid. 



Pvlodefty is one of the mofb diftinguifliing and attractive 

 characVeriftics of the female fex. This is the great defence with 

 which Nature has armed them againft the artifices and deceit 

 of the males. Modefty has a double effect : It both attracts 

 and repels. It heightens the defire of the male, and deters 

 him from rudenefs, or improper behaviour. Were women 

 deprived of this amdable quality, all their charms would van- 

 ifh, and the ardour of love would be extinguifhed. It is, 

 therefore, not only the interefl of females to cultivate mod- 

 efly, but to guard, with the moft anxious attention, againft 

 the fmalleft incroachments. Every attack, however aparent- 

 ly infignificant, fliould be repelled with fpirit and intrepidity. 

 To men of fenfibility, a fingle glance of the eye will tell 

 them that their condua is improper, and make them not on* 



