224 MEMOIR OF THOMAS BEWICK. 



become the mothers of Englishmen; they twine 

 out a life of cnnui\ and their generation dies out. 

 I have all my life been grieved to find this 

 description too often realised. It is paying too 

 dear for female accomplishments. It is surely 

 desirable that a change should take place, by 

 which fashionable follies may be narrowed in 

 their boundaries, and a better line drawn out; 

 prescribed by propriety, affability, modesty, and 

 good sense, on which the courtesies of life, 

 and the invaluable embellishments of civilisation, 

 and everything graceful and charming in society, 

 is founded. I wish the ladies of the British Isles 

 may set the example, and take the lead in this, 

 so that ignorant rudeness and vulgarity may be 

 banished from the face of the earth. 



If I could influence the fair sex, there is one 

 thing to which I would draw their attention; and 

 that is Horticulture ; and, connected with this, I 

 would recommend them, as far as convenient, to 

 become Florists, as this delightful and healthy 

 employment, which has been long enough in 

 the rude hands of men would entice them into 

 the open air, stimulate them to exertion, and 

 draw them away from their sedentary mode of 

 life, mewed up in close rooms, where they are 

 confined like nuns. This would contribute greatly 

 to their amusement, and exhilarate their spirits. 

 Every sensible man should encourage the fair sex 

 to follow this pursuit. What would this world 

 be without their help, to alleviate its burdens? 

 It would appear a barren waste. It would no 

 longer be a wide-spread garden of Eden, nor 

 an earthly paradise within the reach of our 

 enjoyments. May the fruits and flowers of it, 



