414 O F P U B E R T Y. 



from thofe who have treated of the figns of vir- 

 ginity. 



Men, jealous of pre-eminence of every kind, 

 have alv^avs difcovered a remarkable attachment 

 to prior and exciufive pofielTions. This fpecies 

 of folly has beftovved a phyfical exiftence upon 

 female virginity. Virginity, which is a mo- 

 ral being, a virtue exifting folely in purity of 

 heart, has been metamorphofcd into a phyfical 

 obje<5t, in which moft men think themfelves 

 deeply interefted. This notion, accordingly, has 

 ♦.given rife to many abfurd opinions, culloms, ce- 

 remonies, and fuperftitions; it has even given 

 authority to pains and punifhments, to the moft 

 illicit abufes,and to piadtices which fliock huma- 

 nity. Young women have been obliged to fub- 

 mit to the examinations of ignorant matrons, 

 and to expofe the fecrets of nature to the eyes 

 of prejudiced phyficians. They did not refled:, 

 that every indecency of this kind is a violent at- 

 tack againfl: chaftity; that every fituation which 

 produces an internal blufh, is a real proftitution. 



I have little hope of being able to eradicate 

 the ridiculous prejudices which have been form- 

 ed on this fubje^l. Mankind always believe 

 what they wifh to be true, however vain and 

 unreafonable the foundations of their faith. But, 

 as it is the province of hiftory to relate not on- 

 ly the fucceffion of events, and the circumftanccs 

 of fads, but likewife the origin of popular opi- 

 nions and errors, I think it a neceiTary article in 



the 



