234 



MEXICO. 



the commerce of the country ; and were thus left 

 almost without motive to any kind of exertion. 

 They^ therefore, naturally betook themselves to 

 ignoble pursuits, and being indifferent to public 

 opinion, thought of nothing less than of study- 

 ing to elevate and sustain the moral excellence 

 of the other sex. The reaction upon themselves, 

 from the degradation which they caused, follow- 

 ed as an inevitable consequence ; and thus the 

 whole community was lowered in the scale of ci- 

 vilization and morals. 



We may now however rationally hope that 

 when the men are called to the exercise of high 

 duties, and a thousand motives are placed before 

 every individual, to encourage him to exertion, 

 they will soon learn the value of character ; and 

 public opinion will, for the first time, be felt and 

 understood in the country. They will then dis- 

 cover how important a share of that opinion be- 

 longs to the women : and will have an interest in 

 contributing everything in their power to elevate 

 instead of depreciating their influence. If things 

 be thus left to take their natural course, the tide 



