MADEtRA. 9 
There arc other convents, to which yoiiiig women are some- 
times sent for the purpose of completing their education ; but 
not a single instance of the veil having been taken occurs for 
many years past. Married women' also, who are particularly 
tenacious of their character, and who wish to be considered as 
models of chastity and virtue, sometimes retire into a convent 
during the absence of their husbands. In those which were 
visited by our party, Ave saw only a few anticjuated virgins, 
who atfected a considerable degree of shyness ; and though 
their air and general appearance were not ill calculated to 
inspire feelings of pity, it was not, however, of that kind 
which " melts the soul to love," but whose less powerful in- 
fluence pleads rather to the purse than to the heart : and 
accordingly we gave them, what was considered to be the most 
acceptable, a few dollars in exchange for pieces of paper cut 
into representations of the virgin, and saints, and crucifixes, 
A general languor, occasioned by confinement and the unvaried 
insipidity of a monastic life, frequently passes in the nun as 
the token of patient resignation ; and we are apt to attach a 
lively interest to young females, who are thus so cruell}'-, as 
we suppose, separated for ever from all society except that 
of each other : but it is by no means clear that we do not 
often ascribe to persons under such circumstances notions of 
purity and delicacy, which are more romantic than just. It 
is extremely doubtful if they possess tJiose exalted sentiments, 
nice feelings, and sound understandings, which prevail among 
females of those countries where they are allowed to enjoy 
unrestrained freedom. The education of the former is suited to 
prepare tlieni for their future condition : they are held in such 
little consideration in their own family, t1iat they are folly 
