1799.] 
derftanding, like her ftature, is lower 
than that of the men. I-de-not know 
whether it might mot be proved, that 
woman has wore mind than man. If 
mind be an effect of organization, as the 
fyftem at prefent adopted by our moit en- 
lightened philofophers, leads them to 
conclude, it feems probable, that the 
female, whofe organic ftruéture is cer- 
tainly more delicate than that of the 
male, is capable of higher refinement of 
intellect. 
Sophia, Eliza, I don’t perfe&tly com- 
prehend you. 
_ Efiza. Very likely, Sophia; thefe 
fpeculations are at firit a little abftrufe: 
but I beg pardon for troubling you with 
a theory, which was not neceilary to my 
argument. Without any metaphyfical 
inveftigation, we havea right to conclude, 
from the brilliant examples of women 
eminent for genius, learning, and phi- 
jofophy, which the hiftory of our fex 
affords; that if we enjoyed equal adyan- 
tages with the men, we fhould be at leaft 
capable of equal attainments. If, in the 
deprefled fiate in which female intel- 
leét has hitherto been kept, the ancient 
world had its Afpafias, Cornelias, and 
Hypatias ; and modern times can boaft of 
their Carters and Macaulays, their Bar- 
baulds and Wollftoncrafts, what may 
not be expeéted ina new order of things, 
in which rational beings, of both fexes, 
thall meet together, to profecute, with- 
out any frivolous interruptions, or childifh 
reftraints, the noble objeét of intel- 
le€&tual improvement? Your good fenfe, 
Sophia, muft, J am fure, convince you, 
that converfation, conduéted upon this 
rational plan, would be far preferable to 
the idle chat you every day hear, upon 
fafhionable drefs, public amufenients, and 
domeftic anecdotes. 
Sophia. Converfation goes on very 
pleafantly, as it is managed at prefent. 
Eliza. Would it not be as well, if it 
were alfo a little improving ?— Befides, 
Sophia, how can a young woman better 
employ her leifure hours, of which fhe 
commonly has, or may have, abundance, 
than in calling forth the energies of her 
mind, and exercifing her reafon on fub- 
jects interefting to every human being? 
ds the ftudy of natural hiftory, and na- 
tural philofophy, of civil hiitory, or of 
the principles of policy, morals, and re- 
ligion, an employment at all inconfiftent 
with the female charaéter? Would a 
woman be the Jefs qualified for di{charg- 
ing the duties of a wife, or mother, be~ 
caufe the underftands the nature and ra- 
The Enquirer. No. Ul. 183 
tional grounds of thefe duties? Would 
fhe be the lefs capable of educating her 
children properly, becaufe the is ac- 
quainted with many of the fubjeéts in 
which they are to be inftruéted? Or 
would the be the lefs agreeable compa- 
nion, either in domeftic retirement, or 
in the larger circles of friendly fociety, 
for poffeliing a fteck of well arranged 
ideas, and knowing how to communicate 
thein with advantage ? If perfonal charms 
are to be brought into the queition, is the 
woman the lefs lovely for having her 
countenance animated with intelligence 3 
Belicve me, Sophia, phiiofophy is no 
enemy to the graces; and a cultivated 
mind may dwell in a charming form. 
Sopoia. Well now, Eliza, if I couid 
be quite affured of that, I almoft think 
your fine fpeech world convert me to 
your fyftem. But—no—it cannot be; 
at leaft, at prefent. Iam certain, I am 
hot graye, enough for a philofopher: fo, 
my dear coz, 
« Fail to pleafure’s frolic train} 
«¢ Tail to fancy’s golden reign; 
‘< Feftive mirth, and laughter wild, 
“¢ Free and fpoitive as the child; 
** Hope, with eager fparkling eyes, 
** And eafy faith, and fond furprife 4 
‘€ Let thefe, in fairy colours dreft, 
‘¢ For ever fhare my carelefs breaft: 
*¢ Then, thouch wife I may not be, 
‘s ‘The wife themfelves fhall envy me *7* 
Margaretta, Charming lines, Sophia! 
and {martly introduced. But if you 
meant them in refutation of Eliza’s ar- 
guments in favour of female philofophy, 
you fhot a little wide of the mark. The 
elegant writer, whofe lines you have 
quoted, is herfelf a philofopher, and 
am fure never meant to difcourage, in 
either fex, the purfuit of wifdom. You, 
appear to me, my dear niece, through 
this whole converfation, to have treated 
the fubjeét with too much levity. You, 
Tam fure, with to be an accomplifhed 
woman: and, allow me to fay, no woman 
can be fo without knowledge. Eliza’s 
ferftiments on the fubjeét are, I am con- 
vinced, in the main, right. I have feen, 
in my time, a very happy change taking 
place in the female world, in confequence 
of the increafing attention which has 
been paid to interior, as well as exterior, 
accom plifhments, inthe education of young 
women. In this bufinefs, there yet re- 
mains, it is true, much room for cor- 
rection and improvement. But know- 

* Mrs. Barbauld’s Poem: To Wifdom. 
ledge 


