1810.] 
Lo the Editor of the Monthly Magazine. 
SIR, ; 
P alj the questions on which human 
sayacity 1s called to decide, there 
are none with which the happiness of 
man is so closely connected as those 
which respect education, because, the 
consequences of niistaken notions on 
this subject are of wider extent and 
longer duration than on any other; and 
those ingenious writers who have lately, 
in such considerable number, distin- 
guished themselves by this sort of dis- 
cussion, have had reason, as well as 
fashion, on their side. We cannot be 
too well guarded against error, where 
error is manifestly fatal. Medicine may 
mitisate, but canscarcely-eradicate, those 
diseases which have been Jet into the 
constitution by a vicious regimen. Such’ 
prejudices therefore as sanction a faulty 
or defective plan of education, are more 
than all others to be deplored. 
One of this class still keeps the field, 
though with broken forces; and it is one 
which should obtain no quarter, because, 
‘ by embracing tlie very objectof education, 
it perverts the conduct of it in all its 
branches; and its operation is the more 
mischievous, as its activity is chiefly ex- 
erted on that part of, our species from 
which we necessarily derive our first im- 
* 
pressions, and those in consequence - 
which have the greatest influence in the 
formation of character. That judgment 
is but littte instructed by reason, which 
can prefer ornament to utility, and set a 
higher value on accomplishments which, 
though elegant and captivating in them. 
selves, command but a transient admi- 
ration, than on all or any of the treasures 
of learning and science. It might have 
been expected that a sound philosophy, 
by which many errors once advanced to 
the rank of undeniable truths have been 
exploded in succession, would long since 
have introduced a more liberal and be- 
neficial way of thinking. But the em- 
pire of this prejudice, if not undimi- 
nished, is still great. While the male 
child is reared in the bosom ofskaow- 
ledge and learning, and early inured to 
all the dabours of mental cuitivation, it 
cominonly happens that the femalé con- 
sumes the first and mest valuable years 
of ber existence (for they are those in 
which habits are most formed) in acqui- 
sitions that serve only to add an eva- 
nescent lustre to the exterior, precisely at 
that time when it is least required, when 
the charms of youth and beauty are still 
in their zenith. It has been confidently, 
Montrury Mac. No, 200, 
On Education. 
prefer the latter, 
$29 
I had almost said impicusly, assumed 
( tanéane vos generis tenuit fiducia vestri), 
that the levity of her: mind unfts her for 
the noblest attainments of man; or that 
those attainments, if made, would become 
impediments to the due discharge of do- 
mestic duties. ‘This opinion, though re= 
futed by an appeal. to facts, and resting 
on no better basis than arrogance and- 
‘Ignorance, still has advocates respectable |, 
enouch, if number can give respectability 
when arrayed in dullness and conceit, 
aud opposed to reason and experience. 
It may be ‘presumed, that future gene- 
rations, looking back upon one. which 
boasted. many. such philosophers’ and 
moralists, will regard it as still obstinately 
groping amid the departing shades. of 
barbarism, It will appear next to in- 
credible, that men, in the grave exercise 
of their superior understanding, as they 
supposed, should have solemaly main« 
tained that a modé of education cal- 
culated to strengthen and mature the 
faculty of reason in woman, should in the 
issue disqualify her for any rational pur. 
pose in society, and especially for those 
offices which are the most obvious dictate 
of reason ag well as feeling. Admit; what 
is not very gracefully assumed, the su- 
_ perior strength. of man’s understanding, 
and it becomes the more necessary to 
Strengthen the naturally weak intellect 
of the weaker sex, by every aid that are 
can supply, instead of rearing it in such 
a manner as can only add enervation to 
weakness, Better proofs of the intellec- 
tual superiority of man must be pro- 
duced than such glaring: disagreement 
between his opinions and his practice, 
or it will be difficult to establish the 
claim in any court where the claimant is 
not also the judge. Let no accomplish=) 
ment be lost which can be gained with-~ 
out mental sacrifice. To degrade un- 
“necessarily whe elegantly ornamental, 
betrays want of taste. Let. accomplish.’ 
ments be estimated highly, but not pri- 
marily. When the choice lies betwixt 
the spangle and the gem, it is right to’ 
It is not quite absurd 
to think there may be even greater 
charms in the full use of a caltivated un- 
derstanding, than in the most magical, 
finger that ever struck upon a chord. 
Men of sense and education, indeed, are 
‘not pleased to be calléd from the con- 
versation of sensible and well-informed 
women, to applaud the brilliant execu- 
tion of a fair musician, or the elegane 
drawings of her fair sister, whose genius 
is- happily discovered to have a conve- 
3 Y. nient 
Sp tg 
