she feels it to her own honour. She gives good counsel, because that increases and perpetuates her influence.

It is to our purpose to mention here what has often been stated as a fact, and, I believe, justly: the fact alluded to is this, that christianity prevails most among the female sex. It seems that some gentlemen, who certainly had nothing of the philosopher about them, save the beard, have made a wonderful discovery on this subject; and assure us that the superior attention of woman to the christian religion is wholly owing to intellectual imbecility, the existence of which they first suppose, and then by way of theory, infer that it disposes the sex to phantasies and superstition, or, in other words, to piety and virtue. Had these gentlemen been pleased to content themselves with saying that females are happily secluded from many of the temptations which corrupt the other sex, we would promptly have acquiesced in so obvious an assertion. But had they gone still farther, and informed us that christianity, though it be of equal in portance to both sexes in respect to a future life, is of infinitely greater importance to women than to men in the present life, they would have approximated much nearer to the truth. Adopting this view of the subject, they would thus have addressed us, “Of what indispensable necessity is religion to the male part of the human species in the present state of their existence? What advantage, what honour, what pleasure of life can they not secure without it. Give them splendid talents, a good education, and a large fortune; and without a single pretension to piety or to the purity of christian morals, they shall be seen making their way to all the distinctions and enjoyments of society, admired and caressed by almost the whole of their sex, however different in character. But how totally is the case reversed to the female sex? Strip one of them of the reputation of christian virtues, and she falls like a star from heaven: her own sex disown her, and she finds no refuge from ignominy in the sympathy of the other sex. On the other hand array a woman in the lustrous robe of christian graces, and whether young or old, whether handsome or otherwise, she becomes an object of admiration to both sexes. Is it therefore wonderful that women should cherish with the tenderest regard, a religion, the observance of which infallibly secures them esteem, adoration, and devotion; and gives them an incalculable and irresistible influence over society." In such views of the

subject we could cheerfully acquiesce. But while we are attributing the general cultivation of the female intellect, and elevation of female character, to the operation of christianity, we must beware of inferring that every female who experiences the ameliorating effects of that divine religion, has really imbibed its genuine spirit. Its effects are of various kinds : and many who have not permitted it to reign in their hearts, have not been averse to the decoration of character which results from its practical virtues. Its general influence is indisputable. By asserting for the female sex that liberty which pertains of right to every reasonable being; by making them the friends of their husbands, and airectresses of their families; by introducing them to society at large, where virtue and decorum are their sole protection and honour; it has placed them in circumstan es where they have but two choices on the one hand insignifieance and contempt; on the other intelligence, virtue, and dignity. It is their glory to have chosen the latter.

That the views exhibited are not incorrect is apparent from many considerations. It is a subject of some curiosity that so obvious is the growth of female genius in christian countries, that it has become a subject of high debate whether the minds of women be not in every article of intellectual resource equal to those of men.— It seems that a formidable phalanx of gentlemen have rallied around the prescriptive claim of their sex to intellectual superiority; while a scarcely less formidable array of ladies advance to dispute the arrogant pretension, and either by the force of their arguments, or the charms of their eloquence, at least by some charms, have brought over a large number of the other sex to their alliance Being extremely fond of peace in all its forms, I must beg to be excused from taking any part in this controversy; and accordingly proclaim a most impartial neutrality. I hope, however, that during this war for intellectual dominion, the sexes will display towards each other that spirit of chivalrous decorum, and those mutual good offices, which distinguish their intercourse on all other occasions. The war is obviously a social war. Neither party, surely, will think of the desperate measure of a secession to the Aventine mount. "Rome cannot bear it, patriotism forbids it!"

But though I cannot act as judge in this controversy, I have no objection to appear as a witness; and in that character candour obli

ges me to say that I have observed a good deal of foul play on both sides. The gentlemen for instance have made a complete monopoly of navigation, wholly excluding the ladies from participation; with the same narrow jealousy, they have engrossed architecture; and should we unfortunately be involved in a war you will see these same gentlemen manning the fleet, mounting the ramparts, and forming the line bristling with bayonets, without affording the ladies a chance of rivalling their glorious achievements. At the same time, matters are managed with equal unfairness on the other side. For so completely have the ladies engrossed a vast number of offices and duties of still greater importance than those which have been mentioned, that if a gentleman had ever such a genius for them, he has no possible opportunity of displaying it.

Yet after surveying the whole ground, one is tempted to think that matters go on tolerably well as they are. And in the present imperfect state of moral science, we find ourselves strongly inclined to adopt the opinion, that our Creator in his bounty has be stowed both on the male and on the female part of our species, an abundance of genius for the discharge of their respective duties; and that whichever sex shall most effectually give their genius that direction will eventually rank highest in the scale of excellence.

But forbearing any further remarks on this subject, I shall now proceed, young ladies, to consider the future application of your powers in the duties of life.

From your present habits, it may be anticipated that a consider. able portion of your future time will be devoted to reading. You have been let into a precious secret, that the cheapest, most accessible, and most permanent source of enjoyment, is to be found in the exercise of the powers of your own mind, and that among the exciting causes of mind, books hold a high rank. And in the present state of society, such are the facilities afforded for the gratification of a literary taste, that you will find little difficulty in procuring such books as your particular fancy or humour may incline you to peruse. It may be safely taken for granted that biography, history, and works on religion and morals, will form your principal literary avocations. I do not pretend to make a selection for you. Casualty, the advice of friends, and your particular taste, will regulate that matter. I hope it is not necessary to recommend the habitual

reading of the Scriptures. If nothing else could be said in favour of these volumes than that they are the most ancient, and the only absolutely true history that ever was written, these circumstances would be sufficient to recommend them to every curious and cultivated mind; but when it is considered that they are a revelation from God, and contain every particle that is known concerning the present duty and future destination of the human family, our obligation to study them must impress us as sacred.

There is a species of composition, young ladies, which were I not to mention on such an occasion as the present, the omission might be considered a studied one, and perhaps censured as improper. You already anticipate the mention of novels. I am well aware the theme is trite. I might begin by indulging a sharp invective against the general class of such books; I might then except a few from the general censure; and afterwards proceed to inquire whether more good or evil accrues to society from such reading. But why consume the hour. The books are written, and will be read. As soon might Canute expect to repel by a rebuke the advancing tide, as the moralist to argue out of circulation, a species of composition which the vanity and necessities of authors, the interests of printers and booksellers, and the passions of the youthful heart force into the market. But it will not be thought a waste of breath to inquire what advantages may be expected from such books, allowing the selection to be made with the greatest possible judgment and felicity, and wholly overlooking any injury which they may be supposed to inflict on the mental constitution. If I could state this question in terms more liberal and generous I would do it. When we hear novels celebrated as means for teaching young people the knowledge of human nature, we seem to perceive in the Janguage something so ambiguous and undefined, something which needs so much commentary and qualification, that, like the gordian knot, it is better to cut it at once than to waste time in unravelling its complications. I say, therefore, when we shall see great orators formed by silent meditation, and great anatomists formed by the study of copperplate skeletons and dissections, then, and not till then, shall we behold judges of human life and character produced by novel reading. To study human nature you must mix with mankind: it is in the drawingroom, not in the library,

in the forum, not in the cloister, that the nature of man can be learned, because it is in the former places, not in the latter, that it is displayed in its true colours and proportions. However narrow the circle of individual feeling and experience may be, it comprises almost the whole of what any person knows of this subject: and no extent of genius and learning can supply the want of a practical acquaintance with society. The only accession which our experimental knowledge on this subject admits, is derived from authentic history. If it be asked, May not novels supply the place of history? May they not exhibit views of human nature not found in history? And may they not exhibit more perfect instances of virtue and vice than any that occur in real life? To the two latter interrogations I answer, that these perfect characters, are only perfect monsters. They go to mislead. They can do no good. That extravagance of vice which does not occur in real life can never answer the purpose of deterring us from vitious indulgence; and virtues which have never been practised can scarcely become examples. As to the other interrogatory, the answer is obvious, that to supplant a reality by a fiction is a preposterous method of diffusing truth. But I would ask, is human genius really adequate to the production of a consistent human character by the creations of fancy? Certainly to mark the reigning passion, to delineate the fixed and prevailing habits, to limit or aid their operation by various whims and caprices, to conceive and arrange the events and objects which operate on all these powers; to ascertain, amidst the collisions of conflicting principles, and to arrest and fix those nicer shades which give congruity to character is, to say the least, no easy task; a task perhaps beyond the reach of man. A few rare men there have been, I grant, who have achieved great things in characteristic moral painting, still they have not come up to nature. Let us praise them as we do those sculptors who exhibit a few striking points in the human figure; and if they have not been able to bid the heart beat, and the tongue speak, and the features move, let us pardon their failure because the thing was impossible.

There is, however, only one idea about which I feel any great solicitude. Permit me to caution you against ever making the charácters of romance a standard by which to judge of character in real life. For be assured that the sir Guys and madam Bridgets,