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the tincture which they take from the education, profession, or some peculiar characteristic of the writer. An Epistle, dated from Dunbar, and subscribed by a person who stiles himself a Disinterested Friend to the fair sex, recommends a treatise on the practice of seabathing, and drinking of salt water. A lady, who appears to be a boarding mistress, and of a sentimental turn of mind, is of opinion, that young ladies ought to read such novels only, as are calculated to promote the love of virtue, and extols, in very high terms, The Sorrows of Werter, and The Tears of Sensibility; and some other performances written in the same style, which she is persuaded would effectually banish all that mirth and levity, so unseasonable and unbecoming more especially in young creatures. One letter suggests the expediency of acquiring some skill in cookery; another thinks, that every virtue in women is confined to frugality and knowledge of housekeeping; religion, or rather the various branches and modes of it, has many advocates: I cannot avoid taking particular notice of one who assumes the signature of Calvin junior; and who, after reprobating with great vehemence and acrimony, the prevailing want of charity and humility in womankind, recommends, with great confidence and exultation, a work on the small number that shall be saved.

I intend to take some future opportunity of animadverting on the various proposals of my correspondents; and in the mean time the re

maining part of the present paper shall be employed in some serious reflections on the subject, which I acknowledge I have always considered as important and interesting.

The ridicule which has on so many occasions been thrown, sometimes by wit, but more frequently by petulance and dulness, on learned ladies, has done great mischief, and been more the occasion, than any thing I know, of preventing women from bestowing some application on studies of an instructive. and rational nature; such studies as, without doubt, they have as much capacity to comprehend, and as much discernment to relish, as the other sex. The truth is, we need be under no apprehensions, that, by devoting a part of their time to these objects, their beauty, or the softer endowments of the mind, will suffer or be impaired; on the contrary, a disposition for literature, when properly directed, and cultivated with taste and feeling, will render beauty more animated and interesting, and every external grace more powerful and attractive.

I would, on no account, advise my fair readers to apply to the study of the abstruse sciences, or to meddle with theological controversy, as such speculations are by no means natural, or suited to the character or delicacy of the sex; besides, metaphysical refinement, and abstracted arguments, are more apt to confound than enlighten the understanding.

Of novels, notice has already been taken

in the course of these papers, and I am afraid it would not be easy to say any thing new on such an hackneyed subject. Those of them that are possessed of real merit, have met with just and universal applause, and are so well known, that it is altogether unnecessary to mention even their names; but in general, I consider it as an unprofitable species of reading, and though I do not think, with some moralists, that even the common run of novels are hurtful to virtue yet I may venture to affirm, that they are unfavourable to good taste. Indeed I have met with few of them where the composition is either pathetic or sublime, or where the subject is so managed as to melt the heart, or elevate the imagination; and it is but seldom that they convey to the reader, a just or genuine representation of the character, circumstances, or situation of real life.

To what objects, then, to what pursuits, shall a woman bend her attention in those hours, that are not devoted to domestic, or still more serious occupations? I answer to the study of the easy and more accessible parts of philosophy; to history, biography, poetry, and the other branches of polite literature, where instruction is blended with amusement, and erudition with wit. These are subjects that have a natural tendency to promote the hap piness of human nature, or contribute to the improvement of the heart, and the enlargement of the mind. Other exercises (to conclude this paper with the reflection of an elo

quent and enlightened philosopher,) "Other exercises depend on the circumstances of time, age, or place; but these studies give nurture in youth, and amusement in old age. In adversity they shelter and support. Delightful at home, and easy abroad, they soften slumber, they shorten fatigue, and enliven retirement." Though I, myself, never had felt their efficacy, nor tasted their excellence, yet must they be the object of my adoration. when I see them beam from others.

SIR,

THE

On Spring.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE BEE.

(April 17. 1793.)

HE following letter, one of four on the Seasons, fell, with its companions, into my hands, by succession to the papers of a worthy gentleman in England, lately deceased.

They all bear the date of the year Sixteen hundred and eighty-five.

As they contain (although addressed to the imagination,) many curious circumstances relating to the appearances of nature, and some respecting economy and art, I have placed notes on the margin, where elucidation might furnish agreeable or useful information, suited to our climate and country. I am, Sir, your constant reader, A, B.

To the Daughters of Sophia on the Dawning of the Spring.

Alathea, Isabella, Sophia, my dear girls, the daughters of my dearest friends! the delightful season of verdure is come. Rise up, my fair ones, and come away; for, lo! the winter is past, the rain is over and gone, the flowers appear on the earth, the time of the singing of birds is come, and the voice of the turtle is heard in our land. Come, my dearest, let us go forth into the field, let us lodge in the villages. Thus, my dear girls, did I apostrophise this morning, in the course of a charming walk, to inhale the first freshness of reviving nature, and look at the opening of the Spring.

The wind, which had long continued in the Russian quarters of the continent, came now bland and genial from the south and from the west. How delightful the change! how pleasing the sensations I experienced in the course of this walk! "vernal delight and joy, enough to drive all sadness but despair."

You used to wonder at the carelessness and inattention of the Miss Woodfords on the subjects of beautiful nature that engrossed your admiration at this season of the year in the country, and even in town, where your mother encouraged you to walk out of a morning early, with your aunts and the gover

ness.

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