by which they, like their brothers, may distinguish themselves and rife to eminence; are occafionally heard to declare their opinion, that the sphere in which women are deftined to move is fo humble and fo limited, as neither to require nor to reward affiduity; and under this impreffion, either do not difcern, or will not be perfuaded to confider, the real and deeply interesting effects which the conduct of their fex will always have on the happiness of fociety. In attempting to obviate this error, I should be very culpable were I to flatter the ambitious fondness for diftinction, which may, in part at least, have given rise to it. To suggest motives to unaffuming and virtuous activity, is the purpose of the following brief remarks.

Human happiness is on the whole much less affected by great but unfrequent events, whether of profperity or of adverfity, of benefit or of injury, than by small but perpetually recurring incidents of good

or

or evil.

The manner in which the influence of the female character is felt belongs to the latter defcription. It is not like the periodical inundation of a river, which overspreads once in a year a defert with transient plenty. It is like the dew of heaven which defcends at all feafons, returns after fhort intervals, and permanently nourishes every herb of the field.

In three particulars, each of which is of extreme and never-ceafing concern to the welfare of mankind, the effect of the female character is most important.

First, In contributing daily and hourly to the comfort of hufbands, of parents, of brothers and fifters, and of other relations, connections, and friends, in the intercourse of domestic life, under every viciffitude of fickness and health, of joy and affliction.

Secondly, In forming and improving the general manners, difpofitions, and conduct

conduct of the other fex, by fociety and example.

Thirdly, In modelling the human mind during the early ftages of its growth, and fixing, while it is yet ductile, its growing principles of action; children of each fex being, in general, under maternal tuition during their childhood, and girls until they become women.

Are these objects infufficient to excite virtuous exertion? Let it then be remembered, that there is another of fupreme importance set before each individual; and one which she cannot accomplish without faithfully attending, according to her fituation and ability, to those already enumerated; namely, the attainment of everlasting felicity, by her conduct during her prefent probationary state of existence.

CHAP. III.

ON THE PECULIAR FEATURES BY WHICH THE CHARACTER OF THE FEMALE MIND IS NATURALLY DISCRIMINATED FROM THAT OF THE OTHER SEX.

THE

HE commander, who fhould be employed to ascertain, for the fecurity of the inhabitants of a particular country, the most efficacious means of guarding the frontier against invaders, and of obftructing their progress if they should ever force their way into the interior, would fix his attention, in the first instance, on the general aspect of the region which he is called upon to defend. He would ftudy the mountains, the defiles, the rivers, the forefts. He would inform himself what quarters are open to inroads; what are the circumstances which favour the machinations, what the undif

guised violence, of the enemy; what are the posts which the affailants would find it moft advantageous to occupy; what the ftations from which, if once in their poffeffion, it would be moft difficult to diflodge them. The plan of defence which he would prefcribe, while, on the one hand, it would. be formed on those fundamental principles which military experience has established as the basis of all warlike operations, would be adapted, on the other, with unremitting attention to all those discriminating features which characterise the particular district in which thofe general principles are to be reduced to practice.

A writer, in like manner, who ventures to hope, that in suggesting observations on the duties incumbent on the female fex, he may be found to have drawn his conclufions from the fources of nature and of truth, should endeavour, in the firft place, to afcertain the characteristical impreffions which the Creator has stamped on the female mind;

the