it may perhaps ſurprize many, to find them in the Works of a Woman; eſpecially of one, who, to uſe the common Phraſe, hath ſeen ſo little of the World: and I ſhould not wonder on this account, that theſe Letters were aſcribed to another Author, if I knew any one capable of writing them.
But in reality the Knowledge of Human Nature is not learnt by living in the Hurry of the World. True Genius, with the help of a little Converſation, will be capable of making a vaſt Progreſs in this Learning; and indeed I have obſerved, there are none who know ſo little of Men, as thoſe who are placed in the Crouds, either of Buſineſs or Pleaſure. The Truth of the Aſſertion, that Pedants in Colleges have ſeldom any Share of this Knowledge, doth not ariſe from any Defect in the College, but from a Defect in the Pendant, who would have ſpent many Years at St. James's to as little Purpoſe: for daily Experience may convince us, that it is poſſible for a Blockhead to ſee much of the World, and know little of it.
The Objection to the Sex of the Author hardly requires an Anſwer: It will be chiefly advanced by thoſe, who derive their Opinion of Women very unfairly
