very eſſence of ſenſuality has been extracted to regale the voluptuary, and a kind of ſentimental luſt has prevailed, which, together with the ſyſtem of duplicity that the whole tenor of their political and civil government taught, have given a ſiniſter ſort of ſagacity to the French character, properly termed fineſſe, and a poliſh of manners that injures the ſubſtance, by hunting ſincerity out of ſociety.—And, modeſty, the faireſt garb of virtue! has been more groſſly inſulted in France than even in England, till their women have treated as prudiſh that attention to decency, which brutes inſtinctively obſerve.
Manners and morals are ſo nearly allied that they have often been confounded; but, though the former ſhould only be the natural reflection of the latter, yet, when various cauſes have produced factitious and corrupt manners, which are very early caught, morality becomes an empty name. The perſonal reſerve, and ſacred reſpect for cleanlineſs and delicacy in domeſtic life, which French women almoſt deſpiſe, are the graceful pillars of modeſty; but, far from deſpiſing them, if the pure flame of patriotiſm have reached their boſoms, they ſhould labour to improve the morals of their fellow-citizens, by teaching men, not only to reſpect modeſty in women, but to acquire it themſelves, as the only way to merit their eſteem.
