thought and wiſh, that do not nurture pure affection and permanent virtue.—Permanent virtue! alas! Rouſſeau, reſpectable viſionary! thy paradiſe would ſoon be violated by the entrance of ſome unexpected gueſt. Like Milton's it would only contain angels, or men ſunk below the dignity of rational creatures. Happineſs is not material, it cannot be ſeen or felt! Yet the eager purſuit of the good which every one ſhapes to his own fancy, proclaims man the lord of this lower world, and to be an intelligent creature, who is not to receive, but to acquire happineſs. They, therefore, who complain of the deluſions of paſſion, do not recollect that they are exclaiming againſt a ſtrong proof of the immortality of the ſoul.
But leaving ſuperiour minds to correct themſelves, and pay dearly for their experience, it is neceſſary to obſerve, that it is not againſt ſtrong, perſevering paſſions; but romantic wavering feelings that I wiſh to guard the female heart by exerciſing the underſtanding: for theſe paradiſiacal reveries are oftener the effect of idleneſs than of a lively fancy.
Women have ſeldom ſufficient ſerious employment to ſilence their feelings; a round of little cares, or vain purſuits frittering away all ſtrength of mind and organs, they become naturally only objects of ſenſe.—In ſhort, the whole tenour of female education (the education of ſociety) tends to render the beſt diſpoſed romantic and inconſtant; and the remainder vain and mean. In the preſent ſtate of ſociety this evil can ſcarcely be remedied, I am afraid, in the ſlighteſt degree;
