I ſhall more fully diſcuſs this ſubject when I treat of private education, I now only mean to inſiſt, that unleſs the underſtanding of woman be enlarged, and her character rendered more firm, by being allowed to govern her own conduct, ſhe will never have ſufficient ſenſe or command of temper to manage her children properly. Her parental affection, indeed, ſcarcely deſerves the name, when it does not lead her to ſuckle her children, becauſe the diſcharge of this duty is equally calculated to inſpire maternal and filial affection: and it is the indiſpenſable duty of men and women to fulfil the duties which give birth to affections that are the ſureſt preſervatives againſt vice. Natural affection, as it is termed, I believe to be a very faint tie, affections must grow out of the habitual exerciſe of a mutual ſympathy; and what ſympathy does a mother exerciſe who ſends her babe to a nurſe, and only takes it from a nurſe to ſend it to a ſchool?
In the exerciſe of their maternal feelings providence has furniſhed women with a natural ſubſtitute for love, when the lover becomes only a friend and mutual confidence takes place of overſtrained admiration—a child then gently twiſts the relaxing cord, and a mutual care produces a new mutual ſympathy.—But a child, though a pledge of affection, will not enliven it, if both father and mother are content to transfer the charge to hirelings; for they who do their duty by proxy ſhould not murmur if they miſs the reward of duty—parental affection produces filial duty.
