He adviſes them to cultivate a fondneſs for dreſs, becauſe a fondneſs for dreſs, he aſſerts, is natural to them. I am unable to comprehend what either he or Rouſſeau mean, when they frequently uſe this indefinite term. If they told us that in a pre-exiſtent ſtate the ſoul was fond of dreſs, and brought this inclination with it into a new body, I ſhould liſten to them with a half ſmile, as I often do when I hear a rant about innate elegance.—But if he only meant to ſay that the exerciſe of the faculties will produce this fondneſs—I deny it.—It is not natural; but ariſes, like falſe ambition in men, from a love of power.
Dr. Gregory goes much further; he actually recommends diſſimulation, and adviſes an innocent girl to give the lie to her feelings, and not dance with ſpirit, when gaiety of heart would make her feet eloquent without making her geſtures immodeſt. In the name of truth and common ſenſe, why ſhould not one woman acknowledge that ſhe can take more exerciſe than another? or, in other words, that ſhe has a ſound conſtitution; and why, to damp innocent vivacity, is ſhe darkly to be told that men will draw concluſions which ſhe little thinks of? Let the libertine draw what inference he pleaſes; but, I hope, that no ſenſible mother will reſtrain the natural frankneſs of youth by inſtilling ſuch indecent cautions. Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth ſpeaketh; and a wiſer than Solomon hath ſaid, that the heart ſhould be made clean, and not trivial ceremonies obſerved, which
