weakened by being employed in unfolding inſtead of examining the firſt aſſociations, forced on them by every ſurrounding object, how can they attain the vigour neceſſary to enable them to throw off their factitious character?—where find ſtrength to recur to reaſon and riſe ſuperiour to a ſyſtem of oppreſſion, that blaſts the fair promiſes of ſpring? This cruel aſſociation of ideas, which every thing conſpires to twiſt into all their habits of thinking, or, to ſpeak with more preciſion, of feeling, receives new force when they begin to act a little for themſelves; for they then perceive that it is only through their addreſs to excite emotions in men, that pleaſure and power are to be obtained. Beſides, all the books profeſſedly written for their inſtruction, which make the firſt impreſſion on their minds, all inculcate the ſame opinions. Educated then in worſe than Egyptian bondage, it is unreaſonable, as well as cruel, to upbraid them with faults that can ſcarcely be avoided, unleſs a degree of native vigour be ſuppoſed, that falls to the lot of very few amongſt mankind.
For inſtance, the ſevereſt ſarcaſms have been levelled againſt the ſex, and they have been ridiculed for repeating 'a ſet of phraſes learnt by rote,' when nothing could be more natural,
conſidering the education they receive, and that their 'higheſt praiſe is to obey, unargued’— the will of man. If they are not allowed to have reaſon ſufficient to govern their own conduct—why, all they learn—muſt be learned by rote! And when all their ingenuity is called forth to adjuſt their dreſs, 'a paſſion for a ſcarlet coat,' is ſo natural,
