tue likewiſe can only be acquired by the diſcharge of relative duties; but the importance of theſe ſacred duties will ſcarcely be felt by the being who is cajoled out of his humanity by the flattery of ſycophants. There muſt be more equality eſtabliſhed in ſociety, or morality will never gain ground, and this virtuous equality will not reſt firmly even when founded on a rock, if one half of mankind are chained to its bottom by fate, for they will be continually undermining it through ignorance or pride.
It is vain to expect virtue from women till they are, in ſome degree, independent of men; nay, it is vain to expect that ſtrength of natural affection, which would make them good wives and mothers. Whilſt they are abſolutely dependent on their huſbands they will be cunning, mean, and ſelfiſh, and the men who can be gratified by the fawning fondneſs of ſpaniel-like affection, have not much delicacy, for love is not to be bought, in any ſenſe of the words, its ſilken wings are inſtantly ſhrivelled up when any thing beſide a return in kind is ſought. Yet whilſt wealth enervates men; and women live, as it were, by their perſonal charms, how can we expect them to diſcharge thoſe ennobling duties which equally require exertion and ſelf-denial. Hereditary property ſophiſticates the mind, and the unfortunate victims to it, if I may ſo expreſs myſelf, ſwathed from their birth, ſeldom exert the locomotive faculty of body or mind; and, thus viewing every thing through one medium, and that a falſe one, they are unable to diſcern in what true merit and happineſs conſiſt.
