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SKETCHES 
 
 OF THE 
 
 HISTORY, GENIUS, DISPOSITION, 
 
 ACCOMPLISHMENTS, EMPLOYMENTS, 
 CUSTOMS, VIRTUES, and VICES, 
 
 OF THE 
 
 FAIR SEX, 
 
 IN ALL PARTS OF THE WORLD. 
 
 INTERSPERSED WITH 
 
 MANY SINGULAR AND ENTERTAINING 
 ANECDOTES. 
 
 By a Friend to the Sex, 
 
 " Graceful in all her steps — Heaven in her eye 
 — In every gesture dignity and love ." — 
 
 GETTYSBURG: 
 PRINTED BY ROBERT HARPER. 
 
 —1812.— 
 
m 
 
 
 «•• 
 
CONTENTS, 
 
 Chapter. Pag* 
 
 1. OF the first woman and her antedi- 
 
 luvian descendants, 5 
 
 2. Of women in the patriarchal ages, 7 
 
 3. Of the women of ancient Egypt, 9 
 
 4. Of the modern Egyptian women, 11 
 
 5. Of the Persian women, 16 
 
 6. Of the Grecian women, 19 
 
 7. Of the Grecian courtezans, 24 
 
 8. Of the Roman women, 29 
 
 9. Laws and customs respecting the Ro- 
 
 man women, 26 
 
 10. Of the effects of Christianity on the 
 
 manners of women, 39 
 
 11. Of women in savage life, 42 
 
 12. Of the Eastern women, 48 
 
 13. Of the Chinese women, 53 
 
 14. Of the wives ©f the Indian priests, 54 
 1.5. A comparison between the Mahom- 
 etans and Dutch, with regard to 
 their women, 56 
 
 16. Of the African women, 61 
 
 17. Of the effects of chivalry on the cha- 
 
 racters and manners of women, 64 
 
 18. The opinion of two modern authors 
 
 concerning chivalry, jq 
 
 19. Of the great enterprises of women in 
 
 the times of chivalry, 75 
 
 20. Other curious particulars concerning 
 
 females in those ages, 79 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 21. Of;.' iunworn 35 
 
 22. Of the framing of women, 87 
 
 fthe European women, 93 
 
 Cfcf the French women,. 94 
 
 Italian women, 100 
 
 tish women, 106 
 
 27. LngJifih v. 100 
 
 hen, 112 
 
 German women, 114 
 £0. On the comparative merit of the 
 
 two sexes, 118 
 51. On the religious and domestic vir- 
 tues of women, 128 
 On female friendship, 131 
 S3. On female benevolence, 135 
 34. On female patriotism, 156 
 35* Of women with regard to polished 
 
 life, 139 
 36. On the idea of Female inferiority, 141 
 :>7. On female simplicity, 145 
 33. On the mild magnanimity of wo- 
 men, 151 
 female delicacy, 154 
 
 40. On female wk, 157 
 
 41. On ehe mikience of female rociety, 1G0 
 
 42. Of the British ladies at different pe- 
 
 riods, 168 
 
 43. On the privileges of British wo- 
 
 men, 183 
 
 44. On female knowledge, 190 
 On female culture and accomplish- 
 ments in different ages, 195 
 
 45. On the necessity mental ac.com- 
 
 ntsofla 203 
 
 47. On the monastic life, 208 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 48. On the degrees of sentimental at- 
 
 tachment at different periods, 215 
 
 49. A view of matrimony in three diffe- 
 
 rent lights, 222 
 
 50. Of betrothing and marriage, 224 
 
 51. On the choice of a husband, 229 
 
 52. Mrs. Piozzi's advice to a new mar- 
 
 ried man, 241 
 
 53. Garrick's advice to married ladies, 247 
 
 54. On widowhood, 248 
 
 55. Dr. Schomberg's method of reading 
 
 for female improvement, 257 
 
 56. The deaths of Lucretia & Virginia, 261 
 
 57. Thoughts on the Education of wo- 
 
 men, 262 
 
 58. Wedded love is infinitely preferable 
 
 to variety, 264 
 
 59. On the revolutions of the French 
 
 fashions, with some advice to the 
 ladies respecting certain parts of 
 dress, o G 5 
 
 60. On looking at the picture of a beau- 
 
 tiful female* 
 01. Education of women in Asia and 
 Africa-- Amusements of the Gre- 
 cian ladies — Religious festivals of 
 the Greeks- — Religious dancers, 
 &c, 279 
 
 62. Punishment of Polygamy in Egypt 
 
 — Semiramis of Assyria — -Ac- 
 count of the Sybarites—Customs 
 of the Grecian women, .286 
 
 63. Rape of the Sabine Virgins — Wo- 
 
 men of Scythia, Me»sagetae;i- \y 
 Cruelty of Amcstris, 2D2 
 
 xhj 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 64. Japanese delicacy— Deli ~acy of the 
 
 Lydians Licentious Law of 
 
 Denmark— -Extraordinary wo- 
 men, 300 
 
 65. Courage of Savage women — Despe- 
 
 rate act cf Euthira — Luxurious 1/ 
 dressofthe Grecian ladies — First 
 use of hair powc>r, 307 
 
 66. Grecian and Spartan Indecency— 
 
 Cruelty of the Grecian women, 314 r 
 
 67. Drunkenness of son e Grec ion wo- 
 
 men — Story of Lucre tia — Inde- 
 cency of Roman women — Inde- 
 cency of savage nations, 321 
 C8. Naked Fakiers — Mahometan plu- 
 rality of wives: — Women ofOta- 
 heite, 323. 
 
 69. Italian debauchery— Female, slander- 
 
 ers — Crim. Con. of Claudius 
 and Pompeia, 335 
 
 70. Jewish customs — Ancient customs 
 
 Athenian midwife, &c. — Canadi- 
 an women — Superstition, &x. 341 
 
 71. Customs of the Muscovites — Cas- 
 
 tration — Eunuchs — Origin of \S 
 
 Nunneries— Customs in the Mo- 
 gul Empire, 348 
 
 72. Grecian courtship, power of philtres 
 
 and charms— Eastern courtship 
 —Long hair of Saxons and 
 Danes,' 354 
 
 73. The Lapland and Greenland lady- 
 
 Sale of children to purchase wives 
 —Plurality and community of 
 wives— Girls sold at Auction, 361 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 74. Punishment of Adultery- -Anecdote 
 of Caesar--- r\)wer of IN larryin^ 
 &c. — Celibacy of the Clergy, 369 
 
HISTORICAL SKETCHES 
 
 OF THE 
 
 FAIR SEX, 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 Of the First Woman, and her Antediluvian 
 Descendants. 
 
 THE great Creator, having formed man 
 of the dust of the earth, " made a deep sleep 
 to fall upon him, and took one of his ribs, 
 and closed up the flesh instead thereof. And 
 the rib, which the Lord God had taken from 
 man, made he a woman, and brought her 
 unto the man." Hence the fair sex, in the 
 opinion of some authors, being formed of 
 matter doubly refined, derive their superior 
 beauty and excellence. 
 
 Not long after the creation, the first wo- 
 man was tempted by the serpent to eat of the 
 fruit of a certain tree, in the midst of the 
 garden of Eden, with regard to which God 
 had said, u Ye shall not eat of it neither 
 shall ye touch it, lest ye die." 
 B 
 
6 HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF 
 
 TCfais deception, and the fatal consequences 
 arising from it, furnish the most interesting 
 story in the whole history of the sex. 
 
 On the offerings being brought, and that of 
 Abel accepted, Cain's jealousy and resent- 
 ment rose to such a pitch, that, as soon as 
 they came down from the mount where they 
 had been sacrificing, he fell upon his brother 
 and slew him. 
 
 For this cruel and barbarous action, Cain 
 and his posterity, being banished from the 
 rest of the human race, indulged themselves 
 in every species of wickedness. On this ac- 
 count, it is supposed, they were called the 
 jSbw and Daughters of Men. The posterity 
 of Seth, on the other hand, became eminent 
 for virtue, and a regard to the divine precepts. 
 By their regular and amiable conduct, they 
 acquired the appellation of Sons and Daugh- 
 ters of God. 
 
 After the deluge there is a chasm in the 
 history of women, until the time of the pa- 
 triarch Abraham. They then begin to be 
 introduced into the sacred story. Several of 
 their actions. are iccorded. The laws, cus- 
 toms and usages, by which they were govern- 
 ed, are frequently exhibited. • 
 
THE FAIR SEX. 7 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 Of the JFonien hi the Patriarchal Ages. 
 
 THE condition of women, among the an- 
 cient patriarchs, appears to have been but ex- 
 tremely indifferent* When Abraham enter- 
 tained the angels, sent to denounce the des- 
 truction of Sodom, he seems to have treated 
 his wife as a menial servant: " Make ready 
 quickly," said he to her, " three measures of 
 fine meal, knead it, and make cakes on the 
 hearth." 
 
 In many parts of the east, water is only to 
 be met with deep in the earth, and to draw it 
 from the wells is', consequently, fatiguing and 
 laborious. This, however, was the task of the 
 daughters of Jethro the Midianite ; to whom 
 so little regard was paid, either on account of 
 their sex, or the rank of their father, as high- 
 priest of the country, that the neighbouring 
 shepherds not only insulted them, but forci- 
 bly took from them the water they had 
 drawn. 
 
 This was the task of Rebecca, who not 
 only drew water for Abraham's servant, but 
 for his camels also, while the servant stood art 
 idle spectator of the toil. Is it not natural 
 to imagine, that, as he was on an embassy to 
 court the damsel for Isaac, his master's son, 
 he would have exerted his utmost efforts to 
 please, and become acceptable? 
 
8 HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF 
 
 When he had concluded his bargain, and 
 was carrying her home, we meet with a cir- 
 cumstance worthy of remark. When she 
 first .approached Isaac, who had walked out 
 into the fields to meet her, she did it in the 
 most submissive manner, as if she had been 
 approaching a lord and master, rather than a 
 fond and passionate lover. From this cir- 
 cumstance, as well as from several others, re- 
 lated in the sacred history, it would seem that 
 tvemen, instead of endeavoring, as in mo- 
 dern times, to persuade the world that they 
 confer an immense favour on a lover, by 
 deigning to accept of him, did not scruple to 
 confess, that the obligation was conferred on 
 themselves. 
 
 This was the case with Ruth, who had laid 
 herself down at the feet of Boaz ; and being 
 asked by him who she was, answered, " I 
 am Ruth, thine handmaid; spread, therefore, 
 thy skirt over thine handmaid, for thou art a 
 near kinsman.'' 
 
 When Jacob went to visit his uncle Laban, 
 he met Rachel, Laban's daughter, in the fields, 
 attending on the flocks of her father. 
 
 In a much later period, Tamar, one of the 
 daughters of king David, was sent by her 
 father to perform the servile office of making 
 cakes for her brother Amnon. 
 
 T*he simplicity of the times in which these 
 things happened, no doubt, very much inva- 
 lidates the strength of the conclusions that 
 naturally arise from them. But, notwith- 
 
THE FAIR SEX. 9 
 
 landing, it still appears that women were not 
 then treated with the delicacy which they 
 have experienced among people more polish, 
 ed and refined. 
 
 Polygamy also prevailed ; which is so con- 
 trary to the inclination of the sex, and so 
 deeply wounds the delicacy of their feelings, 
 that it is impossible for any woman volunta- 
 rily to agree to it, even where it is authorized 
 by custom and by law. Wherever therefore, 
 polygamy takes' place, we may assure our- 
 selves that women have but little authority, 
 and have scarcely arrived at any consequence 
 in society. 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 Of tlie Women of Ancient Egypt. 
 
 WHEREVER the human race live soli- 
 tary, and unconnected with each other, they 
 are savage and barbarous. Wherever they 
 associate together, that association produces 
 softer manners, and a more engaging deport- 
 ment. 
 
 The Egyptians, from the nature of their 
 country, annually overflowed by the Nile, 
 had no wild beasts to hunt, nor could they 
 procure any thing by fishing. On these ac- 
 counts, they were under a necessity of ap- 
 plying themselves to agriculture, a kind cf 
 
 B 2 
 
io HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF 
 
 life which naturally brings mankind togethe^ 
 for mutual poiivenience and assistance. 
 
 They were, likewise, every year, during the 
 inundation of the river, obliged to assemble 
 her, and take shelter, either on the risjng 
 grounds, or in the houses, which were raised 
 upon piles, above the reach of the waters. 
 Here, almost every employment being sus- 
 pended, and the men and women long con- 
 fined together, a thousand inducements, not 
 to he {bund in a solitary state, would natu- 
 rally prompt them to render themselves 
 agreeable to each other. Hence their man- 
 ners would begin, more early, to assume a 
 softer polish, and more elegant refinement, 
 than those of the ether nations who surround- 
 ed them. 
 
 The practice of confining Women, institut- 
 ed by jealousy, and maintained by unlawful 
 power, was not adopted by the ancient Egyp- 
 tians. This appears from the story of Pha- 
 roah's daughter, who was going with her 
 train of maids to bathe in the river, when she 
 found Moses hid among the reeds. It is still 
 mere evident, from that of the wife of Poti- 
 phar, who, if she had been confined, could 
 not have found the opportunities she did, to 
 solicit Joseph to her adulterous embrace. 
 
 The queens of Egypt had the greatest at- 
 tention paid to them. They were more rea- 
 dily obeyed than the kings. It is also related, 
 that the husbands were in their marriage 
 contracts obliged to promise obedience ta 
 
THE FAIR SEX. If 
 
 an obedience," says an inge- 
 nious author,* "which in our modern times, 
 we are often obliged to perform, though our 
 wives entered into the promise," 
 
 The behaviour of Solomon to Pharoah's 
 daughter is a convincing proof that more 
 honour and respect was paid to the Egyp- 
 tian women, than to those of any other peo- 
 ple. Solomon had many other wives besides 
 this princess, and was married to several of 
 them before her, which, according to the Jew- 
 ish law, ought to have entitled them to a pre- 
 ference. But, notwithstanding this, wc hear 
 of no particular palace having been built for 
 any of the others, nor of the worship of any 
 of their gods having been introduced into 
 Jerusalem. But a magnificent palace was 
 erected for Pharoah's daughter ; and she was 
 permitted, though expressly contrary to the 
 laws of Israel, to worship the gods of her 
 own country. 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 Of the Modern Egyptian JFomen, 
 
 THE women of modern Egypt are far 
 from being on so respectable a fooling as they 
 were in ancient times, or as the European wo- 
 men are at present. 
 
 * Dr. Alexander, 
 
12 HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF 
 
 In Europe, women act parts of great con- 
 sequence, and often reign sovereigns on the 
 world's vast theatre. They influence man- 
 ners and morals, and decide on the most im- 
 portant events. The fate of nations is fre- 
 quently in their hands. 
 
 How different is their situation in Egypt ! 
 There they are bound down by the fetters of 
 slavery, condemned to servitude, and have no 
 influence in public affairs. Their empire is 
 confined within the walls of the Harem.* 
 There are their graces and charms entombed. 
 The circle of their life extends not beyond 
 their own family and domestic duties. 
 
 Their first care is to educate their children ; 
 and a numerous posterity is their most fer- 
 vent wish. Mothers always suckle their 
 children. This is expressly commanded by 
 Mahomet : Lei the mother suckle her child 
 full two years, if the child dees not quit the 
 breast ; but she shall be permitted to wean it, 
 with the consent of her husband. 
 
 The harem is the cradle and school of infan- 
 cy. The new-born feeble being is not there 
 swaddled and filletted up in a swathe, the 
 source of a thousand diseases. Laid naked 
 on a mat, exposed in a vast chamber to the 
 pure air, he breathes freely, and with his deli- 
 cate limbs sprawls at pleasure. The new el- 
 ement, in which he is to live, is not entered 
 with pain and tears. Daily bathed beneath 
 
 • The Women'* apartment. 
 
THE FAIR SEX, 13 
 
 his mother's eye, he grows apace. Free to 
 act, he tries his coming powers ; rolls, crawls, 
 rises; and should he fall, cannot much hurt 
 himself on the carpet or mat which covers 
 the floor. 
 
 The daughter's education is the same. 
 Whalebone and busks, which martyr Euro- 
 pean girls, they know not. They are only 
 covered with a shift until six years old : and 
 the dress they afterwards wear confines none 
 of their limbs, but suffers the body to take its 
 true form ; and nothing is more uncommon 
 than rickctty children, and crooked people. 
 In Egypt, man rises in all his majesty, and 
 women displays every charm of person. 
 
 Subject to the immutable laws by which 
 custom governs the East, the women do not 
 associate with the men, not even at table, 
 where the union of sexes produces mirth and 
 wit, and makes food more sweet. When the 
 great incline to dine with one of their wives* 
 she is informed, prepares the apartment, per- 
 fumes it with precious essences, procures the 
 most delicate viands, and receives her lord 
 with the utmost attention and respect. 
 
 Among tjie common people, the women 
 usually stand, or sit in a corner of the room, 
 while the husband dines. They often hold 
 the bason for him to wash, and serve him at 
 table. 
 
 Customs like these, which the Europeans 
 rightly call barbarous, and exclaim against with 
 justice, appear so natural in Egypt, that they 
 
M HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF 
 
 do not suspect it can be otherwise elsewhere; 
 ouch is the power of habit over man. What 
 has been for ages, he supposes a law of nature. 
 
 The Egyptian women, once or twice a 
 week, are permitted to go to the bath, and vi- 
 sit female relations and friends. They re- 
 ceive eaeh other's visits very affectionately. 
 When a lady enters the harem, the mistress 
 rises, takes her hand, presses it to her bosom, 
 kisses and makes her sit down by her side ; 
 a slave hastens to take her black mantle ; she is 
 entreated to be at ease, quits her veil and dis- 
 covers a floating robe tied round the waist 
 with a sash, which perfectly displays her shape. 
 She then receives compliments according to 
 their manner : " Why, my mother, or my sis- 
 ter, have you been so long absent? We sighed 
 to see you ! Your presence is an honour to 
 our house ! It is the happiness of our lives !" 
 
 Slaves present coffee, sherbet and confecti- 
 onary. They laugh, talk and play. A large dhh 
 is placed on the sofa, on which are oranges, 
 pomegranates, bananas, and excellent melons. 
 Water, and rose-water mixed, are brought in 
 an ewer, and with them a silver bason to wash 
 the hands ; and loud glee and n>erry conver- 
 sation season the meal. The chamber is per- 
 fumed by wood of aloes, in a brazier; and, 
 the repast ended, the slavesdance to the sound 
 of cymbals, with whom the mistresses often 
 mingle. At parting they several times re- 
 peat, " God keep you in health ! Heaven 
 grant you a numerous offspring ! Heaver 
 
TBE FAIR. SEX. 15 
 
 serve your children ; the delight and glory of 
 your family !" 
 
 When a visitor is in the harem, the hus- 
 band must not enter. It is the asylum of hos- 
 pitality, and cannot be violated without fatal 
 consequences ; a cherished right, which the 
 Egyptian women carefully maintain, being in- 
 terested in its preservation. A lover, dis- 
 guised like a woman, may be introduced in- 
 to the harem, and it is necessary lie should 
 remain undiscovered ; death would otherwise 
 be his reward. In that country, where the 
 passions are excited by the climate, and the 
 difficulty of gratifying them, love often pro- 
 duces tragical events. 
 
 The Egyptian women, guarded by their 
 eunuchs, go also upon the water, and enjoy 
 the charming prospects of the banks of the 
 Nile. Their cabins are pleasant, richly em- 
 bellished, and the boats well carved and paint- 
 ed. They are known by the blinds over the 
 windows, and the music by which they arc 
 accompanied. 
 
 When they cannot go abroad, they endea- 
 vor to be merry in their prison. Toward 
 sun-setting, they go on the terrace, and take 
 the fresh air among the flowers which are 
 carefully reared. Here they often bathe ; 
 and thus, at once, enjoy the cool, limpid wa- 
 ter, the perfume of odoriferous plants, the 
 balmy air, and the starry host, which shine in 
 the iirmament. 
 
16 HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF 
 
 Thus Bathsheba bathed, when David be- 
 held her from the roof of his palace. 
 
 Such is the usual life of theEgyptian wo- 
 men. Their duties are to educate their chil- 
 dren, take care of their household, and live re- 
 tired with their family : their pleasures, to visit, 
 give feasts, in which they often yield to exces- 
 sive mirth and licentiousness, go on the water, 
 take the air in orange groves, and listen to the 
 Almai. They deck themselves as carefully 
 to receive their acquaintance, as European 
 women do to allure the men. Usually mild 
 and timid, they become daring and furious, 
 when under the dominion of violent love. 
 Neither locks nor grim keepers can then pre- 
 scribe bounds to their passions ; which 
 though death be suspended over their heads, 
 they search the means to gratify, and are sel- 
 dom unsuccessful. 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 Of the Persian Women. 
 
 SEVERAL historians, in mentioning the 
 ancient Persians, have dwelt with peculiar se- 
 verity on the manner in which they treated 
 their women. Jealous, almost to distraction;, 
 they confined the whole sex with the strictest 
 attention, and could not bear that the eye of a 
 stranger should behold the beauty whom they 
 adored. 
 
THE FAIR SEX. 17 
 
 When Mahomet, the great legislator of the 
 modern Persians, was just expiring, the last 
 advice that he gave to his faithful adher- 
 ents, was, " Be watchful of your religion, and 
 your wives." Hence they pretend to derive 
 not only the power of confining, but also of 
 persuading them, that they hazard their sal-' 
 vation, if they look upon any other man be- 
 sides their husbands. The christian religion 
 informs us, that in the other world they neither 
 marry, nor are given in marriage. The re- 
 ligion of Mahomet teaches us a different doc- 
 trine, which the Persians believing, carry the 
 jealousy of Asia to the fields of Elysium, and 
 the groves of Paradise ; where, according to 
 them, the blessed inhabitants have their eyes 
 placed on the crown of their heads, lest they 
 should see the wives of their neighbours. 
 
 Every circumstance in the Persian history 
 tends to persuade us, that the motive, which 
 induced them to confine their women with so 
 much care and solicitude, was only exuber- 
 ance of love and affection. In the enjoyment 
 of their smiles, and their embraces, the hap- 
 piness of the men consisted, and their appro- 
 bation was an incentive to deeds of glory and 
 of heroism. For these reasons they are said 
 to have been the first who introduced the cus- 
 tom of carrying their wives and concubines 
 to the field, " That the sight," said they, " of 
 all that is dear to us, may animate us to fiVht 
 more valiantly." «? 
 
 C 
 
IS HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF 
 
 To offer the least violence to a Persian wo- 
 man, was to incur certain death from her 
 husband or guardian. Even their kings, 
 though the most absolute in the universe, 
 could not alter the manners or customs of the 
 country, which related to the fair sex. 
 
 Widely different from this is the present 
 state of Persia. By a law of that country, 
 their monarch is now authorised to go when- 
 ever he pleases, into the harem of any of his 
 subjects; and the subject, on whose preroga- 
 tive he thus encroaches, so far from exerting 
 his usual jealousy, thinks himself highly ho- 
 noured by such a visit. 
 
 A laughable story, on this subject, is told 
 cf Shah Abbas, who having got drunk at the 
 house of one of his favourites, and intending 
 to go into the apartment of his wives, was 
 stopped by the door-keeper, who bluntly told 
 him, " Not a man, Sir, besides my master, 
 shall put a muctacho here, so long as I am 
 porter." " What," said the king, u dost 
 thou not know me ?" u Yes, answered the fel- 
 low, " I know you are king of the men, but 
 not of the women." Shah Abbas, pleased 
 with the answer, and the fidelity of the servant, 
 retired to his palace. The favorite, at whose 
 house the adventure happened, as soon as he 
 heard it, went and fell at his master's feet, in- 
 treating that he would not impute to him 
 the crime committed by his domestic. He 
 likewise added, " I have already turned him 
 away from my service for his presumption." — 
 
THE FAIR SEX. ?9 
 
 " I am glad of it," answered the king : u I will 
 take him into my service for his fidelity." 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 Of the Grecian Women. 
 
 IT is observed by an able panegyrist for 
 the fair, " That the greatest respect has al- 
 ways been paid them by the wisest and best 
 of nations." If this be true, the Greeks 
 certainly forfeited one great claim to that 
 wisdom which has always been attributed to 
 them; for we have good reason to believe, 
 that they regarded their women only as instru- 
 ments of raising up members to the state. 
 
 In order to esteem the sex, we must do 
 more than see them. By social intercourse, 
 and a mutual reciprocation of good offices, 
 we must become acquainted with their worth 
 and excellence. This, to the Greeks, was a 
 pleasure totally unknown. As the women 
 lived retired in their own apartments, if they 
 had any amiable qualities, they were buried 
 in perpetual obscurity. Even husbands were, 
 in Sparta, limited as "to the time and duration 
 of the visits made to their wives; and it was 
 the custom at meals for the two sexes always 
 to eat separately. 
 
 The apartments destined for the women, in 
 order to keep them more private, were al- 
 ways in the back, and generally in the upper 
 
20 HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF 
 
 part of the house. The famous Helen is 
 said to have had her chamber in the loftiest 
 part of it ; and so wretched were their dwel- 
 lings, that even Penelope, queen of Ulysses, 
 seems to have descended from hers by a lad- 
 der. 
 
 Unmarried women, whether maids or wi- 
 dows, were under the strictest confinement. 
 The former, indeed, were not allowed to pass 
 without leave from one part of the house to 
 another, lest they should be seen. 
 
 New married women were almost as strict- 
 ly confined as virgins. Hermoine was severe- 
 ly reproved by her old duenna, for appearing 
 out of doors ; a freedom, which, she tells her, 
 was not usually taken by women in her situ- 
 ation, and which would endanger her reputa- 
 tion should she happen to be seen. 
 
 Aristophanes introduces an Athenian lady, 
 loudly complaining, that women were con- 
 fined to their chambers, under lock and key, 
 and guarded by mastiffs, goblins, or any thing 
 that could frighten away admirers. 
 
 The confinement, however, of the Grecian 
 women, does not appear, in some cases, to 
 have been so much the effect of jealousy, as, 
 of indifference. The men did not think them 
 proper companions ; and that ignorance, 
 which is the result of a recluse life, gave them 
 too good a reason to think so. Nothing in 
 Greece was held in estimation, but valour and 
 eloquence. Nature had disqualified the fair 
 sex for both. They were therefore considered 
 
THE FAIR SEX. ar 
 
 as mean and contemptible beings, much be- 
 neath the notice of heroes and of orators, 
 who seldom favored them with their company. 
 Thus deserted by a sex which ought to be 
 the source of knowledge, the understandings 
 of the women were but shallow, and their 
 company uninteresting ; circumstances which 
 invariably happen in every country where the 
 two sexes have little communication with 
 each other. 
 
 In perusing the Grecian history, we every 
 where meet with the most convincing proofs 
 of the low condition of their women. Homer 
 considers Helen, the wife of Menelaus, of 
 little other value than as a part of the goods 
 which were stolen along with her ; and the 
 restitution of these, and of her, are common- 
 ly mentioned in the same sentence, in such a 
 manner, as to show, that such restitution 
 would be considered as a full reparation of 
 the injury sustained. 
 
 The same author, in celebrating Penelope, 
 wife of Ulysses, for refusing in his absence so 
 many suitors, does not appear to place the 
 merit of her conduct, in a superior regard to 
 chastity, or in love to her husband ; but in 
 preserving to his family the dowry she had 
 brought along with her, which, on a second 
 marriage, must have been restored to her 
 father Icarius. 
 
 Telemachus is always- represented as a 
 most dutiful son. But, notwithstanding this, 
 we find him reproving his mother in a mau- 
 C 2 
 
22 HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF 
 
 ner which shews that the sex, in general, were 
 not treated with softness and delicacy, howe- 
 ver dignified, or with whatever authority in- 
 vested. 
 
 t( Your widowed hoars, apart with female toil, 
 And various labours of the loom beguile. 
 There rule, from palace cares remote and free ; 
 That care to man belongs, and most to me." 
 
 If we take a view of the privileges be- 
 stowed by law or custom on the Grecian 
 women, we shall find, that, in the earlier ages, 
 they were allowed a vote in the public assem- 
 blies. This privilege, however, was after- 
 wards taken from them. They succeeded 
 equally with brothers to the inheritance of 
 their fathers ; and to the whole of that inhe- 
 ritance, if they had no brothers. But to this 
 last privilege was always annexed a circum- 
 stance, which must have been extremely dis- 
 agreeable to every woman of sentiment and 
 feeling. An heiress was obliged, by the laws 
 of Greece, tcrtnarry her nearest relation, that 
 the estate might not go out of the family; 
 and this relation, in case of a refusal, had a 
 right to sue for the delivery of her person, as 
 we do for goods and chattels. 
 
 He who divorced his wife was obliged ei- 
 ther to return her dowry, or pay her so much 
 per month, by way of maintenance. He who 
 ravished a free woman was obliged in some 
 states to marry her, in others to pay a hun- 
 dred, and in others again, a thousand drachms. 
 
THE FAIR SEX, 23 
 
 But when we impartially consider the good 
 and ill treatment of the Grecian women, we 
 find that the balance was much against them, 
 and may therefore conclude, that, though the 
 Greeks were eminent in arts, and illustrious 
 in arms, yet, in politeness and elegance of 
 manners, the highest pitch to which they ever 
 arrived, was only a few degrees above savage 
 barbarity. 
 
 In the different aeras of Grecian history, 
 however, we must not suppose that the wo- 
 men were always the same. It appears that 
 the manners in the isles of Greece, in gene- 
 ral, were much purer than on the continent. 
 Those islanders, by being less exposed to 
 foreign intercourse, could more easily pre- 
 serve their laws and their virtues. The war- 
 like convents of Lacedemon, the nurseries 
 only of soldiers, w r ould be much more rigid 
 than the smiling retreats of Athens, whence 
 politeness was propagated, and fashion an- 
 nounced; and the city of Thebes, where a 
 rustic grossness supplied the place of an ele- 
 gant luxury, must have been very different 
 from Corinth, which on account of its situa- 
 tion and commerce, obtained the name of 
 " The two seats of Wealth and Pleasure." 
 
a.4 HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 Of the Grecian Courtezans. 
 
 THE rank which the courtezans enjoyed, 
 even in the brightest ages of Greece, and 
 particularly at Athens, is one of the greatest 
 singularities in the manners of any people. 
 By what circumstances could that order of 
 women, who debase at once their own sex 
 and ours — in a country, where the women 
 were possessed of modesty, and the men of 
 sentiment, arrive at distinction, and sometimes 
 even at the highest degree of reputation and 
 consequence? Several reasons may be as- 
 signed for that phenomenon in society. 
 
 In Greece the courtezans were in some 
 measure connected with the religion of the 
 country. The goddess of beauty had her 
 altars ;' and she was supposed to protect pros- 
 titution, which was to her a species of wor- 
 ship. The people invoked Venus in times 
 of danger; and, after a battle, they thought 
 they had done honour to Miltiades and The- 
 mistocles, because the Laises and the Gly- 
 ceras of the age had chaunted hymns to their 
 goddess. 
 
 The courtezans were likewise connected 
 with religion, by means of the arts. Their 
 persons afforded models for statues, which 
 were afterwards adored in the temples. — 
 Phrine served as a model to Praxiteles, for 
 
THE FAIR SEX. 2$ 
 
 his Venus of Cnidus. During the feasts of 
 Neptune, near Eleusis, Appeles having seen 
 the same courtezan on the sea shore, without 
 any other veil than her loose and flowing hair, 
 was so much -struck with her appearance, 
 that he borrowed from it the idea of his Ve- 
 nus rising from the waves. 
 
 They were, therefore, connected with sta- 
 tuary and painting, as they furnished the prac- 
 tises of those arts with the means of em- 
 bellishing their works. 
 
 The greater part of them were skilled in 
 music ; and, as that art was attended with 
 higher effects in Greece, than it has ever been 
 in any other country, it must have possessed, 
 in their hands, an irresistible charm. 
 
 Every one knows how enthusiastic the 
 Greeks were of beauty. They adored it in 
 the temples. They admired it in the principal 
 works of art. They studied it in the exer- 
 cises and the games. They thought to per- 
 fect it by their marriages. They offered re« 
 wards to it at the public festivals. But virtu- 
 ous beauty was seldom to be seen. The mo- 
 dest women were confined to their own apart- 
 ments, and were visited only by their hus- 
 bands and nearest relations. The courtezans 
 offered themselves every where to view; and 
 their beauty, as might be expected, obtained 
 universal homage. 
 
 Society only can unfold the beauties of the 
 mind. Modest women were excluded from 
 it. The courtezans of Athens, by living in 
 
26 HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF 
 
 public, and conversing freely with all ranks 
 of people, upon all manner of subjects, ac- 
 quired by degrees, a knowledge of history, 
 of philosophy, of policy, and a taste in the 
 whole circle of the arts* Their ideas were 
 more extensive and various, and their conver- 
 sation was more sprightly and entertaining, 
 than any thing that was to be found among 
 the virtuous part of the sex. Hence their 
 houses became the schools of elegance. The 
 poets and the painters went there to catch the 
 fleeting forms of grace, and the changeable 
 features of ridicule ; the musicians, to per- 
 fect the delicacy of harmony ; and the phi- 
 losophers, to collect those particulars of hu- 
 man life, which had hitherto escaped their 
 observation. 
 
 The house of Aspasia was the resort of 
 Socrates and Pericles, as that of Ninon was 
 of St. Evremont and Conde. They acquired 
 from those fair libertines taste and politeness, 
 and they gave them in exchange knowledge 
 and reputation. 
 
 Greece was governed by eloquent men ; 
 and the celebrated courtezans, having an in- 
 fluence over those orators, must have had an 
 influence on public affairs. There was not one, 
 not even the thundering, the inflexible De- 
 mosthenes, so terrible to tyrants, but was sub- 
 jected to their sway. Of that great master of 
 eloquence it has been said, " What he had 
 been a whole year in erecting, a woman o- 
 Terturned in a day." That influence augmen- 
 
THE f AIR SEX. 27 
 
 ted their consequence ; and their talent of 
 pleasing increased with the occasions of ex- 
 erting it. 
 
 The laws and the public institutions, in- 
 deed, by authorising the privacy of women, 
 set a high value on the sanctity of the marri- 
 age vow. But in Athens, imagination, sen- 
 timent, luxury, the taste in arts and pleasure, 
 was opposite "to the laws. The courtezans, 
 therefore, may be said to have come in sup- 
 port of the manners. 
 
 There was no check upon publick licenti- 
 ousness; but private infidelity, which concern- 
 ed the peace of families, was punished as a 
 crime. By a strange and perhaps unequalled 
 singularity, the men were corrupted, yet the 
 domestic manners were pure. It seems as if 
 the courtezans had not been considered to 
 belong -to their sex ; and, by a convention to 
 which the laws and the manners bended, 
 while other women were estimated merely by 
 their virtues, they were estimated only by 
 their accomplishments. 
 
 These reasons will, in some measure ac- 
 count for the honours, which the votaries of 
 Venus so often received in Greece. Other- 
 wise we should have been at a loss to con- 
 ceive, why six or seven writers had exerted 
 their talents to celebrate the courtezans of A- 
 thens — why three great painters had uniform- 
 ly devoted their pencils to represent them on 
 canvass — snd why so many poets had strove 
 to immortalize them in verses. We should 
 hardly have believed that so many illustrious 
 
23 HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF 
 
 men had courted their society — that Aspasia 
 had been consulted in deliberations of peace 
 and war — that Phrine had a statue of gold 
 placed between the statues of two kings 
 at Delphos — that, after death, magnificent 
 tombs had been erected to their memory. 
 
 u The traveller," says a Greek writer, 
 " who, approaching to Athens, sees on the side 
 of the way a monument which attracts his no- 
 tice at a distance, will imagine that it is the 
 tomb of Miltiades or Pericles, or of some other 
 great man, who has done honour to his coun- 
 try by his services. He advances, he reads 
 and he learns that it is a courtezan of Athens 
 who is interred with so much pomp." 
 
 Theopompus, in a letter to Alexander the 
 Great, speaks also of the same monument in 
 words to the following effect — " Thus, after 
 her death, is a prostitute honoured ; while 
 not one of those brave warriors who fell in 
 Asia, fighting for you and for the safety of 
 Greece, has so much as a stone erected to his 
 memory, or an inscription to preserve his 
 ashes from insult." 
 
 Such was the homage which that enthusias- 
 tic people, voluptuous and passionate, paid to 
 beauty. More guided by sentiment than by 
 reason, and having laws rather than princi- 
 ples, they banished their great men, honoured 
 their courtezans, murdered Socrates, permit- 
 ted themselves to be governed by Aspasia, 
 preserved inviolate the marriage bed, and pla- 
 ced Phrine in the temple of Apollo i 
 
THE FAIR SEX. 29 
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 Of the Roman Women. 
 
 AMONG the Romans, a grave and aus- 
 tere people, who, daring live hundred years, 
 were unacquainted with the elegancies and 
 the pleasures of life, and who, in the mid- 
 dle of furrows and fields of battle, were em-^ 
 ployed in tillage or in war, the manners of the" 
 women were a long time as solemn and severe 
 as those of the men, and without the small- 
 est mixture of corruption, or of weakness. 
 
 The time when the Roman women began 
 to appear in public, marks a particular sera in 
 history. 
 
 In the infancy of the city, and even until 
 the conquest of Carthage, shut up in their 
 houses, where a simple and rustic virtue paid 
 every thing to instinct, and nothing to ele- 
 gance — so nearly allied to barbarism, as only 
 to know what it was to be wives and mothers 
 —chaste without apprehending they could be 
 otherwise — tender and affectionate, before 
 they had learned the meaning of the words — 
 occupied in duties, and ignorant that there 
 were other pleasures ; they spent their life in 
 retirement, in domestic ceconomy, in nursing 
 their children, and in rearing to the republic a 
 race of labourers, or of soldiers. 
 
 The Roman women, for many a?;es, were 
 respected over the whole world. " Their vic- 
 torious husbands re-visited them with trans- 
 port, at their return from battle. They laid 
 at their feet the spoils of the enemy, and en- 
 D 
 
so HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF 
 
 dcared themselves in their eyes, by the wounds 
 which they had received lor them and for the 
 state. Those warriors often came from im- 
 posing commands upon kings ; and in their 
 own houses accounted it an honour to obey. 
 In vain the too rigid laws had made them the 
 arbiters of life and death. More powerful than 
 the laws, the women ruled their judges. In 
 vain the legislature, foreseeing the wants 
 which exist only among a corrupt people, per- 
 mitted divorce. The indulgence of the polity 
 was proscribed by the manners. 
 
 Such was the influence of beauty at Rome 
 before the licentious intercourse of the sexes 
 had corrupted both. 
 
 The Roman matrons do not seem to have 
 possessed that military courage which Plu- 
 tarch has praised in certain Greek and Barba- 
 rian women : they partook more of the nature 
 of their sex ; or, at least, they departed less 
 from its character. Their first quality was 
 decency. Every one knows the story of Cato 
 the censor, who stabbed a Roman Senator for 
 kissing his own wife in the presence of his daugh- 
 ter. 
 
 To these austere manners, the Roman wo- 
 men joined an enthusiastic love of their coun- 
 try, which discovered itself upon many great 
 occasions. On the death of Brutus, they 
 all cloathed themselves in mourning. In the 
 time of Coriolanus they saved the city. That 
 incensed warrior who had insulted the senate 
 and the priests, and who was superior even to 
 the pride of pardoning, could not resist the 
 tears and iatreaties of the women. They melted 
 
THE FAIR SEX. 31 
 
 Ills obdurate heart. The senate declared them 
 public thanks, ordered the men to give place 
 to them upon ail occasions, caused an altar 
 to be erected for them on the spot where the 
 mother had softened her son, and the wife 
 her husband ; and the sex were permitted 
 to add another ornament to their head-dress. 
 
 It is to be wished that our modern ladies 
 could assign as good a reason for the size of 
 their caps. 
 
 The Roman women saved the city a se- 
 cond time when besieged by Brennus. They 
 gave up ail their goid as its ransom. For 
 that instance of their generosity, the senate 
 granted them the honour of having funeral o« 
 rations pronounced in the rostrum, in common 
 with patriots and heroes. 
 
 After the battle of Canna?, when Home had 
 no other treasures but the virtues of their ci- 
 tizens, the women sacriiiced both their gold 
 and their jewels. A new decree rewarded 
 their zeal. 
 
 Valerius Maximus, who lived in the reign 
 of Tiberius, informs us that, in the second 
 triumvirate, the three assassins who govern- 
 ed Rome, thirsting after gold, no less than 
 blood, and having already practised every 
 species of robbery, and worn out every me- 
 thod of plunder, resolved to tax the women, 
 They imposed a heavy contribution upon each 
 of them. The women sought an orator to 
 defend their cause, but found none. Nobody 
 would reason against those who had the power 
 of life and death. The daughter of thej:ele- 
 brated Hortensius alone appeared. She revived 
 
3 2 HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF 
 
 the memory of her fathers abilities &c support, 
 ed with intrepidity her own eause, and that of 
 her sex. The ruffians blushed and revoked 
 their orders. 
 
 Hortensia was conducted home in triumph, 
 and had the honour of having given, in one 
 day, an example of courage to men, a pat* 
 tern of eloquence to women, and a lesson of 
 humanity to tyrants. 
 
 But the rera cf the talents of women at 
 Rome is to be found under the emperors. So- 
 ciety was then more perfected by opulence, 
 by luxury, by the use and abuse of the arts, 
 and by commerce. Their retirement was 
 then less strict ; their genius, being more ac- 
 tive, was more exerted ; their heart had new 
 wants ; the idea of reputation sprung up in their 
 minds ; their leisure increased with the di- 
 vision of employments. 
 
 During upwards of six hundred years, the 
 virtues had been found sufficient to please. 
 They now found it necessary to call in the 
 accomplishments. They were desirous to join 
 admiration to esteem, till they learned to ex- 
 ceed esteem itself. For in all countries, in 
 proportion as the love of virtue diminishes, we 
 find the love of talents to increase. 
 
 A thousand causes concurred to produce 
 this revolution of manneis among the Ro- 
 mans. The vast inequality of ranks, the enor- 
 mous fortunes of individuals, the ridicule,, 
 affixed by the imperial court to mcrai ideas, 
 all contributed to hasten the period of cor- 
 ruption. 
 
THE FAIR SEX. 33 
 
 There were still, however, some great and 
 virtuous characters among the Roman wo- 
 men. Portia, the daughter of Cato, and wife 
 of Brutus, in the conspiracy against Caesar, 
 shewed herself worthy to be associated with 
 the first of human kind, and trusted with the 
 fate of empires. After the battle of Philippi, 
 she would neither survive liberty nor Brutus, 
 but died with the bold intrepidity of Cato. 
 
 The example of Portia was followed by 
 that of Arria, who seeing her husband hesi- 
 tating and afraid to die, in order to encourage 
 him, pierced her own breast and delivered to 
 him the dagger with a smile. 
 
 The name of Arria's husband was Paetus. 
 The manner of their death has furnished 
 Martial with the subject of an elegant epi- 
 gram, which may be thus paraphrased ; 
 
 '< When ro hsr husband Arria gave the sword, 
 
 Which from her ch33ie, her bleeding breast she drsw j 
 
 She said, My Pl?(iis> this I do not fear ; 
 
 But / ths wound that must h made by you / 
 
 ohe could no merer- hut on her Pectus siiil 
 
 She fix'd her feeble, her f xpirino eyes ; 
 
 And when she saw him raise the pointed sr*el, 
 
 She stnik, and seem'd to 3ay /Void A^ria dks !'* 
 
 Paulinia too, the wife of Seneca, caused: 
 her veins to be opened at the same time with 
 her husband's ; but being forced to live, dur- 
 ing the few years which she survived him, 
 " she bore in her countenance/' says Tacitus, 
 if the honourable testimony of her love, a 
 paleness, which proved that part of her blood 
 had sympath. issued with the blood of 
 
 her spouse," 
 
 -dr.. D.3- 
 
34 HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF 
 
 The same exalted virtues were displayed, 
 though in a different manner, by Agrippina, 
 the wife of Germanicus ; who, naturally 
 haughty and sensible, after the death of that 
 great man, buried herself in retirement in ail 
 the bloom of youth ; and who, neither bend- 
 ing her stateliness under Tiberius, nor allow- 
 ing herself to be corrupted by the manners of 
 her age — as implacable in her haired to the 
 tyrant, as she had been faithful to her hus- 
 band — spent her life in lamenting the one, 
 and in detesting the other. Nor should the 
 celebrated Epiniana be forgot, whom Ves- 
 pasian ought to have admired, but whom he 
 so basely put to death. 
 
 To take notice of all the celebrated wo- 
 men of the empire, would much exceed the 
 bounds of the present undertaking. But the 
 empress Julia, the wife of Septimius Severus, 
 possessed a species of merit so very different 
 from any of those already mentioned, as to 
 claim particular attention. 
 
 This lady was born in Syria, and the 
 daughter of a priest of the sun. It was pre- 
 dicted that she should rise to sovereign dig- 
 nity ; and her character justified the prophecy. 
 
 Julia, while on the throne, loved, or pre- 
 tended passionately to love, letters. Either 
 from taste, from a desire to instruct herself, 
 from a love of renown, or possibly from all 
 these together, she spent her life with philos- 
 ophers. Her rank of empress would not, per- 
 haps, have been sufficient to subdue those 
 bold spirits ; but she joined to that the more 
 powerful influences of wit and beauty.— 
 
THE FAIR SEX. 35 
 
 These three kinds of empire rendered less 
 necessary to her that which consists only in 
 art; and" which, attentive to their tastes and 
 their weaknesses, governs great minds by lit- 
 tle means. 
 
 It is said that she was a philosopher. Her 
 philosophy, however, did not extend so far as 
 to give chastity to her manners. Her hus- 
 band, who did not love her, valued her under- 
 standing so much, that he consulted her 
 upon all occasions. She governed in the same 
 manner und.r his son. 
 
 Julia was. in short, an empress and a politi- 
 cian, occupied at the same time about litera- 
 ture and affairs of state, while she mingled 
 her pleasures freely with both. She had cour- 
 tiers for her lovers, scholars for her friends, 
 and philosophers for her counsellors. In the 
 midst of a society, where she reigned and 
 was instructed, Julia arrived at the highest 
 celebrity ; but as, among all her excellencies, 
 we find not those of her sex, the virtues of a 
 woman, our admiration is lost in blame. In 
 her life time she obtained more praise than 
 respect : and posterity, while it has done jus- 
 tice to her talents and her accomplishments, 
 has agreed to deny her esteem. 
 
 At last, in following the course of history, 
 the famous Zenobia presents herself: she 
 was worthy to have been a pupil of Lvngirws; 
 for she knew how to write, as well as how to 
 conquer. When she was afterward unfortu- 
 nate, she was so with dignity. She consoled 
 herself foe the loss of a throne, and the plea- 
 
3* HJSTOJtfCAL SKETCHES OF 
 
 ith the sweets of solitude 
 and - : of reason; 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 'Laws and Customs respecting the Roman 
 JFomen. 
 
 THE Roman women, as well as the Gre- 
 cian, were under perpetual guardianship; and 
 were not at any age, nor in any condition, 
 ever trusted with the management of their 
 own fortunes. 
 
 Every father had a power of life and death- 
 over liis own daughters : but this power was 
 not restricted to daughters only-; it extended 
 also to SOUS. 
 
 The Oppian law prohibited women from 
 having more than half an ounce of gold em- 
 ployed in ornamenting their persons, from 
 wearing clothes of divers colours, and from 
 riding in chariots,, either in the city, or a thou- 
 sand paces round it. 
 
 They were strictly forbid to use wine, or 
 even to have in their possession the key of 
 any place where it was kept. For either of 
 these faults they were liable to be divorced 
 by their husbands. So careful were the Ro- 
 mans in restraining their women from wine, 
 that they are supposed to have first introduc- 
 ed the custom of saluting- their female rela- 
 tions and acquaintances, on entering into the 
 house of a friend or neighbor, that they might 
 
THE FAIR SEX. 37 
 
 discover by their breath, whether they had 
 tasted any of that liquor. 
 
 This strictness, however, began in time to 
 be relaxed; until at last, luxury becoming 
 too strong for every law, the women indulged 
 themselves in equal liberties with the men. 
 
 But such was not the case in the earlier 
 ages of Rome. Romulus even permitted hus- 
 bands to kill their wives, if they found them 
 drinking wire. And if we may believe Va- 
 lerius Maximus, Egnatius Metellus, having 
 detected his wife drinking out of a cask, ac- 
 tually made use of this permission, and was 
 acquitted by Romulus. 
 
 Fabius Pictoi relates, that the parents of a 
 Roman lady, having detected her picking the 
 lock of a chest which contained some wine, 
 shut her up and starved her to death. 
 
 Women were liable to be divorced by their 
 husbands almost at pleasure, provided the 
 portion was returned which they had brought 
 along with them. They were also liable to 
 be divorced for barrenness, which, if it could 
 be construed into a fault, was at least the fault 
 of nature, and might sometimes be that of 
 the husband. 
 
 A few sumptuary laws, a subordination to 
 the men,, and a total want of authority, do not 
 so much affect the sex, as to be coldly and in- 
 delicately treated by their husbands. 
 
 Such a treatment is touching them in the 
 tenderest part. Such, however, we have rea- 
 son to believe, they often met with from the 
 Romans, who had not yet learned, as in mo. 
 dern times, to blend the rigidity of the patriot, 
 
3S HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF 
 
 and roughness of the warrior, with that soft 
 and indulging behaviour, so conspicuous in 
 our modern patriots and heroes. 
 
 Husbands among the Romans not only 
 themselves behaved roughly to their wives, 
 but even sometimes permitted their servants 
 and slaves to do the same. The principal 
 eunuch of Justinian the second, threatened to 
 chastise the Empress, his master's wife, in 
 the manner that children are chastised at 
 school, if she did not obey his orders. 
 
 With regard to the private diversions of 
 the Roman ladies, history is silent. Their 
 public ones were such as were common to 
 both sexes; as bathing, theatrical representa- 
 tions, horse-races, shows of wild beasts, 
 which fought against one another, and some- 
 times against men, whom the emperors, in 
 the plentitude of their despotic power, order- 
 ed to engage them. 
 
 The Romans, of both sexes, spent a great" 
 deal of time at the baths ; which at first, 
 perhaps, were interwoven with their religion, 
 but at last were only considered as refine- 
 ments in luxury. They were places of pub- 
 lic resort, where all the news of the times 
 were to be heard, where people met v. it'll 
 their acquaintances and friends, where public 
 libraries were kept for such as chose to read, 
 and where poets recited their works to such 
 as had patience to hear. 
 
 In the earlier periods of Rome, separate 
 baths were appropriated to each sex. Luxury 
 by degrees getting the better of decency, the 
 men and women at last bathed promiscuously 
 
THE FAIR SEX. 3* 
 
 « 
 together. Though this indecent manner of 
 bathing was prohibited by the empenor Ad- 
 rian; yet, in a short time, inclination over- 
 came the prohibition ; and, in spite of every 
 effort, promiscuous bathing continued until 
 the time of Constantine, who, by the coer- 
 cive force of the legislative authority, and the 
 rewards and terrors of the Christian religion, 
 put a final stop to it. 
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 
 Of the Effects of * Christianity oh the Man- 
 tiers of Women. 
 
 PHILOSOPHY had no fixed principles 
 for women. The religion of antiquity was 
 only a kind of sacred policy, which had ra- 
 ther ceremonies than precepts. The ancients 
 honored their gods as we honour our great 
 men : they offered them incense, and expect- 
 ed their protection in exchange. The gods 
 were their guardians, not their legislators. 
 
 Christianity on the other hand, was a legis- 
 lation : it imposed laws for the regulation of 
 manners ; it strengthened the marriage knot ; 
 to the political it added a sacred tie, and plac- 
 ed the matrimonial engagements under the 
 jurisdiction of Heaven. 
 
 Not satisfied with regulating the actions, 
 Christianity extended its empire even to the 
 thoughts. Above all, it combated the senses. 
 It waged war even with such inanimate ob- 
 jects as might be the objects of seduction, or 
 
4o historical; sketches of 
 
 were the means of seduction. In a word, 
 rousing' vice in her secret cell, it made her be- 
 come her own tormentor. 
 
 The legislation of the Greeks and Romans 
 referred the motive of evzry action to the po- 
 litical interest of society. But the new and 
 sacred legislation, inspiring only contempt for 
 this world, referred all things to a future and 
 very different state of existence. 
 
 The detachment of the senses, the reign of 
 the soul, and an inexpressibly sublime and su- 
 pernatural something, which blended itself 
 with both, became the doctrine of a body of the 
 people. Hence the vow of continence, and 
 consecration of celibacy. 
 
 Life was a combat. The sanctity of the 
 manners threw a veil over nature and over 
 society ; Beauty was afraid to please ; Valor 
 dropt his spear ; the passions were taught to 
 submit ; the severity cf the soul increased 
 every day, by the sacrifices of the senses. 
 
 The women, who generally possess a lively 
 imagination, and a warm heart, devoted them- 
 selves to virtues, which were as flattering as 
 they were difficult, and no less elevated than 
 austere. 
 
 . The disciples of Christianity were taught 
 to love and comfort one another, like children 
 of the same family. In consequence of this 
 doctrine, the more tender sex, converting to 
 pity the sensibility of nature, devoted their 
 lives to the service of indigence and distress. 
 Delicacy learned to overcome disgust. The 
 tears of pity were seen to flow in the huts of 
 
THE FAIR SEX. 4* 
 
 misery, and in the cells of disease, with the 
 friendly sympathy of a sister. 
 
 The persecutions which arose in the em- 
 pire, soon after the introduction of Christianity, 
 afforded that religion a new opportunity of 
 discovering its efficacy. To preserve the 
 faith, it was often necessary to suffer imprison- 
 ment, banishment and death. Courage then 
 became necessary. 
 
 There is a deliberate courage which is the 
 result of reason, and which is equally bold and 
 calm : it is the courage of philosophers and of 
 heroes. There is a courage which springs 
 from the imagination, which is ardent and 
 precipitate ; such is most commonly the 
 courage of martyrs, or religious courage. 
 
 The courage of the Christian women was 
 founded upon the noblest motives. Animated 
 by the glorious hope of immortality, they em- 
 braced* flames and gibbets, and offered their 
 delicate and Feeble bodies to the most excru- 
 ciating tortures. 
 
 This revolution in the ideas and in the man- 
 ners was followed by another in the writings. 
 Such as made women their subject became as 
 austere and seraphic as they. 
 
 Almost all the doctors of those times, raised 
 by the church both to the rank of orators and 
 of saints, emulated each other in praising die 
 Christian women. But he wmo speaks of 
 them with most eloquence and with most 
 zeal, is Saint Jerome ; who, born with a soul 
 of fire, spent twenty-four years, in writing, in 
 combating and in conquering himself. 
 E 
 
42 HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF 
 
 The manners of this saint were probably 
 more severe than his thoughts. He had a 
 number of illustrious women at Rome among 
 his diseiples. Thus surrounded with beauty, 
 though he escaped weakness, yet he was not 
 able to escape calumny At last, flying from 
 the world, from women, and from himself, he 
 retired to Palestine; where ail that he had fled 
 from still pursued him, tormented him under 
 the penitential sack loth, and in the middle of 
 solitary desarts, re-echoed in his ears the tumult 
 of Rome. 
 
 Such was Saint Jerome, the most eloquent 
 panegyrist of die Christian women of the 
 fourth century. That warm and pious wri- 
 ter, though generally harsh and obscure, 
 softens his style, in a thousand places, to 
 praise a great number of Roman women, who 
 at the Capitol, had embraced Christianity, and 
 studied in Rome the language of the Hebrews, 
 that they might read and understand the 
 books of Moses. 
 
 CHAPTER XI. 
 
 Of the Women in Savage Life. 
 
 MAN, in a state of barbarity, equally cruel 
 and indolent, active by necessity, but natural- 
 ly inclined to repose, is acquainted with little 
 more than the physical effects of love ; and, 
 having none of those moral ideas which only 
 can soften the empire of force, he is led to 
 consider it as his supreme law, subjecting to 
 
THE FAIR SEX. 43 
 
 his despotism those whom reason had made 
 his equals, but whose imbecility betrayed 
 them to his strength. 
 
 Cast in the lap of naked nature, and expo- 
 sed to every hardship, the forms of women, in 
 savage life, are but little engaging. With 
 nothing that deserves the name of culture, 
 their latent qualities, if they have any, are like 
 the diamond, while inclosed in the rough Hint, 
 incapable of shewing any lustre. Thus des- 
 titute of every thing by which they can excite 
 love, or acquire esteem ; destitute of beaut}* 
 to charm, or art to soothe, the tyrant man ; 
 they are by him destined to perform every 
 mean and servile office. In this the American 
 and other savage women differ widely from 
 those of Asia, who, if they are destitute of the 
 qualifications necessary for gaining esteem, 
 have beauty, ornaments, and the art of excit- 
 ing love. 
 
 In civilized countries a woman acquires 
 some power by being the mother of a numer- 
 ous family, who obey her maternal authority, 
 and defend her honour and her life. But, 
 even as a mother, a female savage has not 
 much advantage. Her children, daily accus- 
 tomed to see their father treat her nearly as a 
 slave, soon begin to imitate his example, and 
 either pay little regard to her authority, or 
 shake it off altogether. 
 
 Of this the Hottentot boys afford a remark- 
 able proof. They are brought up by the wo- 
 men, till they are about fourteen years of age. 
 Then, with several ceremonies, they are initi- 
 ated into die society of men. After this 
 
44 HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF 
 
 initiation is over, it is reckoned manly for a 
 boy to take the earliest opportunity of return- 
 ing to the hut of his mother, and beating her 
 in the most barbarous manner, to show that 
 lie is now out of her jurisdiction. Should 
 the mother complain to the men, they would 
 only applaud the boy, For shewing so laudable 
 a contempt for the society and authority of wo-. 
 men. 
 
 "Nothing," says Professor Miller, speak- 
 ing of the women of barbarous nations, *' can 
 exceed the dependence and subjection in 
 which they are kept, or the toil and drudgery 
 which they are obliged to undergo. The 
 husband when he is not engaged in some 
 warlike exercise, indulges himself in idleness, 
 znd devolves upon his wife the whole bin den 
 of his domestic affairs. He disdains to assist 
 her in any of those servile employments. She 
 sleeps in a different bed, and is seldom per- 
 mitted to have any conversation or corres- 
 pondence with him." 
 
 In the Brazils, the females are obliged to 
 follow their husbands to war, supply the place 
 of beasts of burden, and to carry on their 
 backs their children, provisions, hammocks, 
 and every thing in the field. 
 
 In the Isthmus of Dm ien, they are sent 
 alone; with warriors and travellers, as we do 
 baggage horses. Even their queen appeared 
 before some English gentlemen, carrying her 
 suckling child wrapt in a red blanket. 
 
 The women among the Indians of Ameri- 
 ca are wh.it the Helots were among the Spar* 
 tans, a vancjuished people obliged to toil for 
 
THE FAIR SEX. 45 
 
 their conquerors. Hence on the banks of 
 Oroonoko we have heard of mothers slaying 
 their daughters out of compassion, and smoth- 
 ering them in the hour of their birth. They 
 consider this barbarous pity as a virtue. 
 
 Father Joseph Gurnilia, reproving one o: 
 them for this inhuman crime, received the 
 following answer : — " I wish to God, Father, 
 I wish to God, that my mother had, by 
 ray death, prevented the manifold distresses 
 I have endured, and have yet to en- 
 dure as long as I live. Had she kindly 
 stifled me in my birth, I should not have felt 
 the pain of death, nor the numberless other 
 pains to which life has subjected me. 
 Consider, Father, our deplorable condition. 
 Our husbands go to hunt with their bows and 
 arrows, and trouble themselves no farther : 
 we are dragged along with one infant at our 
 breast, and another in a basket. They return 
 in the evening without any burden ; we return 
 with the burden of our children- Though 
 tired with long walking, we are not allowed 
 to sleep, but must labor the whole night, in 
 grinding maize to make chica for them. They 
 get drunk and in their drunkenness beat us, 
 draw us by the hair of the head, and tread us 
 under foot. What then have we to comfort 
 w.i for slavery, perhaps of twenty years ? — A 
 young wife is brought us and permitted to 
 abuse us and our children. Can human na- 
 ture endure such tyranny? What kindness 
 can we shew to our female children, equal to 
 that of reliving them from such servjty 
 more bitter a thousand times than death? J 
 £ 2 
 
46 HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF 
 
 repeat again, would to God my mother had 
 put me under ground, the moment I was 
 born." 
 
 If the great outlines of this complaint be 
 true, they fully evince the deplorable condition 
 of savage women ; and that they are probable, 
 similar instrances among barbarous nations 
 will not permit us to doubt. 
 
 " The men," says Commodore Bryon, in 
 his account of the inhabitants of South Ame- 
 rica, " exercise a most despotic authority 
 over their wives, whom they consider in 
 the same view they do any other part of their 
 property, and dispose of them accordingly. 
 Even their common treatment of them is 
 cruel. For, though the toil and hazard of 
 procuring food lies entirely on the wqmen, 
 yet they are not sufFered to touch any part of 
 it, until the husband is satisfied; and then he 
 assigns them their portion, which is generally 
 very scanty, and such as he has not a stomach 
 for himself." 
 
 The Greenlanders, who live most upon 
 seals, think it sufficient to catch and bring 
 them on shore; and would almost rather 
 submit to starve, than assist their women in 
 skinning, dressing or dragging the cumbrous 
 animals home to their huts. 
 
 In some parts of America, when the men 
 kill any game in the woods, they lay it at the 
 root of a tree, fix a mark there, and travelling 
 until they arrive at their habitation, send 
 their women to fetch it ; a task which their 
 own laziness and pride equally forbid. 
 
 Among many of the tribes of wandering 
 
THE FAIR SEX. 47 
 
 Arabs, the women are not only obliged to do 
 every domestic and every rural work, but 
 also to feed, to dress, and saddle the horses, 
 for the use of their husbands. 
 
 The Moorish women, besides doing all the 
 same kinds of drudgery, i'.re also obliged to 
 cultivate the fields, while their husbands stand 
 idle spectators of the toil, or sleep inglorious 
 beneath a neighbouring shade. 
 
 In Madura the husband generally speaks to 
 his wife in the most imperious tone ; while 
 she with fear and trembling approaches him, 
 waits upon him while at meals, and pronoun- 
 ces not his name, but with the addition of 
 every dignifying title she can devise. In re- 
 turn for ail this submission, he frequently 
 beats and abuses her in the most barbarous 
 manner. Being asked the reason of such a 
 behaviour, one of them answered, " As our 
 wives are so much our inferiors, why should 
 we allow them to eat and drink with us? — 
 Why should they not serve us with whatever 
 we call for, and afterwards sit down and eat 
 up what we leave ? — If they commit faults, 
 why should they not suffer correction? It is 
 their business only to bring up our children, 
 pound our rice, make our oil, and do every 
 other kind of drudgery, purposes to which 
 only their low and inferior natures are adapt- 
 ed." 
 
 In several parts of America women are 
 not suffered to enter into their temples, or 
 join in their religious assemblies. In the 
 houses where the chiefs meet to consult on 
 the affairs of state, they are only permitted to 
 
4$ HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF 
 
 enter and seat themselves on the floor en each 
 side of the passage. 
 
 The Circassian custom of breeding young 
 girls, on purpose to be sold in the public 
 market to . the highest bidder, is generally 
 known. Perhaps, however, upon minute ex- 
 amination, we shall find that women are, in 
 some degree, bought and sold in every coun- 
 ty, whether savage or civilized. 
 
 The following remark may very properly 
 conclude this chapter : As, among savages* 
 we almost constantly find women condemned 
 to every species of slavish drudgery ; so 
 we as constantly find them emerging from 
 this state, in the same proportion as we find 
 the men emerging from ignorance and bru- 
 tality. The rank, therefore, and condition in 
 which we find women in any country, mark 
 out to us with the greatest precision the ex- 
 act point in the scale of civil society, to 
 which the people of such country have arriv- 
 ed. And, indeed, were their history silent on 
 every other subject, and only mentioned the 
 manner in which they treated their women, 
 we should from thence be enabled to form a 
 tolerable judgment of the barbarity or cul- 
 ture of their manners. 
 
 CHAPTER XIL 
 
 Of the Eastern Women. 
 
 THE women of the east have, in general, 
 always exhibited the same appearance. Their 
 
THE FAIR SEX. 49 
 
 manners, customs and fashions, u inalterable 
 like their rocks, have stood the test of many 
 revolving ages. Though the kingdoms of 
 their country have often changed masters, 
 though they have submitted to the arms of 
 almost every invader, yet the laws by which 
 
 ir sex are governed and enslaved, ha 
 never been revised nor amended. 
 
 Had the manners and customs of the Asi- 
 atic women been subject to the same chan- 
 ges as they are in Europe, we might have 
 expected the same changes in the sentiments 
 and writings of their men. But, as this is i 
 the case, we have reason to presume that the 
 sentiments entertained by Solomon, by the 
 apocryphal writers, and by the ancient Bra- 
 mins, are the sentiments of this day. 
 
 Though the confinement of women be an 
 unlawful exertion of superior power, yet i: 
 affords a proof that the inhabitants of the 
 east are advanced some degrees farther in ci- 
 vilization than mere savages, who have hardly 
 any love and consequently ats little jealousy. 
 This confinement is not vuy rigid in the 
 empire of the Mogul. It is, perhaps, less so 
 in China, and iii SA]rdn h ■ ists. 
 
 Though women are confined in the Turk- 
 ish empire, they expedience every otl 
 gehce. They are alio wed, at stated ti;nes, to 
 go to the public baths; their ap irtmeatfs are 
 richly, if not elegantly furnished; i!r-y have 
 a train of female slaves to serve and amuse 
 them; and their persons are adorned vviai 
 every costly ornament which their fathers or 
 husbands can afford. 
 
50 HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF 
 
 Notwithstanding the strictness of confine- 
 ment in Persia, their women are treated with 
 several indulgences. They are allowed a vari- 
 ety of precious liquors, of costly perfumes, 
 and beautiful slaves : their apartments are 
 furnished with the most elegant hangings and 
 carpets ; their persons ornamented with the 
 finest silks, and even loaded with the spark- 
 ling jewels of the east. But all these trap- 
 pings, however elegant, or however gilded, 
 are only like the golden chains sometimes 
 made use of to bind a royal prisoner. 
 
 Solomon had a great number of queens 
 and concubines; but a petty Hindoo chief 
 has been known to have two thousand women 
 confined within the walls of his harem, and 
 appropriated entirely to his pleasure. Nothing 
 less than unlimited power in the husband is 
 able to restrain women so confined, from the 
 utmost disorder and confusion. They may 
 repine in secret, but they must clothe their 
 features with cheerfulness when their lord ap- 
 pears. Contumacy draws down on them im- 
 mediate punishment: they are degraded, 
 chastised, divorced, shut up in dark dun- 
 geons, and sometimes put to death. 
 
 Their persons, however, are so sacred, 
 that they must net in the least be violated, 
 nor even looked at, by any one but their hus- 
 bands. This female privilege has given an 
 opportunity of executing many conspiracies. 
 Warriors, in such vehicles as are usually em- 
 ployed to carry women, have been often con- 
 vey ul, without examination, into the apart- 
 ments of the great ; from whence, instead of 
 
THE FAIR SEX. 51 
 
 issuing forth in the smiles of beauty, they 
 have rushed out in the terror of arms, and 
 laid the tyrants at their feet. 
 
 No stranger is ever allowed to see the wo- 
 men of Hindostan, nor can even brothers visit 
 their sisters in private. To be conscious of 
 the existence of a man's wives seems a crime ; 
 and he lookssurfy and offended, if their health 
 is enqe: : red after. In every country, honour 
 consists in something upon which the posses- 
 sor sets the high lie. This, with the 
 Hindoo, is the chastity of his wives; a point 
 without which he must net live. 
 
 In the midst of slaughter and devastation, 
 throughout all the east, the harem is a sanc- 
 tuary. Ruffians, covered with the blood of 
 a husband, shrink back with veneration from 
 the secret apartment of his wives. 
 
 At Constantinople, when the sultan sends 
 an order to strangle a state criminal, and 
 on his effects, the officers who execute it en- 
 ter hot into the harem, nor touch any thing 
 belonging to the women, 
 
 Mr. Pope is very far from doing justice to 
 the fair sex, when he says — 
 
 " West women have no character at all." 
 
 The character, however, of the Asiatic ladies 
 cannot be easily ascertained. The narrow and 
 limited sphere in which they move, almost 
 entirely divests them of every characteristic 
 distinction which arises from liberty and soci- 
 ety. Shut up forever in impenetrable harems, 
 they can hardly be called creatures of the 
 world, having no intercourse with it, and no 
 
52 HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF 
 
 use for the social and economical virtues 
 which adorn its citizens. Frugality and in- 
 dustry are entirely out of their power. To 
 the joys of friendship they are, perhaps, entire 
 Strangers. The nan treat them in such a 
 manner, that it is impossible they can esteem 
 them. The women are their constant rivals. 
 As they are net allowed to attend public wor- 
 ship, they can have no other religion than the 
 silent adoration of the heart. With respect to 
 chastity, the manner in which they are dis- 
 posed of to their husbands, and the treatment 
 they meet with from them, are the most un- 
 likely methods in the world to make them 
 famous for that virtue. 
 
 Those females who are the least exposed 
 to feel the oppressive effects of despotism, 
 employ themselves in a manner adapted to 
 the sex. To the women of Hindostan we 
 owe a great part of those works of taste, so 
 elegantly executed on the manufactures of 
 the east; the beautiful colourings and exqui- 
 site designings of their printed cottens ; all 
 the embroidery, and a part of that fillagree 
 work, which so much exceeds any thing in 
 Europe. r i he deficiency of taste, therefore, 
 with which we so commonly charge 'them, 
 does not seem to be so much a defect of na- 
 ture, as of education. Brought up in luxu- 
 rious indolence, excluded horn all the busy 
 scenes of life, and, like children, provided 
 with all those things, the acquisition of which 
 calls forth the powers of the mind and body, 
 they seldom have ai y motive to exert them- 
 selves; but when such a motive exists, they 
 
THE FAIR SEX. 53 
 
 have often exhibited the most convincing 
 proofs of their ability. 
 
 Every Turkish seraglio and harem has a 
 garden adjoining to it, and in the middle of 
 this garden a large room, more or less deco- 
 rated, according to the wealth of the proprie- 
 tor. Htre the ladies spend most of their time, 
 with their attendant nymphs around them, 
 employed at their music, embroidery or loom. 
 
 In these retreats, perhaps, they find more 
 real pleasure and enjoyment, than in the un- 
 bounded freedom of Europe, where love, in- 
 terest and ambition so often destroy their 
 peace ; and where scandal, with her envenom- 
 ed shafts, too often strikes equally at guilt and 
 innocence. 
 
 It has long been a custom among the gran- 
 dees of Asia, to entertain story-tellers of both 
 sexes, who like the bards of ancient Europe, 
 divert them with tales, and little histories, 
 mostly on the subject of bravery and love. 
 These often amuse the women, and beguile 
 the cheerless hours of the harem, by calling 
 up images to their minds, which their eyes 
 are forever debarred from seeing. 
 
 All their other amusements, as well as this, 
 are indolently voluptuous. They spend a 
 great part of their time in lolling on silken 
 sofas ; while a train of female slaves, scarcely 
 less voluptuous, attend to sing to them, to fan 
 them, and to rub their bodies; an exercise 
 which the Easterns enjoy with a sort of placid 
 ccstacy, as it promotes the circulation of their 
 languid blood. 
 
54 HISTORICAL SKETCHED OF 
 
 They bathe themselves in rose water, and 
 other baths, prepared with the precious odours 
 of the East. They perfume themselves with 
 costly essences, and adorn their persons, that 
 they may please the tyrant with whom they 
 are obliged to live. 
 
 At the court of the Mogul, women are fre- 
 quently admitted into a gallery, with a cur- 
 tain before them, through which, without be- 
 ing seen, they can see and hear what passes. 
 It has sometimes happened that the throne 
 has been occupied by a woman, who never 
 appearing in open court, issued her imperial 
 mandates from behind this curtain, like an in- 
 visible being, producing the greatest effects, 
 while the cause of them was wrapt in dark- 
 ness and obscurity. 
 
 CHAPTER XIII. 
 
 Of the Chinese Women. 
 
 Of all the other Asiatics, the Chinese 
 have, perhaps, the best title to modesty.— 
 Even the men wrap themselves closely up in 
 their garments, and reckon it indecent to dis- 
 cover any more of their arms and legs than 
 is necessary. The women, still more closely 
 wrapped up, never discover a naked hand 
 even, to their nearest relations, if they can 
 possibly avoid it. Every part of their dress, 
 every part of their behaviour is calculated to 
 preserve decency, and inspire respect. And, 
 what adds the greatest lustre to their charms, 
 
THE FAIR SEX. 55 
 
 is that uncommon modesty which appears in 
 every look and in every action. 
 
 Charmed, no doubt, with so engaging a 
 deportment, the men behave to them in a re- 
 ciprocal manner. And, that their virtue may 
 not be contaminated by the neighbourhood of 
 vice, the legislature takes care that no prosti- 
 tutes shall lodge within the walls of any of 
 the great cities of China. 
 
 Some, however, suspect whether this ap- 
 pearance of modesty be any thing else than 
 the custom of the country ; and allege that, 
 notwithstanding so much seeming decency 
 and decorum, they have their peculiar modes 
 of intriguing, and embrace every possible 
 opportunity of putting them in practice; and 
 that, in these intrigues, they frequently scru- 
 ple not to stab the paramour they had invited 
 to their arms, as the surest method of pre- 
 venting detection and loss of character. Such 
 relations, however, arc not to be found in any 
 of our modern travellers, whose veracity i s 
 most to be depended on. A few perhaps, of 
 the most flagitious may ba guilty of such 
 rmous crimes. 
 
 CHAPTER XIV. 
 
 Of the TFives of the Indian Priests. 
 
 THE Bramins, or priests of India, though, 
 like the rest of their countrymen, thty con- 
 fine their women ; yet, by treating them with 
 
56 HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF 
 
 lenity and indulgence, they secure their vir- 
 tue by attaching their hearts. 
 
 Married to each other in their infancy, 
 they have the greatest veneration for the nup- 
 tial tie. Their mutual fondness increases with 
 their strength; and, in riper years, all the 
 glory of the wives consists in pleasing their 
 husbands. This duty they consider as one 
 of the most sacred of their holy religion, and 
 which the gods will not suffer them to ne- 
 glect with impunity. 
 
 While the rest of the Hindoo women take 
 every opportunity to elude their keepers, 
 these voluntarily confine themselves, at least 
 from the company and conversation of all 
 strangers, and in every respect copy that sim- 
 plicity of life and manners for which their 
 husbands are so remarkable, 
 
 CHAPTER XV. 
 
 A comparison between the Mahcffietam end 
 
 Dutch, with regard to their Women. 
 
 " WOMEN have naturally most power," 
 says an ingenious la'dy,* " in those countries 
 where the laws relative to them are most ri- 
 gid ; and, wherever legislators have most 
 abridged their privileges, their power is most 
 confessed." 
 
 . If we take a slight view of the laws rela- 
 tive to the sex amongst people of different 
 
 * Mrs. Kimlersli y. 
 
THE FAIR SEX. 57 
 
 characters, and the customs which seem to 
 throw light upon the subject, it will appear 
 that women have often been, and still are, re- 
 strained, confined, and subjected to severe 
 laws, in proportion to the greatness of their 
 natural power ; and that they are, by the laws 
 and usages, encouraged and supported in pro- 
 portion to their want of it. 
 
 Of this fact, the laws and customs of the 
 Mahometans in Asia respecting women, and 
 the laws and manners relative to them amongst 
 the people of Holland, are a sufficient proof, 
 
 A Mahometan places his supreme delight 
 in his seraglio : his riches are bestowed in 
 purchasing women to fill it : and, in propor- 
 tion to his fortune, his females are beautiful 
 and numerous. In women he places his 
 chief amusement, his luxury, his present hap- 
 piness and future reward. 
 
 But this violent fondness for the sex, divid- 
 ed as it is betwixt many favorites, informs 
 him that other men have the same violent 
 passions. The beauties of his seraglio, which 
 delight him, he knows would delight other 
 men, could they obtain a sight of them.— 
 Hence arise the strict confinement of his 
 women, the guards of eunuchs, and every 
 possible bar to their being visible to ether 
 men. Hence it is, likewise, that, when he re- 
 ceives any new beauty into his house, the 
 most profound secrecy is observed. But he 
 does not always confine his wives and female 
 slaves, because he holds them in contempt : 
 he guards their persons, as his most valuable 
 treasures* 
 
5S HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF 
 
 This extreme uxoriousness of the men, is 
 what gives the women their natural power 
 over them ; and the knowledge of this power 
 has caused the men to establish laws and 
 customs, to prevent in some measure its ef- 
 fects. 
 
 These laws prevent the women from hav- 
 ing any share in government, debar them 
 from entering the mosques, from holding any 
 lands, or enjoying any fortunes, independent 
 of their husbands or parents ; and, in short, 
 give their husbands an absolute authority 
 over them. 
 
 In Holland, on the contrary:, where the 
 men are of a phlegmatic disposition, devoted 
 to gain, enemies to luxury, prudent, selfish, 
 tid cold in their attachments to the sex, the 
 natural power of the women must conse- 
 quently be small. On this account, as there is 
 little danger that the men will treat them with 
 too much kindness, or be seduced by their 
 allurements, the laws are calculated not to in- 
 crease, but to restrain the authority of hus- 
 bands ; and the magistrates find it necessary 
 to support die women in the privileges the 
 laws have given them, by great attention to 
 their complaints. 
 
 Nevertheless, in spite of the severity of 
 the Mahometan laws respecting women, and 
 the lenity of the laws respecting them in Hol- 
 land, it appears that there have been numbers 
 of Mahometans (even men on whom the fate 
 of kingdoms has depended) who have given 
 themselves up to the entire direction of their 
 female favorites; though it docs not appear 
 
THE FAIR SEX. Sy 
 
 that Dutch husbands give up their interest 
 through the influence of their wives. 
 
 The manners of Mahometan women, 
 and the maimers of Dutch women, are no 
 less different than the laws by which they are 
 governed; and, in both, the difference arises 
 from the same causes. 
 
 As a Mussulman procures wives and fe- 
 male slaves for his pleasure only, nothing is 
 expected in them but youth and beauty, or, 
 at most, the arts of singing and dancing. — 
 They are too precious to be fatigued by cares. 
 As their business is only to make themselves 
 agreeable, they attire themselves in the most 
 expensive dresses, practice the most becom- 
 ing attitudes, and throw their eyes with the 
 most bewitching languishrrfent ; are feeble 
 and indolent in their youth; and old age, 
 which comes upon women early in their cli- 
 mate, is spent in jealousy of their more youth- 
 ful rivals. 
 
 But as a Dutch woman is expected to 
 serve, she attends to business, and neglects 
 her person : she is inelegant and robust ; her 
 laughs are hearty, and her expressions coarse. 
 
 A Dutchman desires in his wife an assis- 
 tant, a steward, a partner in his cares. She 
 only expects to be valued in proportion to her 
 industry and economy; as, therefore, the 
 Mahometan women are examples of the most 
 extreme indolence; the Dutch women are 
 remarkable for their application to business. 
 Thus they become of consequence in them- 
 selves, as well as useful in promoting the in- 
 terest of their husbands, not only by their 
 
6o HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF 
 
 domestic economy, but by their knowledge 
 in traffic. The wife, indeed, is very often, 
 both the assistant and the director "of her 
 husband's affairs ; and many unmarried \vo- 
 are very considerable merchants. 
 
 But though many of them, by their indus- 
 try and application to business, gain a degree 
 of consequence, it is a consequence indepen- 
 dent of their sex. It is not die woman, but 
 the merchant, who is considered. 
 
 The women of Holland are under very 
 little restraint, because the Dutch are unac- 
 quainted with that jealousy which torments a 
 Mussulman; and can, without any uneasi- 
 ness, see their wives carrying on business, 
 and striking bargains, with the greatest stran- 
 gers. 
 
 In contrast to the mysterious secrecy with 
 which a female is ushered into a seraglio, the 
 marriages of the Dutch are proclaimed long 
 before they take place ; and their courtships 
 are carried on even without that reserve and 
 delicacy observed in the politer nations of 
 Europe. 
 
 In speaking of Holland, we must be un- 
 derstood to mean the bulk of the people. A 
 few people of rank are imitators of the 
 French manners. Among these, however ? the 
 national character is visible. 
 
THE FAIR SEX. 61 
 
 CHAPTER XVI. 
 
 Of the African Women. 
 
 THE Africans were formerly renowned 
 for their industry in cultivating the ground, 
 for their trade, navigation, caravans and use- 
 ful arts. At present they are remarkable for 
 their idleness, ignorance, superstition, treache- 
 ry, and, above all, for their lawless methods 
 of robbing and murdering all the other inha- 
 bitants of the rrlobe. 
 
 Though they still retain some sense of their 
 infamous character, vet they do not choose to 
 reform. Their priests, therefore, endeavor to 
 justify them, by the following story : " Noah," 
 say they, " was no sooner dead, than his three 
 sons, the first of whom Was white, the second 
 tawny, and the third black, having agreed 
 upon dividing among them his goods and pos- 
 sessions, spent the greatest part of the day in 
 sorting them; so that they were obliged to 
 adjourn the division till the next morning. — 
 Having supped, and srnoaked a friendly pipe 
 together, they ail went to rest, each in his 
 own tent. After a few hours sleep, the white 
 brother got up, seized on the gold, silver, 
 precious stones and other things of the great- 
 est value, loaded the best horses with them, 
 and rode away to that country where his white 
 posterity have been settled ever since. The 
 tawny, awaking soon after, and with the same 
 criminal intention, was surprised, when he 
 came to the storehouse, to find that his bro~ 
 
•2 HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF 
 
 ther had been beforehand with him. Upon 
 which, he hastily secured the rest of the hor- 
 ses and camels, and loading them with the 
 best carpets, clothes, and other remaining 
 goods, directed his rout to another part of the 
 world, leaving behind him only a few of the 
 coarsest of the goods, and some provisions of 
 little value. 
 
 " When the third, or black brother, came 
 next morning, in the simplicity of his heart, 
 to make the proposed division, and could nei- 
 ther find his brethren, nor any of the valua- 
 ble comtnediues, he easily judged that they 
 hcid tricked him, and were by that time fled 
 be) ond ;my possibility of a discovery. 
 
 " In this most afflicted situation, he took 
 his pipe, and begun to consider the most 
 effectual means of retrieving his loss, 
 and being revenged on his perfidious bro- 
 thers. 
 
 " After revolving a variety of schemes in 
 his mind, he at last fixed upon watching eve- 
 ry opportunity of making reprisals on them, 
 and laying hold of and carrying away their 
 property, as often as it should fall in Iris way, 
 in revenge for the loss of that patrimony of 
 which they had so unjustly deprived him, 
 
 " Having come to this resolution, he not 
 only continued in the practice of it all his life, 
 but on his death-bed laid the strongest injunc- 
 tions on his descendants to do so, to the end 
 of the world." 
 
 Some tribes of the Africans, however, 
 when they have engaged themselves in the 
 protection of a stranger, arc remarkable for 
 
THE FAIR SEX. 63 
 
 fidelity. Many of them are conspicuous for 
 their temperance, hospitality and several other 
 virtues. 
 
 Their women, upon the whole, are far from 
 being indelicate or unchaste. On the banks 
 of the Niger, they are tolerably industrious, 
 have a considerable share of vivacity, and at 
 the same time a female reserve, which would 
 do no discredit to a politer country. They are 
 modest, affable, and faithful; an "air of inno- 
 cence appears in their looks, and in their lan- 
 gunge, which gives beauty to their whole de- 
 portment. 
 
 When, from the Niger, we approach to- 
 ward the east, the African women degenerate 
 in stature, complexion, sensibility and chas- 
 tity. Even their language, like their features, 
 and the soil they inhabit, is harsh and disa- 
 greeable. Their pleasures resemble more the 
 transports of fury, than the gentle emotions 
 communicated by agreeable sensations. 
 
 Beyond the river Volta, in the country of 
 Benin, the women, though far from being fa- 
 nious for any of the virtues, would not be 
 disagreeable in their looks, were it not for the 
 abominable custom of marking their faces 
 with scars, for the same purposes as our Eu- 
 ropean ladies lay on paint. 
 
 Though in a few respects better than sava. 
 ges, there is a particular opinion all over this 
 country, which tends to humanize the mind. 
 This is a firm persuasion, that, to whatever 
 place they remove themselves, or are by any 
 idem removed, they shall after death re- 
 
64 HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF 
 
 turn to their own country, which they consi- 
 der as the most delightful in the universe. 
 
 This fond delusive hope not only softens 
 the slavery to which they are often condemn- 
 ed in other countries, but also induces them 
 to treat such strangers as come among them 
 with much civility. They think they are come 
 there to enjoy paradise, and to receive the 
 reward of virtuous actions done in other 
 countries. 
 
 CHAPTER XVII. 
 
 Of the effects of Chivalry on the Character 
 and the Manners of JFomen, 
 
 HISTORY does not afford so singular a 
 revolution in policy and manners, as that 
 which followed the subversion of the Roman 
 empire. 
 
 It is to the barbarians, who spread confla- 
 gration and ruin, who trampled on the monu- 
 ments of art, and spurned the appendages of 
 elegance and pleasure, that we owe the be- 
 witching spirit of gallantry which in these 
 ages of refinement, reigns in the courts of 
 Europe. That system, which has made it a 
 principle of honor among us to consider the 
 women as sovereigns; which has partly form- 
 ed our customs, our manners, and our policy; 
 which has exalted the human character, by- 
 softening the empire of force ; which min- 
 gles politeness with the use of the sword; 
 which delights in protecting the weak, and in 
 
THE FAIR SEX. *5 
 
 conferring that importance which nature or 
 fortune have denied — that system was brought 
 hither from the frozen shores of the Baltic, 
 and from the savage forests of the North. 
 
 The northern nations, in general, paid a 
 great respect to women. Continually employ- 
 ed in hunting or in war, they condescended 
 only to soften their ferocity in the presence of 
 the fair. Their forests were the nurseries of 
 chivalry : beauty was there the reward of va- 
 lour. 
 
 A warrior, to render himself worthy of his 
 mistress, went in search of glory and of dan- 
 ger. Jealousy produced challenges. Single 
 combats, instituted by love, often stained with 
 blood the woods and the borders of the lakes ; 
 and the sword ascertained the rights of Ve- 
 nus as well as of Mars. 
 
 Let us not be surprised at these manners. 
 Among men who have made few advances 
 in civilization, but who have already united in 
 large bodies, women have naturally the great- 
 est sway. Society is then sufficiently culti- 
 vated to have introduced the ideas of prefer- 
 ence and of choice, in the connection between 
 the sexes, which seem to be little regarded, if 
 at all known, among savages. It is however 
 too rude to partake of that state of effeminacy, 
 in which the senses are enfeebled, and the af- 
 fections worn out by habit. 
 
 People but little removed from barbarism, 
 in the perfection of their animal powers, and 
 ignorant of all those artificial pleasures created 
 by the wants of polished life, feel more exqui- 
 sitely the pleasures of nature, and the genuine 
 G 
 
66 HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF 
 
 emotions of man. They mingle even with 
 their love a kind of adoration to the female 
 sex. 
 
 Several of the northern nations imagined 
 that women could look into futurity, and that 
 they had about them an inconceivable some- 
 thing approaching to divinity. Perhaps that 
 idea was only the effect of the sagacity com- 
 mon to the sex, and the advantage which their 
 natural address gave them over rough and 
 simple warriors. Perhaps, also, those, barba- 
 rians, surprized at the influence which beauty 
 Las over force, were led to ascribe to superna- 
 tural attraction a charm which they could not 
 comprehend. 
 
 ^ A belief, however, that the Deity commu- 
 nicates himself more readily to women, has at 
 one time or another prevailed in every quar- 
 ter of the earth : not only the Germans and 
 the Britons, but all the people of Scandinavia, 
 were possessed of it. Among the Greeks, 
 ^vomen delivered the oracles. The respect 
 which the Romans paid to the Sibyls is well 
 known. The Jews had their prophetesses. 
 The predictions of the Egyptian women ob- 
 tained much credit at Rome, even under the 
 emperors. And in the most barbarous na- 
 tions, all things that have the appearance of 
 being supernatural, the mysteries of religion, 
 the secrets of physic, and the rights of magic, 
 are in the possession of the women. 
 
 The barbarians who over-ran Europe cari- 
 ed their opinions along with their arms. A 
 revolution in the manner of living must there- 
 fore soon have taken place. The climates of 
 
THE FAIR SEX. 67 
 
 the north required little reserve between the 
 sexes ; and, during the invasions from that 
 quarter, which continued for three or four 
 hundred years, it was common to see women 
 mixed with warriors. 
 
 By associating with a corrupted people, 
 who had all the ' vices of former prosperity, 
 along with those of present adversity, the con- 
 querors were not likely to imbibe more severe 
 ideas. Hence we see those sons of the north 
 in softer climates, uniting the vices of re- 
 finement to the stateliness of the warrior, and 
 the pride of the barbarian. 
 
 They embraced Christianity ; but it rather 
 modified than changed their character : it 
 mingled itself with their customs, without al- 
 tering the genius of the people. 
 
 Thus, by degrees, were laid the foundations 
 of new manners, which, in modern Europe, 
 have brought the two sexes more on a level 
 by assigning to the women a kind of sovereign- 
 ty, and associating love with valour. 
 
 The true sera of chivalry was the fourteenth 
 century. That civil and military institution 
 took its rise from a train of circumstances, 
 and the native bent of the new inhabitants. 
 
 Shattered by the fall of the empire, Europe 
 had not yet arrived at any degree of consis- 
 tency. After five hundred years, nothing was 
 iixed. From the mixture of Christianity with 
 the ancient customs of the barbarians, sprung 
 a continual discord in manners. From the 
 mixture of the rights of the priesthood with 
 those of the empire, sprung a discord in laws 
 and politics. From the mixture of the rights 
 
*8 HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF 
 
 ©f sovereigns with those of the nobility, sprung 
 a discord in government. Anarchy and con- 
 fusion were the result of so many contrasts. 
 . Christianity which had now lost much of its 
 original influence, like a feeble curb, was still 
 sufficient to restrain the weak passions, but 
 was no longer able to bridle the strong. It 
 produced remorse, but could not prevent guilt. 
 
 The people of those times made pilgrim- 
 ages, and they pillaged : they massacred, and 
 they afterwards did penance. Robbery and 
 licentiousness were blended with superstition. 
 
 It was in this aera that the nobility, idle 
 and warlike, from a sentiment of natural equi- 
 ty, and that uneasiness which follows the per- 
 petration of violence,from the double motive 
 of religion and heroism, associated themselves 
 together to effect, in a body, what government 
 had neglected, or but poorly executed. 
 
 Their objeet was to combat the Moors in 
 Spain, the Saracens m Asia, the tyrants of the 
 castles and strong holds in Germany and in 
 France ; to assure the safety of travellers, as 
 Hercules and Theseus did of old ; and, above 
 all things, to defend the honour and protect 
 the rights of the feeble sex, against the too fre- 
 quent villainy and oppression of the strong. 
 
 A noble spirit of gallantry soon mingled it- 
 self with that institution. Every knight, in 
 devoting himself to danger, listed himself un- 
 der some lady as his sovereign : it was for 
 her that he attacked, for her that he defended, 
 for her that he mounted the walls of cities and 
 of castles, and for her honour that he shed his 
 blood. 
 
THE FAIR SEX. 69 
 
 Europe was only one large field of battle, 
 where warriors clad in armour, and adorned 
 with ribbands and with the cyphers of their 
 mistresses, engaged in close fight to merit the 
 favour of beauty. 
 
 Fidelity was then associated with courage, 
 and love was inseparably connected with ho- 
 nour. 
 
 The women, proud of their sway, and of 
 receiving it from the hands of virtue, became 
 worthy of the great actions of their lovers, and 
 reciprocated passions as noble as those they 
 inspired. An ungenerous choice debased 
 them. The tender sentiment was never felt, 
 but when united with glory : and the manners 
 breathed an inexpressible something of pride, 
 heroism, and tenderness, which was altoge- 
 ther astonishing. 
 
 Beauty, perhaps, never exercised so sweet 
 or so powerful an empire over the heart. Hence 
 those constant passions which our levity can- 
 not comprehend, and which our manners, our 
 little weaknesses, our perpetual thirst of hopes 
 and desires, our listless anxiety that torments 
 us, and which tires itself in pursuit of emotion 
 without pleasure, and of impulse without aim, 
 have often turned into ridicule on our theatres, 
 in our conversations, and in our lives, 
 j But it is. nevertheless true, that those pas- 
 sions, fostered by years, and roused by obsta- 
 cles 1 where respect kept hope at a distance ; 
 where love, fed only by sacrifices, sacrificed 
 itself unceasingly to. honour— reinvigorateel 
 the characters and the souls of the two sexes ; 
 gave more energy to the one, and more ele- 
 
 G 2 
 
70 HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF 
 
 vation to the other ; changed men into heroes ; 
 and inspired the women with a pride which 
 was by no means hurtful to virtue. 
 
 CHAPTER XVIII. 
 
 The opinion of two Modern Authors concern- 
 ing Chivalry, 
 
 ■ THE sentiments of two late writers of 
 high reputation corroborate this account of 
 the origin and progress of chivalry. 
 
 " The system of chivalry, when complete- 
 ]y formed," says Professor Ferguson, " pro- 
 ceeded on a marvellous respect and venera- 
 tion to the fair sex, on forms of combat esta- 
 blished, and on a supposed junction of the 
 heroic and sanctified character. The formali- 
 ties of the duel, and a kind of judicial chal- 
 lenge, were known among the ancient Celtic 
 nations of Europe. The Germans, even in 
 their native forests, paid a kind of devotion 
 to the female sex. The Christian religion en- 
 joined meekness and compassion to barbar- 
 ous ages. 
 
 " These different principles, combined to- 
 gether, may have served as the foundation of 
 a system, in which courage was directed by 
 religion and love, and the warlike and gentle 
 were united together. When the characters 
 of the hero and the" saint were mixed, the 
 mild spirit of Christianity, though often turn- 
 ed into venom by the bigotry of opposite 
 parties ; though it could not always subdue 
 
THE FAIR SEX. 7* 
 
 the ferocity of the warrior, nor suppress the 
 admiration of courage and force ; may have 
 confirmed the apprehensions of men, in what 
 was to be held meritorious and splendid, iri 
 the conduct of their quarrels. 
 
 " The feudal establishments, by the high 
 rank to which they elevated certain families, 
 no doubt greatly favoured this romantic sys- 
 tem. Not only the lustre of a noble descent, 
 but the stately castle beset with battlements 
 and towers, served to inflame the imagination, 
 and to create a veneration for the daughter 
 and the sister of gallant chiefs, whose point of 
 honour it was to be inaccessible and chaste ; 
 and who could perceive no merit but that of 
 the high [minded and the brave, nor be ap- 
 proached in any other accents than those of 
 gentleness and respect." 
 
 Professor Millar, in his observations con- 
 cerning the distinction of ranks in society, 
 gives the following sensible and pleasing ac- 
 count of chivalry : " From the prevailing 
 spirit of the times, the art of war bccai&j the 
 study of every one who was desirous of main- 
 taining the character of a gentleman. The 
 youth were early initiated in the profession of 
 arms, and served a sort of apprenticeship 
 under persons of rank and experience. 
 
 " The young squire became in reality the 
 servant of that leader to whom he had attach- 
 ed himself, and whose virtues were set be- 
 fore him as a mode which he proposed to im- 
 itate, 
 
 " He was taught to perform, with ease and 
 dexterity, those exercises which were either 
 
72 HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF 
 
 ornamental or useful ; and, at the same time, 
 he endeavoured to acquire those talents and 
 accomplishments which were thought suita- 
 ble to his profession. 
 
 " He was taught to look upon it as his du- 
 ty to check the insolent, to restrain the oppres- 
 sor, to protect the weak and defenceless ; to 
 behave with frankness and humanity even to 
 an enemy, with modesty and politeness to all, 
 
 " According to the proficiency which he 
 had made, he was proportionably advanced in 
 rank and character. He was honoured with 
 new titles and marks of distinction, till at 
 length he arrived at the dignity of knighthood. 
 This dignity even the greatest potentates v/ere 
 ambitious of acquiring, as it was supposed to 
 distinguish a person who had obtained the 
 most complete military education, and who 
 had attained to a high degree of eminence in 
 those particular qualities which were then 
 universally admired and respected. 
 
 " The situation of mankind in those peri- 
 ods had also a manifest tendency to heighten 
 and improve the passion between the sexes. 
 
 " It was not to be expected that those opu- 
 lent chiefs, who were so often at variance, and 
 who maintained a constant opposition to each 
 other, would allow any sort of familiarity to 
 take place between the members of their re- 
 spective families. Retired in their own cas- 
 tles, and surrounded by their numerous vas- 
 sals, they looked upon their neighbours either 
 as inferior to them in rank, or as enemies 
 against whom they were obliged to be con- 
 stantly upon their guard. They behaved to 
 
THE FAIR SEX. 73 
 
 each other with that ceremonious civility 
 which the laws of chivalry required ; but, at 
 the same time, with that reserve and caution 
 which a regard to their own safety made it 
 necessary for them to observe. 
 
 " The young knight, as he marched to the 
 tournament, saw at a distance the daughter of 
 the chieftain by whom the show was exhibit- 
 ed ; and it was even with difficulty that he 
 could obtain access to her, in order to declare 
 the sentiments with which she had inspired 
 him. He was entertained by her relations 
 with that cold respect which demonstrated 
 their unwillingness to contract an alliance 
 with him. The lady herself was taught to as- 
 sume the pride of her family, and to think 
 that no person was worthy of her affection, 
 who did not possess the most exalted rank 
 and character. To have given way to a sud- 
 den inclination, would have disgraced her for 
 ever in the opinion of all her kindred; and it 
 was only by a long course of attention, and 
 of the most respectful service, that the lover 
 could hope for any favour from his mistress, 
 
 " The barbarous state of the country at 
 that time, and the injury to which the inha- 
 bitants, especially those of the weaker sex, 
 were frequently exposed, gave ample scope 
 for the display of military talents; and the 
 knight who had nothing to do at home was 
 encouraged to wander from place to place, 
 and from one court to another, in quest of acU 
 ventures. Thus he endeavoured to advance 
 his reputation in arms, and to recommend 
 himself to the fair of whom he was enamour- 
 
74 HISTORICAL SKETCHES Of 
 
 cd, by fighting with every person who was 
 so inconsiderate as to dispute her unrivalled 
 beauty, virtue or personal accomplishments. 
 ■ " As there were many persons in the same 
 situation, so they were naturally inspired with 
 similar sentiments. Rivals to one another in. 
 military glory, they were often competitors, 
 as^ Milton expresseth it, to xvin. her grace 
 whom all commend; and the same emulation 
 which disposed them to aim at pre-eminence 
 in one respect, excited them with no less ea- 
 gerness to dispute the preference in the 
 other. Their dispositions and manner of 
 thinking became fashionable, and were gra- 
 dually dhTused by the force of education and 
 example. 
 
 " To be in love was looked upon as one of 
 the necessary qualifications of a knight; and 
 he was no less ambitious of shewing his con- 
 stancy and fidelity to his mistress, than of dis- 
 playing his military virtues. He assumed the 
 title of her slave and servant. By this he dis- 
 tinguished himself in every conflict in which 
 he was engaged; and his success was sup- 
 posed to redound to her honour, no less than 
 to his own. If she had bestowed upon him a 
 present to be worn in the field of battle, in 
 token of her regard, it was considered as a 
 sure pledge of victory, and as laying upon 
 him the strongest obligation to act in such 
 manner as would render him worthy of the 
 favour which he had received. 
 
 " The sincere and faithful passion, the dis- 
 tant sentimental attachment which commonly 
 occupied the heart of every warrior, and which 
 
THE FAIR SEX. 7* 
 
 he possessed upon all occasions, was natural- 
 ly productive of the utmost purity of manners, 
 and of great respect and veneration for the fe- 
 male sex. 
 
 M persons who made a point of defending 
 the reputation and dignity of that particular 
 lady to whom they were devoted, became 
 thereby extremely cautious and delicate, lest, 
 by any insinuation whatever, they should hurt 
 the character of another, and be exposed to 
 the just censure and resetment of those by 
 whom she was protected. 
 
 " A woman who deviated so far from the 
 established maxims of the age, as to violate 
 the laws of chastity, was indeed deserted by 
 every body, and was therefore universally con- 
 demned and insulted. But those who adher- 
 ed to the strict rules of virtue, and maintain- 
 ed an unblemished reputation, were treated 
 like bei: gs of a superior order." 
 
 Such was the spirit of chivalry. It gave 
 birth to an incredible number of performances 
 in honour and in praise of women. The 
 verses of the bards, the Italian sonnet, the 
 plaintive romance, the poems of chivalry, the 
 Spanish and French romances, were so many 
 monuments of that kind, composed in the 
 time of a noble barbarism, and of a heroism, 
 in which the great and ridiculous were often 
 blended. 
 
 These compositions, all once so much 
 celebrated, are only calculated to gratify a vain 
 curiosity. They may be compared to the 
 ruins of a Gothic palace. They have in ge- 
 neral, the same foundation ; and the praises 
 
75 HISTORICAL SKETCHES OP 
 
 in the one are' as uniform as the apartment* 
 in the other. All the women are prodigies 
 of beauty, and miracles of virtue. 
 
 In tlw courts, in the fields of battle or of 
 tournament, every thing breathed of women. 
 The same taste prevailed in letters. One did 
 not write, one did not think, but for them. 
 The same man was often both poet and war- 
 rior. He sung with his lyre, and encounter- 
 ed with his lance, by turns for the beauty that 
 be adored. 
 
 CHAPTER XIX. 
 
 Vf the great Enterprises of Women in the 
 Times of Chivalrij. 
 
 THE times and the manners of chivalry, 
 by bringing great enterprises, bold adventures, 
 and I know not what of extravagant heroism 
 into fashion, inspired the women with the 
 same taste. 
 
 The two sexes imitate each other. Their 
 manners and their minds are refined or cor- 
 rupted, invigorated or dissolved together. 
 
 The women, in consequence of the pre- 
 vailing passion, were now seen in the middle 
 of camps and of armies. They quitted the 
 soft and tender inclinations, and the delicate 
 officers of their own sex, for the courage, and 
 toilsome occupations of ours. 
 
 During the crusades, animated by the dou- 
 ble enthusiasm of religion and of valour, they 
 often performed the most romantic exploits. 
 
THE FAIR SEX. 77 
 
 They obtained indigencies on the field of 
 battle, and died with arms in their hands, by 
 the side of their lovers, or of their husbands. 
 
 In Europe, the women attacked and de- 
 fended fortifications. Princesses commanded 
 their armies, and obtained victories. 
 
 Such was the celebrated Joan de Mountfort, 
 disputing for her duchy of Bretagne, and en- 
 gaging the enemy herself. 
 
 Such was the still more celebrated Marga- 
 ret of Anjou, queen of England, and wife of 
 Henry VI. She w r as active and intrepid, a 
 general and a soldier. Her genius for a long 
 time supported her feeble husband, taught 
 him to conquer, replaced him upon the throne, 
 twice relieved him from prison, and, though 
 oppressed by fortune and by rebels, she did 
 not yield, till she had decided in person twelve 
 battles. 
 
 The warlike spirit among the women, con- 
 sistent with ages of barbarism, when every 
 thing is impetuous because nothing is fixed, 
 and when all excess is the excess of force, 
 continued in Europe upwards of four hun- 
 dred years, shewing itself from time to time, 
 and always in the middle of convulsions, or on 
 the eve of great revolutions. 
 
 But there were zeras and countries, in 
 which that spirit appeared with particular lus- 
 tre. Such were the displays it made in the 
 fifteenth and sixteenth centuries in Hungary, 
 and in the Islands of the Archipelago and the 
 Mediterranean, when they were invaded by 
 the Turks. 
 
 Every thing conspired to animate the wo- 
 H 
 
78 HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF 
 
 men of those countries with an exalted cou- 
 rage : the prevailing spirit of the foregoing 
 ages ; the terror which the name of the Turks 
 inspired ; the still more dreadful apprehensi- 
 ons of an unknown enemy ; the difference of 
 dress, which has a stronger effect than is com- 
 monly supposed on the imagination of a peo- 
 ple ; the difference of religion, which pro- 
 duced a kind of sacred horror ; the striking 
 difference of manners; and, above all, the 
 confinement of the female sex, which, present- 
 ed to the women of Europe nothing but the 
 frightful ideas of servitude and a master ; the 
 groans of honor, the tears of beauty in the em- 
 brace of barbarism, and the double tyranny 
 of love, and pride ! 
 
 The contemplation of these objects, accor- 
 dingly roused in the hearts of the women a re- 
 solute courage to defend themselves ; nay, 
 sometimes even a courage of enthusiasm, 
 which hurried itself against the enemy. — That 
 courage, too, was augmented, by the promises 
 of a religion, which offered eternal happiness 
 in exchange for the sufferings of a moment. 
 
 It is not therefore surprisong, that, when 
 three beautiful women of the isle of Cyprus 
 were led prisoners to Selim, tobe secluded in 
 the seraglio, one of them, preferring death to 
 such a condition, conceived the project of set- 
 ting fire to the magazine ; and after having 
 communicated her design to the rest, put it 
 in execution. 
 
 The year following the city of Cyprus be- 
 ing besieged by the Turks, the women ran in 
 •crowds, mingled themselves with the soldiers, 
 
THE FAIR SEX. 79 
 
 and, fighting gallantly in the breach, were the 
 means of saving their country. 
 
 Under Mahomet II. a girl of the isle of 
 Lemnos, armed with the sword and shield of 
 her father, who had fallen in battle, opposed 
 the Turks, when they had forced a gate, and 
 chased them to the shore. 
 
 In Hungary the women distinguished them- 
 selves miraculously in a number of sieges and 
 battles against the Turks. A woman of 
 Transylvania, in different engagements, is said 
 to have killed six Janissaries with her own 
 hand. 
 
 In the two celebrated sieges of Rhodes and 
 Malta, the women, seconding the zeal of the 
 knights, discovered upon all occasions the 
 greatest intrepidity ; not only that impetuous 
 and temporary impulse which despises death, 
 but that cool and deliberate fortitude which 
 can support the continued hardships, the toils, 
 and the miseries of war. 
 
 CHAPTER XX. 
 
 Other curious Particulars concerning Females 
 in those Ages. 
 
 WHILE Charlemagne swayed the sceptre 
 in France, confession was considered as so ab- 
 solutely necessary to salvation, that in several 
 cases, and particularly at the point of death, 
 where no priest or man could be had, it was 
 by the church allowed to be made to a wo- 
 man. 
 
8o HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF 
 
 In the sixteenth century it was no uncom- 
 mon thing for church-livings, the revenues of 
 abbeys, and even of bishoprics, to be given 
 away with the young ladies as a portion. 
 
 Thus women exercised a kind of sacerdotal 
 function : and, though they did not actually 
 officiate at the altar, they enjoyed (what many 
 of the priests themselves would have been 
 glad of) the emolument of the altar, without 
 the drudgery of its service. 
 
 In posterior ages, women have crept still 
 farther into the offices of the church. The 
 Christians of Circassia allow their nuns to ad- 
 minister the sacrament of baptism. 
 
 When any material difference happened be- 
 tween man and man, or when one accused a- 
 nother of a crime, the decision, according to 
 an ancient custom established by law, was to 
 be by a single combat or the ordeal trial. 
 From both which ridiculous ways of appeal- 
 ing to heaven women were exempted. 
 
 When a man had said any thing that re- 
 flected dishonor on a woman, or accused 
 her of a crime, she was not obliged to fight 
 him to prove her innocence : the combat 
 would have been unequal. But she might 
 choose a champion to fight in her cause, or 
 expose himself to the horrid trial, in order to 
 clear her reputation. Such champions were 
 generally selected from her lovers or friends, 
 But if she fixed upon any other, so high was 
 the spirit of martial glory, and so eager the 
 thirst of defending the weak and helpless sex, 
 that we meet with no instance of a champion 
 ever having refused to fight for, or undergo 
 
THE FAIR SEX. 81 
 
 whatever custom required in defence of the 
 lady who had honored him with the appoint- 
 ment. 
 
 To the motives already mentioned, we may 
 add another. He who had refused, must in- 
 evitably have been branded with the name of 
 coward : and, so despicable was the condition 
 a coward, in those times of general heroism, 
 that death itself appeared the more preferable 
 choice. Nay, such was the rage of lighting 
 for women, that it became customary for those 
 who could not be honoured with the decision 
 of their real quarrels, to create fictitious ones 
 concerning them, in order to create also a ne- 
 cessity of fighting. 
 
 Nor was fighting for the ladies confined to 
 single combatants. Crowds of gallants en- 
 tered the list against each other. Even Kings 
 called out their subjects, to shew their love to 
 their mistresses, by cutting the throats of their 
 neighbours, who had not in the least offended. 
 
 In the fourteenth century, when the count- 
 ess of Dlois and the widow of ?>iountfort were 
 at war against each other, a conference was 
 agreed to, on pretence of settling a peace, but 
 in reality to appoint a combat. Instead of 
 negotiating, they soon challenged each other ; 
 and Beaumano.r, who was at the head of the 
 Britons, publicly declared that they fought 
 from no other motive, than to see, by the vic- 
 tory, who had the fairest mistress. 
 
 In the fifteenth century, we hud an anec- 
 dote of this kind still more extraordinary*. 
 John, dtfke de Bourbonnois, published a de- 
 claration, that he would vro over to England, 
 
 H Mi 
 
82 HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF 
 
 with sixteen knights, and there fight it out, in 
 order to avoid idleness, and merit the good 
 graces of his mistress. 
 
 James IV. of Scotland having, in all tour- 
 naments, professed himself knight to queen 
 Anne of France, she summoned him to prove 
 himself her true and valorous champion, by- 
 taking the field in her defence, against bis 
 brother-in-law, Henry VIII. of England. 
 He obeyed the romantic mandate ; and the 
 two nations bled to feed the vanity of a wo- 
 man. 
 
 Warriors, when ready to engage, invoked 
 the aid of their mistresses, as poets do that of the 
 Muses. If they fought valiantly, it reflected 
 honor on the Duleioeas they adored ; but if 
 they turned their backs on their enemies, the 
 poor ladies were dishonored for ever. 
 
 Love, was, at that time, the most prevail- 
 ing motive to fighting. The famous Gaston 
 do Foix, who commanded the French troops 
 at the battle of Ravenna, took advantage of this 
 foible of his army. He rode from rank to 
 rank, calling his officers by name, and even 
 some of his private men; recommending to 
 them their country, their honor, and, above 
 all, to shew what they could do for the love of 
 their j&aistresses. 
 
 The women of those ages, the reader may 
 imagine, were certainly more completely hap- 
 py than in any other period of the world. — 
 This, however, was not in reality the case. 
 
 Custom, which governs all things with the 
 most absolute sway, had, thro' a long succes* 
 sion of years, given her sanction to such com- 
 
THE FAIR SEX. S3 
 
 bats as were undertaken, either to defend the 111- 
 nocence,or display the Ix auty of women. Cus- 
 tom, therefore, either obliged a man to fight 
 for a woman who desired him, or marked 
 the refusal with infamy and disgrace. But 
 custom did not oblige him, in every other 
 part of his conduct, to behave to this woman, 
 or to the sex in general, with that respect and 
 politeness which have happily distinguished 
 the character of more modern times. 
 
 The same man who would have encoun- 
 tered giants, or gigantic difficulties, " when 
 a lady was in the case," had but little idea of 
 adding to her happiness, by supplying her 
 with the comforts and elegancies of life. — 
 And, had she asked him to stoop, and ease 
 her of a part of that domestic slavery which, 
 almost in every country, falls to the lot of 
 women, he would have thought himself quite 
 affronted. 
 
 But besides, men had nothing else, in 
 those ages, than that kind of romantic gal- 
 lantry to recommend them. Ignorant of let- 
 ters, arts and sciences, and every thing that 
 refines human nature, they were, in every- 
 thing where gallantry was not concerned, 
 rough and unpolished in their manners and 
 behaviour. Their time was spent in drink- 
 ing, war, gallantry and idleness. In their 
 hours of relaxation, they were but little in 
 company with their women ; and when they 
 were, the indelicacies of the carousal, or the 
 cruelties of the field, were almost the only 
 subjects they had to talk of. 
 
84 HISTORICAL SKETCHES OP 
 
 From the subversion of the Roman empire, 
 to the fourteenth or fifteenth century, women 
 spent most of their time alone. They were 
 almost entire strangers to the joys of social 
 life. They seldom went abroad," but to be 
 spectators of such public diversions and 
 amusements as the fashion of the times coun- 
 tenanced. Francis I. was the first monarch 
 who introduced them on public days to cou rt. 
 
 Before his time, nothing was to be seen at 
 any of the courts of Europe, but long-beard- 
 ed politicians, plotting the destruction of the 
 rights and liberties of mankind ; and warri- 
 ors clad in complete armour, ready to put 
 their plots in execution. 
 
 In the eighth century, so slavish was the 
 condition of women on the one hand, and so 
 much was beauty coveted on the other, that, 
 for about two hundred years, the kings of 
 Austria were obliged to pay a tribute to the 
 Moors, of one hundred beautiful virgins per 
 annum. 
 
 In the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries, 
 elegance had scarcely any existence, and even 
 cleanliness was hardly considered as laudable. 
 The use of linen was not known ; and the 
 most delicate of the fair sex wore woolen 
 shifts. 
 
 In the time of Henry VIII. the peers of 
 the realm carried their wives behind them on 
 horseback, when they went to London ; and, 
 in the same manner, took triem back to their 
 country seats, with hoods of waxed linen over 
 their heads, and wrapped in mantles of cloth, 
 to secure them from the cold. 
 
THE FAIR SEX. $5 
 
 There was one misfortune of a singu- 
 lar nature, to which women were liable in 
 those days : they were in perpetual danger of 
 being accused of witchcraft, and suffering all 
 the cruelties and indignities of a mob, insti- 
 gated by superstition and directed by enthu- 
 siasm; or of being condemned by laws, 
 which were at once a disgrace to humanity 
 and to sense. Even the bloom of youth and 
 beauty could not secure them from torture 
 and from death. But when age and wrin- 
 kles attacked a woman, if any thing uncom- 
 mon happened in her neighbourhood, she was 
 almost sure of atoning with her life, for a 
 crime it was impossible for her to commit. 
 
 CHAPTER XXL 
 
 Of the Arabian JFomer. 
 
 THE consequence of the women in Ara- 
 bia was annihilated by Mahomet. But be- 
 fore his time they seem to have possessed 
 privileges hardly inferior to those with which 
 they are honoured in the politest countries of 
 Europe. 
 
 The law gave them a right to independent 
 property, either by inheritance, by gift, or by 
 marriage settlement. The wife had a regu- 
 lar dower, and an annual allowance, which 
 she might dispose of in her life time, or at 
 her death. 
 
 To the fortune he received with his wife, 
 Cadhiga, who carried on an extensive trade 
 
86 HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF 
 
 to Spain and Syria, Mahomet himself was 
 indebted for the origin of his wealth and 
 grandeur. 
 
 While his sect was increasing, the women 
 of rank took an active part both in civil and 
 military affairs. Several of them strongly 
 opposed all his innovations. Henda, accom- 
 panied by fifteen other ladies of distinction, 
 contributed to his defeat at the battle of Ohod. 
 After his death, Ayesha, one of his widows, 
 by her influence and address, raised her father 
 Abubeker to be the successor of her hus- 
 band. 
 
 But the religion which taught that women 
 were only mere objects of pleasure, and the 
 maxims which dictated that they should be 
 guarded for that particular purpose, now be- 
 coming general, in little more than a century 
 they seem to have dwindled from creatures of 
 importance, to beings only consecrated to 
 dalliance and love. 
 
 Such were the consequences of Mahomet- 
 anisrn. But no innovation that could hap- 
 pen in the ages in which it was introduced, 
 need much surprise us. The politics of the 
 Arabians were then regulated by no fi'xed 
 principles. Their religion had disgusted the 
 mind with idle articles of belief, and impro- 
 bable fictions. This was not the case in Ara- 
 bia only: human nature, as was before ob- 
 served, seemed every where in a state of wa- 
 vering and imbecility. In Europe it endea- 
 voured to blend the meek and forgiving spirit 
 of the religion of Jesus, with the fierce and 
 intolerant spirit of war and bloodshed; and 
 
THE FAIR SEX, £7 
 
 the same tender sentiment which bound a 
 lover to his mistress, instigated him, in the 
 most savage manner, to cut the throats of all 
 those who openly professed either to love or 
 hate her. 
 
 CHAPTER XXIL 
 
 On the Learning of TFomcn. 
 
 WHEN chivalry began to decline in Eu- 
 rope, it left behind it a tincture of romantic 
 gallantry in the manners, which communicat- 
 ed itself to the works of imagination. 
 
 Many verses were then written, expressive 
 of passions either real or feigned, but always 
 respectful and tender. In France, where the 
 dissipated nobility spent their life in war, love 
 was generally painted under the idea of eon- 
 quest. In Italy, where another set of ideas 
 prevailed, it was always represented as an 
 adoration or worship. 
 
 This confusion of religion and gallantry, 
 of Piatonism ar.d poetry, of the study of the 
 languages and of the laws, of the ancient phi- 
 losophy and the modern theology, formed the 
 general character of the most illustrious men 
 of those times. The same observation may 
 be extended to the most celebrated women. 
 
 Never were the women so universally dis- 
 tinguished for profound learning, as in this 
 period. Perhaps, as it followed the ages of 
 chivalry, when several women had disputed 
 with men the prize of valour, being de- 
 
$8 HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF 
 
 sirous to establish the equality of their sex 
 in all things, they were ambitious to prove 
 that they had as much genius as courage ; 
 and to subject, even by their talents, those 
 over whom they reigned by their beauty. 
 
 The general spirit of this period is worthy 
 of observation. We might then have seen 
 women preaching, and mixing themselves in 
 controversies ; women occupying the chairs 
 of philosophy and of justice ; women ha- 
 ranguing in Latin before the Pope ; women 
 writing in Greek, and studying Hebrew. 
 Nuns were poetesses, and women of quality 
 divines. And young girls, who had studied 
 eloquence, would, with the sweetest counte- 
 nances, and the most plaintive voices in the 
 world, go and pathetically exhort the Pope 
 and the Christian princes to declare war 
 against the Turks. 
 
 The religious spirit, which has animated 
 women in all ages, shewed itself at this time ; 
 but it changed its form. It had made them, 
 by turns, martyrs, apostles, warriors, and 
 concluded in making them divines and scho- 
 lars. 
 
 An incredible value was still set on the stu- 
 dy of languages. In private families, in the 
 convents, in the courts, and even upon thrones, 
 the same taste reigned. It was but a poor 
 qualification for a woman to read Virgil and 
 Cicero. The mouth of a young Italian, Spa- 
 nish, or British lady seemed adorned with a 
 particular grace, when she repeated some 
 Hebrew phrase, or thundered out some verses 
 of Homer. 
 
 
THE FAIR SEX. 8f 
 
 Poetry, so charming to the imagination and 
 to susceptible hearts, was embraced with ar- 
 dour by the women. It was a new and pleas- 
 ing exertion of talents, which flattered self- 
 love, and amused the mind. Perhaps, too, 
 that want which they experienced, even with- 
 out suspecting it, in a subtle philosophy, an 
 abstract theology and an empty study of dia- 
 lects and of sounds, would make them more 
 sensible to the charms of an art, which con- 
 tinually feeds the imagination with its images, 
 and the heart with its sentiments. 
 
 I shall particularize a few of the women 
 who were most celebrated for their learning 
 and talents in that period. 
 
 In the thirteenth century, a young lady of 
 Bologna devoted herself to the study of the La- 
 tin language and of the laws. At the age of 
 twenty-three, she pronounced a funeral oration 
 in Latin in the great church of Bologna ; and, 
 to be admitted as an orator, she had neither 
 need of indulgence, on account of her youth, 
 nor her sex. At the age of twenty-six, she 
 took the degree of a doctor of laws, and be- 
 gan publicly to expound the Institutions of 
 Justinian. At the age of thirty, her great re- 
 putation raised her to a chair, where she taught 
 the law to a prodigious concourse of scholars 
 from all nations. She joined the charms and 
 accomplishments of a woman to all the know- 
 ledge of a man. But such was the power of 
 her eloquence, that her beauty was only ad- 
 mired when her tongue was silent. 
 
 In the fourteenth century, a like example 
 was exhibited in that city. In the fifteenth 
 
$o HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF 
 
 century, the same prodigy appeared there a 
 third time. And, even at this clay, in the city 
 ef Bologna, there is still a learned chair filled 
 with honor by a woman. 
 
 At Venice, in the course of the sixteenth 
 eentury, two celebrated women attract our no- 
 tice. The one * composed successfully a 
 great number of pieces in verse, serious, com- 
 ic, heroic, and tender ; and some pastorals, 
 which were much admired. The other f, 
 who was one of the most learned women of 
 Italy, wrote equally well the three languages 
 of Komer, Virgil, and Dante, and in verse as 
 well as in prose. She possessed all the philo- 
 sophy of her own, and of the preceding ages. 
 By her graces, she even embellished theolo- 
 gy. She supported these with the greatest 
 iustre. She gave public lectures at Padua. 
 She joined to her serious studies the elegant 
 arts, particularly music ; and softened her 
 learning still farther by her manners. She re- 
 ceived homage from sovereign pontiff and 
 sovereign princes ; and, that she might be 
 singular in all things, she lived upwards of a 
 eentury. 
 
 At Verona, Issotta Nogarolla acquired so 
 great a reputation by her eloquence, that kings 
 were curious to listen, and scholars to attend, 
 to hear, and to see. 
 
 At Florence, a nun of the house of Strozzi 
 dispelled the languor and indolence of the clois- 
 ter by her taste for letters ; and, in her soli- 
 tude/ was known over Italy, Germany, and 
 France. 
 
 * Modesri di Pozzi di Zori. 
 f ^uifandra Fiaele. 
 
THE FAIR SEX. 91 
 
 At Naples, Sarrochia composed a celebrated 
 poem uponScandeberg; and, in her lifetime, 
 was compared to Boyardo and to Tasso. 
 
 At Rome, we find Victoria Colonna, mar- 
 chioness of Pescaira, who passionately loved 
 and successfully cultivated letters. While 
 still young, she bewailed the loss of a husband, 
 who was a great warrior, and passed the re- 
 mainder of her life in study and melancholy, 
 celebrating in the most tender poetry, the he- 
 ro whom she loved. 
 
 During the same age, among the illustrious 
 women of all ages, we find every where the 
 same character, and the same kind of studies. 
 
 In Spain, Isabella of Rosera preached in 
 the great church of Barcelona, came to Rome 
 under Paul the Third, and converted the Jews 
 by her eloquence. Isabella of Cardoua un- 
 derstood the Latin, Greek, and Hebrew ; 
 and, though possessed of beauty, reputation, 
 and riches, had still the fancy to be a doctor, 
 and took her degrees in theology. 
 
 In France we see several women possessed 
 of all the learning of the times, particularly 
 the dutchess of Retz, who under Charles IX. 
 was celebrated even in Italy, and who astonish- 
 ed the Popish nobility, when they came to de- 
 mand the duke of Anjou for their king. They 
 beheld with wonder, at the court, a young la- 
 ly so intelligent, and who spoke the ancient 
 languages with no iess purity than grace. 
 
 In England, we meet with the three Sey- 
 mours, sisters, nieces to a king, and daugh- 
 ters to a regent, all celebrated for their learn- 
 ing, and for their elegant Latin verses, which 
 were translated and repeated all over Europe. 
 
92 HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF 
 
 Jane Gray, whose elevation to the throne 
 was only a step to the scaffold, read before 
 her death, in Greek, Plato's Dialogue on the 
 Immortality of the Soul. 
 
 The eldest daughter of the illustrious chan- 
 cellor Sir Thomos More, was a wise and 
 amiable lady. Her learning was almost eclips- 
 ed by her virtues. She corresponded in La- 
 tin with the great Erasmus, who styled her 
 the ornament of Briton. After she had con- 
 soled her father in prison, had rushed through 
 the guards to snatch a last embrace, had ob- 
 tained the liberty of paying him funeral ho- 
 nours, had purchased his head with gold — 
 she was herself loaded with fetters for two 
 crimes — for having kept the head of her fa- 
 ther as a relic, and for having preserved his 
 books and writings. She appeared before her 
 judges with intrepidity; justified herself with 
 that eloquence which virtue bestows on in- 
 jured merit, commanded admiration and re- 
 spect, and passed the rest of her life in retire- 
 ment, in melancholy, and in study. 
 
 We behold in Scotland, Mary Stuart, heir 
 of that crown, the most beautiful woman of 
 her age, and one of the most learned, who 
 could write and speak six languages, who 
 made elegant verses in French, and who, 
 when very young, delivered an oration in La- 
 tin, to the court of France, to prove that the 
 study of letters is consistent with the female 
 character. So lovely and so happy an exam- 
 ple of the truth which she advanced, could 
 not fail to convince. Mary added to her 
 learning a delicate taste in the polite arts, par- 
 
THE FAIR SEX. 93 
 
 ticularly music, and adorned the whole with 
 the most feminine courtly manners. 
 
 What has since been called society was not 
 then indeed so much known. Luxury, and 
 the want of occupation, had not introduced 
 the custom of sitting five or six hours before 
 a glass to invent fashions. Some use was 
 made of time. Hence that variety of lan- 
 guages, arts and sciences, which were acquir- 
 ed by women. 
 
 It is but just, however, to observe, that the 
 vanity of undertaking every thing is peculiar 
 to the infancy of letters. In childhood, all 
 the world over-rate their powers. It is only 
 by measuring them that we come to know 
 them. The desires themselves were then 
 more easily satisfied than the thirst of learn- 
 ing. People were more anxious to know than 
 to think; and the mind, more active truth ex- 
 tended, was unable to comprehend the se- 
 crets, or reach the depth of the sciences. 
 
 CHAPTER XXIII. 
 
 Of the European Women, 
 
 IN all polished nations, chastity has ever 
 been esteemed the principle ornament of the 
 female character. For this virtue the Euro- 
 pean ladies are very eminent; Their conduct 
 is influenced by a veneration for that purity of 
 manners and of character, so sbortgiy incul- 
 cated by the precepts of the Christian reli- 
 gion. We may justly assert that Europe, ia 
 * I 2 
 
94 HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF 
 
 in any 
 
 general, is more famous for the chastity, 
 other good qualities of its women, thai 
 other part of the globe. 
 
 The virtues of modesty and chastity, how- 
 ever, do not flourish most, where they are 
 attempted to be forced upon the women by 
 locks, bars and governates, as in Spain ; nor 
 where unrestrained liberty and politeness are 
 carried to the greatest length, as in France 
 and Italy ; but rather where refinement is not 
 arrived so far, as to reckon every restraint 
 upon inclination a mark of ill- breeding* 
 
 CHAPTER XXIV. 
 
 Of the French Women. 
 
 j 
 
 T HOUGH the ladies of France are not 
 very handsome, they are sensible and witty. 
 To many of them, without the least flattery, 
 may be applied the distich which Sappho as- 
 cribes to herself : 
 
 *< Si mihi difficiiis formam nutura pegavit, 
 «« Ingenio forra<e damoa rependo mess." 
 
 If partial nature has denied me beauty, the 
 charms of my mind amply make up for the 
 deficiency. 
 
 No woman upon earth can excel, and few 
 rival them, in their almost native arts of pleas- 
 ing all who approach them. Add to this, an 
 education beyond that of most European la- 
 dies, a consummate skill in those accomplish- 
 ments that suit the fair sex, and the most 
 
THE FAIR SEX. 95 
 
 graceful manner of displaying that know- 
 ledge to the utmost advantage. 
 
 Such is the description that may safely be 
 given of the French ladies in general. But 
 the spirit, or rather the evil ge?iius of gallant- 
 ry, too often perverts all these lovely qualities, 
 and renders them subservient to very iniquit- 
 ous ends. 
 
 In every country, women have always a 
 little to do, and a great deal to say. In 
 France, they dictate almost every thing that is 
 said, and direct every thing that is clone. — 
 They are the most restless beings in the 
 world. To fold her hands in idleness, and im- 
 pose silence on her tongue, would be to a 
 French woman worse than death. The sole 
 joy of her life is to be engaged in the prose- 
 cution of some scheme,, relating either to 
 fashion, ambition or love* 
 
 Among the rich and opulent, they are en- 
 tirely the votaries of pleasure, which they 
 pursue through all its labyrinths, at the ex- 
 pense of fortune, reputation and health. — 
 Giddy and extravagant to the last degree, 
 they leave to the'u husbands economy and 
 care, which would only spoil their complex- 
 ions and furrow their brows. 
 
 When we descend to tradesmen and me- 
 chanics, the case is reversed ; the wife ma- 
 nages every thing in the house and shop, 
 while the husband lounges in the back-shop 
 fcfcn idle spectator, or struts about with his 
 sword and bag- wig. 
 
 Matrimony among the French, seems to be 
 a bargain entered into by a male and female 
 
96 HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF 
 
 to bear the same name, live in the same house, 
 and pursue their separate pleasures without 
 restramt or control. And, so religiously is 
 this part of the bargain kept, that both par- 
 ties shape their course exactly as convenience 
 and inclination dictate. 
 
 There is no part of the world, however, 
 where the company of men of letters is more 
 acceptable to the fair sex than in France. — 
 This circumstance diffuses knowledge among 
 the women, gives an elegance and cheerful- 
 ness to the men, and renders them men of 
 the world as well as of learning. So great is 
 female influence over literature, as well as 
 ever every other thing in France, that by far 
 the most considerable part of the productions 
 of the press are calculated for their capacity. 
 
 In no country does real politeness shew it- 
 self more than in France, where the company 
 of the women is accessible to every man who 
 can recommend himself by his dress, and by 
 his address. To affectation and prudery the 
 French women are equally strangers. Easy 
 ^nd unaffected in their manners, their polite- 
 ness has so much the appearance of nature, 
 that one would almost believe no part of it to 
 be the effect of art. An air of sprightliness 
 and gaity sets perpetually on their counte- 
 nances, and their whole deportment seems tq^ 
 indecatc that their only business is to " strew" 
 the path of life with flowers." Persuas| 
 hangs on their lips ; and, though their v 
 bility of tongue is indefatigable, so soft 
 their accent, so lively their expression, so va 
 
THE FAIR SEX* *7 
 
 rious their attitudes, that they fix the attention 
 for hours together on a tale of nothing. 
 
 The Jewish doctors have a fable concern- 
 ing the etymology of the word Eve, which 
 one would almost be tempted to say is realiz- 
 ed in the French women. " £ve>" say they, 
 " comes from a word, which signifies to talk ; 
 and she was so called, because, soon after the 
 creation, there fell from Heaven twelve bas- 
 kets full of chit-chat, and she picked up nine 
 of them, while her husband was gathering 
 the other three" 
 
 The wind, or the fashions which she fol- 
 lows, are hardly more inconsistent than a 
 French lady's mind. Her sole joy is in the 
 number of her admirers, and her sole pride 
 in changing them as often as possible. Over 
 the whole of them she exercises the most ab- 
 solute power, and they are zealously attentive 
 even to prevent her wishes, by performing 
 whatever they think she has any inclination to. 
 Their time, their interest and activity, arc 
 wholly devoted to her will, or rather to her 
 caprice. Even the purse, that most inacces- 
 sible thing about a Frenchman, must pour 
 out its last sous, at the call of his mistress. 
 Should he fail in this particular, he would 
 immediately be discarded from her train, 
 with the disgrace of having preferred Mercu- 
 ry to Venus. 
 
 While a French woman is able to drink at 
 
 the stream of pleasure, she is generally an 
 
 atheist. As her taste for that diminishes, she 
 
 mes gradually religious ; and when she 
 
9 8 HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF 
 
 has lost it altogether, is the most bigotted 
 devotee. 
 
 Upon the whole, French females rather sa- 
 crifice too much of their delicacy to wit, and 
 of their chastity to good breeding. They pay 
 too little regard to their character, and too 
 much to a ridiculous opinion that fashionable 
 people are above it. They are too much the 
 creatures of art, and have almost discarded 
 nature as much from their feelings as from 
 their faces. 
 
 To what has been said on this subject, I 
 shall only add the following entertaining de- 
 scription of French gallantry, and French 
 manners. 
 
 "A Frenchman," says an ingenious writer* 
 " piques himself upon being polished above 
 the natives of any other country, by his con- 
 versation with the fair sex. In the course of 
 this communication, with which he is indulg- 
 ed from his tender years, he learns, like a 
 parrot, by rote, the whole circle of French 
 compliments, which are a set of phrases, ri- 
 diculous even to a proverb ; and these he 
 throws out indiscriminately to all women 
 without distinction, in the., exercise of that 
 kind of address, which is here distinguished 
 by the name of gallantry. It is an exercise, 
 by the repetition of which he becomes very' 
 pert, very familiar, and very impertinent. 
 
 " A frenchman, in consequence of his 
 mingling with the females from his infancy, not 
 only becomes acquainted with all their cus- 
 toms and humors, but grows wonderfully alert 
 in performing a thousand little offices, which 
 
THE FAIR SEX. 99 
 
 are overlooked by other men, whose time has 
 been spent in making more valuable acquisi- 
 tions. He enters, without ceremony a lady's 
 bed chamber, attends her at her toi ! - tie, re- 
 gulates the distribution of her pjatjches, and ad- 
 vises where to lay on the par t. If lie visits 
 her when she is dressed, and perceives the 
 least impropriety in her Coiffure, he insists 
 upon adjusting it with his own hands. If he 
 sees a curl, or even a single hair amiss, he 
 produces his comb, his scissars, and poma- 
 tum, and sets it to rights with the dexterity of 
 a professed frizeur. He squires her to every- 
 place she visits, either on business or pleasure; 
 and by dedicating his whole time to her, ren- 
 ders himself necessary to her occasions. In 
 short, of all the coxcombs on the face of the 
 earth, a French petit- maitre is the most imper- 
 tinent. And they are all petits-maitres, from 
 the marquis who glitters in lace and embroi- 
 dery, to the garcon barbiere (barber's boy) 
 covered with meal, who struts with hishair 
 in a long queue, and his hat under his arm. 
 " I shall only mention one custom more, 
 which seems to carry human affectation to 
 the very farthest verge of folly and extrava- 
 gance : that is, the manner in which the faces 
 of the ladies are primed and painted. It is 
 generally supposed that part of the f\ir 
 sex, in some other countries, make use of 
 fard and vermillion for very different pur- 
 poses ; namely, to help a bad or faded com- 
 plexion, to heighten the graces, or conceal the 
 defects of nature, as well as of the ravages of 
 time. I shall not inquire whether it is just 
 
loo HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF 
 
 and honest to impose in this manner on man- 
 kind. If it is not honest, it may be allowed to 
 be artful and politic, and shows, at least, a de- 
 sire of being agreeable. But to lay it on as 
 the fashion in France prescribes to all the la- 
 dies cf condition, who indeed cannot appear 
 without this badge of distinction, is to dis- 
 guise themselves in such a manner as to ren- 
 der them odious and detestible to every 
 spectator who has the least relish left for na- 
 ture and propriety. 
 
 As for the fard, or white, with which their 
 necks and shoulders are plaistered, it may be 
 in some measure excusable, as their skins are 
 naturally brown or sallow. But the rouge 
 which is daubed on their faces, from the chin 
 up to the eyes, without the least art or dex- 
 terity, not only destroys all distinction of fea- 
 tures, but renders the aspect really frightful, 
 or at least conveys nothing but ideas of disgust 
 and aversion. Without this horrible mask, 
 no married lady is admitted at court, or in 
 any polite assembly ; and it is a mark of dis- 
 tinction which none of the lower classes dare 
 assume." 
 
 CHAPTER XXV. 
 
 Of the Italian Women. 
 
 THE elegant author Dr. Goldsmith thus 
 characterises the Italians in general : 
 
 " Could nature's bounty satisfy the breast, 
 The sons of Italy were surely blest. 
 
THE FAIR SEX. Id 
 
 Whatever fruits in different climes are found, 
 That proudly rise, or humbly court the ground; 
 Whatever blooms in torrid tracts appear, 
 Whose bright succession decks the varied 
 
 year : 
 Whatever sweets salute the northern sky, 
 With vernal leaves that blossom but to die : 
 These here disporting, own the kindred soil, 
 Nor ask luxuriance from their planter's toil ; 
 While sea-born gales their gelid wings ex- 
 pand, 
 To winnow fragrance round the smiling land, 
 " But small the bliss that sense alone be- 
 stows, 
 And sensual Wise is all the nation knows. 
 In florid beauty groves and fields appear, 
 Man seems the only growth that dwindles 
 
 here. 
 Contrasted faults thro' all his manners reign ; 
 Though poor, luxurious ; though submis- 
 sive, vain ; 
 Though grave, yet trifling ; zealous, yet un- 
 true; 
 And e'en in penance planning sins anew. 
 All evils here contaminate the mind, 
 That opulence departed leaves behind : 
 For wealth was theirs, not far remov'd the 
 
 date, 
 When commerce proudly fiourish'd thro' the 
 
 state ; 
 At her command the palace learn'd to rise, 
 Again the long-fall'n column sought the skies; 
 The canvas glow'd, beyond e'en nature warm ; 
 The pregnant quarry teem'd with human form. 
 Till, more unsteady than the southern gale, 
 
102 HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF 
 
 Commerce on other shores display 'd her sail ; 
 While naught remain'dof all that riches gave, 
 But towns unmann'd, and lords without a 
 
 slave ; 
 And late the nation found, with fruitless 
 
 skill, 
 Its former strength was but plethoric ill. 
 
 " Yet still the loss of wealth is here sup- 
 plied 
 By arts, the splendid wrecks of former pride ; 
 From these the feeble heart and long-fall'n 
 
 mind 
 An easy compensation seem to find. 
 Here may be seen in bloodless pomp array 'd, 
 The pasteboard triumph, and the cavalcade : 
 Processions form'd for piety and love, 
 A mistress or a saint in every grove." 
 
 Almost every traveller who has visited Ita- 
 ly, agrees in describing it as the most aban- 
 doned of all the countries of Europe. At 
 Venice, at Naples, and indeed in almost every 
 part of Italy, women are taught from their in- 
 fancy the various arts of alluring to their arms 
 the young and unwary, and of obtaining from 
 them, while heated by love or wine, every 
 thing that flattery and false smiles can obtain, 
 in these unguarded moments. 
 
 The Italian ladies are not quite so gay and 
 volatile as the French, nor do they so much 
 excite the risibility of the spectator; but by 
 the softness of their language, and their man- 
 ner, they more forcibly engage the heart. 
 They are not so much the cameleon or the 
 weather cock, but have some decent degree 
 of permanency in their connections, whether 
 
THE FAIR SEX. 103 
 
 of love or friendship. With regard to jealou- 
 sy, they are so far from being careless and in- 
 different, in that respect, as the French are, 
 that they often suffer it to transport them to 
 the most unwarrantable actions. 
 
 The Italian women are far preferable to the 
 French in point of exterior charms ; but 
 their education is, in general, most scanda- 
 lously neglected. Those accomplishments, 
 which render the ladies in England and in 
 France, so acceptable in company, are but 
 rarely found among the Italians, who depend 
 chiefly on their native subtlety and finesse, to 
 ingratiate themselves with such as they deem 
 worthy of their notice. 
 
 Love, in Italy, meets with very small en- 
 couragement from the great. That innocent, 
 pure and sentimental passion, which the sanc- 
 tion of strictest virtue authorises, is almost 
 cbliterated among them. The sordid mo- 
 motives, which to the disgrace of most na- 
 tions, have so much undue influence over 
 them in their matrimonial connections, arc 
 still much more infamously prevalent among 
 the nobility and gentry of Italy. 
 
 An Italian female of birth and fortune, bred 
 in the prison of a cloister, is brought forth, 
 when marriageable, to receive her sentence ; 
 and conducted like a victim to the altar, there 
 to be made a sacrifice to a man of whom she 
 hardly knows the face. Among them, we 
 find none of those antecedent homages of a 
 lover, none of those engaging proofs of at- 
 tachment, which only can secure a reciproca- 
 tion. In short, no medium of courtship in- 
 
104 HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF 
 
 tcrvenes, and therefore no opportunity is giv* 
 em to create an affection on either side. 
 
 There exists in Italy a species of beings 
 unknown throughout the rest of Europe; 
 \rho, though their rise be not remotely dis- 
 tant, have wrought a change in the temper 
 and manners of the Italians, that renders 
 them, in some respects, a people totally dif- 
 ferent from, what they were a century ago. — 
 These beings are well known by the name 
 cicisbeys, and may be considered in the light 
 of assistants and substitutes to those men of 
 fashion who have entered into the matrimo- 
 nial state, and whose fair partners require 
 more attendance, than they are willing, or 
 than their occupations and affairs will allow 
 them to give. This institution appears an 
 admirable relief to those young gentlemen, 
 w r ho are afraid, from sundry motives, to ven- 
 ture on a wife, and yet are unwilling to re- 
 nounce the soft amusements resulting from 
 the society of a female companion. 
 
 Hence at first sight, this employment of a 
 cicisbey may seem delightful to persons of a 
 dissolute and libertine disposition ; but many 
 a one, who sought it with all the eagerness of 
 inexperience, has heartily regretted the day 
 of his admission to a servitude, which robs 
 him of every moment of his liberty, and 
 gives the lady, under whose banners he has 
 enlisted himself, an absolute command of his 
 person, his time, his means, his credit, and 
 whatever he can call his own. An Italian 
 woman knows no reserves ; and he that pre- 
 tends to her good graces must divest himself 
 
THE FAIR SSX. 105 
 
 of his will and passions, and make an entire 
 sacrifice of them to her caprice. Thus a 
 cicisbey is a perfect slave; and though no fa- 
 vours are denied him, yet the price he pays 
 is far beyond the value he receives, when we 
 reflect that he barters for it the peace of his 
 mind, and the prosperity of his circumstances : 
 as it very often happens that advancements in 
 life are retarded, and sometimes totally frus- 
 trated, through the impediments thrown in 
 the way of activity by the attentions a lady 
 insists upon from him, who, by the fatal office 
 he has accepted, has bound himself to perpet- 
 ual slavery. 
 
 But if such a connection, viewed only in a 
 light of pleasure and gallantry, is so very far 
 from answering the expectations even of the 
 man of mere pleasure, it still displays a more 
 shocking picture, when we examine it ac- 
 cording to the rules of morality, as it radical- 
 ly destroys the very first principles on which 
 the reciprocal happiness of the sexes is found- 
 ed, by introducing into the wedded state a 
 mutual indifference or contempt. 
 
jo6 HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF 
 
 CHATTER XXVI. 
 
 Of the Spanish Women. 
 
 AS the Spanish ladies are under a greater 
 seclusion from general society, than the sex is 
 in other European countries, their desires of 
 an adequate degree of liberty are consequent- 
 ly more strong and urgent. A free and open 
 communication being denied them, they make 
 it their business to secure themselves a secret 
 and hidden one. Hence it is that Spain is 
 the country of intrigue. 
 
 The Spanish women are little or nothing 
 indebted to education. But nature has libe- 
 rally supplied them with a fund of wit and 
 sprightliness, which is certainly no small in- 
 ducement to those, who have only transient 
 glimpses of their charms, to wish very ear- 
 nestly for a removal of those impediments, 
 that "obstruct their more frequent presence. — 
 This not being attainable in a lawful way of 
 customary intercourse, the natural propensity 
 of men to overcome difficulties of this kind, 
 incites them to leave no expedient untried to 
 gain admittance to what perhaps was at first 
 only the object of their admiration, but which 
 by their being refused an innocent gratifica- 
 tion of that passion, becomes at last the sub- 
 ject of a more serious one. Thus in Spain, 
 as in all countries where the sex is kept much 
 out of sight, the thoughts of men are con- 
 tinually employed in devising methods to 
 break into their concealments. 
 
THE FAIR SEX. 107 
 
 There is ia the Spaniards a native dignity ; 
 which, though the source of many inconve- 
 niences, has nevertheless this salutary effect, 
 that it sets them above almost every species 
 of meanness and infidelity. This quality is 
 not peculiar to the men ; it diffuses itself, in 
 a great measure, among the women also. — 
 Its effects are visible both in their constancy 
 in love and friendship, in which respects they 
 are the very reverse of the French women. 
 Their affections are not to be gained by a bit 
 of sparkling lace, or a tawdry set of liveries ; 
 nor are they to be lost by the appearance of 
 still finer. Their deportment is rather grave 
 and reserved ; and, on the whole, they have 
 much more of the prude than the coquette in 
 their composition. Being more confined at 
 home, and less engaged in business and plea- 
 sure, they take more care of their children 
 than the French, and have a becoming tender- 
 ness in their disposition to all animals, except 
 an heretic and a rival. 
 
 Something more than a century ago, the 
 Marquis D : x\stogas having prevailed on a 
 young woman of great beauty to become his 
 mistress, the Marchioness hearing of it, went 
 to her lodging with some assassins, killed her, 
 tore out her heart, carried it home, made a 
 ragout of it, and presented the dish to the 
 Marquis. " It is exceedingly good," said he, 
 " No wonder," answered she, " since it was 
 made of the heart of that creature you so 
 much doated on." And, to confirm what she 
 had said, she immediately drew out her head 
 all bloody from beneath her hoop, and roiled 
 
ic8 HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF 
 
 it on the floor, her eyes sparkling all the time 
 with a mixture of pleasure and infernal fury. 
 
 The Spaniards are indulgent almost beyond 
 measure to their women ; and there are seve- 
 ral situations in which they take every advan- 
 tage of this indulgence. A kept mistress has, 
 by indisputable custom, a right to a new suit 
 of clothes, according to the quality of her 
 keeper, as often as she is blooded. She need 
 only feign a slight illness, and be on a proper 
 footing with the doctor, to procure this as 
 often as she pleases. 
 
 A lady to whom a gentleman pays his ad- 
 dresses, is sole mistress of his time and mo- 
 ney ; and, should he refuse her any request, 
 whether reasonable or capricious, it would 
 reflect eternal dishonour upon him among the 
 men, and make him the detestation of all the 
 women. 
 
 But in no situation does their character ap- 
 pear so whimsical, or their power so conspicu- 
 ous, as when they are pregnant. In this case, 
 whatever they long for, whatever they ask, or 
 whatever they have an inclination to do, they 
 must be indulged in. 
 
THE FAIR SEX. 109 
 
 CHAPTER XXVII. 
 
 Of the English Women, 
 
 THE women of England are eminent for 
 jnany good qualities both of the head and of 
 the heart. There we meet with that inex- 
 pressible softness and delicacy of manners, 
 which, cultivated by education, appears as 
 much superior to what it does without it, as 
 the polished diamond appears superior to that 
 which is rough from the mine. In some parts 
 of the world, women have attained to so lit- 
 tle knowledge, and so little consequence, that 
 we consider their virtues as merely of the ne- 
 gative kind. In England they consist not on- 
 ly in abstinence from evil, but in doing good. 
 
 There we see the sex every day exerting 
 themselves in acts of benevolence and chari- 
 ty, in relieving the distresses of the body, and 
 binding up the wounds of the mind ; in re- 
 conciling the differences of friends, and pre- 
 venting the strife of enemies ; and, to sum up 
 all, in that care and attention to their offspring, 
 which is so necessary and essential a part of 
 their duty. 
 
 With regard to the English ladies, Mr. 
 Grosley, a French writer, makes the following 
 just, and very favorable remarks : " That sex," 
 says he, " is, in its present state, just such 
 as one could wish it to be, in order to form 
 the felicity of wedlock. Their serious and 
 thoughtful disposition, by rendering them se- 
 dentary, attaches them to their husbands, to 
 their children, and the care of their houses 
 
II© HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF 
 
 They, for the most part, nurse their own chil- 
 dren themselves : and this custom, which 
 gains ground every day, is a new tie of affec- 
 tion to the mothers. 
 
 u The English women are by no means in- 
 different about public affairs. Their interest- 
 ing themselves in these, gives a new pleasure 
 to social life. The husband always finds at 
 home somebody to whom he can open him- 
 self, and converse as long and as earnestly as 
 he thinks proper, upon those subjects which 
 he has most at heart. 
 
 " At an assembly composed of both sexes, 
 a lady asked me whether I still had many 
 curiosities and objects of observation to visit 
 in London : I made answer that there was 
 still one of great importance left for me to 
 know, and that she and her company could 
 give me all the information I desired : this 
 was, whether, in England, the husband or the 
 wife governed the house ? My question be- 
 ing explained to all the ladies present, they 
 discussed it, and amused themselves with it; 
 and the answer which they agreed should be 
 returntd to me was, that husbands alone could 
 resolve it. I then proposed it to the husbands, 
 who, with one voice declared that they durst 
 not decide. 
 
 " The perplexity discovered by those gen- 
 tlemen, gave me the solution I desired. In 
 fact the English ladies and wives, with the 
 most mild and gentle tone, and with an air of 
 indifference, coldness, and languor, exercise 
 a power equally despotic over both husbands 
 and lovers ; a power so much the more per- 
 
THE FAIR SEX. 
 
 manent, as it is established and supported by 
 a complaisance and submissiveness, from 
 which they rarely depart. 
 
 " This complaisance, this submission, and 
 this mildness, are happy virtues of constitu- 
 tion, which nature has given them, to serve 
 as a sort of mask to all that is most haughty, 
 proud, and impetuous, in the English charac- 
 ter. 
 
 " To the gifts of nature add the charm of 
 beauty, which is very common in England. 
 With regard to graces, the English women 
 have those which accompany beauty, and not 
 those artificial graces that cannot supply its 
 place ; those transient graces, which are not 
 the same to-day as yesterday ; those graces, 
 which are not so much the objects themselves, 
 as in the eye of the spectator, who has often 
 found it difficult to discover them." 
 
 Indeed, almost all foreigners, on their arri- 
 val here, manifest their consciousness of the 
 superior comeliness of our women, by mak- 
 ing it the continual topic of their conversation ; 
 and though some of them are not willing to 
 exclude from the right of comparison the fe- 
 males of their own country, yet their cause 
 is espoused with so much faintness, that one 
 may easily perceive it is only done by way of 
 saving their honour, and enabling them to 
 make a sort of decent retreat from the field of 
 contention, where they well know they could 
 not maintain their ground, and therefore wise- 
 ly avoid much discourse on that subject. 
 
 Strangers unanimously agree in their de- 
 scriptions of our English ladies, with whose 
 
112 HISTORICAL SKETCHES OP 
 
 gentleness of temper and unfeigned modesty 
 they seem chiefly to be captivated ; and inva- 
 riably concur in representing them o r a decent, 
 unaffcet: d deportment, and of a tender, affec- 
 tionate disposition. 
 
 CHAPTER XXVIII. 
 
 Of the Russian Women* 
 
 IT is only a few years since the Russians 
 emerged from a state of barbarity* 
 
 A late empress of Russia, as a punishment 
 for some female frailties, ordered a most beau- 
 tiful young lady of family to be publicly chas- 
 tised, in a manner which was hardly less in- 
 delicate than severe. 
 
 It is said that the Russian ladies were for- 
 merly as submissive to their husbands in their 
 families, as the latter are to their superiors in 
 the field ; and that they thought themselves ill 
 treated, if they were not often reminded of 
 their duty by the dicipline of a whip, manufac- 
 tured by themselves, which they presented 
 to their husbands on the day of their marri- 
 age. The latest travellers, however, assert, 
 that they find no remaining traces of this cus- 
 tom at present. 
 
 Their nuptial ceremonies are peculiar to 
 themselves ; and formerly consisted of many 
 whimsical rites, many of which are now dis- 
 used. On her wedding-day, the bride is 
 crowned with a garland of wormwood ; and, 
 after the priest has tied the nuptial knot, his 
 
THE FAIR SEX. 113 
 
 clerk or sexton throws a handful of hops up- 
 on the head of the bride, wishing that she 
 might prove as fruitful as that plant. She is 
 then led home, with abundance of coarse cere- 
 monies, which are now wearing off even a- 
 mong the lowest ranks ; and the barbarous 
 treatment of wives by their husbands is either 
 guarded against by the laws of the country, or 
 by particular stipulations in the marriage con- 
 tract. 
 
 In the conversation and actions of the Rus- 
 sian ladies, there is hardly any thing of that 
 softness and delicacy which distinguish the 
 sex in other parts of Europe. Even their ex- 
 ercises and diversions have more of the mas- 
 culine than the feminine. The present em- 
 press, with the ladies of her court, sometimes 
 divert themselves by shooting at a mark. 
 Drunkenness, the vice of almost every cold 
 climate, they are so little ashamed of, that not 
 many years ago, when a lady got drunk at 
 the house of a friend, it was customary for her 
 to return next day, and thank him for the plea- 
 sure he had done her. 
 
 Females, however, in Russia, possess seve- 
 ral advantages. They share the rank and splen- 
 dor of the families from which they are sprung, 
 and are even allowed the supreme authority. 
 This at present, is enjoyed by an empress, 
 whose head does honour to her nation and to 
 her sex ; although, on some occasions, thqj 
 virtues of her heart have been much suspect- •■ 
 ed. The sex, in general, are protected from 
 insult by many salutary laws ; and, except a- 
 mong the peasants, are exempted from every 
 
 Li 
 
114 HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF 
 
 kind of toil and slavery. Upon the whole, 
 they seem to be approaching fast to the en- 
 joyment of that consequence, to which they 
 have already arrived in several parts of Eu- 
 rope, 
 
 CHAPTER XXIX. 
 
 Of the German Women. 
 
 OF all the German females, the ladies of 
 Saxony are the most amiable. Their per- 
 sons are so superiorly charming and prefera- 
 ble in whatever can recommend them to the 
 notice of mankind, that the German youth of- 
 ten visit Saxony in quest of companions for 
 life. Exclusive of their beauty and comeli- 
 ness of appearance, they are brought up in the 
 knowledge of all those arts, both useful and 
 ornamental, which are so brilliant an addition 
 to their native attractions. But what chiefly 
 enhances their value, and gives it reality and 
 duration, is a sweetness of temper and festivi- 
 ty of disposition, that never fail to endear them 
 on a very slight acquaintance. To crown all, 
 they generally become patterns of conjugal 
 tenderness and fidelity. 
 
 As they are commonly careful to improve 
 their minds by reading and instructive con- 
 versation, they have no small share of faceti- 
 ousness and ingenuity. From their innate 
 liveliness, they are extremely addicted to all 
 the gay kind of amusements. They excel 
 in the allurements of dress and decoration, 
 and are in general skilful in music. 
 
THE FAIR SEX. 115 
 
 The character, however, of the women in 
 most other parts of Germany, particularly of 
 the Austrian, is very different from this. Not- 
 withstanding the advantages of size and make, 
 their looks and features, though not unsight- 
 ly, betray a vacancy of that life and spirit, 
 without which beauty is uninteresting, and, 
 like a mere picture, becomes utterly void of 
 that indication of sensibility, which alone can 
 awaken a delicacy of feeling. 
 
 As their education is conducted by the rules 
 of the grossest superstition, and they are 
 taught little else than set forms of devotion, 
 they arrive to the years of maturity unin- 
 structed in the use of reason, and usually 
 continue profoundly ignorant the remainder 
 of their days, which are spent, or rather loi- 
 tered away, in apathy and indolence. 
 
 Having learned none of the ingenuous me- 
 thods of making time sit lightly, their hours 
 of leisure, which their inactivity swells to a 
 large amount, are heavy and oppressive ; and, 
 from their want of almost all sort of know- 
 ledge, the subjects of their discourse are poor 
 and insipid, to a great degree. So irksome, 
 even to themselves, is that kind of society 
 which consists in a communication of thoughts, 
 that dress and diversion are the onlv refuge 
 from the tediousness which hangs over the* ge- 
 neral tenour of their lives. But whatever 
 they attempt in either, shews an absence of all 
 taste and elegance, such as one may natural- 
 ly expect from the poverty and barrenness of 
 their fancy. In these two articles, indeed, 
 
Ii6 HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF 
 
 they are obliged to borrow from abroad all 
 that is tolerable. 
 
 The principal happiness of the Austrian la- 
 dies of fashion consists in ruminating on the 
 dignity of their birth and families, the antiqui- 
 ty of their race, the rank they hold, the re- 
 spect attached to it, and the prerogatives they 
 enjoy over the inferior classes, whom they 
 treat with the utmost superciliousness, and 
 hold in the most unreasonable contempt. In 
 the mean time, their domestic affairs are con- 
 demned to the most unaccountable neglect. 
 They dwell at home, careless of what passes 
 there ; and suffer disorder and confusion to 
 prevail, without feeling the least uneasiness. 
 Great frequenters of churches, their piety 
 consists in the strictest conformity to all the 
 externals of religion. They profess the most 
 boundless belief in all the silly legends with 
 which their treatises of devotion are filled ; and 
 these are the only books they ever read. The 
 coldness of their constitution occasions a spe- 
 cies of regulated gallantry, which is rather 
 the effect of an opinion that it is an appendage 
 of high life, than the result of their natural in- 
 clination. 
 
 It must at the same time be allowed, that 
 the Austrian women are endowed with a great 
 fund of sincerity and candour; and, though 
 too much on the reserve, and prone to keep 
 at an unnecessary distance, and yet capable of 
 the truest attachment, and always warm and 
 zealous in the cause of those whom thty have 
 have admitted to their friendship. 
 
 Though the Germans are rather a dull and 
 
 
THE FAIR SEX. II? 
 
 phlegmatic people, and not greatly enslaved by 
 the warmer passions, yet at the court of Vien- 
 na they are much given to intrigue : and an 
 amour is so far from being scandalous, that a 
 woman gains credit by the rank of her gallant, 
 and is reckoned silly and unfashionable if she 
 scrupulously adheres to the virtue of chastity. 
 But such customs are more the customs of 
 courts, than of places less exposed to tempta- 
 tion, and consequently less dissolute ; and we 
 are well assured that in Germany there are 
 many women who do honour to humanity, not 
 by chastity only, but also by a variety of o- 
 ther virtues. 
 
 The ladies at the principal courts, differ not 
 much in their dress from the French and En- 
 glish. They are not, however, so excessive- 
 ly fond of paint as the former. At some 
 courts, they appear in rich furs ; and all of 
 them are loaded with jewels, if they can obtain 
 them. The female part of the burgher's fa- 
 milies, in many of the German towns, dress 
 in a very different manner, and some of them 
 inconceivably fantastic, as may be seen in ma- 
 ny prints published in books of travels. But, 
 in this respect, they are gradually reforming, 
 and many of them make quite a different ap- 
 pearance in their dress from what they did 
 thirty or forty years ago. 
 
 The inhabitants of Vienna live luxuriously, 
 a great part of their time being spent in feast- 
 ing and carousing. In winter, when the dif- 
 ferent branches of the Danube are frozen o- 
 ver, and the ground covered with snow* the 
 ladies take their recreation in sledges of dif~ 
 K 2 
 
iiS HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF 
 
 ferent shapes, such as griffins, tygers, swans, 
 scajlop-shells, &c. Here the lady sits, dress- 
 ed in velvet lined with rich furs and adorned 
 with laces and jewels, having on her head a 
 velvet cap. The sledge is drawn by 01 e 
 horse, stag or other creature, set off with 
 plumes of feathers, ribbands and bells. As 
 this diversion is taken chiefly in the night time, 
 servants ride before the sledge with torches ; 
 and a gentleman, standing on the sledge be- 
 hind, guides the horse. 
 
 CHAPTER XXX. 
 
 Of the Comparative Merit of the two Sexes. 
 
 THE difference of duties, of occupations, 
 and of manners, must certainly have a consi- 
 derable influence on the genius, on the senti- 
 ments, and on the character of the two sexes. 
 
 In comparing the intellectual powers of 
 men and women, it is necessary to distinguish 
 between the philosophical talent, which thinks 
 and discriminates ; the talent of memory, 
 which collects ; the talent of imagination, 
 .vhich creates ; the moral and political talent, 
 which governs. It is also necessary to in- 
 quire to what degree women possess these four 
 kinds of genius. 
 
 The philosophical spirit is rare indeed, e- 
 ven among men. But still there are many 
 great men who have possessed it ; who have 
 raised themselves to the height of nature, to 
 become acquainted with her works ; who 
 
THE FAIR SEX. 119 
 
 have shewn to the soul the source of its ideas ; 
 who have assigned to reason its bounds, to 
 motion its laws, and to the universe its har- 
 mony ; who have created sciences in creat- 
 ing principles ; and who have aggrandized 
 the human mind in cultivating their own. If 
 there is a woman found on a level with these 
 illustrious men, is it the fault of education or 
 of nature ? 
 
 Descartes, abused by envious men, but ad- 
 mired by two generous princesses, boasted of 
 the philosophical talents of women. We 
 must not, however, imagine that his gratitude 
 could lead him into a voluntary error, even in 
 compliment to beauty. He would no doubt 
 find in Elizabeth, and in Christiana, a docility 
 which prided itself in listening to so great a 
 man, and which seemed to associate itself 
 with his genius, in following the train of his i- 
 deas. He might perhaps even find, in the 
 compositions of women, perspicuity, order, 
 and method. But did he find that strong dis- 
 cernment, that depth of intellect, that diffidence, 
 which characterises the real philosopher ? 
 Did he find that cool reason, which, always 
 inquisitive, advances slowly, and re-measures 
 all its steps ? — Their genius, penetrating and 
 rapid, flies off, and is at rest. They have 
 more sallies than efforts. What they" do not 
 see at once, they seldom see at all ; they ei- 
 ther disdain or despair to comprehend it. 
 They are not possessed of that unremitting 
 assiduity, which alone can pursue and disco- 
 ver important truths. 
 
110 HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF 
 
 Imagination seems rather to be their pro- 
 vince. It has been observed, that the imagi- 
 nation of women has in it something unac- 
 countably singular and extraordinary. All 
 things strike it ; all things paint themselves 
 on it, in a lively manner. Their volatile 
 senses embrace every object, and carry off 
 its images. Some unknown powers, some 
 secret sympathies, enable them rapidly to 
 seize the impressions. The material world 
 is not sufficient for them ; they love to create 
 an ideal world of their own, which they em* 
 bellish, and in which they dwell. Spectres, 
 enchantments, prodigies, and whatever trans- 
 cends the ordinary laws of nature, are their 
 creation and their delight. They enjoy even 
 their terrors. Their feelings are fine, and 
 iheif fancy always approaches to enthusiasm. 
 
 But how far, it may be asked, can the im- 
 agination of females, when applied to the arts, 
 unfold itself in the talent of creating and de- 
 scribing? Is their imagination as vigorous 
 as it is lively and versatile ? Does it not un- 
 avoidably partake of their occupations, of 
 their pleasures, of their tastes, and even of 
 their weaknesses ? Perhaps their delicate 
 fibres are afraid of strong sensations, which 
 fatigue them, and make them seek the sweets 
 "which would give them repose. 
 
 Man, always active, is exposed to storms. 
 The imagination of the poet enjoys itself on 
 the ridge of mountains, on the brink of vol- 
 canos, in the middle of ruins, on seas and in 
 fields of battle; and it is never more suscep- 
 
THE FAIR SEX. 121 
 
 tible of tender ideas, than after having expe- 
 rienced some great emotion. 
 
 But women, by means of their delicate 
 and sedentary life, less acquainted with the 
 contrast of the gentle and the terrible^ may 
 be supposed to feel and to paint less perfectly, 
 even that which is agreeable, than those who 
 are thrown into contrary situations, and pass 
 rapidly from one sensation to another. 
 
 Perhaps too, from the habit of resigning 
 themselves to the impression of the moment, 
 which with them is very strong, their minds 
 must be more replenished with images than 
 pictures. Or probably their imagination, 
 though lively, resembles a mirror, which re- 
 flects every thing, but creates nothing. 
 
 Love is, without dispute, the passion which 
 women feel the strongest, and which they ex- 
 press the best. They feel the other passions 
 more feebly, and, as it were, by chance. But 
 love is their own ; it is the charm and the 
 business of their life ; it is their soul. They 
 should therefore know well how to paint it. 
 
 But do they know, like the author of Othel- 
 lo, of Revenge ; or of Zara, to express the 
 transports of a troubled soul, which joins 
 fury to love ; which is sometimes impetuous, 
 and sometimes tender ; which now is softened, 
 and now is roused ; which sheds blood, and 
 which sacrifices itself? Can they paint these 
 doublings of the human heart, these storms 
 of emotion and passion ? — No ; nature her- 
 self restrains them. Love in the one sex is 
 a conquest, in the other a sacrifice. 
 
122 HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF 
 
 It must, therefore, generally happen that 
 the women of all countries, and in all ages 
 know better how to paint a delicate and ten- 
 der sentiment, than a violent and turbulent 
 passion. 
 
 And, besides, by their duty, by the reserve 
 of their sex, by the desire of a certain grace 
 which softens all their expressions, is more 
 bewitching than wit, and more attractive than 
 beauty, they are obliged always to conceals 
 part of their sentiments. Must not then 
 these sentiments, by being continually re* 
 strained, become weaker by degrees, and 
 have less energy than those of men, who at 
 all times bold and extravagant with impunity,, 
 give to their passions what tone they please, 
 and which are invigorated by exercise ? 
 
 A temporary constraint inflames the pas* 
 sions ; but a continued constraint cools or 
 extinguishes them. 
 
 With regard to the talent cf order and 
 memory, which classes facts, and ideas, when 
 necessary, as it depends a good deal upon 
 method and habit, there seems little reason 
 why the two sexes may not possess it in an 
 equal degree. Rut are not women sooner 
 disgusted with the excess of labour, which is 
 necessary in order to acquire the quantity of 
 materials from which erudition results ?— 
 Must not their impatience and natural desire 
 of change, which arise from fleeting and ra- 
 pid impressions, prevent them from following, 
 for a course of years, the same kind of study, 
 and consequently from acquiring profound or 
 extensive knowledge ? Though this may be 
 
THE FAIR SEX. 12$ 
 
 the case, they certainly have qualities of 
 mind which atone for it. It is not the same 
 hand which polishes the diamond, and which 
 digs the mine. 
 
 We come now to a more important object, 
 the political or moral abilities, which consist 
 in the direction of ourselves or of others. — 
 In order to weigh upon this subject, the ad- 
 vantages or disadvantages peculiar to each 
 sex, 4t is necessary to distinguish between the 
 use of these abilities in society, and their use 
 in government. 
 
 As women set a high value upon opinion, 
 they must, by consequence,' very attentively 
 consider what it is which produces, destroys 
 or confirms it. They must know how far one 
 may direct, without appearing to be interest- 
 ed.; how far one may presume upon that art, 
 even after it is known ; in what estimation 
 they are held by those with whom they live ; 
 and to what degree it is necessary to serve 
 them, that they may govern them. 
 
 In all matters of business, women know 
 the great effects which are produced by little 
 causes. They have the art of imposing upon 
 some, by seeming to discover to them what 
 they already know; and of diverting others 
 from their purpose, by confirming their most 
 distant suspicions. They know how to cap- 
 tivate by praises those who merit them; and 
 to raise a blush, by bestowing them where 
 they are not due. 
 
 These delicate sciences are the leading- 
 strings in which the women conduct the men. 
 Society to them is like a harpsichord, of 
 
ia 4 HISTORICAL SKETCHES C? 
 
 h they know the touches ; and they can 
 guess at the sound which every touch will 
 produce. But man, impetuous and free, sup- 
 plying the want of address by strei gth, and 
 consequently being less interested to observe, 
 ied away, besides, by the necessity of 
 continual action — can scarcely be possessed 
 of all those litrle notices, and polite attentions, 
 which are every moment necessary in the 
 commerce of life. Their calculations, there- 
 fore, on society, must be more slow, and less 
 sure, than those of women. 
 
 Let us now take a view of that species of 
 understanding', in* the two sexes, which is ap- 
 plicable to government. 
 
 In society, women govern men by their 
 passions, and the smallest motives often pro- 
 duce the greatest consequences. But, in the 
 government of states, it is by comprehensive 
 views, by the choice cf principles, and, above 
 all, by the discovery and the employment of 
 talents, that success can be obtained. Here, 
 instead of taking advantage of foibles, they 
 must fear them. They must raise men above 
 their weaknesses, and not lead them into 
 them. 
 
 In society, therefore, the art of governing 
 may be said to consist in flattering characters 
 with address ; and the art of administration, 
 in combating them with judgment. The 
 knowledge of mankind required in the two 
 cases is very different. In the one, they must 
 be known by their weakness; in the other, 
 by their strength. The one draws forth de- 
 fects for little ends; the other discovers great 
 
THE FAIR SEX. 12S 
 
 qualities, which are mingled with those very 
 faults. The one, in short, seeks little blem- 
 ishes in great men ; and the other, in dissect- 
 ing great men, must often perceive the same 
 spots; for perfect characters exist only in 
 Utopia. 
 
 Let us now inquire whether this species of 
 understanding and observation belongs equal- 
 ly to the two sexes. 
 
 There are women who have reigned, and 
 who still reign with lustre. Christiana in 
 Sweden, Isabella of Castile in Spain, and 
 Elizabeth in England, have merited the es- 
 teem of their age and posterity. 
 
 We saw, in the war of 1741, a princess, 
 whom even her enemies admired, defend the 
 German empire with no less genius than 
 courage, and we lately beheld the Ottoman 
 empire shaken by a woman. But in general 
 questions, we should beware of taking ex- 
 ceptions for rules, and observe the ordinary 
 course of nature. 
 
 It therefore becomes necessary to enquire, 
 whether women, who, according to the mode 
 of society, neither are, nor have in their 
 power to be, so often in action as men, can so 
 well judge of talents, their use, or their ex- 
 tent ; whether great views, and the applica- 
 tion of great principles, with the habit of 
 perceiving consequences with the glance of 
 an eye, are compatible with their wandering 
 imagination, and with minds so little accus- 
 tomed to the arrangement of their ideas. All 
 this is necessary to form the character which 
 M 
 
126 HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF 
 
 governs. It is the vigour of the soul 
 which gives activity to genius, which ex- 
 tends and which strengthens political ideas. 
 This character, however, can hardly be 
 formed but by great commotions, great hopes, 
 and great fears, as also the necessity of being 
 continually engaged in action. 
 
 Is it not in general, the character of wo- 
 men, that their minds are more pleasing than 
 strong? Does not their rapid imagination, 
 which often makes sentiment precede thought, 
 render them, in the choice of men, more sus- 
 ceptible both to prejudice, and of error? 
 . Would not one be in danger of abuse, would 
 not one even run the risk of their displeasure, 
 if he should say that, in the distribution of 
 their esteem, they would set too high a value 
 upon external accomplishments; and, in 
 short, they would perhaps be too easily led to 
 believe that an agreeable man was a great 
 Kian? 
 
 Elizabeth was not free from this censure. 
 The inclinations of her sex stole beneath the 
 cares of the throne, and the greatness of her 
 character. We are chagrined, at certain 
 times, to see the little weaknesses of a woman 
 mingle with the views of a great mind. 
 
 This taste for coquetry, as is well known, 
 furnished Elizabeth with favourites, in the : 
 choice of which she judged more like a wo- 
 man than like a sovereign. She was always 
 too ready to believe, that the pow 7 er of pleas- 
 ing her, implied genius. 
 
 That so much celebrated queen exercised 
 over England an almost arbitrary sway ; at 
 
THE FAIR SEX. M7 
 
 which, perhaps, we ought not to be surprised. 
 Women, in general, on the throne, are more 
 inclined to despotism, and more impatient of 
 restraint, than men. The sex to whom na- 
 ture has assigned power, by giving them 
 strength, have a certain confidence which 
 raises them in their own eyes ; so that they 
 have no need of manifesting to themselves 
 that superiority of which they are sure. But 
 weakness, astonished at the sway which she 
 possesses, shakes her sceptre on every side, 
 to establish her dominion. 
 
 Great men are perhaps more carried to that 
 species of despotism which arises from lofty 
 ideas ; and women, above the ordinary class, 
 to the despotism which proceeds from pas- 
 sion. The last is rather a sally of the heart, 
 than the effect of system* 
 
 One thing which favours the despotism of 
 female sovereigns is, that the men confound 
 the empire of their sex with that of their 
 rank. What we refuse to grandeur, we pay 
 to beauty. But the dominion of women, 
 even when arbitrary, is seldom cruel. Theirs 
 is rather a despotism of caprice, than of op- 
 pression. The throne itself cannot cure their 
 sensibility. They carry in their bosoms the 
 counterpoise of their power. 
 
 Hence it follows, that in limited monarchies, 
 female sovereigns will tend to despotism from 
 their jealousy ; and in absolute government, 
 will approach to monarchy by their mildness 
 This observation is proved by experience. 
 
J2S HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF 
 
 CHAPTER XXXI. 
 
 On the Religions and Domestic Virtues of 
 Women. 
 
 BOTH experience and history attest, that 
 in all sects, in all countries, and in all ranks, 
 the women have more religious virtues than 
 the men. Naturally possessed of more sen- 
 sibility, they have more occasion for an ob- 
 ject which may constantly occupy their 
 minds. Desirous cf happiness, and not find- 
 ing enough in this world, they launch into a 
 life and a world abounding with ineffable de- 
 lights. More flexible in their duties than 
 men, they reason less, and feel more. More 
 subjected to good opinion, they pay more at- 
 tention to what concerns themselves. Less 
 occupied, and less active, they have more time 
 for contemplation. Less abstracted or absent, 
 they are more strongly affected by the same 
 idea, because it appears before them continu- 
 ally. More struck by external objects, they 
 relish more the pageantry of ceremonies and 
 of temples, and the devotion of the senses 
 has no inconsiderable effect on that of the 
 soul. 
 
 The domestic virtues are intimately con- 
 nected with those of religion; they are doubt- 
 less common to both sexes. The advantage, 
 however, seems still to be in favour of the 
 women. At least they have more need of 
 virtues which they have more occasion to 
 practice. 
 
THE FAIR SEX. 129 
 
 In the first period of life, timid, and with- 
 out support, the daughter is more attached to 
 her mother. By seldom leaving her, she 
 comes to love her more. The trembling inno- 
 cent is cheered by the presence of her pro 
 tectress; and her weakness, while it heigh- 
 tens her beauty, augments her sensibility. — 
 After becoming a mother herself, she has 
 other duties, which every thing invites her to 
 fulfil. Then the condition of the two sexes 
 is widely different. 
 
 Man, in the middle of his labours, and 
 among his arts, employing his powers, and 
 commanding nature, finds pleasure in his in- 
 dustry, in his success, and even in his toils. 
 But woman, being more solitary, and less 
 active, has fewer resources. Her pleasure 
 must arise from her virtues; her amuse- 
 ments are her children. It is near the cradle 
 of her infant ; it is in viewing the smiles of her 
 daughter, or the sports of her son, that a 
 mother is happy. 
 
 Where are the tender feelings, the cries, 
 the' powerful emotions of nature ? Where is 
 the sentiment, at once sublime and pathetic, 
 that carries every feeling to excess? Is it to 
 be found in the frosty indifference, and the 
 rigid severity of so many fathers ? * No ; it 
 is in the warm impassioned bosom of a mo- 
 ther. It is she who, by an impulse as quick 
 as involuntary, rushes into the flood to snatch 
 her child, whose imprudence had betrayed 
 him to the waves t It is she who in the mid- 
 dle of a confl -ignition, throws herself across- 
 the flumes to save her sleeping infant* 
 
ijo HISTORICAL SKETCHES OP 
 
 These great expressions of nature, these 
 heart rending emotions, which fill us at once 
 with wonder, compassion and terror, always 
 have belonged, and always will belong only 
 to women. They possess, in those moments, 
 an inexpressible something, which carries 
 them beyond themselves. They seem to 
 discover to us new souls, above the standard 
 
 of humanitv. 
 
 </ 
 
 If we consider also the matrimonial duties, 
 the obligations of husband and wife, which 
 of the sexes is most likely to be faithful ? — 
 Which, in violating them, has most obstacles 
 to encounter ? Is not woman best defended 
 by her education, by her reserve, and by 
 that modesty which silences even her desires ? 
 To these restraints we may add the power of 
 the first passion, and the first ties, over a 
 heart endowed with sensibility. 
 
 Nature, herself, attentive in this instance' to 
 trie manners of women, has taken care to 
 surround them with the strongest, yet the 
 gentlest barriers. She has made inconstancy 
 more painful, and fidelity more pleasing to 
 their hearts. Even in ages of general cor- 
 ruption, conjugal infidelity in women has 
 been one of the last of crimes. 
 
THE FAIR SEX. t$t 
 
 CHAPTER XXXIL 
 
 On Female Friendship. 
 
 IT has long been a question, Which of the 
 two sexes is most capable of friendship ? 
 Montagne, who is so much celebrated for his 
 knowledge of human nature, has given it pos- 
 itively against the women ; and his opinion 
 has been generally embraced. 
 
 Friendship perhaps, in women, is more 
 rare than among men ; but,, at the same time, 
 it must be allowed that where it is found, it is 
 more tender. 
 
 Men, in general, have more of the parade 
 than the graces of friendship. They often 
 wound while they serve ; and their warmest 
 sentiments are not very enlightened, with re- 
 spect to those minute sentiments which are 
 of so much value. But women have a refined 
 sensibility, which makes them see every thing ; 
 nothing escapes them. They divine the si- 
 lent friendship ; they encourage the bashful 
 or timid friendship ; they oiler their sweetest 
 consolations to friendship in distress. Fur- 
 nished with finer instruments, they treat more 
 delicately a wounded heart. They compose 
 it, and prevent it from feeling its agonies. 
 They know, above all how to give value to 
 a thousand things, which have no value in 
 themselves. 
 
 We ought therefore, perhaps, to desire the 
 friendship of a man upon great occasiuns ; 
 but, for general happiness, we must prefer 1 
 $he friendship of a woman. 
 
»$2 HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF 
 
 With regard to female intimacies, it may be 
 taken for granted that there is no young wo- 
 man who has not, or wishes not to have, a 
 companion of h< r own sex, to whom she may 
 unbosom herself on every occasion. That 
 there are women capable of friendship with 
 women, few impartial observers will deny. 
 There have been many evident proofs of it, 
 and those carried as far as seemed compatible 
 with the imperfections of our common nature. 
 It is, however, questioned by some; white 
 others believe that it happens exceedingly sel- 
 dom. Between married and u rimarried wo- 
 men, it no doubt happens xtry often ; whe- 
 ther it does so between those that are single, 
 is not so certain. Young men appear more 
 frequently susceptible of a generous and 
 steady friendship for cadi other^ than females 
 as yet unconnected ; especially, #' the latter 
 ha\ e, or are supposed to have, pretensions to 
 beauty, not adjusted by the public. 
 
 In the frame and condition of females, how- 
 ever, compared with those of the other sex, 
 there are some circumstances which may help 
 towards an apology for this unfavourable fea- 
 ture in their character. 
 
 The state of matrimony is necessary to the 
 support, order, and comfort of society. But 
 it is a state that subjects the women to a great 
 variety of solicitude and pain. Nothing could 
 carry them through it with any tolerable sa- 
 tisfaction of spirit, but very strong and almost 
 unconquerable attachments. To produce 
 these, is it not fit they should be peculiarly 
 sensible to the attention and regards of the 
 
THE FAIR SEX 133 
 
 men ? Upon the same ground, does it not 
 seem agreeable to the purposes of Providence, 
 that the securing of this attention, and these 
 regards, should be a principal aim ? But 
 can such an aim be pursued without frequent 
 competition ? And will not that too rea- 
 dily occasion jealousy, envy, and all the una- 
 miable effects of mutual rivalship ? Without 
 the restraints of superior worth and 'sentiment,, 
 it certainly will. But can these be ordinarily 
 expected from the prevailing turn of female 
 education ; or from the little pains that wo- 
 men, as well as other human beings, com- 
 monly take to controul themselves, and to act 
 nobly ? In this last respect, the sexes appear 
 pretty much on the same footing. 
 
 This reasoning is not meant to justify the 
 indulgence of those little and sometimes base 
 passions towards one another, with which fe- 
 males have been so generally charged. It is 
 only intended to represent such passions in the 
 first approach ; and, while not entertained, as 
 less criminal than the men are apt to state 
 them ; and to prove that, in their attachments 
 to each other, the latter have not always that 
 merit above the women, which they are apt to 
 claim. In the mean time, let it be the busi- 
 ness of the ladies, by emulating the gentle- 
 men, where they appeir good patured and 
 disinterested, to disprove their imputation, and 
 to shew a temper open to friendship as well as 
 to love. 
 
 To talk much of the latter is natural for 
 both ; to talk much of the former, is consi- 
 dered by the men as one way of doing them- 
 
3 34 HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF 
 
 selves honour. Friendship, they well know, 
 is that dignified form, which, in speculation 
 at least, every heart must respect. 
 
 But in friendship, as in religion, which on 
 many accounts it resembles, speculation is of- 
 ten substituted in the place of practice. Peo- 
 ple fancy themselves possessed of the thing, 
 and hope that others will fancy so too, be- 
 cause they are fond of the name, and have 
 learnt to talk about it with plausibility. Such 
 talk indeed imposes, till experience gives it 
 die lie. 
 
 To say the truth, there seems in either sex 
 but little of what a fond imagination, unac- > 
 quainted with the falsehood of the world, and 
 warmed by affections which its selfishness has 
 not yet chilled,would reckon friendship. In the- 
 ory, the standard is raised too high ; w T e ought 
 not, however, to wish it much lower. The 
 honest sensibilities of ingenuous nature should 
 not be checked by the over-cautious docu- 
 ments of political prudence. No advantage, 
 obtained by such frigidity, can compensate 
 for the want of those warm effusions of the 
 heart into the bosom of a friend, which are 
 doubtless among the most exquisite pleasures. 
 At the same time, however, it must be own- 
 ed, that they often by the inevitable lot of hu- 
 manity, make way for the bitterest pains 
 which the breast can experience. Happy be- 
 yond the common condition of her sex, is she 
 who has found a friend indeed ; open hearted, 
 yet discreet ; generously fervent, yet steady ; 
 thoroughly virtuous, but not severe ; wise, as 
 well as cheerful ! Can such a friend be Ioy- 
 
THE FAIR SEX. 13s 
 
 od too much, or cherished too tenderly f If 
 to excellence and happiness there be any one 
 way more compendious than another, next 
 to friendship with the Supreme Being, it is 
 this. 
 
 But when a mixture of minds so beautiful 
 and so sweet takes place, it is generally, or 
 rather always the result of early prepossession, 
 casual intercourse, or in short, a combination, 
 of such causes as are not to be brought toge- 
 ther by management or design. This noble 
 plant may be cultivated ; but it must grow 
 spontaneously. 
 
 CHAPTER XXXIII. 
 
 On Female Benevolence. 
 
 NATURE is equally indulgent to every 
 rank in life. As, in her vegetable kingdom, 
 she has kindly made the sweetest of flowers 
 the most common ; so, in the moral world, 
 she has placed the lovely virtue which con- 
 duces most to human happiness, equally with- 
 in the reach and cultivation of the rich and 
 the poor. 
 
 Benevolence may be considered as the 
 rose which is found as beautiful and as fra- 
 grant in the narrow border of the cottager, as 
 in the ample and magnificent garden of the 
 noble. 
 
 Charity is a theme on which the sublimest 
 spirits have often and ably discoursed. Many 
 
i 3 6 HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF 
 
 admirable things have been written on this 
 lovely president of the angelic ■- irtues. 
 
 Thatgenerows.coi ; hich interests 
 
 the heart in the misfottune of others, is more 
 particularly the portion of \ Every 
 
 thing inclines them t rosity and piety. 
 
 Their delicate sei ses revolt at the presence 
 of distress and pain. Objects of misery and 
 aversion discompose the soft indolence of 
 tbeir minds. Their houls are more hurt by 
 images of sorrow i spleen, than torment- 
 
 ed by their own sensil y^ they must there- 
 fore be very anxious to afford relief. They 
 possess, besides, in a I righ degree, that in- 
 stinctive feeling, which operates without rea- 
 soning ; and they often relieve, while men de- 
 liberate. Their benevolence is perhaps less 
 rational, but it is more active ; it is also more 
 attentive, and more tender. What woman 
 has ever been wanting in commiseration to 
 th^ unfortunate ? 
 
 CHAPTER XXXIV. 
 
 On Female Patriotism* 
 
 WE shall now examine whether women, so 
 susceptible of friendship,ofpity,of benevolence 
 to individuals, can elevate themselves to that 
 patriotism, or disinterested love of one's coun- 
 try, which embraces all its citizens ; and to 
 that philanthropy, or universal love of man- 
 kind, which embraces all nations, 
 t 
 
THE FAIR SEX. Itf 
 
 Patriotism surely ought not to be depreciat- 
 ed. It is the noblest sentiment of the hu- 
 man mind ; at least it is that which has pro- 
 duced the greatest men, and which gave birth 
 to those ancient heroes, whose history still a- 
 stonishes our imagination, and accuses our 
 weakness. Patriotism, no doubt, is most 
 commonly produced by the ideas of interest 
 and property, by the remembrance of past 
 services, by the hope of future honours or re- 
 wards, and a certain enthusiasm which robs 
 men of themselves ; to transform their exis- 
 tence entirely into the body of the state. 
 
 These sentiments, it will readily be per- 
 ceived, do not correspond with the condition 
 of women. In almost all governments ex- 
 cluded from honours and from offices, pos- 
 sessed of little property, and restrained by the 
 laws even in what they have, they cannot in 
 general be supposed to be eminent for patri- 
 otism. Existing more in themselves, and in 
 the objects of their sensibility, and perhaps 
 less fitted than men by nature for the civil in- 
 stitutions in which they have less share, they 
 must be less susceptible of that enthusiasm, 
 which makes a man prefer the state to his fa- 
 mily, and the collective body of his fellow ci- 
 tizens to himself. 
 
 The example of the Roman and Spartan 
 ladies, and the wonders performed by the 
 Dutch women in the revolution of the Seven 
 Provinces, clearly prove that the glorious en- 
 thusiasm of liberty can do all things ; that 
 there are times when nature is astonished at 
 N 
 
•I$S HISTORICAL SKETCHES OT 
 
 herself; and that great virtues spring from 
 great calamities. 
 
 That universal love of mankind which ex- 
 tends to all nations and to all ages, and which 
 is a kind of abstract sentiment, seems to cor- 
 respond still less with the character of femalei 
 than patriotism. They must have an image 
 of what they love. 
 
 It is only by the power of arranging his 
 ideas, that the philosopher is able to overleap 
 so many barriers ; to pass from a man to a 
 people; from a people to human kind ; from 
 the time in which he lives, to ages yet unborn ; 
 and from what he sees, to what he does not 
 see. 
 
 The tender sex do not love to send their 
 souls so far a-wandering. They assemble 
 their sentiments and their ideas about them, 
 and confine their affections to what interests 
 them most. Those strides of benevolence, 
 to women, are out of nature. A man to 
 them is more than a nation ; and the hour in 
 whidi they live, than a thousand ages after 
 death* 
 
THE FAIR SEX. 15* 
 
 CHAPTER XXXV. 
 
 Of Women with regard to Polished Life* 
 
 THERE are certain qualities which have 
 generally been ranked among the social vir- 
 tues, but which may more properly be called 
 the virtues of polished life. They are the 
 charm and the bond of company ; and are 
 useful at all times, and upon all occasions.— 
 They are, in the commerce of the world, 
 what current money is in trade. They are 
 sometimes not absolutely necessary, but one 
 can never safely be without them. They al- 
 ways procure the possessor a more favoura- 
 ble reception. 
 
 Such is that mild complacency which gives 
 a softness to the character, and an attractive 
 sweetness to the manners ; that indulgence 
 which pardons the faults of others, even 
 when it has no need of pardon itself; the art 
 of being blind to the visible foibles of others, 
 and of keeping the secret of those which are 
 hidden ; the art of concealing our advanta- 
 ges, when we humble our rivals or opponents, 
 and of dealing gently with those who cannot 
 submit without being offended. Such is that 
 facility which adopts opinions it never had ; 
 that freedom which inspires confidence ; and 
 all that politeness, in short, which is so very 
 pleasing, though sometimes no more than a 
 happy lie. 
 
 Politeness is a part of the female character. 
 It is connected with their minds, with their 
 
ft* HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF 
 
 manners, and even with their interest. To 
 the most virtuous woman society is a field of 
 conquest. 
 
 Few men have formed the project of mak- 
 ing every body happy, and so much the 
 worse for those who have. But many wo- 
 men have not only formed such a scheme, but 
 have succeeded in it. 
 
 We are, in general, so much the more po- 
 lite, as we are less devoted to ourselves, and 
 more to others ; as we are more attentive to 
 opinion ; as we are more zealous to be dis- 
 tinguished ; and, perhaps, in proportion as 
 we have fewer resources, and greater means 
 of having them. In start, whether we speak 
 of individuals or cf nations, of the two sexes 
 or the different ranks, when we say they arc 
 polite, we always suppose them to be idle, 
 because we admit the necessity of their liv- 
 ing together. 
 
 Hence the art of regulating our behaviour, 
 of adjusting our looks, our words, and our 
 motions, the need of attentions, and all the 
 little gratifications of vanity. 
 
 We are naturally inclined to pay that ho- 
 mage which we receive, and to exact that 
 which we pay. Thus the delicacy of self 
 love produces all the refinements in society ; 
 as the delicacy of the senses produces all the 
 refinements in pleasure ; and as the delicacy 
 of taste, which is perhaps only the result of 
 the other two, products all the refinements in 
 literature, arts and sciences. 
 
THE FAIR SEX. 141 
 
 It will be easy to discern hew these objects 
 are connected with one another, and how they 
 all relate to women. 
 
 But refined politeness, it may be said, is 
 allied to falsehood. It substitutes the expres- 
 sion of sentiment too often for sentiment it- 
 self. 
 
 Flattery is common to both sexes. But 
 the flattery of men is often very disgusting ; 
 that of women is more light, and has more 
 the appearance of sentiment. Even when it 
 is overdone^ it is generally amusing. The 
 motive and the manner save them from con- 
 tempt. 
 
 Men generally owe their frankness to pride; 
 women to address. The one sex often utters 
 a truth, without any other view than truth, it- 
 self. In the mouth of the other, even truth 
 itself has an aim. 
 
 CHAPTER XXXVI. 
 
 On the Idea of Female Inferiority. 
 
 IT is an opinion pretty generally establish- 
 ed, that in strength of mind, as "well as of 
 body, men are greatly superior to women. — 
 Let us, however, duly consider the several 
 propensities and paths chalked cut to each by 
 ihe author of their nature, 
 
 Men are endowed with boldness and cou- 
 rage ; women are not.. The reason is plain : 
 these are beauties in our character; in theirs 
 they would be blemishes. Our genius often 
 N a 
 
142 HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF 
 
 leads to the great and the arduous ; theirs to the 
 soft and the pleasing ; we bend our thoughts 
 to make life convenient; they turn theirs to 
 make it easy and agreeable. If the endow- 
 ments allotted to us by nature could not be 
 easily acquired by women, it would be as 
 difficult for us to acquire those peculiarly al- 
 lotted to them. Are we superior to them in 
 what belongs to the male character? They 
 are no less so to us, id what belongs to the 
 female character. 
 
 Would it not appear rather ludicrous to 
 say, that a man was endowed only with infe- 
 rior abilities, because he was not expert in 
 the nursing of children, and practising the 
 various effeminacies which we reckon lovely 
 in a woman ? Would it be reasonable to 
 condemn him on these accounts? Just as 
 reasonable it is to reckon women inferior to 
 men, because their talents are in general not 
 adapted to tread the horrid path of war, nor 
 to trace the mazes and intricacies of science. 
 The idea of the inferiority of female na- 
 ture, has drawn after it several others the 
 most absurd, unreasonable and humiliating 
 to the sex. Such is the pride of man, that in 
 some countries he has considered immortality 
 as a distinction too glorious for women. — 
 Thus degrading the fair partners of his na- 
 ture, he places them on a level with the beasts 
 that perish. 
 
 As the Asiatics have, time immemorial, 
 considered women as little better than slaves, 
 this opinion probably originated among them. 
 The Mahometans, both in Asia and Europe, 
 
THE FAIR SEX, 143 
 
 are said, by a great variety of writers, to en- 
 tertain this opinion. 
 
 Lady Montague, in her letters, has oppos- 
 ed this general assertion of the writers con- 
 cerning the Mahometans ; and says that they 
 do not absolutely deny the existence of female 
 souls, but only hold them to be of a nature 
 inferior to those of men ; and that they ( nter 
 not into the same, but into an inferior para- 
 dise, prepared for them on purpose. Lady 
 Montague, and the writers whom she has 
 contradicted, may perhaps be both right. — 
 v The former might be the opinion which the 
 Turks brought with them from Asia ; and 
 the latter, as a refinement upon it, they may 
 have adopted by their intercourse with the 
 Europeans. 
 
 This opinion, however, has had but a few 
 votaries in Europe ; though some have even 
 here maintained it, and assigned various rea- 
 sons for so doing. Among these, the follow- 
 ing laughable reason is not the least particu- 
 lar — " In the Revelations of St. John the 
 divine," said one, whose wife was a descen- 
 dant of the famous Xantippe,* " you will 
 find this passage : And there ivas silence hi 
 heaven for about the space of half an hour. 
 Now I appeal to anyone, whether that could 
 possibly have happened, had there been any 
 women there? And, since there are none 
 there, charity forbids us to imagine that they are 
 all in a worse place ; therefore it follows that 
 they have no immortal part: and happy is it 
 
 * Xantippe, was the wife of SosraieSj and the 
 •nost famous scold of antiquity. 
 
144 HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF 
 
 for them, as they are thereby exempted from 
 being accountable for all the noise and distur- 
 bance they have raised in this world." 
 
 In a very ancient treatise, called the Wis- 
 dom of isll Times, ascribed to Hushang, one 
 of the earliest kings of Persia, are the follow- 
 ing remaikable words: "The passions of 
 men may, by long acquaintance, be thorough- 
 ly known ; but the passions of women are in- 
 scrutable : therefore they ought to be sepa- 
 rated from men, lest the mutability of their 
 tempers should infect others." 
 
 Ideas of a similar nature seem to have been, 
 at this time generally diffused over the east. 
 For we find Solomon, almost every where in 
 his writings, exclaiming against women ; and, 
 in the Apocrypha, the author of Ecclesiasticus 
 is still more illiberal in his reflections. 
 
 Both these authors, it is true, join in the most 
 enraptured manner to praise a virtuous woman ; 
 but take care at the same time to let us know, 
 that she is so great a rarity as to be very sel- 
 dom met with. 
 
 Nor have the Asiatics alone been addicted 
 to this illiberality of thinking concerning the 
 sex. Satirists of all ages and countries, while 
 they flattered them to their faces, have from 
 their closets most profusely scattered their 
 spleen and ill-nature against them. Of this 
 the Greek and Roman poets afford a vari- 
 ety of instances; but they must nevertheless 
 yield a palm to some of our moderns. In the 
 following lines, Pope has outdone every one 
 of them : 
 " Men some to pleasure, some to business takes 
 " But every woman is at heart— a rake" 
 
THE FAIR SEX. MJ 
 
 Swift and Dr. Young have hardly been be- 
 hind this celebrated splenetic in il liberality. 
 They perhaps were not favourites of the fair, 
 and in revenge vented all their envy and spleen 
 against them. But a more modern and ac- 
 complished writer, who by his rank in life, by 
 his natural and acquivcd graces, was undoubt- 
 edly a favourite, has repaid their kindness by 
 taking every opportunity of exhibiting them 
 in the most contemptible light. " Almost e- 
 very man," says he, " may be gained some 
 way ; almost every woman any way." Can a- 
 ny thing exhibit a stronger caution to the sex ? 
 It is fraught with information ; and it is to 
 be hoped they will use it accordingly. 
 
 CHAPTER XXXVIL 
 
 On Female Simplicity. 
 
 WOULD we conceive properly of that 
 simplicity which is the sweetest expression of 
 a well- informed and well-meaning mind, 
 "which every where diffuses tenderness and 
 delicacy, sweetens the relations of life, and 
 gives a zest to the minutest duties of human- 
 ity, let us contemplate every perceptible ope- 
 ration of nature, the twilight of the evening, 
 the pearly dew-drops of the early morning, 
 and all that various growth which indicates 
 the genial return of spring. The same prin- 
 ciple from which all that is soft and pleasing, 
 amiable or exquisite to the eye or to the ear, 
 ■ in the exterior frame of nature, produces that 
 
I 4 6 HISTORICAL SKETCHES OP 
 
 taste for true simplicity, which is one of the 
 most useful, as well as the most elegant lea* 
 sons, that ladies can learn. 
 
 Infancy, is perhaps, the finest and most 
 perfect illustration of simplicity. It is a state 
 of genuine nature throughout/ The feelings 
 of. children are under no kind of restraint, but 
 pure as the fire, free as the winds, honest and 
 open as the face of heaven. Their joys in- 
 cessantly flow in the thickest succession, and 
 their griefs only seem fleeting and convales- 
 cent. To the calls of nature they are only at- 
 tentive* They know no voice but hers*. 
 Their obedience to all her commands is 
 prompt and implicit. They never anticipate 
 her bounties, nor relinquish her pleasures. 
 Tins situation renders them independent of ar- 
 tifice. Influenced only by nature, their man- 
 ners, like the principle that produces them, 
 are always the same. 
 
 Genuine simplicity is that peculiar quality 
 of the mind, by which some happy characters 
 are enabled to avoid the most distant ap- 
 proaches to every thing like affectation, incon- 
 sistency, or design, in their intercourse with 
 the world. It is much more easily understood, 
 however, than defined ; and consists not in a 
 specific tone of the voice, movement of the bo- 
 dy,or mode imposed by custom,but is the natu- 
 ral and permanent effect of real modesty and 
 good sense on the whole behavior. 
 
 This has been considered in all ages, as 
 one of the first and most captivating ornaments 
 of the sex. The savage, the Plebeian, the 
 man of the world, and the courtier, are agreed 
 
THE FAIR SEX. 147 
 
 in stamping it with a preference to every other 
 female excellence. 
 
 Nature only is lovely, and nothing unnatu- 
 ral can ever be amiable. The genuine ex- 
 pressions of truth and nature are happily cal- 
 culated to impress the heart with pleasure. 
 No woman, whatever her other qualities may 
 be, was ever eminently agreeable,but in propor- 
 tion as distinguished by these. The world is 
 good-natured enough to give a lady credit for 
 ali the merit she can possess or acquire, with- 
 out affectation'. But the least shade or colour- 
 ing of this odious foible brings certain and in- 
 dexable obloquy on the most elegant accom- 
 plishments. The blackest suspicion inevita- 
 bly rests on every thing assumed. She who 
 is only an ape of others, or prefers formality, 
 in all its gigantic and preposterous shapes, to 
 that plain, unembarrassed conduct which na- 
 ture unavoidably produces, will assuredly pro- 
 voke an adundance of ridicule, but never can 
 be an object either of love or esteem. 
 
 The various artifices of the sex discover 
 themselves at a very early period. A passion 
 for expence and show is one of the first they ex- 
 hibit. This gives them a taste for refinement, 
 which divests their young hearts of almost e- 
 very other feeling, renders their tempers de- 
 sultory and capricious, regulates their dress 
 only by the most fantastic models of finery and 
 fashion, and makes their company rather tire- 
 some and awkward, than pleasing or elegant. 
 
 No one perhaps can form a more ludicrous 
 contrast to every thing just and graceful in na- 
 ture, than the woman whose sole object in 
 
i 4 B HISTORICAL SKETCHES Or 
 
 life is to pass for a fine lady. The attentions 
 she every where and uniformly pays, expects, 
 and even exacts, are tedious and fatiguing. 
 Her various movements and attitudes are all 
 adjusted and exhibited by rule. By a happy 
 fluency of the most elegant language, she has 
 the art of imparting a momentary dignity and 
 grace to the merest trifles. Studious only to 
 mimic such peculiarities as are most admired 
 in others, she affects a loquacity peculiarly 
 flippant and teazing ; because scandal, routs, 
 finery, fans, china, lovers, lap-xiogs, or squir- 
 rels, are her constant themes. Her amuse- 
 ments, like those of a mag-pye, are only 
 hopping over the same spots, prying into the 
 same corners, and devouring the same spe- 
 cies of prey. The simple and beautiful deli- 
 neations of nature, in her countenance, ges- 
 tures, and whole deportment are habitually- 
 deranged, distorted, or concealed, by the af- 
 fected adoption of whatever grimace or de* 
 formity is latest, or most in vogue. 
 
 She accustoms her face to a simper, which 
 every separate feature in it belies. She spoils, 
 perhaps, a blooming complexion with a pro- 
 fusion of artificial coloring. She distorts the 
 most exquisite shape by loads or volumes of 
 useless drapery. She has her head, her arms, 
 her feet, and her gait, equally touched by art 
 and affectation, into what is called the tsste, the 
 forty or the fashion. 
 
 She little considers to what a torrent of ri- 
 dicule and sarcasm this mode of conduct ex- 
 poses her ; or how exceedingly cold and hol- 
 low that ceremony must be, which is not the 
 
THE FAIR SEX, r*j 
 
 language of a warm heart. She does not re- 
 flect how insipid those smiles are, which indi- 
 cate no internal pleasantry ; nor how awk- 
 ward those graces, which spring not from ha- 
 bits of good-nature and benevolence. Thus, 
 pertness succeeds to delicacy, assurance to 
 modesty, and all the vagaries of a listless, to 
 all the sensibilities of an ingenuous mind. 
 
 With her, punctilio is politeness ; dissipa- 
 tion, life ; and levity, spirit. The miserable 
 and contemptible drudge of every tawdry in- 
 novation in dress or ceremony, she incessant- 
 ly mistakes extravagance for taste, and finery 
 for elegance. 
 
 Her favorite examples are not those persons 
 of acknowledged sincerity, who speak as they 
 feel, and act as they think ; but such only as 
 are formed to dazzle her fancy, amuse her 
 senses, or humor her whims. Her only stu- 
 dy is how to glitter or shine, how to captivate 
 and gratify the gaze of the multitude, or how 
 to swell her own pomp and importance. To 
 this interesting object all her assiduities and 
 time are religiously devoted. 
 
 How often is debility of mind, and even 
 badness of heart, concealed under a splendid 
 exterior ! The fairest of the species, and of 
 the sex, often want sincerity ; and without 
 sincerity every other qualification is rather a 
 blemish, than a virtue, or excellence. Sincer- 
 ity operates in the moral, somewhat like the 
 sun in the natural world ; and produces near- 
 ly the same effects on the dispositions of the 
 human heart, which he does on inanimate ob- 
 O 
 
I*> HISTORICAL SKETCHES OP 
 
 jects. Wherever sincerity prevails, and is 
 felt, all the smiling and benevolent virtues 
 flourish most; disclose their sweetest lustre, 
 and diffuse their richest fragrance. 
 
 Heaven has not a finer or more perfect em* 
 blem on earth, than a woman of genuine sim- 
 plicity. She affects no graces which are not 
 inspired by sincerity. Her opinions result 
 not from passion and fancy, but from reason 
 and experience. Candor and humility give 
 expansion to her heart. She struggles for no 
 iind of chimerical credit, disclaims the ap- 
 pearance of every affectation, and is in all 
 things just what she seems, and others would 
 be thought. Nature, not art, is the great 
 standard of her manners ; and her -exterior 
 "wears no varnish, or embellishment, which is 
 not the genuine signature of an open, unde- 
 signing, and benevolent mind. It is not in 
 her power, because not in her nature, to hide, 
 with a fawning air, and a mellow voice, her a- 
 version or contempt, where her delicacy is 
 hurt, her temper ruSicd, or her feelings in- 
 sulted. 
 
 in short, whatever appears most amiable, 
 lovely, or interesting in nature, art, manners, 
 or life, originates in simplicity. What is cor- 
 rectness in taste, purity in morals, truth in 
 science, grace in beauty, but simplicity ? It 
 is the garb of innocence. It adorned the first 
 ages, and stil) adorns the infant state of hu- 
 ■ inanity. Without simplicity, woman is a 
 vixen, aifcoqm tte, an hypocrite ; society, 
 a masquerade, and pleasure, a phantom. 
 
 The following story, I believe, is pretty 
 
THE FAIR SEX. 151 
 
 generally known. A lady, whose husband 
 had long been afflicted with an acute but lin- 
 gering disease, suddenly feigned such an un- 
 common tenderness for him, as to resolve on 
 dying in his stead. She had even the address 
 to persuade him not to outlive this extraor- 
 dinary instance of her conjugal fidelity and at- 
 tachment. It was instantly agreed they should 
 mutually swallow such a quantity of arsenic, 
 as would speedily effect their dreadful pur- 
 pose. She composed the fatal draught be- 
 fore his face, and even set him the desperate 
 example of drinking first. By this device, 
 which had all the appearance of the greatest 
 affection and candour, the dregs only were re- 
 served for him, and soon put a period to his 
 life. 
 
 It then appeared that the dose was so tem- 
 pered, as, from the weight of the principal in- 
 gredient, to be deadly only at the bottom, 
 which she had artfully appropriated for his 
 share. Even after all this finesse, she seized, 
 we are told, his inheritance, and insulted his 
 memory by a second marriage. 
 
 CHAPTER XXXVIK. 
 
 On the mild Magnanimity of Women. 
 
 ^ A LATE eminent anatomist, in a profes- 
 sional discourse on the female frame, is said 
 to have declared, that it almost appeared an act 
 of cruelty in nature to produce such a being 
 as woman. This remark may, indeed, be the 
 
JS* HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF 
 
 natural exclamation of refined sensibility * in 
 contemplating the various maladies to which 
 a creature of such delicate organs is inevita- 
 bly exposed; but, if we take a more enlarg- 
 ed survey of human existence, we shall be 
 far from discovering any just reason to arraign 
 the benevolence of its provident and gracious 
 Author. If the delicacy of woman must ren- 
 der her familiar with pain and sickness, let us 
 remember that her charms, her pleasures and 
 her happiness arise also from the same attrac- 
 tive quality. She is a being, to use the forci- 
 ble and elegant expression of a poet, 
 
 " Fine by defect, and amiably wezk." 
 
 There is, perhaps, no charm by which she 
 more effectually secures the tender admiration 
 and the lasting love of the more hardy sex, 
 than her superior endurance, her mild and 
 graceful submission to the common evils of 
 life. 
 
 Nor is this the sole advantage she derives 
 from her gentle fortitude. It is the preroga- 
 tive of this lovely virtue, to lighten the press- 
 ure of all those incorrigible evils which it 
 cheerfully endures. The frame of man may 
 be compared to the sturdy oak, which is of- 
 ten shattered by resisting the tempest. Wo- 
 man is the pliant osier, which, in bending to 
 the storm, eludes its violence. 
 
 The accurate observers of human nature 
 will readily allow, that patience is most emi- 
 nently thexharacteristic of woman. To what 
 a sublim^fiid astonishing height this virtue 
 has been carried by beings of the most deli- 
 cate texture, we have striking examples in the 
 
THE FAIR SEX. 153 
 
 many martyrs who were exposed, in the first 
 ages of Christianity, to the most barbarous and 
 lingering torture. ^ 
 
 Nor was it only from christian zeal that 
 woman derived the power of defying the ut- 
 most rigours of persecution with invincible 
 fortitude. Saint Ambrose, in his elaborate 
 and pious treatise on this subject, records the 
 resolution of a fair disciple of Pythagoras, 
 who, being severely urged by a tyrant to re- 
 veal the secrets of her sex, to convince him 
 that no torments should reduce her to so un- 
 worthy a breach of her vow, bit her own 
 tongue asunder, and darted it in the face of 
 her oppressor. 
 
 In consequence of those happy changes 
 which have taken place in the world, from 
 the progress of purified religion, the inflexi- 
 ble spirit of the tender sex is no longer ex- 
 posed to such inhuman trials. But if the 
 earth is happily delivered from the demons of 
 torture and superstition; if beauty and inno- 
 cence are no more in danger of being drag- 
 ged to perish at the stake — perhaps there are 
 situations, in female life, that require as much 
 patience and magnanimity, as were formerly 
 exerted in the fiery torments of the virgin 
 martyr. It is more difficult to support an ac- 
 cumulation of minute infelicities, than any- 
 single calamity of the most terri r ic magni- 
 tude, 
 
 D 
 
ISA HISTORICAL SKETCHES OP 
 
 CHAPTER XXXIX. 
 
 On Female Delicacy, 
 
 WHERE the human race has little other 
 culture than what it receives from nature, the 
 two sexes live together unconscious of almost 
 any restraint on their words or on their ac- 
 tions. The Greeks, in the heroic ages, as ap- 
 pears from the whole history of their conduct, 
 were totally unacquainted With delicacy. The 
 Romans in the infancy of their empire, were 
 the same. Tacitus informs us that the an- 
 cient Germans had not; separate beds for the 
 two sexes, but that they lay promiscuously 
 on reeds or on hearth, spread along the walls 
 of their houses. This custom still prevails 
 in Lapland among the peasants of Norway, 
 Poland and Russia; and it is not altogether 
 obliterated in some parts of the highlands of 
 Scotland and of Wales. 
 
 In Otaheite, to appear naked or in clothes, 
 are circumstances equally indifferent to both 
 sexes ; nor does any word in their language, 
 nor any action to which they are prompted 
 by nature, seem more indelicate or reprehen- 
 sible than another. Such are the effects of a 
 total want of culture. 
 
 Effects njrt very dissimilar are, in France 
 and Italy, jffoduced from a redundance of it. 
 Thoughjfcse are the politest countries in 
 EuropeJBromen there set themselves above 
 shame/ aiid despise delicacy. .. It is laughed 
 
THE PAIR SEX. 155 
 
 out of existence, as a silly and unfashionable 
 weakness. 
 
 But in China, one of the politest countries 
 in Asia, and perhaps not even, in this respect, 
 behind France or Italy, the case is quite 
 otherwise. No human being can be more 
 delicate than a Chinese woman in her dress, 
 in her behaviour, and in her conversation ; 
 and should she ever happen to be exposed in 
 any unbecoming manner, she feels with the 
 greatest poignancy the aukwardness of her 
 situation, and if possible, covers her face, that 
 she may not be known. 
 
 In the midst of so many discordant appear- 
 ances, the mind is perplexed, and can hardly 
 fix upon any cause to which female delicacy 
 is to be ascribed. If we attend, however, to 
 the whole animal creation, if we consider it 
 attentively wherever it falls under our obser- 
 vation, it will discover to us, that in the female 
 there is a greater degree of delicacy or coy 
 reserve than in the male. Is not this a proof, 
 that, though the wide extent of creation, the 
 seeds of deiicacyare more liberally bestowed 
 upon females than upon males ? 
 
 In the remotest periods of which we have 
 any historical account, we find that the women 
 had a delicacy to which the other §ex were 
 strangers. Rebecca veiled herself when she 
 first approached Isaac her future husband. — 
 Many of the fables of antiquity mark, with 
 the most distinguishing characips, the force 
 of female delicacy. Of this kind is the fable 
 of Action and Diana. Action, a famous 
 hunter ; being in the woods with his hounds, 
 
156 HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF 
 
 beating for game, accidentally spied Diana and 
 her nymphs bathing in a river. Prompted by 
 curiosity, he stole silently into a neighbouring 
 thicket, that he might have a nearer view of 
 them. The goddess discovering him, was so 
 affronted at his audacity, and so much asham- 
 ed to have been seen naked, that in revenge 
 she immediately transformed him into a stag, 
 set his own hounds upon him, and encourag- 
 ed them to overtake and devour him. Besides 
 this, and other fables, and historical anec- 
 dotes of antiquity, their poets seldom exhibit 
 a female character without adorning it with 
 the graces of modesty and delicacy. Hence 
 we may infer, that these qualities have not 
 only been always essential to virtuous women 
 in civilized countries, but were also constant- 
 ly praised and esteemed by men of sensibili- 
 ty ; and that delicacy is an innate principle in 
 the female mind. 
 
 There are so many evils attending the loss 
 of virtue in women, and so greatly are the 
 minds of that sex depraved when they have 
 deviated from the path of rectitude,, that a 
 general contamination of their morals may be 
 considered as one of the greatest misfortunes 
 that can befal a state, as in time it destroys 
 almost every public virtue of the men. Hence 
 all wise legislators have strictly enforced upon 
 the sex a particular purity of manners ; and 
 not satisfied that they should abstain from 
 vice only, J^ye required them even to shun 
 every appearance of it. 
 
 Such, in some periods, w r ere the laws of 
 the Romans; and such were the effects of 
 
THE FAIR SEX. rsy 
 
 these laws, that if ever female delicacy shone 
 forth in a conspicuous manner, it was perhaps 
 among those people, after they had worn off 
 much of the barbarity of their first ages, and 
 before they became contaminated by the 
 wealth and manners of the nations which 
 they plundered and subjected. Then it was 
 that we find many of their women surpassing in 
 modesty almost every thing related by fable ; 
 and then it was that their ideas of delicacy 
 were so highly refined, that they could not 
 even bear the secret consciousness of an in- 
 voluntary crime, and far less of having tacitly 
 consented to it. 
 
 CHAPTER XL. 
 
 On Female Wit. 
 
 WIT has been well compared to the danc* 
 ing of a meteor, that blazes, allures and mis- 
 leads. Most certainly it alone can never be 
 a steady light ; and too probably it is often a 
 fatal one. Of those who have resigned 
 themselves to its guidance, how few has it 
 not betrayed into great indiscretions at least, 
 by inflaming their thirst of applause; by ren- 
 dering them little nice in their choice of com- 
 pany ; by seducing them into strokes of sa- 
 tire, too offensive to the persons against 
 whom they were levelled, noUa be repelled 
 upon the authors with full vengeance; and, 
 finally, by making them, in consequence of 
 that heat which produces, and that vanity 
 
153 HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF 
 
 which fosters it, forgetful of those cool and 
 moderate rules that ought to regulate their 
 conduct I 
 
 A very few only have been endowed with 
 judgment and temper sufficient to restrain 
 them from indulging "the rash dexterity of 
 wit," and to direct it to purposes equally 
 agreeable and beneficial. But one thing is 
 certain — that witty men, for the most part r 
 have had few friends, though many admirers* 
 Their conversation has been courted, while 
 their abilities have been feared, or their cha- 
 racters hated — or both. In truth, the last 
 have seldom merited affection, even when the 
 first have excited esteem. Sometimes their 
 hearts have been so bad, as at length to bring 
 their heads into disgrace. 
 
 At any rate, the faculty termed wit is com- 
 monly looked on with a suspicious eye, as a 
 two-edged sword, from which not even the 
 sacredness of friendship can secure. 
 
 It is generally more dreaded in women than 
 in men. In a Mrs. Re we, we may presume, 
 it was not. To great brilliancy of imagina- 
 tion, that angelic female joined yet greater 
 goodness of disposition; and never wrote, 
 nor was ever supposed to have said, in her 
 whole life, an ill-natured, or even an indeli- 
 cate thing. Of such a woman, with all her 
 talents, none could be afraid. In her compa- 
 ny, it must have been impossible not to feel 
 respect. If ought on earth can present the 
 image of celestial excellence in its softest ar- 
 ray, it is surely an accomplished woman ; in 
 
THE FAIPv SEX. i^ 
 
 •whom purity and meekness, intelligence and 
 modesty, mingle their charms. 
 
 Men of the best sense, however, have been 
 ■usually averse to the thought of marrying a 
 witty female. Were they afraid of being 
 outshone ? Some of them perhaps might be 
 so, but many of them acted on different mo- 
 tives. Men who understand the science of 
 domestic happiness, know that its very first 
 principle is ease. Of that indeed we grow 
 fonder, in every condition, as we advance in 
 life, and as the heat of youth abates. But 
 we cannot be easy where we are not safe. — 
 We are never safe in the company of a critic ; 
 and almost every wit is a critic by profession. 
 In such company we are not at liberty to un- 
 bend ourselves. All must be the straining of 
 stud}', or the anxiety of apprehension. How 
 painfull Where the heart may not expand 
 and open itself with freedom, farevvel to real 
 friendship, farewell to convivial delight! But 
 to suffer this restraint at home, what misery ! 
 From the brandishings of wit in the hand of 
 ill -nature, of imperious passion, or of un- 
 bounded vanity, who would not flee? But 
 when that weapon is brandished at a husband, 
 is it to be wondered if, from his own house, 
 he takes shelter in the tavern ! He sought a 
 friend, he expected to be happy in a reasona- 
 ble companion : he has found a perpetual sa* 
 tirist, or a self sufficient prattler. How does 
 one pity such a man, when one sees him in 
 continual fear on his own account, and that 
 of his friends, and for the poor lady herself; 
 .lest, in the run of her discourse, she should 
 
ito HISTORICAL SKETCHES Of 
 
 be guilty of some petulance or some indis- 
 cretion, that would expose her, and hurt them 
 all. 
 
 But take the matter at the best, there is still 
 all the difference in the world between the en- 
 tertainer of an evening, and a partner for life. 
 Of the latter, a sober mind, steady attachment, 
 and gentle manners, joined to a" good under- 
 standing, will ever be the chief recommenda- 
 tion ; whereas the qualities that sparkle will 
 be often sufficient for the former. 
 
 CHAPTER XLI. 
 
 On the Influence of Female Society. 
 
 THE company of ladies has a very pow- 
 erful influence on the sentiments and conduct 
 of men. Woman the fruitful source of half 
 our joys, and perhaps of more than half our 
 sorrows, give an elegance to our manners, 
 and a relish to our pleasures. They sooth 
 our afflictions, and soften our cries. Too 
 much of their company will render us effemi- 
 nate, and infallibly stamp upon us many sig- 
 natures of the female nature. A rough and 
 unpolished behavour, as well as slovenliness 
 of person, will certainly be the consequence 
 of aft almost constant exclusion from it. By 
 spending a reasonable portion of our time In 
 the company of women, and another in tne 
 company of our own s< x, we shall imbibe a 
 proper share of the softness of the female, and 
 
THE FAIR SEX. I6i 
 
 at the same time retain the firmness and con- 
 stancy of the male. 
 
 " We believe that is it proper," says an a- 
 miable writer, who has studied the human 
 heart with success, " for persons of the same 
 age, of the same sex, of similar dispositions 
 and pursuits, to associate together. ,, But 
 here we seem to be deceived by words. If 
 we consult nature and common sense, we 
 shall find, that the true propriety and harmo- 
 ny of social life depend upon the connection 
 of people of different dispositions and charac- 
 ters judiciously blended together. Nature 
 hath made no individual, and no class of peo- 
 ple, independent of the rest of their species, 
 or sufficient for their own happiness. 
 
 " Each sex, each character, each period of 
 life, have their several advantages and disad- 
 vantages ; and that union is the happiest and 
 most proper where wants are mutually sup- 
 plied. 
 
 " The fair sex should naturally hope to 
 gain from our conversation knowledge, wis- 
 dom, and sedateness ; and they should give 
 to us, in exchange, humanity, politeness, 
 cheerfulness, taste, and sentiment. 
 
 " The levity, the rashness, and folly of ear- 
 ly life are tempered with the gravity, the 
 caution, and the wisdom of age ; while the 
 timidity, coldness of heart, and languor inci- 
 dent to declining years, are supported and as- 
 sisted by the courage, the warmth, and the vi- 
 vacity of youth." 
 
 As little social intercourse subsisted be- 
 tween the two sexes, in the more early ages 
 P 
 
I6J historical sketches of 
 
 of antiquity, we find the men less courteous, 
 and the women less engaging. Vivacity and 
 cheerfulness seem hardly to have existed. 
 Even the Babylonians, who appear to have al- 
 lowed their women more liberty than any of 
 the ancients, seem not to have lived with them 
 in a friendly and familiar manner. But as 
 their intercourse with them was considerably 
 greater than that of the neighbouring nations, 
 tliey acquired thereby a polish and refinement 
 unknown to any of the people who surround- 
 ed them. The manners of both sexes were 
 softer, and better calculated to please. 
 
 They likewise paid more attention to clean- 
 liness and dress. 
 
 After the Greeks became famous for their 
 knowledge of the arts and sciences, their 
 rudeness and barbarity were only softened a 
 few degrees. It is not therefore arts, sciences, 
 and learning* but the company of the other 
 sex, that forms the manners and renders the 
 man agreeable. 
 
 The Romans were, for some time, a com- 
 munity without women, and consequently 
 without any thing to soften the ferocity of 
 male nature. The Sabine virgins, whom 
 they had stolen, appear to have infused into 
 them the first ideas of politeness. But it was 
 many ages before this politeness banished the 
 roughness of the w r arrior, and assumed the re- 
 finement of the gentleman. 
 
 During the times of chivalry, female influ- 
 ence was at the zenith of its glory and perfec- 
 tion. It was the source of valour, it gave birth to 
 politeness, it awakened pity, it called forth be- 
 
THE FAIR SEX. IJ63 
 
 nevolence, it restricted the hand of oppression, 
 and meliorated the human heart. " I cannot 
 approach my mistress," said one, " till I have 
 done some glorious deed that may deserve 
 her notice. Actions should be the messengers 
 of the heart; they are the homage due to 
 beauty, and they only should discover love." 
 
 Marsan, instructing a young knight how to 
 behave so as to gain the favour of the fair, has 
 these remarkable words : — " When your arm 
 is raised, if your lance fail, draw your sword 
 directly ; and let heaven and hell resound 
 with the clash. Lifeless is the soul which 
 beauty cannot animate, and weak is the arm 
 which cannot fight valiantly to defend it." 
 
 The Russians, Poles, and even the Dutch, 
 pay less attention to their females than any of 
 their neighbours, and are, by consequence, 
 less distinguished for the graces of their per- 
 sons, and the feelings of their hearts. 
 
 The lightness of their food, and the salubri- 
 ty of their air, have been assigned as reasons 
 for the vivacity and cheerfulness of the French, 
 and their fortitude in supporting their spirits 
 through all the adverse circumstances of this 
 world. But the constant mixture of the 
 young and old, of the two sexes, is no cloubt 
 one of the principal reasons why the cares and 
 ills of lift sit lighter on the shoulders of that 
 fantastic people, than on those of any other 
 country in the world. 
 
 The French reckon an excursion dull, and 
 a party of pleasure without relish, unless a 
 mixture of both sexes join to compose it. 
 The French women do not even withdraw 
 
164 HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF 
 
 from the table after meals ; nor do the men 
 discover that impatience to have them dis- 
 missed, which they so often do in England. 
 
 It is alledged by those who have no relish 
 for the conversation of the fair sex, that their 
 presence curbs the freedom of speech, and re- 
 strains the jollity of mirth. But, if the con- 
 versation and the mirth are decent, if the com- 
 pany are capable of relishing any thing but 
 wine, the very reverse is the case. Ladies, 
 in general, are not only more cheerful than 
 gentlemen, but more eager to promote mirth 
 and good humour. 
 
 So powerful, indeed, are the company and 
 conversation of the fair, in diffusing happiness 
 and hilarity, that even the cloud which hangs 
 on the thoughtful brow of an Englishman, be- 
 gins in the present age to brighten, by his de- 
 voting to the ladies a larger share of time 
 than was formerly done by his ancestors. 
 
 Though the influence of the sexes be reci* 
 procal, yet that of the ladies is certainly the 
 greatest. How often may one see a compa- 
 ny of men, who were disposed to be riotous, 
 checked all at once into decency by the aeci- 
 den al entrance of an amiable woman ; while 
 her good sense and obliging deportment 
 charms them into at least a temporary convic- 
 tion, that there is nothing so beautiful as fe- 
 male excellence, nothing so delightful as fe- 
 male conversation, in its best form ! Were 
 such conviction frequently repeated, what 
 might we not expect from it at last ? 
 
 " Were Virtue," said an ancient philosov 
 pher, " to appear amongst men in visible 
 
THE FAIR SEX. 165 
 
 shape, what vehement desires would she enkin- 
 dle !" Virtue exhibited without affectation, 
 by a lovely young person, of improved un- 
 derstanding and gentle manners, may be said 
 to appear with the most alluring aspect, sur- 
 rounded by the Graces. 
 
 It would be an easy matter to point out in* 
 stances of the most evident reformation, 
 wrought on particular men, by their having 
 happily conceived a passion for virtuous wo- 
 men. 
 
 To form the manners of men, various cau- 
 ses contribute ; but nothing, perhaps, so 
 much as the turn of the woman with whom 
 they converse. Those who are most conver- 
 sant with women of virtue and understanding, 
 will be always found the most amiable charac- 
 ters ; other circumstances being supposed a- 
 like. Such society, beyoiid everything else, 
 rubs off the corners that gave many of our sex 
 an ungracious roughness. It produces a pol- 
 ish more perfect, and more pleasing than that 
 which is received from a general commerce 
 with the world. This last is often specious, 
 but commonly superficial. The other is the 
 result of gentler feelings, and more humani- 
 ty. The heart itself is moulded. Habits of 
 undissembled courtesy are formed. A cer- 
 tain flowing urbanity is acquired. Violent 
 passions, rash oaths, coarse jests, indelicate 
 language of every kind, are precluded and 
 disrelished. 
 
 Understanding and virtue, by being often 
 contemplated in the most engaging lights, 
 have a sort of assimilating oqw&V Let it fioi 
 
266 HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF 
 
 be supposed, however, that the men, here de- 
 scribed, will become feminine. Their sen- 
 timents and deportment will only contract a 
 grace ; their principles will have nothing fe- 
 rocious or forbidding ; their affections will 
 be chaste and soothing at the same instant. In 
 that case, the gentleman, the man of worthy 
 and the religious man, will all melt insensibly 
 find sweetly into one another. 
 
 The French and Italian nobility are gene- 
 rally educated in the drawing-room, at the 
 toilette, and places of public amusement, 
 where they are constantly in the company of 
 women. 
 
 The English nobility and gentry receive 
 their education at the University, and at New- 
 market, where books, grooms, and jockies 
 must, of course, be their companions. 
 
 Some mode of education, between these 
 two extremes, would have a tendency to pre- 
 serve the dignity of the man, as well as to in- 
 fuse a sufficient quantity of the address of the 
 woman. 
 
 Female society gives men a taste for clean- 
 liness and elegance of. person. Our ancestors, 
 w r ho kept but little company with their wo- 
 men, were not only slovenly in their dress, but 
 had their countenances disfigured with long 
 beards. By female influence, however, beards 
 were, in process of time, mutilated down to 
 mustaches. As the gentlemen found that the 
 ladies had no great relish for mustaches, which 
 were the relicts of a beard, they cut and curl- 
 ed them into various fashions, to render them 
 more agreeable. At last, however, finding 
 
THE FAIR SEX. 167 
 
 such labor vain, they gave them up altogether. 
 But as those of the three learned professions 
 were supposed to be endowed with, or at least 
 to stand in need of, more wisdom than other 
 people, and as the longest beard had always 
 been deemed to sprout from the wisest chin, 
 to supply this mark of distinction, which they 
 had lost they contrived to smother their heads 
 in enormous quantities of frizzled hair, that 
 thev might bear the greater resemblance to an 
 owl, the' bird sacred to wisdom and Miner- 
 va. 
 
 To female society it has been objected by 
 the learned and studious, that it enervates the 
 mind, and gives it such a turn for trifling, le- 
 vity, and dissipation, as renders it altogether 
 ynfit for that application which is necessary in 
 order to become eminent in any of the sciences. 
 In proof of this they allege, that the greatest 
 philosophers seldom or never were men who 
 enjoyed, or were fit for, the company or con- 
 versation of women. Sir Issac Newton hard- 
 ly ever conversed with any of the sex. Ba- 
 con, Boyle, des Cartes, and many others, con- 
 spicuous for their learning and application, 
 were but indifferent companions to the fair. 
 
 It is certain, indeed, that the youth who 
 devotes his whole time and attention to fe- 
 male conversation, and the little offices of gal- 
 lantry, never distinguishes himself in the li- 
 terary world. But notwithstanding this, with- 
 out the fatigue and application of severe stu- 
 dy, he often obtains, by female interest, that 
 which is denied to the merited improvements 
 acquired by the labor of many years. 
 
idS HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF 
 
 CHAPTER XLII. 
 
 Of the British Ladies at different Periods* 
 
 WHAT polished nations understand by 
 society, Lipears to have been little known in 
 England, before the reign of Henry VIII. 
 This backwardness may in some measure be 
 ascribed to our continental wars with France 
 and with Scotland. By our quarrels with the 
 one, we were shut out from foreign inter- 
 course ; and by our hostilities with both, we 
 were diverted from cultivating the arts of 
 peace. 
 
 The spirit of chivalry, which produced 
 such ami! zing effects on the Continent, was 
 more weakly felt here. Edward III. had in- 
 deed established the order of the Garter. — 
 But real wars allowed the knights little time 
 for the mock encounter, or the generous vi- 
 sions of romantic heroism. Love w r as still 
 a simple passion, which led the shortest way 
 to its gratification, and generally in conformity 
 with law and custom. It partook little of 
 imagination; and consequently, required few 
 perfections in its object. It aspired neither 
 at angels nor goddesses. 
 
 The women, who still retained all their na- 
 tive innocence and modesty, were regarded 
 only as wives and mothers. Where qualifi- 
 cations are not demanded, they will never be 
 found. The accomplishments of the sex en- 
 titled them to no other character; and it had 
 perhaps been happy for both sexes, if they 
 
THE FAIR SEX. i6> 
 
 could have remained in such a state of sim- 
 plicity. 
 
 The Scots by means of their alliance with 
 France, which had subsisted for several cen- 
 turies, and that spirit of adventure, which 
 has at all times led them abroad in quest of 
 reputation, civil or military, may be supposed 
 at this time to have been better acquainted 
 with the elegancies of life, than their wealthy 
 and powerful neighbors. Accordingly wc 
 find, in the court of James IV. a taste in mu- 
 sic, in letters, and in gallantry, to which the 
 great monarch of the house of Tudor and his 
 haughty barons were yet strangers. 
 
 But the political state of both kingdoms 
 was an insuperable bar to all liberal inter- 
 course. The barons, or chiefs, were hostile 
 to the court, from which they hadevery thing 
 to fear, and nothing to hope. They were 
 dreaded by it in their turn ; they looked from 
 the walls of their castles with a jealous eye 
 on each other ; they never went abroad, but 
 attended by a numerous train of domestics. 
 They visited each other with the state,^and 
 the diffidence of neighbouring princes. Their 
 marriages were contracted from family mo- 
 tives, and their courtships were conducted 
 with the greatest form, and the most distant 
 respect. They took liberties indeed with the 
 women of inferior condition, and they rioted 
 in thoughtless jollity with their dependants. 
 But the ideas of inferiority and dependance 
 are incompatible with those of society and 
 gallantry. 
 
X70 HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF 
 
 Henry VII. by curbing the hostile spirit of 
 the barons, by abridging their power, by di- 
 minishing their retainers, by extending com- 
 merce, by encouraging agriculture, by secur- 
 ing peace to his subjects, at home and abroad, 
 prepared the way for learning, arts and ele- 
 gance. But the taste of the nation was not 
 yet ripe for their reception ; and the temper 
 of his son, Henry VIII. was not highly fa- 
 vourable to such a revolution. That prince^ 
 however, by his taste for tournaments, fos- 
 tered the spirit of chivalry. By his magnifi- 
 cence and profusion he drew the nobility to 
 court ; and, by his interviews with the em- 
 peror and the French king, he roused their em- 
 ulation of foreign elegance. They were smit- 
 ten with the love of letters and of gallantry. 
 The Earl of Surrey, in particular, celebrated 
 his mistress in his verses, and defended her ho- 
 nour with his sword, against all who dared, 
 with unhallowed lips, to profane her immxcu- 
 late name. 
 
 The women in this reign likewise began 
 to discover a taste for literature and polite- 
 ness. The countess of Richmond, mother 
 to Henry VII. and who survived him, had 
 shewn the way. She translated two pious trea- 
 tises from the French ; and was a great pat- 
 roness of learning. Elizabeth Blount, mis- 
 tress to Henry VIII. was a woman of ele- 
 gant accomplishments; and his last queen, 
 Catharine Parr, wrote with facility both in 
 Latin and English, and appears besides to. 
 have been a woman of address. 
 
THE FAIR SEX. 171 
 
 But tlie house of Sir Thomas More seems, 
 in a more particular manner, to have been 
 the habitation of the Muses, and even of the 
 Graces, He was possessed of all the learn- 
 ing of antiquity, and was pious even to weak- 
 ness. But neither his religion nor his learn- 
 ing, soured his temper, nor blunted his taste 
 for society. His ideas of the female charac- 
 ter would do honour to a gentleman of the 
 present age. " May you meet with a wife 
 not stupidly silent, nor always prattling non- 
 sense. May she be learned, if possible, or at 
 least capable of being made so. A woman, 
 thus accomplished, will always be drawing 
 sentiments and maxims out of the best au- 
 thors. She will be herself, in all the changes 
 of fortune. She will neither be blown up 
 with prosperity, nor brokvn in adversity. — 
 You will find in her an even, cheerful, good- 
 humored friend, and an agreeable companion 
 for life. She will infuse knowledge into your 
 children with their milk, and from their infancy 
 train them up to wisdom. Whatever com- 
 pany you are engaged in, you will long to be 
 at home ; and will retire with delight from 
 the society of men into the besom of a wo- 
 man, who is so dear, so knowing and so 
 amiable. If she touches her lute, and more 
 particularly if she sings to it any of her own 
 compositions, it will soothe your solitude, 
 and her voice will sound sweeter in your ear 
 than the song of the nightingale. You will 
 spend whole days and nights with pleasure in 
 her company, and you will be always finding 
 out new beauties in her mind. She will keep 
 
173 HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF 
 
 your soul in perpetual serenity. She will re- 
 strain its mirth from being dissolute, and pre- 
 vent its melancholy from becoming painful." 
 
 According to these ideas, he educated his 
 three daughters, whose virtues and talents ap- 
 pear to have merited all his care. They lived 
 for some time in one house, with their father, 
 their husbands and their children, and formed 
 a society, all things considered, which has 
 seldom, if ever, been equalled, in any age or 
 country ; where morals were sublimed by 
 religion ; where manners were polished by a 
 sense of elegance, and softened by a desire to 
 please ; where friendship was warmed by 
 love, and strengthened by the ties of blood. 
 Their conversation animated by genius, en- 
 riched by learning, and moderated by respect, 
 exulting in the dignity of its object, seemed 
 to approach to that fine transport which im- 
 mortal beings may be supposed to feel, in 
 pouring out their contemplations of the wis- 
 dom and goodness of the Creator. When 
 lighter matters were the subject of discourse, 
 wit had a spring, humor a flow, and sentiment 
 a poignancy, of which those who are often 
 talking of trifles, who hover continually on 
 the surface of the earth, and rove like butter- 
 flies from sense to sense, both in their lives 
 and conversations, can have no conception. 
 
 The reign of Elizabeth is justly considered 
 as one of the most shining periods in the 
 English history. For purity of manners, vigor 
 of mind, vigor of character, and personal ad* 
 dress, it is, perhaps unequalled. 
 
THE FAIR SEX. 17^ 
 
 The magnificent entertainments which that 
 illustrious princess so frequently gave her 
 court, and at which she generally appeared in 
 person, with a most engaging familiarity, 
 rubbed off the ancient reserve of the nobility, 
 and increased the taste of society, and even 
 of gallantry. The masculine boldness of her 
 character, however, was unfavourable to fe- 
 male graces. The women of her court, like 
 herself, were rather objects of respect than 
 love. Their virtues were severe; their learn- 
 ing and their talents were often great ; they 
 had passions, but they knew how to suppress 
 them, or to divert them into the channel of 
 interest or ambition. They did not, however, 
 want their admirers. Men were less delicate 
 in those days. 
 
 Spencer, by writing his " Fairy Queen,'* 
 revived in Britain the spirit of chivalry at a 
 time when it began to expire on the "conti- 
 nent ; and Sir Philip Sydney, in his " Arca- 
 dia,'' refined on that sentiment. The Fairy 
 Queen was intended as a compliment to Eli- 
 zabeth ; and the Arcadia was dedicated by 
 Sir Philip to his sister, the countess of Pem- 
 broke, the most amiable and accomplished 
 woman of her time. 
 
 The following ingenious and well-known 
 verses were intended as part of her epitaph : 
 " Underneath this sable hearse 
 Lies the subject of all verse, 
 Sydney's sister, Pembroke's mother — 
 Death ! ere thou hast kill'd another, 
 Fair, and learn'd, and good as she, 
 Time shall throw a dart at thee."' 
 
174 HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF 
 
 Elizabeth herself was a great and singular 
 character. But she had few qualities to re- 
 commend her as a woman, though passionate- 
 ly fond of personal admiration. Nor were 
 her talents, as a writer, either striking or ele- 
 gant, though she appears to have been ambi- 
 tious of literary fame. Her ability as a so- 
 vereign has been already considered. Her 
 virtues were those of her rank, and of her 
 age ; and her weaknesses those of her sex. 
 They failed, however, to render her amiable. 
 
 The accession of James VI. to the throne 
 of England, contributed still farther to ob- 
 struct the progress of civilization in Scotland, 
 and to the decline of the arts in that country. 
 The removal of the court drew the nobility 
 to London, to spend their fortunes, or obtain 
 preferment. Men of genius and learning 
 likewise looked this way. 
 
 That event, however, must have contribut- 
 ed to the advancement of society in England ; 
 yet not so much as might be expected. The 
 scantiness of James's revenue, together with 
 his want of economy, rendered him unable 
 to support the splendour of a court. It was 
 besides inconsistent with his maxims of po- 
 licy, and with his temper. He loved to be 
 social with his friends, but hated a croud ; 
 and had rather an aversion to the company of 
 women. A mean jealousy, which took place 
 of a generous emulation, between the Scotch 
 and English courtiers, prevented still farther, 
 the refinement of manners ; which can enly 
 be effected by a liberal intercourse. 
 
THE FAIR SEX. 175 
 
 The nobility and gentry of England are 
 still fonder of a country life than those of any 
 polished nation in Europe. It prevailed much 
 more then, and was highly encouraged by 
 James. He even issued proclamations, con- 
 taining severe threatenings, against the gentry 
 who lived in town. By these means, the an- 
 cient pride of family was preserved. Men 
 of birth were distinguished by a stateliness 
 of carriage. Much ceremony took place in 
 the ordinary commerce of life ; and, as riches 
 acquired by trade were still rare, little famili- 
 arity was indulged by the great. 
 
 The most distinguished women of this pe- 
 riod in Britain, were the Duchess of New- 
 castle, Lady Pakington and Lady Halket. 
 
 The Duchess of Newcastle has left us a 
 variety of compositions, both in prose and 
 verse, of no mean character. 
 
 Lady Pakington has long been reputed 
 the author of The whole duty of Man, and 
 several other moral and divine treatises; 
 which are written with so much temper, pu- 
 rity, piety, philosophy and good sense, that 
 she may be justly reckoned the glory of her 
 sex, and an honour to human nature. What 
 greatness of mind and goodness of heart must 
 the person be possessed of, who could deny 
 herself the honour of such works, lest the 
 name of a woman should render them of less 
 service to mankind ! 
 
 The restoration of monarchy made ample 
 amends to beauty for the indignities of the 
 commonwealth. The reign of Charles II. 
 may be considered, in one light as the most 
 
l 7 6 HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF 
 
 glorious csra to women in the history of Bri~ 
 tain, and as the most debasing in another. — 
 They were never so much caressed ; never 
 so little respected. 
 
 Charles himself had a susceptible, but 
 changeable heart; a social temper, a genteel 
 manner, and a lively wit. His courtiers par- 
 took much of the character of their master. 
 They had all suffered the pressure of adver- 
 sity, or felt the insolence of tyranny. They 
 began to think that Christianity was a fable ; 
 that virtue was a cheat ; that friendship and 
 generosity were but words of course ; and, 
 in greedily enjoying their change of fortune, 
 they sunk themselves beneath the dignity of 
 men. In avoiding spiritual pride, and in re- 
 taliating selfishness, they departed from the 
 essential principles of religion and morals ; 
 and by contrasting the language and the man- 
 ners of hypocrisy, they shamelessly violated 
 the laws of decency and decorum. 
 
 Overjoyed at the return of their sovereign, 
 the whole royal party dissolved in thoughtless 
 jollity ; and even many of the republicans, 
 particularly the younger class, and the wo- 
 men, were glad to be relieved from the auster- 
 ity of the commonwealth. A general relax- 
 ation of manners took place. Pleasure be- 
 came the universal object, and love the pre- 
 vailing taste ; but that love was rather an ap- 
 petite than a passion. Beauty, unconnected 
 with virtue, was its object : it was therefore 
 void of honor and attachment. In conse- 
 quence of such manners, female virtue, rob- 
 bed of its reward, became rather a mode of 
 
THE FAIR SEX. 177 
 
 behavior to inflame desire, or procure eleva- 
 tion, than a sentiment or principle ; and, of 
 course, sooner or later, /was either sacrificed 
 to inclination or to caprice. 
 
 But these observations in their full extent, 
 must only be understood of the court. The 
 greater part of the gentry still resided 
 on their estates in the country, equally stran- 
 gers to the pleasures of the court and town ; 
 and one half of the island was filled with in- 
 dignation at the vices of Whitehall. The 
 stage, which generally takes its complexion 
 from the court, was a continued scene of sen- 
 suality, blasphemy, and absurdity. 
 
 The free intercourse, however, of all ranks 
 of men, from the king to the commoner, im- 
 proved the talent of society, and polished the 
 language of conversation. Gallantry, licen- 
 tious as it was, produced an habit of polite- 
 ness ; and from the irregular, and even impi- 
 ous freedom of writing and thinking, sprung- 
 many strokes of real genius, and a liberal 
 spirit of inquiry, whose researches and experi- 
 ments have benefited mankind, and carried 
 philosophy and the sciences to an height that 
 does honor to modern times;: 
 
 The women of this reign, as may be ex- 
 pected from the taste of the men, were more 
 solicitous about adorning their- persons,- than* 
 th«ir minds. But the frequent intercourse 
 between the sexes in some measure compen- 
 sated that neglect. By such a- commerce- 
 they became more easy, more free, mo?e live- 
 ly, and more capable of conversation than tha 
 ^Qaxeo of any preceding age, They had Jess 
 
ITS HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF 
 
 learning, but more accomplishments ; and 
 perhaps more genius. They wanted nothing 
 but virtue to have made their memories im- 
 mortal ; and, notwithstanding the general de- 
 pravity, there were some who trod the nar- 
 row path, whose taste and sentiments were 
 un corrupted, and whose names still live in 
 their writings, and in the verses of their co- 
 temporaries. 
 
 The reign of James II. was too short to 
 to have any distinct character. It is only sin- 
 gular for the blind bigotry, and blinder dispo- 
 sition of the prince which roused the minds 
 of men from the delirium of pleasure in which 
 they had been lost, and brought about the re- 
 volution. 
 
 Under William III. the effects of that 
 change were visible on the manners. The 
 nation returned to what may be called its na- 
 tural state. An attention to just politics, 
 to sound philosophy and true religion, cha- 
 racterize the sera of British liberty. 
 
 William himself was of a gloomy temper, 
 and had a dislike to the company of women. 
 The intercourse of the sexes, and those a- 
 musements which are its consequences, were 
 therefore little countenanced during his reign. 
 By these means the ladies had more time for 
 the pursuits of learning and knowledge ; and 
 they made use of it accordingly. Many of 
 them became adepts in the sciences. Lady 
 Masham, and Mary Astell, particularly, dis- 
 cussed with judgment and ability the most 
 abstract points in metaphysics and divinity. 
 These two ladies differed on a very deii- 
 
THE FAIR SEXa IJ? 
 
 Gate point. Mary affirmed that we ought to 
 love with desire God only, every other love 
 being sinful. Lady Masham opposed that 
 doctrine as a dangerous refinement. Eacli 
 had her abettors. Miss Astell was supported 
 by Mr. Norris, and Lady Masham by Mr. 
 Locke. They were both great advocates 
 for the learning of women ; and their argu- 
 ments and example appear to have roused 
 many of the sex to a more serious attention to- 
 religion and morality. 
 
 The reign of queen Anne may be said to 
 have been the summer, of which William's 
 was only the spring. Every thing was ripen- 
 ed ; nothing was corrupted. It was a short, 
 but glorious period of heroism and national 
 capacity, of taste and science, learning and 
 genius, of gallantry without licentiousness, 
 and politeness without effeminacy. 
 
 One is in doubt which most to admire id 
 the women of this reign, the manners, the 
 talents, or the accomplishments. They were 
 religious without severity, and without enthu- 
 siasm. They were learned without pedantry. 
 They were intelligent and attractive, without 
 neglecting the duties of their sex. They were 
 elegant and entertaining, without levity. In 
 a word, they joined the graces of society to 
 the knowledge of letters, and the virtues of 
 domestic life. They were friends and compa- 
 nions, without ceasing to be wives and mo- 
 thers. 
 
 In support of the foregoing character of 
 the British ladies under the reign of queen 
 Anne, we need only adU the names of Lady 
 
l9o HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF 
 
 Chudleigh, Lady Winchelsea, the honorable 
 Mrs. Monk, Mrs. Bovcv, and Stella, 
 
 Of these ladies, Mrs. Bovey is perhaps the 
 least known, as she has left no writings, and 
 had no poetical lover to spread her name. She 
 is, however, \cry handsomely complimented 
 by Sir Richard Steele, in the dedication of the 
 second volume of the u Ladies Library ;" 
 and Mrs. Manley gives the following elegant 
 character of her in " The new Atalantis :'* 
 " Her person has as many charms as can be 
 desired. Her air, her manner, her judgment, 
 her wit, her conversation, are admirable. Her 
 sense is solid and perspicuous. She is so 
 perfect an economist, that in taking in all the 
 greater duties of life she does not disdain to 
 stoop to the most inferior. In short, she 
 knows ail that a man can know, without de- 
 spising what, as a woman > she ought not to- 
 be ignorant of." 
 
 Under George I. the manners of the nation 
 were sensibly changed ; but not so much as 
 the national spirit. The South Sea scheme, 
 and other mercenary projects, produced a pas- 
 sion of avarice, and a taste of luxury, which 
 prepared the way for all the corruptions of the 
 following reign. 
 
 The delirium of riches was beyond what 
 the most extravagant imagination can con- 
 ceive. Any scheme, however absurd, met 
 with encouragement, if it only proposed suf- 
 ficient advantages. All ranks and conditions, 
 and even women resorted to 'Change Alley,, 
 with the looks of harpies ready to seize upon 
 their prey ; bulla reality the victims, of theis 
 
THE FAIR SEX. i3* 
 
 own credulity and sordid passions. The peers 
 of the realm became stock-jobbers, and its 
 ministers brokers. Public virtue was lost in 
 the visions of private benefit. Letters fell in- 
 to contempt, though supported by the great- 
 est examples of successful genius,. Love 
 grew covetous, and beauty venal. 
 
 There were, however, in this reign many 
 woman of liberal and elegant talents ; among 
 the first of whom may be ranked Lady Mary 
 W. Montague, so well known for her spirited 
 poems, and ingenious letters. 
 
 As the manners of the two sexes generally 
 keep pace with each other, in proportion as 
 the men grew regardless of character, the wo- 
 men neglected the duties of their sex. Tho' 
 little inclined to hoarding, they are not perhaps 
 less disposed to avarice than men. Gold to 
 them is desirable, as the minister of vanity, 
 voluptuousness and show. It became their 
 supreme object, and the only source of the 
 matrimonial union, to the exclusion of that 
 tender sentiment, which alone can give 
 strength to the sacred tie, or pleasure to the 
 nuptial state. The young, the beautiful, the 
 healthful, were wedded, though not always 
 with their own consent, to age, deformity and 
 disease. Virtue was joined to profligacy, and 
 wantonness to severity. 
 
 Such marriages were necessarily destruc- 
 tive of domestic felicity. The want of cordi- 
 ality at home, naturally leads us abroad ; as 
 the want of happiness in ourselves leads us 
 to seek it in externals, and to torture imagina- 
 tion for the gratification cf appetites, which* 
 
1*2 HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF 
 
 undepraved, are simple and uniform. New 
 amusements and societies of pleasure were e- 
 very day fonried ; new modes of dissipation 
 were invented ; the order of nature was chang- 
 ed ; night and day were inverted ; fancy and 
 language were exhausted for names to the 
 assemblies of politeness and gallantry. 
 
 Nothing is so oppressive as time to the un- 
 happy, or thought to the vacant mind. These 
 were not all enough. They seemed afraid of 
 themselves, and of each other. The husband 
 had one set of visitors ; the wife another. 
 He prosecuted his pleasures abroad : she en- 
 tertained her friends at home ; or resorted to 
 some public amusement, or private pleasure. 
 
 A spirit of gaming which mingled itself 
 with dissipation and pleasure, afforded a pre- 
 tence for nocturnal meetings. And gaming, it 
 must be acknowledged, discovers the temper, 
 ruffles the passions, corrupts the heart, and 
 breaks down the strongest barrier of virtue — 
 a decent reserve between the sexes. 
 
 At present^ we presume that notwithstand- 
 ing the relaxation of manners, the aversion to 
 whatever is serious, the thirst of admiration, 
 and the neglect of those qualities which pro- 
 duce esteem, so conspicuous in some ; yet 
 the generality of our fair countrywomen possess 
 the domestic virtues in a considerable degree 
 of perfection. Infidelity is not so common as 
 some libertines would endeavor to persuade 
 us ; and elopements are stronger proofs of 
 sensibility than the want of shame. 
 
 In this island, and even in the metropolis, 
 there are many women who would have done 
 
THE FAIR SEX. 1S3 
 
 honour to any age or country ; who join a re- 
 fined taste and a cultivated understanding to 
 a feeling heart, and who adorn their talents 
 and their sensibility with sentiments of virtue, 
 honor, and humanity. We have women who 
 could have reasoned with Locke, who might 
 have disputed the laurel with Pope, and to 
 whom Addison would have listened with plea- 
 sure. 
 
 Even in the middle of opulence, and of 
 that luxury which too often mingles avarice 
 with state, which narrows the heart, and m; kes 
 it at the same time vain and cruel, we «->ee 
 women who yearly set apart a portion of their 
 substance for the poor ; who make it their 
 business to find out the bodies of misery, and 
 who number among their pleasures the relief 
 of the orphan, and the tears shed in the con- 
 solation of the widow. 
 
 CHAPTER XLIIL 
 
 On the Privileges of British Women. 
 
 THOUGH the French and Italians are su- 
 perior to the inhabitants of Great Britain in 
 politeness and in elegance, yet the condition 
 of their women, upon the whole, is not prefer- 
 able. Such privileges and immunities as 
 they derive from the influence of politeness, 
 the British derive from the laws of their coun- 
 try. 
 
 In France, the Salique law does not allow 
 a female to inherit the crown, But in En- 
 
l«4 HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF 
 
 gland, a woman may be the first personage in 
 the kingdom, may succeed to the crown in 
 her own right, and in that case, not bound by 
 any of the laws which restrain woman, she 
 may enjoy the same powers and privileges as 
 a king. Such a queen, if she marry, retains 
 also the same pow?r, issues the orders, and 
 transacts the business of the state in her own 
 name, and continues still the sovereign, while 
 her husband is only a subject. 
 
 When a king succeeds in his own right to 
 the crown, and marries, his queen is then on. 
 ly a subject, and her rights and privilege s are 
 not near so extensive. She is exempted, 
 however, from the general laws, which exclude 
 married women from having any property in 
 their own right. She may sue any person at 
 law, without joining her husband in the suit ; 
 she may purchase lands ; she may sell and 
 convey them to another person, without the 
 interference of her husband ; she may have a 
 separate property in goods and in lands, and 
 may dispose of these by will, as if she were a 
 single woman. On the commission of any 
 crime, however, she may be tried and punish- 
 ed by the peers of the realm. 
 
 To violate the chastity of the queen, of the 
 consort of the Prince of Wales, or of the eld- 
 est daughter of the king, although with their 
 own consent, is high treason and punishable 
 accordingly. The younger daughters, as 
 well as sons of the king, are hardly otherwise 
 distinguished by the laws, than by having the 
 precedency of all other subjects in public ce- 
 remonies. 
 
THE FAIR SEX. 185 
 
 A peeress when guilty of any crime,'cannot 
 be tried but by the house of peers. 
 
 A woman who is noble in her own right, 
 cannot lose her nobility by marrying the mean- 
 est plebian. She communicates her nobility 
 to her children, but not to her husband. 
 
 She who is only ennobled by marrying a 
 peer, loses that nobility, if she afterwards mar- 
 ry a commoner. 
 
 She who first marries a duke or other peer 
 of a superior order, and afterwards a simple 
 baron, is still allowed to retain her first title, 
 and the privileges annexed to it ; for the law 
 considers all peers as equals. 
 
 By the courtesy of this country? the 
 wives of baronets are called ladies, a title 
 superior to that of their husbands, but at the 
 same time a title to which they have no legal 
 right, being in all judicial writs and proceed- 
 ings only denominated Dame such-a-one, ac- 
 cording to the names of their husbands. 
 
 The law of England ordains, that if a man 
 courts a woman, promises to marry her, and 
 afterwards marries another, she may, by bring- 
 ing an action against him, recover such da- 
 mages as a jury shall think adequate to the 
 loss she has sustained. In Scotland, she may 
 receive one half of the fortune he receives with 
 his wife. On the other hand, as it sometimes 
 happens that artful women draw on the more 
 fond and silly part of our sex to make them 
 valuable presents under pretence of marriage, 
 and afterwards laugh at or refuse to marry 
 them — a man, who has been so bubbled, may 
 sue the woman to return the presents he made 
 R 
 
186 HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF 
 
 her, because they were presumed to have 
 been conditionally given, and she has failed 
 in performing her part of the condition. 
 
 Wives cannot be imprisoned for debt, nor 
 deprived of their personal liberty for any thing 
 but crimes ; and even such of these as sub. 
 ject the offender only to a pecuniary punish- 
 ment must be expiated by the husband. 
 
 No married woman is liable to pay any debt, 
 even though contracted without the know- 
 ledge, or against the consent of her husband. 
 And what is still more extraordinary, whate- 
 ver debts she may have contracted while sin- 
 gle, devolve, the moment of her marriage, up- 
 on the hapless spouse, who, like the scape- 
 goat, is loaded by the priest who performs 
 the ceremony with all the sins and extrava- 
 gances of his wife. 
 
 It is a common opinion among the vulgar, 
 that a general warning in the Gazette, or in a 
 news- paper, will exempt a man from the pay- 
 ment of such debts as are contracted by his 
 wife without his knowledge. But this opini- 
 on is without any good foundation. Particu- 
 lar warnings, however, given in writing, have 
 been held as good exemptions. But such are 
 of little advantage to a husband, as his wife 
 may always find people to give her credit, 
 whom the husband has not cautioned against 
 
 it. 
 
 When a husband forces his wife to Ieare 
 fcim by crut 1 usage, she may claim a separate 
 maintenance ; while she enjoys this, he is not 
 liable to pay any of her debts. 
 
 If a husband, conscious of having used his 
 
THE FAIR SEX. 18; 
 
 wife ill, will not allow her to go out of his 
 house, or carries her away, or keeps her con- 
 cealed, in order to prevent her endeavoring 
 to find redress of the evils that she suffers, her 
 friends may, in that case, by applying to the 
 court of King's Bench, obtain an order for 
 the husband to produce his wife before the 
 said court : and if she there swears the peace 
 against him,, she delivers herself from his ju- 
 risdiction, and he cannot compel her to live 
 with him, but the court will grant her an or- 
 der to live where she pleases. 
 
 Among the Romans, among several ether 
 ancient nations, and among some people in 
 the present times, it is not deemed culpable 
 for a husband to kill the man whom he sur- 
 prises committing adultery with his wife. By 
 the laws of England, he w T ho kills such a 
 man is reckoned guilty of manslaughter ; but, 
 in consequence of the great provocation given, 
 the court commonly orders the sentence of 
 burning on the hand to be inflicted in the 
 slightest manner. 
 
 A husband is not allowed to leave his wife, 
 she may enter a suit against him for the re- 
 stitution of the rights of marriage ; and the 
 spiritual court will compel him to return, to 
 live with her, and to restore them. 
 
 A husband cannot devise by his will such 
 of his wife's ornaments and jewels as she is 
 accustomed to wear ; though it has been 
 held that he may, if he pleases, dispose of 
 them in his life time. 
 
 A husband is liable to answer all such ac- 
 tions at law as were attached against his wife 
 
IS8 HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF 
 
 at the time of their marriage, and also to pay 
 all the debts she had contracted previous to 
 that period. But if his wife shall happen to 
 die before he has made payment of such debts, 
 the compact which made them one flesh, and 
 blended their interests into one, being dissolv- 
 ed, the husband is thereby absolved from pay- 
 ing her antenuptial debts. 
 
 Though a woman marries the meanest 
 Ian, she does not lose the rank which 
 she derived from her birth. But though she 
 be descended of the lowest of the human race 
 herself she may by marriage be raised, in this 
 country, to any rank beneath the sovereignty. 
 
 No woman can by marriage confer a set- 
 tlement in any parish on her husband. But 
 cverv man who has a legal settlement him-., 
 self, "confers the same settlement by marriage 
 6n his wife. 
 
 It is no uncommon tiling, in the present 
 limes, for the matrimonial bargain to be made 
 , so as that the wife shall retain the sole and ab- 
 solute power of enjoying and disposing of her 
 own fortune, in the same manner as if she 
 were not married. But what is more inequi- 
 table, the husband is liable to pay all the debts 
 which his wife may think proper to burden 
 him with, even though she have abundance 
 of her own to answer that purpose. He is al- 
 so obliged to maintain her, though her cir- 
 cumstances be more opulent than his ; and if 
 he die before her, she has a right to one third 
 of his real estate. If, however, she die be- 
 fore him, he is not entitled to the value of one 
 
THE FAIR SEX. 189 
 
 single halfpenny, unless she has devised it to 
 him by her will. 
 
 One of the most peculiar disadvantages 
 in the condition of British women is, their be- 
 ing postponed to all males in the succession 
 to' the" inheritance of landed estates, and gen- 
 erally allowed much smaller shares than the 
 men, even of the money and effects of their 
 fathers and ancestors, when this money or 
 those effects are given them in the lifetime of 
 their parents, or devised to them by will. If 
 the father, indeed, dies intestate, they share e- 
 qually with sons in all personal property. 
 
 When an estate in default of male heirs, 
 descends to the daughters, the common cus« 
 torn of England is that the eldest shall not, in 
 the same manner as an eldest son, inherit the 
 whole, but all the daughters shall have an c 
 qual share in it, Westmoreland, however, 
 and some other places, are exceptions to this 
 general rule. The eldest daughter, there 
 succeeds to the whole of the land, in prefer- 
 ence to all the other sisters. 
 
 Women are not allowed to be members of 
 our senate, nor to concern themselves much 
 with our trades and professions. Both in 
 their virgin and married state, a perpetual 
 guardianship is, in some measure* exercised 
 over them : and she who, having laid a hus- 
 band in the grave, enjoys an independent foi - 
 tune, is almost the only woman among us, who 
 can be called entirely free. They derive the 
 greater part of the power which they enjoy r 
 from their, charms ; and these, -when joined 
 
190 HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF 
 
 to sensibility, often fully compensate, in this 
 respect, for the little disadvantages they are 
 laid under by law and custom. „ 
 
 CHAPTER XLIV. 
 
 On Female Knowledge* 
 
 SCIENCE is to the mind what light is to 
 the body ; and a blind, is just so much less 
 shocking than an ignorant woman, as her 
 mental are superior to her corporeal powers. 
 
 This species of accomplishment has been 
 ridiculed, as raising the sex above that sphere 
 where nature seems to have fixed their move- 
 ments. Such is the paradox which has oc- 
 casioned so much iliiberality and sarcasm, 
 and on which every woman of more knowl- 
 edge than ordinary has been so often repre- 
 sented as a pedant. 
 
 Learning, it is also said, w r ould improve 
 women's talents of address, and only make 
 them worse by rendering them more artful. 
 This is likewise an idea which no man who 
 enjoys the conversation and friendship of mo- 
 dest and good women, ever indulged. Who- 
 ever has the least regard for decency and truth, 
 and is not destitute of all relish for the happi- 
 ness which springs from the chaste sensibili- 
 ties of an unpolluted heart, must own he has 
 suffered much more from the selfishness and 
 cunning of men than from any bad qualities 
 in women. Indeed, the present situation of 
 both, in this country, renders it impossible to 
 
THE FAIR SEX. 152 
 
 be otherwise. The masculine character is 
 peculiarly obnoxious to the petrifying influ- 
 ence of vulgar opinion. Our young men are 
 soon intoxicated with the fallacious maxims ei- 
 ther of the gay or the busy world ; and both 
 extremes are equally pernicious to social ex- 
 cellence. Ideas of the meanest and most sor- 
 did tendency absorb their minds at a very 
 early period, which often render them everaf 
 ter callous to the workings of humanity. With 
 a strong predilection for wealth, independence 
 or libertinism, they cheerfully prostitute all 
 the powers of their minds and all the feelings 
 of their hearts, in acquiring one or all of those 
 objects. This unavoidably plunges them in- 
 to all the machinations of pride, all the in- 
 trigues of gallantry, all the intricacies, risques, 
 and vicissitudes of business. Sentiment con- 
 sequently loses its weight, and sensibility its 
 edge. Interest triumphs in the absence of 
 principle, and nature relinquishes her domi- 
 nion to art. 
 
 The most engaging dispositions of the fe- 
 male mind seldom undergo such a total revo- 
 lution. If we except a few of the most per- 
 verse and unrelenting tempers, women, who 
 are not flagrantly vicious, have seldom bad 
 hearts. Their attachments, which constitute 
 the most comfortable circumstances in do- 
 mestic life, when innocent and undissembled, 
 are more lasting and fervent than ours. 
 
 Let no ribaldry, therefore, however plausi- 
 ble and fallacious, divert the attention of fe- 
 males from intellectual improvement. Ih 
 youth, ail the powers of sensual or pleasura- 
 
192 HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF 
 
 ble enjoyments are nature, and decline only 
 as the passions cool. Then let the fair fur- 
 nish themselves with a stock of other and 
 more durable materials, that they may live 
 with satisfaction, when these are no more. 
 
 It is when her fibres, and juices, and salts 
 are tender and genial, that the earth receives 
 her seed, that the laws of vegetation operate, 
 and that all those plants take root and spring, 
 which afterwards fill her bosom with plenty, 
 and her face with beauty. Nor is there one 
 barren or blighted spot, or any part of her 
 surface more perfectly black and dismal than 
 a mind involved in ignorance, or benumbed 
 with insensibility. 
 
 In the season of youth, therefore, ladies 
 should make it their study to cultivate their 
 minds in such a manner as to render their 
 intrinsic value as substantial as they wish 
 their exterior to be amiable. Knowledge im- 
 proves the human intellect, and endows it 
 with all its excellence. It unmasks to our 
 view our own natures. It shows us what we 
 are, and discloses all that can be hoped or 
 dreaded from the circumstances we are in. — 
 By the regulations it prescribes, and the deli- 
 cacy it inspires, knowledge improves our 
 taste for society, and imparts a finer relish to 
 all our mutual attachments. It is the insepa- 
 rable handmaid of happiness ; opens a thou- 
 sand avenues to indulgence of the purest and 
 most exalted kind ; unlocks to human view 
 the mysteries of Providence ; creates a hea- 
 ven on earth ; adds to the joys of the present 
 the hopes of futurity ; and when the objects 
 
THE FAIR SEX. 19? 
 
 of this world expire on the senses, fills the 
 whole heart with the glorious and animating 
 prospects of another. 
 
 Without knowledge the possessions of 
 time were imperfect, and the presages of 
 eternity unsatisfying. Speak, ye who are old 
 and uninformed, do not all things appear in- 
 sipid? Your passions have lost their fire, 
 your feelings their edge, your very senses 
 the natural relish of their respective objects. 
 Worse, not better, for all you have seen and 
 heard, in the various stages of life, your 
 every thought must be as insipid to others, 
 as it is to yourselves. And, of all the empty 
 prattle which fills an empty world, that of 
 second childhood, because least natural and 
 innocent, is most tiresome and impertinent, 
 Yet, under a hoary head, the sacred and ve- 
 nerable emblem of wisdom and experience, 
 how frequently do we meet with nothing but 
 stupidity, puerility, insignificance, a mind 
 continually out of humor, and a tongue that 
 never is at rest !. 
 
 Women can never arrive at that impor- 
 tance seemingly designed them by nature, 
 while their genius is not cultivated, and their 
 latent qualities called forth into view. Visible 
 qualities, such as beauty, and the art of shew- 
 ing it to advantage, may in those moments 
 when the heart is softened by love, or the 
 spirits elevated by wine, give the women a 
 temporary ascendancy over the men, and en- 
 able them to bend them at pleasure ; as in the 
 case of Thais and Alexander. Such an as- 
 cendancy, however, is commonly fleeting and 
 
1 9 4 HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF ' 
 
 transient. Cool reason soon resumes the 
 place which passion had usurped ; and the 
 empire, which had been built on passion, 
 tumbles like the baseless fabric of a vision; 
 while that which is supported by mental beau- 
 ties, stands the test of time, and the various 
 incidents of life. 
 
 The sum of all human prudence is to pro- 
 vide against the worst. Personal beauty soon 
 diest but that which is intellectual is immor- 
 tal. And though age be almost every where 
 attended with grey hairs, shattered teeth, dim 
 eyes, trembling joints, short breath, stiff 
 limbs, and a shrivelled skin — there is a charm 
 in wisdom, which, with all these melancholy 
 circumstances, diffuses a pleasing sejrenity 
 over the evening of our days. Indeed, no- 
 thing is so truly respectable at this period of 
 humanity, when dignified, as it ought to be, 
 by all the habits and principles of genuine 
 benignity and honor. Age is then wisdom 
 combined with experience. It is the very 
 spirit or sum of all earthly perfection. It is 
 an emblem, or earnest, of that future and di- 
 vine fruition, which is the certain consequence, 
 and happy consummation, of all mental and 
 moral excellence. 
 
 Thus it is from knowledge alone, that the 
 greatest and the best have found even solitude 
 and retirement so singularly charming, and 
 that the decline of life, with all its infirmities, 
 so frequently glides away amidst the sweetest 
 endearments and the serenest hopes. It is 
 this w r hich constitutes the only real and last- 
 ing distinction which can subsist between 
 
THE FAIR S£K. if* 
 
 mortals of the same species ; which neither 
 rank, nor title, nor fortune, however high or 
 splendid, can destroy or confer; and which, 
 on every emergency, gives an obvious and 
 decided 'superiority to wealth, or power, or 
 grandeur. By knowledge, women, as well as 
 men, share the prerogative of intelligence, 
 hold the dominion of the world, boast the 
 lineaments of divinity, and aspire to an imi- 
 tation of him who made them! 
 
 CHAPTER XLV. 
 
 Of Female Culture and Accomplishments m 
 different ages* 
 
 AMONG the Greeks, their mothers or 
 other female relations taught young ladies the 
 common female employments and customs 
 of their country, and instilled into the minds 
 of such as would receive it, a tincture of that 
 stoical pride and heroism, for which their 
 men were so much renowned. In every 
 thing else they were very deficient, and their 
 constant confinement added want of know- 
 ledge of the world to their want of education. 
 
 In the earlier periods of the great republic 
 of Rome, the Romans being poor, and sur- 
 rounded with rude and ferocious neighbours 
 like themselves, were obliged to learn rigid 
 economy, inflexible patriotism, and the art of 
 war. These are all virtues of necessity in 
 the infancy of almost every state. 
 
 The duties and employments of domestic 
 
196 HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF 
 
 life, such as cookery, spinning, weaving and 
 sewing, were taught the Reman women by 
 their mothers or relations. These also super- 
 intended not only their serious studies, but 
 even their amusements, which were always 
 conducted with decency and moderation. — 
 But when the Romans became rich with the 
 plunder of their neighbours, the taste for the 
 arts and sciences became more general. The 
 education of women, therefore, began to be 
 extended on a larger scale. To the domestic 
 duties, taught them by their mothers, were 
 added such parts of polite education as were 
 thought necessary for cultivating their minds. 
 
 Cicero mentions with high encomiums, 
 several ladies whose taste in eloquence and 
 philosophy did honor to their sex ; and 
 Quinctilian, with considerable applause, has 
 quoted some of the letters of Cornelia. 
 
 There is a speech of Iiortensia, preserved 
 by Appian, which for elegance of language, 
 and justness of thought, would have done 
 honour to a Cicero, or a Demosthenes. What 
 gave occasion to this speech, was the follow- 
 ing circumstance: the triumvirs of Rome 
 wanted a large sum of money for carrying 
 on a war, and having met with great diffi- 
 culties in raising it, they drew up a list of 
 fourteen hundred of the richest of the ladies, 
 intending to tax them. These ladies, after 
 having in vain tried every method to evade 
 so great an innovation, at last chose Horten- 
 sia for their speaker, and went along with her 
 to the market-place, where she thus addressed 
 
THE FAIR SEX. i 9 j 
 
 the triumvirs, while they were administering 
 justice: 
 
 " The unhappy women you see here im- 
 ploring your justice and bounty, would never 
 have presumed to appear in this place, had 
 they not first made use of all other means 
 which their natural modesty could suggest to 
 them. Though our appearing may seem 
 contrary to the rules of decency prescribed to 
 our sex, which we have hitherto observed 
 with all strictness ; yet the loss of our fathers, 
 children, brothers and husbands, may suffi- 
 ciently excuse us, especially when their un- 
 happy deaths are made a pretence for our 
 further misfortunes. You pretend they had 
 offended and provoked you : But what inju- 
 ry have we women done, that we must be 
 impoverished? If we are blameable as the 
 men, why do you not proscribe us too? 
 Have we declared you enemies to your coun* 
 try ? Have we suborned your soldiers, rais- 
 ed troops against you, or opposed you in the 
 pursuit of thosehonors and offices which you 
 claim? We pretend not no govern the re- 
 public; nor is it our ambition which has 
 drawn the present misfortunes on our heads. 
 Empire, dignities and honours are not for us. 
 Why should we then contribute to a war in 
 which we have no manner of interest ? 
 
 ^ " It is true, indeed, that in the Carthagi- 
 nian war, our mothers assisted the republic, 
 which was, at that time reduced to the utmost 
 distress. But neither their houses, their lands, 
 nor their moveables, were sold for that ser- 
 vice. Some rings and a few jewels furnished 
 
j 9 3 HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF 
 
 the supply. Nor was it constraint, r.or vio- 
 lence, that forced these from them. What 
 they contributed was the voluntary offering 
 of generosity. 
 
 " What danger at present threatens Home? 
 If the Gauls or Parthians were encamped on 
 the banks of the Tiber, or the Anio, you 
 should find us no less zealous in the defence 
 of our country than our mothers were before 
 us. But it becomes not us; and we are re- 
 solved that we will not be any way concerned 
 in civil war. 
 
 " Neither Marius, nor Csesar, nor Pom- 
 pey, ever thought of obliging us to take part 
 in the domestic troubles which their ambition 
 had raised. Even Sylla himself, who first 
 set up tyranny in Rome, never harboured 
 such an intention. And yet you assume the 
 glorious title of Reformers of the State ! — a 
 title which will turn to your eternal infamy, 
 if without the least regard to the laws of 
 equity, you persist in your wicked resolution 
 of plundering those of their lives and for- 
 tunes who have given you no just cause of 
 offence." 
 
 The triumvirs being offended at the bold- 
 ness of the women, ordered them to be dri- 
 ven away. But the populace growing tumul- 
 tuous, they were afraid of an insurrection* 
 and reduced the list of the women to be tax- 
 ed, to four hundred. 
 
 During the reign of chivalry in Europe, 
 women endeavoured only to acquire such ac- 
 complishments as would excite heroes to 
 fight for, and lovers to adore them. So far 
 
THE FAIR SEX:. 199 
 
 were they from possessing any literary attain- 
 ments, that they could hardly read the lan- 
 guage of their respective countries. 
 
 In the following age the ladies found that 
 the same arts which captivated a knight clad 
 in armour and ignorance, were in vain prac- 
 tised upon the enlightened scholar and phi- 
 losopher. Being conscious, therefore, that 
 the way to please the men was to seem fond 
 of what they approved, and dislike what they 
 they disliked, they applied themselves to let- 
 ters and philosophy, hoping to keep posses- 
 sion, by their talents, of what they had gain- 
 ed by their charms. Though these mea- 
 sures were not calculated to inspire love, and 
 attract the heart, and consequently did not 
 produce the effects which the ladies intended, 
 yet they raised them in that period to a pitch 
 of learning unknown in any other. 
 
 A love of gaiety, expense and parade, was 
 introduced into Europe by the immense trea- 
 sures of gold and silver imported from Ame- 
 rica, after the discovery and conquest of that 
 country : and, perhaps, by the still greater 
 riches accumulated by commerce. The 
 French took the lead in this new mode of 
 life, and soon disseminated it all over Europe. 
 The education of their women, which before 
 consisted in reading their own language, and 
 in learning needle-work, was by degrees 
 changed to vocal and instrumental music, 
 dancing and dressing in the most fashionable 
 manner; to which may be added the art of 
 captivating and governing their men. This 
 
soo HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF 
 
 flimsy pattern was copied by every other na- 
 tion. 
 
 In Asia and Africa it is the interest of the 
 men that almost no culture should be be- 
 stowed on the minds of their females, lest it 
 should teach them to assert their rights of 
 nature, and refuse to submit to the yoke of 
 bondage so unjustly imposed upon them.—- 
 They are, however, taught all the personal 
 graces ; and particular care is taken to in- 
 struct them in the art of conversing with ele- 
 gance and vivacity. Some of them are also 
 taught to write, and the generality to read, that 
 they may be able to read the Koran. But, 
 instead of this, they mere frequently spend 
 their time in reading tales and romances; 
 which* being related in all the lively imagery 
 of the east, seldom fail to corrupt the minds 
 of creatures shut up from the world, and 
 consequently forming to themselves extrava- 
 gant and romantic notions of all that is trans- 
 acted in it. 
 
 Though they are never permitted to attend 
 public worship in a mosque, they are obliged 
 to learn by heart some prayers in Arabic, 
 which when they assemble in a hall at cer- 
 tain hours, they repeat. They are enjoined 
 always to wash themselves before praying • 
 and indeed, the virtues of cleanliness, of chas- 
 tity and obedience are so strongly and con- 
 stantly inculcated on their minds, that, in 
 spite of their general corruption of manners, 
 there are several among them who, in their 
 common deportment do credit to the instruc- 
 tions bestowed noon them. This indeed is 
 
THE FAIR SEX. 201 
 
 not much to be wondered at, when we con- 
 sider the tempting recompense that is held 
 out to them. They are, in paradise, to flour- 
 ish for ever in the vigor of youth and beauty ; 
 and however old, ugly or deformed when 
 they depart this life, are there to be immedi- 
 ately transformed into all that is fair, and all 
 that is graceful. 
 
 It is a very laborious task to learn to read 
 or write the Chinese language. Even among 
 the men, it seems chiefly confined to such as 
 aspire after employments of state. Women 
 are seldom much instructed in it. Such as 
 are rich, however, learn music, the modes of 
 behaviour, and ceremonial punctilios of the 
 country. The last of these cannot possibly 
 be dispensed with. A failure in the least 
 circumstance, as the number of bows, or the 
 manner of making them to a superior, would 
 infallibly stamp the mark of ignorance on 
 the person so failing. Women arc, in general, 
 also taught a bashfulness and modesty of beha- 
 viour not to be met with in any other coun- 
 try. 
 
 In many parts of North America they ne- 
 ver beat their children of either sex. This, 
 they say, would only weaken and dispirit 
 their minds without producing any good ef- 
 fect. When, therefore, a mother sees her 
 daughter behave ill, instead of having rei 
 course to a rod, she falls a- crying. The daugh- 
 ter naturally enquires the cause : the mother 
 'answers, because you disgrace me. This re- 
 proach seldom fails to produce an amcLuW 
 naeiit. 
 
 &* 
 
202 HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF 
 
 Gentle treatment of children, we are in- 
 formed, is absolutely necessary. The pun- 
 ishments inflicted in most other nations only 
 make the Japanese more stubborn and refrac- 
 tory ; and sometimes there, as well as in 
 America, provoke them to commit suicide. 
 
 The sum of what has been said is this : — 
 The education of women in Europe is per- 
 haps too much calculated to inspire them 
 with love of admiration, of trifling, and of 
 amusement. In most other places of the 
 globe it is infinitely worse. It tends to era- 
 dicate every moral sentiment, and introduce 
 vice dressed up in the garb of voluptuous re- 
 finement. 
 
 That women should pour out their fair 
 eyes in becoming adepts in learning, would 
 be highly rmproper. Nature seems not to 
 have intended them for the more intense and 
 severe studies. The gaining of the laurels 
 of literary fame would rob their brows of 
 many of those charms which to them arc 
 more valuable, as they are by men more es- 
 teemed. Ignorance makes a female contempt- 
 ible, pedantry makes her ridiculous. Both 
 extremes should be avoided. 
 
THE FAIR SEX!. 203 
 
 CHAPTER XLVL 
 
 Of the necessary Mental Accomplishments of 
 Ladies. 
 
 THE degree of those intellectual accom- 
 plishments which women should aim at, it is 
 not easy to determine. That must depend 
 on the capacities, opportunities and encou- 
 ragements which they severally enjoy. 
 
 History, in which may be included biogra- 
 phy and memoirs, ought to employ a consi- 
 derable share of female attention. Those 
 pictures which it exhibits of the passions ope- 
 rating in real life, and genuine characters ; of 
 virtues to be imitated, and of vices to be 
 shunned ; of the effects of both on society 
 and individuals ; of the mutability of human 
 affairs ; of the conduct of divine Providence ; 
 of the great consequences that often arise from 
 little events; of the weakness of power, and 
 the wanderings of prudence in the human race ; 
 with the sudden, unexpected, and frequently 
 unaccountable revolutions that dash trium- 
 phant wickedness, or disappoint presumptu- 
 ous hope — the pictures which history exhibits 
 of all these have been ever reckoned by the 
 best judges, among the richest sources of in- 
 struction and entertainment. 
 
 Voyages and Travels — too, are very in- 
 structive and entertaining. How amusing 
 are they to the curiosity, how, enlarging to 
 our prospects of mankind ! They make us 
 usefully inquisitive, and furnish us with sub- 
 jects of reflection. 
 
zza HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF 
 
 There is not a son or daughter of Adam 
 who has not occasion for Geography. It is 
 often useful in conversation ; and a compe- 
 tent knowledge of it may be acquired with lit- 
 tle application, but much amusement. 
 
 The principal facts or great outlines of 
 Astronomy are beautiful as well as improving. 
 
 Some of them present the most interesting 
 scenes. All contain the most pleasing disco- 
 veries. They open and enlarge the mind ; 
 they dilate and humanize the heart ; they re- 
 mind us that we are citizens of the universe ; 
 they shew us how small a part we fill in the 
 immense orb of being. Amid the amplitude of 
 such contemplations, superfluous titles shrink 
 away. Wealth and grandeur " hide their 
 diminished heads." A generous ambition 
 rises in the thoughtful mind, to approve it- 
 self to the all-inspecting eye of Him to whom 
 none of his works are indifferent. 
 
 In Poetry of all kinds, but chiefly of the 
 sublimer forms, where nature, virtue, and re- 
 ligion are painted and embellished with all the 
 beauties of a chaste, yet elevated imagination 
 what a field is opened within the reach, anda- 
 dapted to the turn of the female faculties \ 
 What a profusion of intellectual ornament is 
 spread before them, for memory to collect, 
 and for reflection to work upon ! How many 
 sprightly, delightful, and lofty ideas do here 
 pass before the mental eye, all dressed in the 
 brightest colors ! How strangely inexcusa- 
 ble must those be who complain at any time 
 of want of amusement, when the genius and 
 invention of every illuminated age have taken 
 
THE FAIR SEX. 205 
 
 such happy pains to supply the noblest. To 
 obtain all the poetical works of the British 
 Poets, would be expensive : we therefore 
 would recommend a judicious choice of the 
 many volumes published of Selections, in 
 particular a very excellent work lately (1807) 
 published for Mr. Bumstead, viz. " Select 
 Collection of Poems, and other elegant poeti- 
 Gal Extracts by the most celebrated authors, 
 from Pope, Goldsmith, Blair, Young, Gray, 
 Cow per, IFatts, Pain el, More, Rowe," i>c. 
 
 How much are both sexes indebted to the 
 elegant pens of the Spectator, Rambler, Ad- 
 venturer, Connoisseur, Idler, &c. for a spe- 
 cies of instruction better fitted perhaps, than 
 most others of human device, to delight and 
 improve at the same moment ! Suh is its 
 extent, its diversity, its familiarity, its ease, 
 its playful manner, its immediate reference to 
 scenes and circumstances with which we are 
 every day conversant. 
 
 There are very few novels that can be read 
 with safety ; and fewer still that convey any 
 useful instruction. But as ladies will read 
 novels, the best and most innocent produc- 
 tions of this kind are those of Richardson, 
 Cumberland, Miss Burnet/ ; Mrs. Helmets 
 Louisa, and Miss Blower's Features from 
 Life ; Caroline of Litchfield, the Vicar of 
 Wakefield, and a few others. 
 
 The most obvious branches both of Natu- 
 ral Philosophy, and Natural History, should 
 engage at least, some portion of our time. 
 That they are so seldom and so slightly tho't 
 of, is rather a melancholy reflection. Does 
 
2o6 HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF 
 
 creation, through her infinitely extended and 
 infinitely deversified scenery display innume- 
 rable wonders ? Have these been traced 
 with skill and accuracy by many learned and 
 many laborious hands ? Are they laid open 
 to us, and almost pressed upon us from every 
 quarter ? And can we, with a giddy eye, turn 
 away from this noble and entertaining specta- 
 cle, to gaze on the meanest ornament of beau- 
 ty, or the silliest pageant of vanity ? 
 
 The French and Italian, as well as- the La-' 
 tin and Greek languages, may be read by the 
 fair sex with much pleasure and advantage. 
 By these means their taste will be improved, 
 and a never-failing source of instruction will 
 be opened. Several ladies of rank and fashion, 
 of the present day, make Virgil and Homer 
 their companions, two or three mornings eve- 
 ry week. 
 
 One half hour, or more, either before or 
 immediately after breakfast, should be con- 
 stantly devoted to the attentive perusal of some 
 part ollloly Writ, It is the basis on which 
 our religion is founded. From this practice 
 more real benefit will be reaped than can be 
 supposed by those who have never made the 
 experiment. 
 
 The scriptures present religion to us in the 
 most engaging dress. They communicate 
 truths which philosophy could never investi- 
 gate, and in a style winch poetry can never 
 equal. Calculated alike to profit and to please, 
 they inform the understanding, elevate the 
 affections, and entertain the imagination. In- 
 dicted under the influence of that Being to 
 
THE FAIR SEX. 207 
 
 whom all hearts are 'known, and all events 
 foreknown, they suit mankind in all situations* 
 grateful as the manna that descend-, d fi oin a- 
 bove, and suited to every palate An Eliza 
 Howe, an Hannah More have li' ed and died 
 as pious and amiable ornaments i>r the sex : 
 Let them have many followers. 
 
 The fairest productions of human wit, af- 
 ter a f^w perusals like gathered fio', vers, wither 
 in our .hands, and lose their fragrance : Is it 
 so with the sacred pages? No, indeed — To 
 the heaven- born soul, to one who has been 
 if renewed in the spirit of his mind," who 
 has " passed from death unto life," (and to 
 such a character only will the observation ap- 
 ply) the scriptures are unfading plants of pa- 
 radise — the more they are attended to by such 
 a character, the more beautiful they will ap- 
 pear. They are the " joy and the rejoicing 
 of their heart." Their bloom appears to be 
 daily heightened. Fresh odours are diffused, 
 and new sweets extracted from them. " In 
 commending- to your care this Standard" (in 
 the elegant address of a lady to ^military com- 
 pany) " we commit to your sacred keeping 
 cur virtue, our honor, and our Holy Faith !" 
 
 The scriptures have been studied and ad- 
 mired by the greatest and best of men, as well 
 as women. Whatever instruction or amuse- 
 ment may be derived from human composi- 
 tions, let it always be remembered that the 
 sacred writings alone contain that wisdom, 
 " which maketh wise unto salvation." 
 
 Controversy on religious subjects should 
 seldom or never be meddled with. Such 
 
ao8 HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF 
 
 books ought to be read as are addressed to 
 the Heart, which inspire pious and devout af- 
 fections, and tend to regulate the conduct. 
 
 CHAPTER XLVII. 
 
 Of the Monastic Life. 
 
 THE venerable Bede has given us a very 
 striking picture of Monastic enormities, in 
 his epistle to Egbert. From this we learn 
 that many young men who had no title to the 
 monastic profession, got possession of monas- 
 teries : where, instead of engaging in the de- 
 fence of their country, as their age and rank 
 required, they indulged themselves in the 
 most dissolute indolence. 
 
 We learn from Dugdale, that in the reign 
 of Henry the Second, the nuns of Amsbury 
 abbey in Wiltshire were expelled from that 
 religious house on account of their inconti- 
 nence. And to exhibit in the most lively co- 
 lors the total corruption of monastic chastity, 
 Bishop Burnet informs us in his " History of 
 the reformation," that when the nunneries 
 were visited by the command of Henry the 
 VIII, " whole houses almost, were found 
 whose vows had been made in vain. 5 ' 
 
 When we consider to what oppressive in- 
 dolence, to what a variety of wretchedness 
 and guilt, the young and fair inhabitants of 
 the cloister were frequently betrayed, we 
 ought to admire those benevolent authors 
 who, when the tide of religious prejudice ran 
 
THE FAIR SEX. 209 
 
 very strong in favor of monastic virginity, 
 had spirit enough to oppose the torrent, and 
 to caution the devout and tender sex against 
 so dangerous a profession. It is in this point 
 of view that the character of Erasmus appears 
 with the most amiable lustre ; and his name 
 ought to be eternally dear to the female world 
 in particular. Though his studies and con- 
 stitution led him almost to idolize those elo- 
 quent fathers of the church who have magni- 
 fied this kind of life, his good sense and his 
 accurate survey of the human race, enabled 
 him to judge of the misery in which female 
 youth was continually involved by a precipi 
 tate choice of the veil. He knew the success- 
 ful arts by which the subtle and rapacious 
 monks inveigled young women of opulent fa- 
 milies into the cloister ; and he exerted his 
 lively and delicate wit in opposition to so per- 
 nicious an evil. 
 
 The writings of many eminent authors 
 have been levelled against the abuses of the 
 monastic life. But several of these, like the 
 noted works of the humorous Rabelais, ap- 
 pear to have flowed from a spirit as wanton 
 and licentious as ever lurked in a convent. It 
 is not thus with Erasmus. His productions 
 are written with admirable pleasantry,and seem 
 to have been dictated by a chaste desire to 
 promote the felicity of the fair sex. 
 
 In those nations of Europe where minne* 
 
 ries still exist, how many lovely victims are 
 
 continually sacrificed to the avarice or absurd 
 
 ambition of inhuman parents ! The misery 
 
 T 
 
210 HISTORICAL SKETCHES OK 
 
 of these victims has been painted with great 
 force by some benevolent writers of France. 
 In most of those pathetic histories that are 
 founded on the abuse of convents, the misery 
 originates from the parent, and falls upon the 
 child. The reverse has sometimes happen- 
 ed ; and there are examples of unhappy pa- 
 rents, who have been rendered miserable by 
 the religious perversity of a daughter. In the 
 fourteenth volume of that very amusing work, 
 Les Causes Celebres, a work which is said to 
 have been the favorite reading of Voltaire,, 
 there is a striking history of a girl under age, 
 who was tempted by pious artifices to settle 
 herself in a convent, in express opposition to 
 parental authority. Her parents, who had in 
 vain tried the most tender persuasion, endea- 
 voured at last to redeem their lost child, by a 
 legal process against the nunnery in which she 
 was imprisoned. The pleadings on this re- 
 markable trial may, perhaps, be justly reckon- 
 ed among the finest pieces of eloquence that 
 the lawyers of France have produced. Mon- 
 sieur Gillet, the advocate for the parents, re- 
 presented, in the boldest and most affecting 
 language, the extreme baseness of this religi- 
 gious seduction. His eloquence appeared to 
 have fixed the sentiments of the judges ; but 
 the cause of superstition was pleaded by an 
 advocate of equal power, and it finally pre- 
 vailed. The unfortunate parents of Maria 
 Vernal (for this was the name of the unfortu- 
 nate girl) were condemned to resign her for 
 ever, and to make a considerable payment to 
 
 
THE FAIR SEX. 211 
 
 those artful devotees who had piously robbed 
 them of their child. 
 
 When we reflect on the various evils that 
 ha\ r e arisen in convents, we have the strongest 
 reason to rejoice and glory in that reforma- 
 tion by which the nunneries of England were 
 abolished. Yet it would not be caadid or just 
 to consider all these as the mere harbours of 
 licentiousness ; since we are told that, at the 
 time of their suppression, some of our religi- 
 ous houses were very honorably distinguish- 
 ed by the purity of their inhabitants. tl The 
 visitors," says Bishop Burnett, " interceded 
 earnestly for a nunnery in Oxfordshire, God- 
 stow, where there was great strictness of life, 
 and to which most of the young gentlewo- 
 men of the country were sent to be bred ; so 
 that the gentry of the country desired the king 
 would spare the house : yet all was ineffectu- 
 al.' ■ 
 
 In this point of view, much undoubtedly, 
 may be said in favour of convents. Yet when 
 the arguments on both sides are fairly weigh- 
 ed, it is presumed, that every true friend to fe- 
 male innocence will rejoice in those sensible 
 regulations which our Catholic neighbors have 
 lately made respecting nunneries, and which 
 seem to promise their universal abolition. 
 
 As convents, for many ages, were the 
 treasures of all the learning that remained up- 
 on earth, one is rather surprized to find so 
 few monastic ladies, who have bequeathed to 
 the world any literary production. Perhaps, 
 indeed, many a fair and chaste author has ex- 
 
212 HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF 
 
 isted, whose name and works, have been un- 
 justly buried in sudden oblivion. 
 
 Juana Inez de la Cruz, a native of die New 
 Hemisphere, was so eminent for her poetical 
 talents, that she had been honoured with the 
 title of a Tenth Muse. 
 
 A short account of this lady, not much 
 known ffi Europe, with a specimen of her po- 
 etry, will no doubt be acceptable to female 
 readers. 
 
 Juana was born in November 1651, at the 
 distance of a few leagues from the city of Mex- 
 ico. Her father was one of the many Spa- 
 nish gentlemen, who sought to improve a 
 scanty fortune by an establishment in Ameri- 
 ca, where he married a lady of that country, 
 descended from Spanish parents. Their 
 daughter Juana was distinguished in her in- 
 fancy by an uncommon passion for literature, 
 and a wonderful felicity in the composition of 
 Spanish verses. Her parents, sent her, when 
 she was eight years old, to reside with her un- 
 cle in the city of Mexico. She had there the 
 advantage of a learned education ; and, as 
 her extraordinary talents attracted universal 
 regard, she was patronised by the lady of the 
 viceroy, the Marquis de Mancera, and, at the 
 age of seventeen, was received into his family. 
 A Spanish economist of Juana relates a re- 
 markable anecdote, which, he says, was com- 
 municated to him by the viceroy himself. 
 That nobleman, astonished by the extensive 
 learning of young Juana, invited forty of the 
 jnost eminent literati that his country could 
 afford, to try the extent and solidity ofluana's 
 
THE FAIR SEX. 213 
 
 erudition. The young female scholar was 
 freely but politely questioned, on the differ- 
 ent branches of science, by theologians, philo- 
 sophers, mathematicians, historians, and po- 
 ets ; " and as a royal galleon," says our Spa- 
 nish author, " would defend herself against a 
 few shallops that might attack her, so did Ju- 
 ana Inez extricate herself from the various 
 questions, arguments and rejoinders, that each 
 in his own province proposed to her." 
 
 The applause which she received, on this 
 signal display of her accomplishments, was 
 far from inspiring the modest Juana with va- 
 nity or presumption. Indeed, a pious hu- 
 mility was her most striking characteristic. 
 Her life amounted only to forty-four years ; 
 and of these she passed twenty-seven, distin- 
 guished by the most exemplary exercise of 
 all the religious virtues, in the convent of St. 
 Geronimo. Her delight in books was ex- 
 treme, and she is said to have possessed a li. 
 brary of four thousand volumes ; but towards 
 thQ close of her life she made a striking sacri- 
 fice to charity, by selling her darling books 
 for the relief of the poor. Few female 
 authors have been more celebrated in life, 
 or in death more lamented.. The collec- 
 tion of her works, in three quarto volumes, 
 contains a number of panegyrics, in verse and 
 prose, bestowed on this chaste poetess by the 
 most illustrious characters both of Old and 
 New Spain. The raos t sensible of the Spa- 
 nish critics, Father Feyjoo^ has made this 
 general remark on Juana's compositions— 
 £ lhat they excel in ease an elegance, but art 
 T * 
 
214 HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF 
 
 deficient in energy ;" a failing the more re- 
 markable, as the pious enthusiasm of this po- 
 etical nun was so great, that she wrote in her 
 own blood a profession of her own faith. It 
 may be observed, however, in answer to her 
 critic, that most of Juana's verses are written 
 on subjects, where poetical energy was not to 
 be expected. Many of her poems are occa- 
 sional compliments to her particular friends ; 
 and in her sacred dramas, the absurd super- 
 stitions of her country were sufficient to anni- 
 hilate all poetical sublimity. 
 
 In one of her short productions, she ascribes 
 the injustice of men towards her own sex. An 
 imitation of this performance, in English, is 
 as follows : 
 
 " Weak men ! who without reason aim 
 To load poor woman with abuse, 
 Not seeing that yourselves produce 
 The very evils that you blame ; 
 You 'gainst her firm resistance strive ; 
 And, having struck her judgment mute, 
 Soon to her levity impute 
 What from your labour you derive. 
 
 Of woman's weakness much afraid, 
 Of your own prowess still you boast ; 
 Like the vain child who makes a ghost, 
 Then fears what he himself has made. 
 
 Her, whom your arms have once em- 
 braced, 
 You think presumptuously to find, 
 When she is woo'd, as Thais kind, 
 When wedded as Lucretia chaste. 
 
THE FAIR SEX. 215 
 
 How rare a fool must he appear, 
 Whose folly mounts to such a pass, 
 That first he breathes upon the glass, 
 Then grieves because it is not clear ! 
 
 Still with unjust, ungrateful pride, 
 You meet both favour and disdain ; 
 The firm as cruel you arraign, 
 The tender you as weak deride. 
 
 Your foolish humour none can please ; 
 Since, judging all with equal phlegm, 
 One for her rigor you condemn, 
 And one you censure for her ease. 
 
 What wond'rous gifts must her adorn, 
 Who would your lasting love engage, 
 When rigorous nymphs excite your rage, 
 And easy fair ones raise your scorn ! 
 
 But while you shew your pride or power, 
 With tyrant passions vainly hot, 
 She's only blest who heeds you not, 
 And leaves you all in happy hour." 
 
 CHAPTER XLVIIL 
 
 Of the Degrees of Sentimental Attachment 
 at different Periods. 
 
 IN the earlier ages, sentiment in love does 
 not appear to have been much attended to. 
 When Abraham sent his servant to court a 
 bride for his son Isaac, we do not so much as 
 hear that Isaac was consulted on the matter : 
 
2i6 HISTORICAL SKETCHES OP 
 
 nor is there even a suspicion, that he might 
 refuse or dislike the wife which his father had 
 selected for him. 
 
 From the manner in which Rebecca was 
 solicited, we learn, that women were not then 
 courted in person by the lover, but by a proxy, 
 whom he, or his parents, deputed m his stead. 
 We likewise see, that this proxy did not, in 
 modern times, endeavour to gain the affection 
 of the lady he was sent to, by enlarging on the 
 personal properties, and mental qualifications 
 of the lover ; but by the richness and magni- 
 ficence of the presents he made to her and 
 her relations. 
 
 Presents have been, from the earliest ages, 
 and are to this day the mode of transacting 
 all kinds of business in the East. When a 
 favour is to be asked of a superior, one can- 
 not hope to obtain it without a present. Court- 
 ship, therefore, having been anciently trans- 
 acted in this manner, it is plain, that it w r as 
 only considered in the same light as any other 
 negotiable business, and not as a matter of 
 sentiment, and of the heart. 
 
 In the courtship, however, or rather pur- 
 chase of a wife by Jacob, we meet with some- 
 thing like sentiment ; for when he found that 
 he was not possessed of money or goods, e- 
 qual to the price which was probably set up- 
 on her, he not only condescended to purchase 
 her by servitude, but even seemed much dis- 
 appointed when the tender-eyed Leah was 
 faithlessly imposed upon him instead of the. 
 beautiful Rachel. 
 
THE FAIR SEX. 217 
 
 The ancient Gauls, Germans, and neigh- 
 boring nations of the North, had so much ve- 
 neration for the sex in general, that in court- 
 ship the}' behaved with a spirit of gallantry, 
 and shewed a degree of sentiment, to which 
 those who called them Barbarians, never arriv- 
 ed. Not contented with getting possession 
 of the person of his mistress, a northern lover 
 could not be satisfied without the sincere af- 
 fection of her heart ; nor was his mistress ever 
 to be gained but by such methods as plainly 
 indicated to her the tenderest attachment 
 from the most deserving man. 
 
 The women of Scandinavia were not to be 
 courted but by the most assiduous attendance, 
 seconded by such warlike at enlevements as 
 the custom of the country had rendered ne- 
 cessary to make a man deserving of his mis- 
 tress. On these accounts, we frequently find 
 a lover accosting the object of his passion by 
 a minute and circumstantial detail of all his 
 exploits, and all his accomplishments. " We 
 fought with swords," says King Rcgner, in 
 a beautiful ode composed by himself, in me- 
 mory of the deeds of his former days, " that 
 day wherein I saw ten thousand of my foes 
 rolling in the dust, near a promontory of En- 
 gland. A dew of blood distilled from our 
 swords. The arrows which flew in search of 
 the helmets, bellowed through the air. The 
 pleasure of that day was truly exquisite. 
 
 We fought with swords. A young man 
 shoulcl march early to the conflict of arms. 
 Man should attack man, or bravely resist him. 
 In this hath always consisted the nobility q£ 
 
2iB HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF 
 
 the warrior. He who aspires to the lov r e of 
 his mistress, ought to be dauntless in the clash 
 of swords. 
 
 The descendants of the northern nations, 
 long after they had plundered and repeopled 
 the greatest part of Europe, retained nearly 
 the same ideas of love, and practised the same 
 methods in declaring it, that they had imbib- 
 ed from their ancestors. " Love," says Wil- 
 liam of Montagnogout, " engages tti the 
 most amiable conduct. Love inspires the 
 greatest actions. Love has no will but that 
 of the object beloved, nor seeks any thing but 
 what will augment her glory. You cannot 
 love, nor ought to be beloved, if you ask any 
 thing that virtue condemns* Never did I 
 form a wish that could wound the heart of 
 my beloved, nor delight in a pleasure that was 
 inconsistent with her delicacy." 
 
 The method of addressing females, among 
 some of the tribes of American Indians, is 
 the most simple that possibly can be devised. 
 When the lover, goes to visit his mistress, he 
 only begs leave, by signs, to enter her hut. — 
 After obtaining this, he goes in* and sits 
 down by her in the most respectful silence. 
 If she suffers him to remain there without 
 interruption, her doing so is consenting to" 
 his suit. If, however x the lover has any 
 thing given him to eat and drink, it is a re- 
 fusal ; though the woman is obliged to sit by 
 him until he has finished his repast. He then 
 retires in silence. 
 
 In Canada, courtship is not carried on with 
 that coy reserve, and seeming secrecy, which 
 
THE FAIR SEX. 
 
 219 
 
 politeness has introduced among the inhabit- 
 ants of civilized nations. When a man and 
 woman meet, though they never saw each 
 other before, if he is captivated with her 
 charms, he declares his passion in the plainest 
 manner; and she, with tire same simplicity, 
 answers, Yes, or No, without further delibe- 
 ration. " That female reserve," says an hi- 
 genious writen,* " that seeming reluctance to 
 enter into the married state, observable in po- 
 lite countries, is the work of art, and not of 
 nature. The history of every uncultivated 
 people amply proves it. It tells us, that their 
 women not only speak with freedom the sen- 
 timents of their hearts, but even blush not to 
 have these sentiments made as public as pos- 
 sible." 
 
 In Formosa, however, they differ so much 
 from the simplicity of the Canadians, that it 
 would be reckoned the greatest indecency in 
 the map. to declare, or in the woman to hear, 
 a declaration of the passion of love. The 
 lover is, therefore, obliged to depute his mo- 
 ther, sister, or some female relation ; and 
 from any of these the soft tale may be heard 
 without the least offence to delicacy. 
 
 In Spain, the women had formerly no voice 
 in disposing of themselves in matrimony. — 
 But as the empire of common sense began to 
 extend itself, they began to claim privi- 
 lege, at least of being consulted in the choice 
 of the partners of their lives. Many fathers 
 and guardians, hurt by this female innovation, 
 
 * Dr. Alexander. 
 
220 HISTORICAL SKETCHES OP 
 
 and puffed up with Spanish pride, still insist- 
 ed on forcing their daughters to marry ac- 
 cording to their pleasure, by means of duen- 
 nas, locks, hunger and even sometimes of 
 poison and daggers. But as nature will re- 
 volt agairisl every species of oppression and 
 injustice, the ladies have for some time be- 
 gun to assort their own rights. The author- 
 ity of fathers and guardians begins to decline, 
 and lovers find themselves obliged to apply 
 to the affections of the fair, as well as to the 
 pride and avarice of their relations. 
 
 The nightly musical serenades of mistress- 
 es by their lovers are still in use. The gallant 
 composes some love sonnets, as expressive 
 as he can, not only of the situation of his 
 heart, but of every particular circumstance 
 between him and the lady, not forgetting to 
 lard them with the most extravagant enco- 
 miums on her beauty and merit. These he 
 sings in the night below her window accom- 
 panied with his lute, or sometimes with a 
 whole band of music. The more piercing- 
 cold the air, the more the lady's heart is sup^ 
 posed to be thawed with the patient suffer- 
 ance of her lover, who, from night to night, 
 frequently continues this exercise for many 
 hours, heaving the deepest sighs, and casting 
 the most piteous looks towards the window ; 
 at which if his goddess at last deigns to ap- 
 pear, and drops him a courtesy, he is super- 
 latively paid for all his watching ; but if she 
 blesses him with a smile, he is ready to run 
 distracted. 
 
THE FAIR SSX. 22£ 
 
 In Italy the manner of addressing the la- 
 dies, so far as it relates to serenading, nearly 
 resembles that of Spain. The Italian, h owe- 
 ever, goes a step farther than the Spaniard. 
 He endeavors to blockade the house where his 
 fair one lives, so as to prevent the entrance of 
 any rival. If he marries the lady who cost 
 him all this trouble and attendance, he shuts 
 her up for life : If not, she becomes the ob- 
 ject of his eternal hatred, and he too frequent- 
 ly endeavours to revenge by poison the suc- 
 cess of his happier rival. 
 
 In one circumstance relating to courtship, 
 the Italians are said to be particular. They 
 protract the time of it as long as possible, 
 well knowing that, even with all the little ills 
 attending it, a period thus employed is one 
 of the sweetest of human life. 
 
 A French lover, with the word sentiment 
 perpetually in his mouth, seems by every ac- 
 tion to have excluded it from his heart. * He 
 places his whole confidence in his exterior 
 air and appearance. He dresses for his mis- 
 tress, dances for her, flutters constantly about 
 her, helps her to lay on her rouge, and to 
 place her patches. He attends her round the 
 whole circle of amusements, chatters to her 
 constantly, whistles and sings, and plays the 
 fool with her. Whatever be his station, every 
 thing gaudy and glittering within the sphere 
 of "it is called in to his assistance, particularly 
 splendid carriages and tawdry liveries; but 
 if, by the help of all these, he cannot make 
 an impression on the fair one's heart, it costs 
 him nothing but a few shrugs of his shoul- 
 V 
 
222 HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF 
 
 tiers, two or three silly exclamations, and as 
 many stanzas of some satirical song against 
 her ; and, as it is impossible for a Frenchman 
 to live without an amour, he immediately be- 
 takes himself to another. 
 
 There is hardly any such thing among peo- 
 ple of fashion as courtship. Matters are 
 generally so ordered by parents and guardians 
 that to a bride and bridegroom the day of 
 marriage is often the second time of their 
 meeting. In many countries, to be married 
 in this manner would be reckoned the greatest 
 of misfortunes. In France it is little regard- 
 ed. In the fashionable world few people arc 
 greater strangers to, or more indifferent about 
 each other, than husband and wife ; and any 
 appearance of fondness between them, or 
 their being seen frequently together, would 
 infallibly make them forfeit the reputation of 
 the ton, and be laughed at by all polite com- 
 pany. On this account, nothing is more 
 common than to be acquainted with a lady 
 without knowing her husband, or visiting the 
 husband without ever seeing his wife. 
 
 CHAPTER XLIX. 
 
 A View of Matrimony in three different lights. 
 
 THE marriage life is always an insipid, a 
 vexatious, or an happy condition. The first 
 is, when two people of no taste meet together, 
 upon such a settlement as has been thought 
 reasonable by parents and conveyancers, from 
 
THE FAIR SEX. 223 
 
 an exact valuation of the land and cash of 
 both parties. In this case, the young lady's 
 person is no more regarded than the house 
 and improvements in purchase of an estate ; 
 but she goes with her fortune, rather than her 
 fortune with her. These make up the crowd 
 or vulgar of the rich, and fill up the lumber 
 of the human race, without beneficence to- 
 wards those below them, or respect towards 
 those above them ; and lead a despicable, in- 
 dependent and useless life, without sense of 
 the laws of kindness, good nature, mutual 
 offices, and the elegant satisfactions which 
 flow from reason and virtue. 
 
 The vexatious life arises from a conjunc- 
 tion of two people of quick taste and resent- 
 ment, put together for reasons well known to 
 their friends, in which especial care is taken 
 to avoid (what they think the chief of evils) 
 poverty; and ensure to them riches, with 
 every evil besides. These good people live 
 in a constant constraint before company, and 
 when alone, revile each other's person and 
 conduct. In company, they are in purgato- 
 ry ; when by themselves, in hell. 
 
 The happy marriage is, where two persons 
 meet, and voluntarily make choice of each 
 other, without principally regarding or ne- 
 glecting the circumstances of fortune or beau- 
 ty. These may still love in spite of adversity 
 or sickness. The former, we may, in some 
 measure, defend ourselves from, the other is 
 the common lot of humanity. Love has no- 
 thing to do with riches or state. Solitude, 
 
224 HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF 
 
 with the person beloved, has a pleasure, even 
 in a woman's mind, beyond show or pomp. 
 
 CHAPTER L. 
 
 Of Betrothing and Marriage. 
 
 AT a very early period families who lived 
 in a friendly manner, fell upon a method of 
 securing their children to each other by what 
 is called in the sacred writings betrothing. — 
 This was agreeing on a price to be paid for 
 the bride, the time when it should be paid, 
 and when she should be delivered into the 
 hands of her husband. 
 
 There were, according to the Talmudists, 
 three ways of betrothing. The first by a 
 written contract. The second, by a verbal 
 agreement, accompanied with a piece of mo- 
 ney. And the third, by the parties coming 
 together, and living as husband and wife ; 
 which might have been as properly called 
 marriage as betrothing. 
 
 The written contract was in the following 
 manner — " On such a day, month and yeai , 
 A the son of B has said to D the daughter of 
 E, be thou my spouse according to the law 
 of Moses and of the Israelites ; and I will 
 give thee as a dowry, the sum of two hundred 
 suzims, as it is ordered by our law. And the 
 said D hath promised to be his spouse upon 
 the conditions aforesaid, which the said A 
 doth promise to perform on the day of mar- 
 riage. And to this the said A doth hereby 
 
THE FAIR SEX. 225 
 
 bind himself and all that he hath, jto the very- 
 cloak upon his back; engages himself to 
 love,« honour, feed, clothe and protect her, 
 and to perform all that is generally implied in 
 contracts of marriage in favour of the Israel- 
 itish wives." 
 
 The verbal agreement was made in the 
 presence of a sufficient number of witnesses, 
 by the man saying to the woman, " Take 
 this money as a pledge that at such a time I 
 will take thee to be my wife." A woman 
 who was thus betrothed or bargaineel for, 
 wr.s almost in every respect by the law con- 
 sidered as already married. 
 
 Before the legislation of Moses " marriages 
 among the Jews," say the Rabbies, •' were 
 Agreed upon by the parents and relations of 
 both sides. When this was done, the .bride - 
 Groom was introduced to his bride. Presents 
 are mutually exchanged, the contract signed 
 before witnesses, and the bride, having re- 
 mained some time with her relations, was 
 sent away to the habitation of her husband,, 
 in the night, with singing, dancing and the 
 sound of musical instruments." 
 
 By the institution of Moses, the Rabbies 
 tell us, the contract of marriage was read ia 
 the presence of, and signed by, at least ten 
 witnesses, who were free, and of age. The 
 bride, who hud taken care to bathe herself 
 the night before, appeared in all her splendour, 
 but veiled, in imitation/ of Rebecca, who 
 veiled herself when she came m sight of 
 Isaac. She was then given to the brides 
 groom by her parents, in words to. this pur- 
 V a 
 
226 HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF 
 
 pose: " Take her according- to the lav,* of 
 Moses." And he received her, by saying", 
 " I takf her according to that law." Some 
 blessings were then pronounced upon the 
 young couple, both by the parents and the 
 rest af the company. 
 
 The blessings or prayers generally run in 
 this style : Blessed art thou, O Lord of hea- 
 ven and earth, who hast created man in thine 
 own likeness, and hast appointed women to 
 be his partner and companion ! Blessed art 
 thou, who fillest Zion with joy for the multi- 
 tude of her children ! Blessed art thou, who 
 sendest gladness to the bridegroom and his 
 bride ! who hast ordained for them love, joy, 
 tenderness, peace and mutual affection. Be 
 pleased to bless, not only this couple, but 
 Judah and Jerusalem, with songs of joy, and 
 praise for the joy that thou givest them, by 
 the multitude of their sons and of their daugh- 
 ters." 
 
 After the virgins had sung a marriage song, 
 the company partook of a repast, the most 
 magnificent the parties could afford ; after 
 which they began a dance, the men round 
 the bridegroom, the women rcund the bride. 
 They pretended that this dance was of divine 
 institution, and an essential part of the cere- 
 mony. The bride was then carried to the 
 nuptuai bed, and the bridegroom left in the 
 chamber with her. The company again re- 
 turned to their feasting and rejoicing; and 
 the Rabbies inform us, that this feasting, 
 when the bride was a widow, lasted only 
 three days, but seven if she was a virgin. 
 
THS FAIR SEX. 227 
 
 At the birth of a son, the father planted a 
 cedar ; and at that of a daughter, he planted 
 a pine. Of these trees the nuptial {pd was 
 constructed, when the parties, at whose birth 
 they were planted, entered into the married 
 state. 
 
 The Assyrians had a court, or ^pbunal, 
 whose only business was to dispose ofyoung 
 women in marriage, and to see the laws of 
 that union properly executed. What these 
 laws were, or how the execution of them 
 was enforced, are circumstances which have 
 not been handed down to us. But the erect- 
 ing a court solely for the purpose of taking 
 cognizance of them, suggests an idea that 
 they were many and various. 
 
 Among the Greeks, the multiplicity of 
 male and female deities who were concerned 
 in the affairs of love, made the invocations 
 and sacrifices, on a matrimonial occasion, a 
 very tedious affair. Fortunate omens gave 
 great joy ; and the most fortunate of all 
 others, was a pair of turtles seen in the air, 
 as those birds were reckoned the truest c 
 blems of conjugal love and fidelity. If, how- 
 ever, one of them was seen alone, it infalli- 
 bly denoted separation, and all the ills attend- 
 ing an unhappy marriage. 
 
 On the wedding day, the bride and bride- 
 groom were richiy dressed, and adorned with 
 garlands of herbs and flowers. The bride 
 was conducted in the evening to the house of 
 her husband in a chariot, seated between the 
 the husban:! and one of his relations. When 
 she alighted from the chariot, the axle-ttee of 
 
228 HSTORICAL SKETCHES OF 
 
 it was burnt, to signify that there was no me- 
 tfi <\ : - ft for hSr to return buck. As soon as 
 the yn^g couple entered the house, figs and 
 cihei fruits were thrown upon their heads to 
 denote \/j jt) ; and a sumptuous entertain- 
 ment was ready for them to partake of, to 
 \vl ich aii the relations On both sides were in- 
 vited. ^> 
 
 The bride was lighted to bed by a number 
 of torches, according to her quality ; and the 
 'company returned in the morning, to salute 
 the new married couple, and to sing epitkala* 
 mm at the door of their bed-chamber. 
 
 Epithiamia were marriage songs, anciently 
 sung in praise of the briele or bridegroom, 
 wishing them happiness, prosperity and a nu- 
 merous issue. 
 
 Among the Romans there were three dif- 
 ferent kinds of marriage. The ceremony of 
 the first consisted in the young couple eating 
 a cake together, maele only of wheat, salt, 
 anel water. The second kind was cele» 
 brated by the parties solemnly pledging their 
 fa^h to ench other, by giving and receiving a 
 piece of money. This was the most common 
 way of marrying among the Romans. It con- 
 tinued in use, even after they became Chris- 
 tians. When writings were introduced to 
 testify that a man and a woman had become 
 husband and wife, and also, that the husband 
 had settled a dower upon his bride, these 
 writings were called Tabula Dotales (dowry 
 tables ;) and hence perhaps the words in our 
 marriage ceremony, " I thee endow." 
 
THE FAIR SEX. 229 
 
 The third kind of marriage was, when a 
 man and woman, having cohabited for some 
 time and had children, found it expedient to 
 continue together. In this case, if th^ made 
 up the matter between themselves, it became 
 a valid marriage, and the children were con- 
 sidered as legitimate. 
 
 Something similar to this is the present 
 custom in Scotland. There, if a man live 
 with, and have children by a woman, though 
 he do not marry her till he be upon his death- 
 bed, all the children are thereby legitimated, 
 and become entitled to the honors and estates 
 of their father. The case is the same in Hol- 
 land, and some parts of Germany ; with this 
 difference only, that all the children to be legi- 
 timated must appear with the father and mo- 
 ther in church, at the ceremony of their mar- 
 riage. 
 
 CHAPTER LI. 
 
 On the Choice of a Husband. 
 
 ASSIST me, ye Nine, 
 
 While the youth I define, 
 With whom I in wedlock would class ; 
 
 And ye blooming fair, 
 
 Lend a listening ear, 
 To approve of the man as you pass. 
 
 Not the changeable fry 
 Who love, nor know why, 
 But follow bcfdupM by their passions : 
 
230 HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF 
 
 Such votaries as these, 
 Are like waves of the seas, 
 And steer'd by their own inclination. 
 
 The hectoring blade 
 
 How unfit for the maid, 
 Where meekness and modesty reigns ! 
 
 Such a thundering Bully 
 
 I'll speak against truly, 
 W hatever I get for my pains. 
 
 Not the dogmatic elf, 
 Whose great all is himself, 
 
 Whose alone ipse dixit is law ; 
 What a figure he'll make, 
 How like Momus he'll speak 
 
 With sneering burlesque, a pshaw ! pshaw I 
 
 Not the covetous wretch 
 
 Whose heart's at full stretch 
 To gain an inordinate treasure ; 
 
 Him leave with the rest, 
 
 And such mortals detest, 
 Who sacrifice life without measure. 
 
 The fluttering fop, 
 
 How empty his top ! 
 Nay but some call him coxcomb, I trow ; 
 
 But 'tis losing ycur time, 
 
 He's not worth half a rhyme, 
 Let the kg ends of prose bind his brow. 
 
 The guttling sot, 
 What a conduit his throat ! 
 How beastly and vicious his life ! 
 Where drunkards prevail, 
 
THE FAIR SEX. 231 
 
 Whole families feel, 
 Much more an affectionate wife. 
 
 One character yet, 
 
 I with sorrow repeat, 
 And O ! that the number were less ; 
 
 'Tis the blasphemous crew : 
 
 What a pattern they'll shew 
 To their hapless and innocent race ! 
 
 Let wisdom then shine 
 
 In the youth that is mine, 
 Whilst virtue his footsteps impress ; 
 
 Such I'd choose for my mate, 
 
 Whether sooner or late : 
 Tell me, Ladies, what think you of this ? 
 
 " The chief poirt to be regarded," says 
 Lady Pennington in her Advice to her Daugh- 
 ters, " in the choice of a companion for life, 
 is a really virtuous principle — an unaffected 
 goodness of heart. Without this, you will 
 be continually shocked by indecency, and 
 pained by impiety. So numerous have been 
 the unhappy victims to the ridiculous opinion, 
 a reformed libertine makes the best husband— ' 
 that, did not experience daily evince the con- 
 trary, one would believe it impossible for a 
 girl who has a tolerable degree of common 
 understanding, to be made the dupe of 
 so erroneous a position, which has x not the 
 least shadow of reason for its foundation, and 
 which a small share of observation will prove 
 to be false in fact. A man who has been long 
 conversant with the worst sort of women, is 
 
232 HISTORICAL SKETCHES OP 
 
 very apt to contract a bad opinion of, and a 
 contempt for, the sex in general. Incapable 
 of esteeming any, he is suspicious of all ; jea- 
 lous without cause, angry without provocation, 
 his own disturbed imagination is a continued 
 source of ill-humour. To this is frequently 
 joined a bad habit of body, the natural con- 
 sequence of an irregular life, which gives an 
 additional sourness to the temper. What ra- 
 tional prospect of happiness can there be with 
 such a companion ? And, that this is the 
 general character of those who are called re- 
 formed rakes, observation will certify. But, 
 admit there may be some exceptions, it is a 
 hazard, upon which no considerate woman 
 would venture the peace of her whole fu- 
 ture life. The vanity of those girls who be- 
 lieve themselves capable of working miracles 
 of this kind, and who give up their persons 
 to men of libertine principles, upon the wild 
 expectation of reclaiming them, justly de- 
 serves the disappointment which it will gene- 
 rally meet with ; for, believe me, a wife is, of 
 all persons, the least likely to succeed in such 
 an attempt. — Be it your care to find that vir- 
 tue in a lover which you must never hope to 
 form in a husband. Good sense, and good 
 nature, are almost equally requisite. If the for- 
 mer is wanting, it will be next to an impossi- 
 bility for you to esteem the person, of whose 
 behaviour you may have cause to be asham- 
 ed. Mutual esteem is as essential to happi- 
 ness in the married state, as mutual affection. 
 Without the latter, every day will bring with 
 it some fresh cause of vexation, until repeated 
 
THE FAIR SEX. 233 
 
 quarrels produce a coolness, which will settle 
 into an irreconcileable aversion, and you will 
 become, not only each other's torment, but 
 the object of contempt to your family, and to 
 your acquaintance. 
 
 " This quality of good nature, is, of all o- 
 thers, the most difficult to be ascertained, on 
 account of the general mistake of blending it 
 with good-humour, as if they were in them- 
 selves the same; whereas, in fact, no two 
 principles of action are more essentially dif- 
 ferent. But this may require some explana- 
 tion — By good-nature, I mean that true be- 
 nevolence, which partakes in the felicity of all 
 mankind, which promotes the felicity of every 
 individual within the reach of its ability, which 
 relieves the distressed, comforts the afflicted, 
 diffuses blessings, and communicates happi- 
 ness, far as its sphere of action can extend ; 
 and which, in the private scenes of life, will 
 shine conspicuous in the dutiful son, in the 
 affectionate husband, the indulgent father, the 
 faithful friend, and in the compassionate mas- 
 ter both to man and beast. Good -humour, 
 on the other hand, is nothing more than a 
 cheerful, pleasing deportment, arising either 
 from a natural gaiety of mind, or from an af- 
 fection of popularity, joined to an affability of 
 behavior, the result of good breeding, and 
 from a ready compliance with the taste of 
 every company. This kind of mere good- 
 humour, is, by far, the most striking quality. 
 It is frequently mistaken, for, and compli- 
 mented with the superior name of real good 
 nature, A man, by this specious appearance, 
 W 
 
234 HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF 
 
 has often acquired that appellation who, in all 
 the actions of his private life, has been a 
 morose, cruel, reven geful, sullen, haughty ty- 
 rant. Let them put on the cap, whose temples 
 fit the galling wreath ! 
 
 " A man of a truly benevolent disposition, 
 and formed to promote the happiness of all 
 around him, may sometimes, perhaps, from 
 an ill habit of body, an accidental vexation, or 
 from a commendable openness of heart, above 
 the meanness of disguise, be guilty of little sal- 
 lies of peevishness, or of ill-humour, wjgich, 
 carrying the appearance of ill-nature, may be 
 unjustly thought to proceed from it, by persons 
 who are unacquainted with his true character, 
 and who take ill humour and ill-nature to be 
 synonymous terms, though in reality they bear 
 not the least analogy to each other. In or- 
 der to the forming a right judgment, it is abso- 
 lutely necessary to observe this distinction, 
 which will effectually secure you from the 
 dangerous error of taking the shadow for the 
 substance, an irretrievable mistake, pregnant 
 with innumerable consequent evils ! 
 
 " From what has been said, it plainly ap- 
 pears, that the criterion of this amiable virtue 
 is not to be taken from the general opinion ; 
 mere good-humour being, to all intents and 
 purposes, sufficient in this particular, to esta- 
 blish the public voice in favor of a -man utter- 
 ly devoid of every humane and benevolent af- 
 fection of heart. It is only from the less con- 
 spicuous scenes of life, the more retired sphere 
 of action, from the artless tenor of domestic 
 conduct, that the real character can, with any 
 
THE FAIR SEX, 235 
 
 certainty be drawn. These, undisguised, 
 proclaim the man. But, as they shun the glare 
 of light, nor court the noise of popular ap- 
 plause, they pass unnoticed, and are seldom 
 known till, after an int'-mate acquaintance, 
 The best method, therefore, to avoid the de- 
 ception in this case, is to lay no stress on 
 outward appearances, which are too often fal- 
 lacious, but to take the rule of judging from 
 the simple unpolished sentiments of those 
 whose dependent connections give them un- 
 deniable certainty ; who not only see, but who 
 hourly feel, the good or bad effect of that dis- 
 position, to which they are subjected. By 
 this, I mean, that if a man is equally respect- 
 ed, esteemed, and beloved by his dependants 
 and domestics, you may justly conclude, he 
 has that true good nature, that real benevo- 
 lence, which delights in communicating feli- 
 city, and enjoys the satisfaction it diffuses. 
 But if by these he is despised and hated, serv- 
 ed merely from a principle of fear, devoid of 
 affection, which is ever easily discoverable, 
 whatever may be his public character, howe- 
 ver favourable the general opinion, be assur- 
 ed, that his disposition is such as can never be 
 productive of domestic happiness. I have 
 been the more particular on this head, as it is 
 one of the most essential qualifications to be 
 regarded, and of all others the most liable to 
 be mistaken. 
 
 " Never be prevailed with, my dear, to give 
 your hand to a person defective in these ma- 
 terial points. Secure of virtue, of good-na- 
 ture, and understanding, in a husband, you 
 
236 HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF 
 
 may be secure of happiness. Without the 
 £wo former it is unattainable. Without the 
 latter in a tolerable degree, it must be very- 
 imperfect. 
 
 " Remember, however, that infallibility is 
 not the property of man, or you may entail 
 disappointment on yourself, by expecting 
 what is never to be found. The best men are 
 sometimes inconsistent with themselves. They 
 are liable to be hurried, by sudden starts of 
 passion, into expressions and actions, which 
 their cooler reason will condemn. They^nay 
 have some oddities of behavior, and some 
 peculiarities of temper. They may be sub- 
 ject to accidental ill-humour, or to whimsical 
 complaints. Blemishes of this kind often 
 shade the brightest character ; but they are 
 never destructive of mutual felicity, unless 
 when they are made so by improper resent- 
 ment, or by an ill-judged opposition. When 
 cooled, and in his usual temper, the man of 
 understanding, if he has been wrong, will sug- 
 gest to himself all that could be urged against 
 him. The man of good-nature will, unup- 
 braided, own his error. Immediate contra- 
 diction is, therefore, wholly unserviceable, 
 and highly imprudent ; an after repetition is 
 equally unnecessary and injudicious. Any 
 peculiarities in the temper or behavior ought 
 to be properly represented in thetenderestand 
 in the most friendly manner. If the repre- 
 sentation of them is made discreetly, it will 
 generally be well taken. But, if they are so 
 habitual as not easily to be altered, strike not 
 too often upon the unharmonious string. Ra~ 
 
THE FAIR SEX. 237 
 
 ther let them pass as unobserved. Such a 
 cheerful compliance will better cement your 
 union ; and they may be made easy to your- 
 self, by reflecting on the superior good qual- 
 ities by which these trifling faults are so great- 
 ly overbalanced. 
 
 " You must remember, my dear, these rules 
 are laid down on the supposition of your be- 
 ing united to a person who possesses the three 
 qualifications for happiness before mentioned. 
 In this case no farther direction is necessary, 
 but that you strictly perform the duty of a 
 wife, namely, to love, to honor, and obey, 
 The two first articles are a tribute so indispen- 
 sably due to merit, that they must be paid by 
 inclination — and they naturally lead to the per- 
 formance of the last, which will not only be 
 an easy, but a pleasing task, since nothing can 
 ever be enjoined by such a person that is in 
 itself improper, and a few things will, that 
 ean with any reason, be disagreeable to you. 
 
 " The being united to a man of irreligious 
 principles, makes it impossible to discharge \\ 
 great part of the proper duty of a wife. To 
 name but one instance, obedience will be ren- 
 dered impracticable, by frequent iuj unctions 
 inconsistent with, and contrarv to, the higher 
 obligations of morality. This is not a sup- 
 position, but is a certainty founded upon facts, 
 which I have too often seen and can attest* 
 Where this happens, the reasons for non-com- 
 pliance ought to be offered in a plain, strong, 
 good-natured manner. There is at least the 
 chance of success from being heard. But 
 should those reasons be rejected, or the h< 
 W z 
 
23? HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF 
 
 ine them refused, and silence on the subject 
 enjoined, which is most probable, few people 
 caring to hear what they know to be right, 
 when they are determined not to be convinc- 
 ed by it — obey the injunction, and urge not 
 the argument farther. Keep, however, stea- 
 dy to your principles, and suffer neither per- 
 suasion nor threats to prevail on you to act 
 contrary to them. All commands repugnant 
 to the laws of Christianity, it is your indispen- 
 sable duty to disobey. Ail requests that are 
 inconsistent with prudence, or incomputable 
 with the rank and character which you ought to 
 maintain in life, it is your interest to refuse. 
 A compliance with the former would be cri- 
 minal, a consent to the latter highly indiscreet; 
 and it might thereby subject you to general 
 censure. For a man, capable of requiring, from 
 his wife, what lie knows to be in itself wrong, 
 is equally capable of throwing the whole blame 
 of such misconduct on her, and of afterwards 
 upbraiding her for a behaviour, to which he 
 will, upon the same principle, disown that he 
 has been accessary. Many similar instances 
 have come within the compass of my own ob- 
 servation. In things of a less material nature, 
 that are neither criminal in themselves, nor 
 pernicious in their consequences, always ac- 
 quiesce, if insisted on, however disagreeable 
 they may be to your own temper and inclina- 
 tion. Such a compliance will evidently prove, 
 that your refusal, in the other cases, proceeds 
 not from a spirit of contradiction, but merely 
 from a just regard to that superior duty which 
 can never be infringed with impunity. 
 
THE FAIR SEX. a 39 
 
 £C As the want of understanding is by no 
 art to be concealed, by no address to be dis~ 
 guised, it might be supposed impossible for a 
 woman of sense to unite herself to a person 
 whose defect, in this instance, must render 
 that sort of rational society, which constitutes 
 the chief happiness of such an union, impos- 
 sible. Yet here, how often has the weakness 
 of female judgment been conspicuous I The 
 advantages of great superiority in rank or for- 
 tune have Frequently proved so irresistable a 
 temptation, as, in opinion, to outweigh, not: 
 only the folly, but even the vices of its pos- 
 sessor — a grand mistake, even tacitly acknow- 
 ledged by a subsequent repentance, when the 
 expected pleasures of affluence, equipage, and 
 all the glittering pomp of useless pageantry, 
 have been experimentally found insufficient to 
 make amends for the want of that constant 
 satisfaction which results from the social joy 
 of conversing with a reasonable friend ! 
 
 " Bat however weak this motive must be 
 acknowledged, it is more excusable than 
 another, which, I fear, has sometimes had an 
 equal influence on the mind— I mean so great 
 a love of sway, as to induce her to give the 
 preference to a person of weak intellectuals, 
 in hopes of holding, uncontrouled, the reigns 
 of government. The expectation is, in fact, 
 ill-grounded. Obstinacy and pride are gene- 
 rally the companions of folly. The silliest peo- 
 ple are often the most tenacious of their opj- 
 nions, and, consequently, the hardest of all 
 others to be managed. : But, admit the con- 
 trary, the principle is in itself bad. It tends 
 
240 HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF 
 
 to invert the order of nature, and to counter- 
 act the design of Providence. 
 
 " A Woman can never be seen in a more 
 ridiculous light than when she appears to go- 
 vern her husband. If, unfortunately, the 
 superiority of understanding is on her side, 
 the apparent consciousness of that superiority 
 betrays a weakness, that renders her contempt- 
 ible in the sight of every considerate person, 
 and it may, very probably, fix in his mind a 
 dislike never to be eradicated. In such a case, 
 if it should ever be your own, remember that 
 some degree of dissimulation is commenda- 
 ble, so far as to let your husband's defects 
 appear unobserved. When he judges wrong, 
 never flatly contradict, but lead him insensi- 
 bly into another opinion, in so discreet a man- 
 ner, that it may seem entirely his own, and 
 let the whole credit of every prudent deter- 
 mination rest on him, without indulging the 
 foolish vanity of claiming any merit to your- 
 self. Thus a person of but an indiiTerent capa- 
 city, may be so assisted, as, in many instances, 
 to shine With borrowed lustre, scarce distin- 
 guishable from the native, and by degrees he 
 may be brought into a kind of mechanical 
 method of acting properly, in all the common 
 occurrences of life. Odd as this position 
 may seem, it is founded in fact. I have seen 
 the method successfully practised by more 
 than one person, where a weak mind, on the 
 governed side, has been so prudently set off 
 as to appear the sole director ; like the statute 
 of the Delphic god, which was thought to 
 give forth its own oracles, whilst the humble 
 
THE FAIR SEX. 241 
 
 priest, who lent his voice, was by the shrine 
 concealed, nor sought a higher glory than a 
 supposed obedience to the power he would 
 be thought to serve." 
 
 CHAPTER LII. 
 Mrs. PiozzPs Advice to a New Married Man. 
 
 I RECEIVED the news of your marriage 
 
 with -infinite delight, and hope that the sin- 
 cerity with which I wish you happiness, may 
 excuse the liberty I take in giving you a few 
 rules, whereby more certainly to obtain it. — 
 I see you smile at my wrong-headed kind- 
 ness, and, reflecting on the charms of your 
 bride, cry out in a rapture, that you are hap- 
 py enough without my rules. I know you 
 are. Rut after one of the forty years, which 
 I hope you will pass pleasingly together, are 
 over, this letter may come in turn, and rules 
 for felicity may not be found unnecessary, 
 however some of them may appear imprac- 
 ticable. 
 
 Could that kind of love be kept alive thro' 
 the marriage state, which makes the charm 
 of a single one, the sovereign good would no 
 longer be sought for ; in the union of two 
 faithful lovers it would be found : but reason 
 shews us that this is impossible, and experi- 
 ence informs us that it never was so ; we 
 must preserve it as long, and supply it as 
 happily as we can. When your present vio- 
 lence of passion subside?, however, and a 
 
242 HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF 
 
 more cool and tranquil affection takes its 
 place, be not hasty to censure yourself as in- 
 different, or to lament yourself as unhappy ; 
 you have lost that only which it was impos- 
 sible to retain, and it were graceless amid the 
 pleasures of a prosperous summer to regret 
 the blossoms of a transient spring. Neither 
 unwarily condemn your bride's insipidity till 
 you have recollected that no object however 
 sublime, no sounds however charming, can 
 continue to transport us with delight when 
 they no longer strike us with novelty .^| The 
 skill to renovate the powers of pleasing, are 
 said, indeed, to be possessed by some women 
 in an eminent degree ; but the artifices of 
 maturity are seldom seen to adorn the inno- 
 cence of youth : you have made your choice, 
 and ought to approve it. 
 
 Satiety follows quickly upon the heels of 
 possession ; and to be happy, we must always 
 have something in view. The person of 
 your lady is already all your own, and 
 will not grow more pleasing in your eyes I 
 doubt, though the rest of your sex will think « 
 her handsome for these dozen of years. — 
 Turn, therefore, all your attention to her 
 mind, which will daily grow brighter by po ^0 
 lishing. Study some easy science together, flfc 
 and acquire a similarity of tastes while you ' 
 enjoy a community of pleasures. You will 
 by this means have many images in common, 
 and be freed from the necessity of separating 
 to find amusement. Nothing is so dangerous 
 to wedded love as the possibility of either 
 being happy out of the company of the 
 
THE FAIR SEX. 243 
 
 other: endeavour therefore to cement the 
 present intimacy on every side ; let your wife 
 never be kept ignorant of your income, your 
 expenses, your friendships or aversions; let 
 her know your very faults, but make them 
 amiable by your virtues ; consider all con- 
 cealment as a breach of fidelity ; let her ne- 
 ver have any thing to find out in your cha- 
 racter ; and remember that from the moment 
 one of the partners turns spy upon the other, 
 they have commenced a state of hostility. 
 
 :.-dk not for happiness in singularity ; and 
 dreaq a refinement of wisdom as a deviation 
 into folly. Listen not to those sages who ad- 
 vise you always to scorn the council of a 
 woman, and if you comply with her requests 
 pronounce you to be wife- ridden. Think not 
 any privation, except of positive evil, an ex- 
 cellence, and do not congratulate yourself 
 that your wife is not a learned lady, that she 
 never touches a card, or is wholly ignorant 
 how ta make a pudding. Cards, cookery and 
 learning, are all good in their places, and may 
 be all used with advantage. 
 
 o 
 
 With regard to expense, I can only observe, 
 that the money laid out in the purchase of 
 distinction is seldom or ever profitably em- 
 ployed. We live in an age when splendid 
 furniture and glittering equipage are grown 
 too common to catch the notice of the mean- 
 est spectator ; and for the greater ones, they 
 only regard our wasteful folly with silent con- 
 tempt, or open indignation. This may per- 
 haps be a displeasing reflection, but the fol- 
 lowing consideration ought to make amends. 
 
344 HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF 
 
 The age we live in pays, I think, peculiar at- 
 tention to the hk-her distinctions of wit, 
 knowledge and virtue, to which we may more 
 safely, more cheaply, and more honourably 
 aspire. The giddy flirt of quality frets at the 
 respect she sees paid to Lady Edgecumbe, 
 and the gay dunce sits pining for a partner, 
 while Jones the orientalist leads up the ball. 
 I said that the person of your lady would 
 not grow mere pleasing to you ; but pray let 
 her never suspect that it grows less so: that 
 a woman will pardon an affront to her tBfcer-^ 
 standing much sooner than one to her person, 
 is well known ; nor will any of us contradict 
 the assertion. All our attainments, all our 
 arts, are employed to gain and keep the heart 
 of inan : and what mortification can exceed 
 the disappointment, if the end be not obtain- 
 ed ? There is no reproof however pointed, 
 no punishment however severe, that a woman 
 cf spirit will not prefer to neglect ; ancl if 
 she can endure it wi&out complaint, it only 
 proves that she means to make herself amends 
 by the attention of others for the slights of 
 her husband. For this, and for every rea- 
 son, it behoves a married man not to let his 
 politeness fail, though his ardour may abate, 
 but to retain at least that general civility to- 
 wards his own lady which he is so willing to 
 pay to every other, and not shew a wife of 
 eighteen or twenty years old, that every man 
 in company can treat her with more compli- 
 sance than he, who so often vowed to her eter- 
 nal fondness. 
 
THE FAIR SEX. S45 
 
 It is not my opinion that a young woman 
 should be indulged in every wild wish of her 
 gay heart or giddy head ; but contradiction 
 may be softened by domestic kindness, and 
 quiet pleasures substituted in the place of 
 noisy ones. Public amusements are not in- 
 deed so expensive as is sometimes imagined, 
 but they tend to alienate the minds of marri- 
 ed people from each other. A well chosen 
 society of friends and acquaintance, more 
 eminent for virtue and good sense than for 
 gaiety and splendour, where the conversation 
 of the day may afford comment for the even- 
 ing, seems the most rational pleasure this 
 great town can afford. 
 
 That your own superiority should always 
 be seen, but never felt, seems an excellent 
 general rule. A wife should outshine her 
 husband in nothing, not even in dress. If 
 she happens to have a taste for the trifling 
 distinction that finery can confer, suffer her 
 not for a moment to fancy, when she appears 
 in public, that Sir Edward or the Colonel are 
 finer gentlemen than her husband. The bane 
 of married happiness among the city men in 
 general has been, that finding themselves unfit 
 for polite life, they transferred their vanity to 
 their ladies, dressed them up gaily, and sent 
 them out a gallanting, while the good man 
 was to regale with port wine or rum punch, 
 perhaps among mean companions, after the 
 compting house was shut : this practice pro- 
 duced the ridicule thrown on them in all our 
 comedies and novels since commerce began 
 to prosper. But now that I am so near the 
 X 
 
246 HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF 
 
 subject, a word or two on jealousy may not 
 be amiss ; for though not a failing of the pre- 
 sent age's growth, yet the seeds of it are too 
 certainly sown in every warm bosom for us 
 to neglect it as a fault of no consequence. If 
 you are ever tempted to be jealous, watch 
 your wife narrowly — but never tease her; 
 tell her your jealousy, but conceal your sus- 
 picion ; let her, in short, be satisfied that it is 
 only your odd temper, and even troublesome 
 attachment, that makes you follow her; but 
 let her not dream that you ever doubted se- 
 riously of her virtue even for a moment. If 
 she is disposed towards jealousy of you, let 
 me beseech you to be always explicit with 
 her and never mysterious: be above delight- 
 ing in her pain, of all things — nor do your 
 business nor pay your visits with an air of 
 concealment, when all you are doing might 
 as w T ell be proclaimed perhaps in the parish 
 vestry. But I hope better than this of your 
 tenderness and of your virtue, and will release 
 you from a lecture you have so little need of, 
 unless your extreme youth and my uncom- 
 mon regard will excuse it. And now farewell-; 
 make my kindest compliments to your wife, 
 and be happy in proportion as happiness ifi 
 'wished you by, Dear Sir, he. 
 
 q 
 
THE FAIR SEX. Ml 
 
 CHAPTER LIU." 
 
 Garrick's Advice to Married Ladies. 
 
 YE fair married dames who so often deplore 
 That a lover onee blest is a lover no more ; 
 Attend to my counsel, nor blush to be taught, 
 That prudence must cherish what beauty has 
 caught. 
 
 The bloom of your cheek, and the glance of 
 
 your eye, 
 Your roses and lilies may make the men sigh ; 
 But roses, and lilies, and sighs pass away, 
 And passion will die as your beauties decay. 
 
 Use the man that you wed like your fav'rite 
 
 guitar, 
 Tho' music in both, they are both apt to jar; 
 How tuneful and soft from a delicate touch, 
 Not handled too roughly, nor play'd on too 
 
 much ! 
 
 The sparrow and linnet will feed from your 
 
 hand, 
 Grow tame by your kindness, and come at 
 
 command : 
 Exert with your husband die same happy 
 
 skill, ' **■ 
 
 For hearts, like your birds, may be tamed to 
 
 your will. 
 
 Be gay and good-humour'd, complying and 
 
 kind, 
 Turn the chief of your care from your face 
 
 to your mind ; 
 
e^ HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF 
 
 Tis thus that a wife may her conquests ini 
 
 prove, 
 And Bvrnen shall rivet the fetters of love. 
 
 CHAPTER L1Y. 
 O/i Widowhood* 
 
 THE History of all antiquity gives the % 
 M'cst reasons to suspect, that widows 
 were often the prey of the lawless tyrant, who 
 spoiled them with impunity because they had 
 lione to help them. In many places of scrip- 
 ture we frequently iind the state of the wi- 
 dow and the fatherless depicted as of all others 
 the most forlorn and miserable ; and men of 
 honour and probity, in enumerating their own 
 good actions, placing a principal share of 
 them in not having spoiled the widow and the 
 fatherless. ** li I have lift up my hand against 
 the fatherless," says Job, " or have caused 
 the eyes of the widow to fail, then let mine 
 arm fall from mine shoulder, and be broken 
 from the bone." In the book of Exodus it 
 is declared as a law, drat " ye shall not afflict 
 the widow, or the fatherless child. If thou 
 afflict them in any ways, and they cry unto 
 me, I will surely hear -their cry ; and my 
 wrath shall wax hot, and I will kill you with 
 the sword, and your wives shall be widows, 
 and your children fatherless." 
 
 In the eighth century, one of the canon 
 laws enacted that none shall presume to dis 
 turb widows, orphans and weak people ; and 
 
THE FAIR SEX. 249 
 
 no sentence could be executed against a wi- 
 dow, without advising the bishop of the dio- 
 cese of it. These circumstances create a 
 strong suspicion that widows were often op- 
 pressed ; otherwise, why so many laws for 
 their particular protection ? 
 
 Among many of the ancients, widows 
 were, by custom, restricted from having a 
 second husband. Almost over all the East, 
 and among many tribes of the Tartars, they 
 believed that wives were not only destined to 
 serve their husbands in this world, but in the 
 next also ; and as every wife there was to be 
 the sole property of her first husband, she 
 could never obtain a second, because he 
 could only secure to himself her service in 
 this life. 
 
 When the Greeks became sensible of the 
 benefits arising from the regulations of Ce- 
 crops concerning matrimony, they conceived 
 so high an idea of them, that they affixed a de- 
 gree of infamy on the woman who married a 
 second husband, even after the death of the 
 fii ot ; and it was more than two centuries af- 
 ter the time of Cerrop3 beibre any woman 
 dared to make the attempt. Their history 
 has transmitted to posterity, with some degree 
 of infamy, the name of her who first ventured 
 on a second marriage. Gorgophona, the 
 daughter of Perseus and Andromeda, began 
 the practice ; a practice which, though seen 
 after followed by others, could not, even by 
 the multitude of its votaries, be screened from 
 the public odium. During a great part of the 
 heroic ages, widows who married again, V 
 X z 
 
2jo HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF 
 
 considered as having offended against public 
 decency. To this custom Virgil plainly al- 
 ludes, when he describes the conflict in the 
 breast of Dido, between her love for .flSneas, 
 and fear of wounding her honour by a second 
 marriage. Nay, so scrupulous were the 
 Greeks about second marriages, that in some 
 circumstances even men were with difficulty 
 allowed to enter into them. Charonidas ex- 
 cluded all those from the public councils of 
 the state, who had children, and married a se- 
 cond wife. " It is impossible, (said he) that 
 a man can advise well for his country, who 
 does not consult the good of his own family. 
 He, whose first marriage has been happy, 
 ought to rest satisfied with that happiness ; if 
 unhappy, he must be out of his senses to 
 risque being so again, 55 
 
 The Romans borrowed this custom of the 
 Greeks, and considered it not only as a kind of 
 breach of the matrimonial vow in the woman, 
 but also as affecting die man nearly in the 
 same manner that her in fidelity would have 
 affected him while he was living. " The soul 
 of a deceased husband, 5 ' says Justinian, " is 
 disturbed when his wife marries a second.'* 
 
 In Cu manna, when a husband dies, it is 
 said they make the widow swear, that she will 
 preserve and keep by her his head during her 
 life. This is intended as a monitor, to tell 
 her that she is never to enter again into the 
 married state. 
 
 Among the ancient Jews and Christians of 
 the primitive ages, there were certain orders 
 
THE FAIR SEX. l$l 
 
 of men, who were not allowed to join them- 
 selves in marriage with widows, " A priest, 
 (says Moses) shall not take to wife a widow, 
 or a divorced woman, or prophane, or an har- 
 lot febut he shall take a virgin of his own peo- 
 ple to wife." 
 
 Pope Syricus, copying the example set by 
 Moses, ordained that if a bishop married a 
 widow, he should be degraded. In the year 
 400, we find it decreed in the Cyprian coun- 
 cil, that if a reader married a widow, he should 
 never be preferred in the church ; and that if 
 a subdeacon did the same, he should be de- 
 graded to a door keeper or reader. 
 
 In the doomsday book, we find the king 
 exacted only a fine of ten shillings for liberty 
 to marry a maiden ; but it cost twenty to ob- 
 tain liberty of marrying a widow. 
 
 Several legislators have fixed a certain time, 
 within which widows should not be allowed 
 to marry. Among the Romans this was ten 
 months. Among other nations it varied ac- 
 cording to the regard they thought due to a 
 deceased husband ; and the expression of 
 that regard which ought to be shown by his 
 wife. 
 
 In the eleventh century the church decreed, 
 that a widow should not marry within the 
 space of one year after her release from the 
 bonds of matrimony. The laws of Geneva 
 shorten this period to half a year. But as 
 there are few countries, in which the matter 
 is taken up by the legislature, it is more com- 
 monly regulated by custom than by law. 
 
 About a century ago ; widows in Scotland, 
 
2Si HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF 
 
 and in Spain, wore the dress of mourners till 
 d* ath, or a second husband put an end to the 
 ceremony. In Spain the widow passed the 
 first year of her mourning in a chamber hung 
 with black, into which day-light was never 
 suffered to enter. She then changed her dark 
 and dismal scene for a chamber hung with 
 grey, into which she sometimes admitted an 
 intrusive sunbeam to penetrate. In neither 
 of these apartments did custom allow her look- 
 glasses, nor plate, nor any thing but the most 
 plain and necessary furniture. Nor was she 
 to have any jewels on her person, nor to wear 
 any colour but black. 
 
 We are so much accustomed in Europe to 
 see mourners dressed in black, that we have 
 affixed a melancholy idea to that colour. 
 Black is not, however, universally appropri- 
 ated to this purpose. The dress of Chinese 
 mourners is white ; that of the Turks blue ; 
 of the Peruvians a mouse-colour ; of the E- 
 gyptians yel!ow,and in some of there provinces, 
 green* Purple is at present made use of as 
 the mourning dress of kings and cardinals. 
 
 Some tribes of American savages allot a 
 widow the tedious space of four years to chas- 
 tity and to mourning. To this mourning and 
 continency are added particular austerities. 
 Every evening and morning, during the first 
 year, a widow is obliged to lament her loss in 
 loud lugubrious strains. Eut, if her husband 
 was a war-chief, she is then, during the first 
 moon, to sit the whole day under his war- 
 pole, and there incessantly to bewail her lost 
 
THE FAIR SEX. 25; 
 
 lord* without any shelter from the heat, the 
 cold, or whatever weather shall happen. 
 
 This war-pole is a tree stuck in the ground, 
 with the top and branches cut off. It is paint- 
 ed red, and all the weapons and trophies of 
 war, which belonged to the deceased, are hung 
 on it, and remain there till they rot. 
 
 In several parts of Africa, a country of ty- 
 ranny and despotism, women are not only 
 doomed to be the slaves of their husbands in 
 this world, but according to their opinion, in 
 the next also. The husband is no sooner 
 dead, than his wives, concubines, servants, 
 and even sometimes horses, must be strang- 
 led, in order to render him the same services 
 in a future life which they did in this* 
 
 At the Cape of Good Hope, in order that 
 widows may not impose themselves on the 
 men for virgins, they are obliged by law to cut 
 off a joint from the finger for every husband 
 that dies. This joint they present to their 
 new husband on the day of their marriage. 
 
 The Hindoos do not bury their dead alter 
 the manner of many other nations, but burn 
 their bodies upon a large pile of wood erected 
 for the purpose. Upon this pile the most be- 
 loved wife, and in some places, it is said, all 
 the wives of great men are obliged to devote 
 themselves to the flames which consume the 
 bodies of their husbands. 
 
 In the history of the Buccaniers of Ameri- 
 ca, it is said, that a widow in the Carribee I- 
 slands is obliged every day, for the space of 
 one year, to carry victuals to the grave of her 
 deceased husband ; and. the year being e:- 
 
?S4 HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF 
 
 pired, she must dig up his bones, wash and 
 dry them in the sun, put them in a satchel, car- 
 ry them on her back all day, and sleep upon 
 them all night, for the space of another year. 
 Cruel custom ! if it really exists. But the 
 anonymous author of the history abounds so 
 much in the marvellous, that he deserves but 
 little credit. 
 
 Herodotus informs us, that among the an- 
 cient Cretonians, a people of Trace, widows, 
 assisted by all their relations, made interest 
 who should be preferred to the honour of being 
 killed on the grave of the deceased husband. 
 
 In China, if widows have had children, they 
 become absolute mistresses of themselves, 
 and their relations have no power to compel 
 them to become widows, nor to give them to 
 another husband. It is not, however, reputa- 
 ble for a widow who has children, to enter in- 
 to a second marriage, without great necessi- 
 ty, especially if she is a woman of distinction. 
 In this case, although she has been a wife on- 
 ly a few hoars, or barely contracted, she fre- 
 quently thinks herself obliged to pass the rest 
 cf her days in widowhood — and thereby to 
 testify to the world the esteem and veneration 
 she hud for her husband or lover. 
 
 In the middle stations of life, the relations 
 of some deceased husbands, eager to reim- 
 burse the family in the sum which the wife 
 originally cost it, oblige her to marry, or rather 
 sell her to another husband, if she has no male 
 issue. Sometimes, indeed, it happens that 
 the future husband has concluded the bar- 
 gain, and paid the money for her, before she 
 
THE FAIR SEX. 355 
 
 is acquainted with the transaction. By the 
 laws of China, a widow cannot be sold to a- 
 nother husband, till the time of her mourning 
 for the first expires. So desirous, however 1 , 
 are the friends often to dispose of her, that 
 they pay no regard to . ; but, on a com- 
 
 plaint being made to idarin, he is oblig- 
 
 ed to do her justice A she is commonly 
 unwilling to be bill- red for in this manner, 
 without her consent or knowledge, as soon as 
 the bargain is struck, a covered chair, with a 
 considerable number of lusty follows, is bro't 
 to her house. Being forcibly put into this 
 chair she is conveyed to the house of her new 
 husband, who takes care to secure her. 
 
 In Europe, a widow in tolerable circum- 
 stances is more mistress of herself than any 
 other woman ; being free from that guardian- 
 ship and controul to which the sex are sub- 
 ject while virgins, and while wives. In no 
 part of Europe is this more exemplified than 
 at Parma, and some other places of Italy ; 
 where a widow is the only female who is at 
 liberty either to choose a husband, or assume 
 the government of any of her actions. Should 
 a virgin pretend to choose for herself, it would 
 be reckoned the most profligate licentiousness. 
 Should she govern her actions or opinions, 
 she would be considered as the most pert, 
 and perhaps the most abandoned, of her sex. 
 
 Politeness and humanity have joined their 
 efforts in Europe to render the condition of 
 widows comfortable. The government of 
 England has provided a fund for the widows 
 of officers. The clergy of Scotland have yd- 
 
2i6 HISTORICAL SKETCHES Or 
 
 luntarily raised a stock to support the widows 
 of their order. Many incorporated trades 
 have followed these laudable examples. This 
 case is not confined to Britain. It extends 
 to France, Germany, and other countries, 
 where it exists in forms too various to be de- 
 lineated. 
 
 The ancient laws of a great part of F.urope 
 ordained, that a widow should lose her dower, 
 if she married again, or suffered her chastity to 
 be corrupted. The laws of Prussia retain this 
 ordinance to the present time. They likewise 
 ordain that a widow shall not marry again, 
 within nine months after the death of her hus- 
 band. 
 
 The Prussians have another regulation con- 
 cerning widows, highly descriptive of the hu- 
 manity and wisdom of their legislature. When 
 a widower and widow intend to marrv, owe 
 or both of which having children, as it too 
 frequently happens that such children are ei- 
 ther despised or neglected, in consequence 
 of the new connections formed, and perhaps 
 of the new offspring raised up, the laws of 
 Prussia provide for their education and for- 
 tune, according to the rank and circumstances 
 of the parents ; and will not suffer either man 
 or woman to enter into a second marriage, 
 without previously settling with the children 
 of the first. 
 
THE FAIR SEX. 2 57 
 
 CHAPTER LV. 
 
 JDr. Schomberg's Method of Reading, for 
 Female Improvement. 
 
 IN A LETTER TO A LADY. 
 MADAM, 
 
 CONFORMABLE to your desire, and 
 my promise, I present you with a few thoughts 
 on the method of reading ; which you would 
 have had sooner, only that you gave me leave 
 to set them down at my leisure hours. I have 
 complied with your request in both these par- 
 ticulars ; so that you see, Madam, how ab- 
 solute your commands are over me. If my 
 remarks should answer your expectations, 
 and the purpose for which they were intended; 
 if they should in the least conduce to the 
 spending your time in a more profitable and 
 agreeable manner than most of your sex gen- 
 erally do, it will give me a pleasure equal at 
 least to that you will receive. 
 
 It were to be wished that the female part 
 of the human creation, on whom nature has 
 poured out so many charms with so lavish a 
 hand, would pay some regard to the cultivat- 
 ing of their minds and improving their un- 
 derstanding. It is easily accomplished. 
 Would they bestow a fourth part of the time 
 they throw away on the trifles and gewgaws 
 of dress, in reading proper books, it would 
 perfectly answer their purpose. Not that I 
 ana against the ladies adorning their persons : 
 
258 HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF 
 
 let them be set off with all the ornaments that 
 art and nature can conspire to produce for 
 their embellishment, but let it be with reason 
 and good sense, not caprice and humor ; for 
 there is good sense in dress, as in all things else. 
 Strange doctrine to some ! But I am sure, 
 Madam, you know there is — you practise it. 
 The first rule to be laid down to any one 
 who reads to improve, is never to read but with 
 attention. As the abstruse parts of learning 
 are not necessary to the accomplishment of 
 one of your sex, a small degree of it will suf- 
 fice. I would throw the subjects of which the 
 ladies ought not to be wholly ignorant under 
 the following heads : 
 
 HISTORY- — MORALITY POETRY. 
 
 The first employs the memory ; the second, 
 the judgment ; and the third, the imagination. 
 
 Whenever you undertake to read History, 
 make a small abstract of the memorable e- 
 vents ; and set down in what year they hap- 
 pened. If you entertain yourself with the life 
 of a famous person, do the same by his most 
 remarkable actions, with the addition of the 
 year and the place he was born at and died. 
 You will find these great helps to your memo- 
 ry, as they will lead you to remember what 
 you do not write down, by a sort of chain that 
 links the whole history together. 
 
 Books on Morality deserve an exact read- 
 ing. There are none in our language more 
 useful and entertaining than the Spectators, 
 Tatlers, and Guardians. They are the stand- 
 
THE FAIR SEX. 259 
 
 artls of the English tongue, and as such should 
 be read over and over again ; for as we im- 
 perceptibly slide into the manners and habits 
 of those persons with whom we most fre- 
 quently converse, so reading being, as it were, 
 a silent conversation, we insensibly write and 
 talk in the style of the authors we have the 
 most often read, and who have left the deepest 
 impressions on our mind. Now, in order to 
 retain what you read on the various subjects 
 that fall under the head of morality, I would 
 advise you to mark with a pencil whatever 
 you find worth remembering. If a passage 
 strike you, mark it down in the margin ; jf 
 an expression, draw a line under it ; if a whole 
 paper in the fore- mentioned books, or any 
 others which are written in the same loose and 
 unconnected manner, make an asterisk 
 over the first line. By these means you will 
 select the most valuable, and they will sink 
 deeper in your memory than the rest, on re- 
 peated reading, by being distinguished from 
 them. 
 
 ^ The last article is Poetry. The wav of 
 distinguishing good poetry from bad, 'is to 
 turn it out of verse into prose, and see whether 
 the thought is natural, and the words adapted 
 to it ; or whether they are not too big and 
 sounding, or too low and mean for the sense 
 they would convey. This rule will prevent 
 you from being imposed on by bombast and 
 fustian, which with many passes for sublime ; 
 for smooth verses which run off the ear with 
 an easy cadence, and harmonious turn, very 
 often impose nonsense on the world, and are 
 
i6o historical sketches op 
 
 like your fine dressed beaux, who pass for fine 
 gentlemen. Divest both from their outward 
 ornaments, and people are surprised they could 
 have been so easily deluded* 
 
 I have now, madam, given a few rules, and 
 those such only as are really necessary. I 
 could have added more ; but these will be 
 sufficient to enable you to read without burden* 
 ing your memory, and yet with another view 
 besides that of barely killing time, as too many 
 are accustomed to do. 
 
 The task ycu have imposed on me, is a 
 strong proof of your knowing the true value 
 of time, and always having improved it to the 
 best advantage, were there no other ; and that 
 there are other proofs, those who have the 
 pleasure of being acquainted with you, can 
 tell. 
 
 As for my part, Madam, you have done me 
 too much honor, by singling me out from all 
 your acquaintance on this occasion, to say 
 any tiling that would not look like flattery ; 
 you yourself would tiling it so, were I to do 
 you the common justice all your friends allow 
 you : I must therefore be silent on this head, 
 and only say, that I shall think myself well 
 rewarded in turn, if jou will believe me to be, 
 with the utmost sincerity, as I really arn, 
 Madam, 
 
 Your faithful 
 
 Humble servant, 
 1. SCIIOMBERG, 
 
THE FAIH SEX. 261 
 
 CHAPTER LVI. 
 
 The Deaths of Lucretla and Virginia. 
 
 THE force of prejudice appears in nothing 
 more strongly than in the encomiums which 
 have been lavished upon Lucretia, for laying 
 violent hands upon herself, and Virginius, for 
 killing his own daughter. These actions seem 
 to derive all their glory from the revolutions 
 to which they give rise, as the former occasi- 
 oned the abolition of monarchy amongst the 
 Romans, and the latter put an end to the ar- 
 bitrary power of the decemviri. But if we 
 lay aside our prepossessions for antiquity, and 
 examine these actions without prejudice, we 
 cannot but acknowledge, that they are rather 
 the effects of human weaknxss and obstinacy 
 than of resolution and magnanimity. Lucre- 
 tia, for fear of worldly censure, chose rather 
 to submit to the lewd desires of Tarquin, than 
 have it thought that she had been stabbed in 
 the embraces of a slave; which sufficiently 
 proves, that all her boasted virtue was found- 
 ed upon vanity, and too high a value for the 
 opinion of mankind. The younger Plinv, 
 with great reason, prefers to this famed actioi* 
 that of a woman of low-birth, whose husband 
 being seized with an incurable disorder, chose 
 rather to perish with him than survive him. 
 The action of Arria is likewise much more 
 noble, whose husband P^tus, being condemn- 
 ed to death, plunged a dagger inlier breast, 
 and told him, with a dying voice, " Pmus* 
 Y 2 
 
262 HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF 
 
 it is not painful." But the death ofLucretia 
 gave rise to a revolution, and it therefore be- 
 came illustrious ; though, as St. Augustine 
 justly observes, it is only an instance of the 
 weakness of a woman, too solicitous about 
 the opinion of the world. 
 
 Virginius. in killing his daughter, to pre- 
 serve her from falling a victim to the lust of 
 the decemvir Claudius, was guilty of the 
 highest rashness ; since he might certainly 
 have gained the people, already irrkated a- 
 gainst the tyrant, without embruing his hands 
 in his own blood. This action may indeed 
 be extenuated, as Virginius slew his daugh- 
 ter from a false principle of honour, and did 
 it to preserve her from what both he and she 
 thought worse than death ; namely, to pre- 
 serve her from violation : but though it may 
 in some measure be excused, it should not 
 certainly be praised or admired. 
 
 CHAPTER LVII. 
 
 Thoughts on the Education of Women. 
 
 JEY AN ANONYMOUS AUTHOR, 
 
 THE education of men, and that of women, 
 ought to be conducted on the same princi- 
 ples, so far as it relates to the vanity of both 
 being directed to essential objects. In almost 
 every other respect, however, there should be 
 a difference. One thing in particular is to be 
 cautiously avoided in the latter, that is, raising 
 
THE FAIR SEX. 263 
 
 the imagination, or suffering them to do any 
 tiling from passion. 
 
 Born for a life of uniformity and depend- 
 ence, what they have occasion for is reason, 
 sweetness, and* sensibility, resources against 
 idleness and languor, moderate desires, and 
 no passions. 
 
 Were it in your power to give them geni- 
 us, it would be almost always a useless, and 
 very often a dangerous present. It would, in 
 general, make them regret the station which 
 Providence has assigned them, or have re- 
 course to unjustifiable ways to get from it. 
 The best taste for science only contributes to 
 make them particular. It takes them away 
 from the simplicity of their domestic duties, 
 and from general society, of which they arc 
 the loveliest ornament. 
 
 • Intended to be at the head of a house, to 
 bring up .children, to depend on a master, 
 who will occasionally want their obedience 
 and advice, their chief qualifications are to 
 be the love of order, patience, prudence and 
 right-minded ness. 
 
 The more agreeable talents they can con- 
 nect with these cardinal virtues — the more 
 parts of learning they have tasted the ele- 
 ments of, so as not to be entirely shut out of 
 mixed conversation — the more relish they 
 have for proper and well chosen books — -and 
 the more they are capable of reflecting, the 
 better and happier beings they will be. 
 
 Rousseau says, that the little cunning na- 
 tural to women ought not to be checked, be- 
 cause they will want it to captivate the raen ? 
 
2$4 HISTOniCAL SKETCHES OF 
 
 on whom they depend. This is a detestable 
 maxim. He might as well have recommend- 
 ed dissimulation, and even open falsehood ; 
 for, detestable as they are, they may likewise, 
 at times, serve a turn. But for one case, in 
 which vice may be useful, there are a thou- 
 sand in which it does harm. Nor is there 
 any thing that will weather every storm, save 
 the habitual exercise of virtue. Besides, if 
 there were any vices, which it became a phi- 
 losopher to recommend, surely they should 
 not be the lowest of all — those which indi- 
 cate the last degree of corruption, both in 
 body and mind — those of which immediate 
 self-interest is the object. 
 
 After all, an artful woman may govern a 
 weak and narrow-minded man ; but she will 
 never gain the esteem and attachment of a 
 man of sense. 
 
 CHAPTER LVIII. 
 
 JFcdded Love is infinitely preferable to Fa* 
 riety, 
 
 HAIL, wedded Love, mysterious law, 
 true source 
 Of human offspring, sole propriety, 
 In Paradise of all things common else! 
 
 By thee adult'rous lust was driven from 
 men, 
 Among the bestial herds to range ; by thee 
 Founded in reason, loyal, just and pure, 
 
THE FAIR SEX. 26* 
 
 Relations dear, and all the charities 
 
 Of father, son and brother, first were known. 
 
 Thou art the fountain of domestic sweets, 
 Whose bed is undenTd and chaste pronoune'd. 
 Here Love his golden shafts employs, here 
 
 lights 
 His constant lamp, and waves his purple 
 
 wings, 
 Reigns here and revels ; not in the bought 
 
 smile 
 Of harlots, loveless, joyless, unendear'd, 
 Casual fruition ; ncr in court amours, 
 Mixed dance, or wanton mask, or midnight 
 
 ball, 
 Or serenade, which the starved lover sings 
 To his proud fair, best quitted with disdairy 
 
 CHAPTER LIX. 
 
 On the Revolutions of the French fashions, 
 with some Advice to the Ladies respecting 
 pertain parts of Dress. 
 
 [TRANSLATED FROM THE FRENCH.] 
 
 FASHION is to custom what prejudices 
 are to the moral virtues. It imperiously dic- 
 tates laws to those who live under its empire, 
 and its decrees are irrevocable. Women, 
 that bewitching part of the creation, born for 
 the happiness of one half of our sex, and for 
 the torment of the other, discontented with 
 the little that the laws have done for them in 
 the distribution of direct power, have at nil 
 times sought to acquire by address, what 
 
266 HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF 
 
 they could not reasonably hope to obtain by 
 open force. The auxiliary means which 
 they have always employed to accomplish 
 their ends are those of the toilette ; but in 
 blindly suffering themselves to be guided by 
 custom, and adopting new modes, without 
 choice and without reflection, the fair sex do 
 not derive from those trifles, to which they 
 annex so much value, all the advantages they 
 expect. Those whom their rank or chance 
 has placed in a conspicuous station, generally 
 give an example to others. They are the 
 ilrst to adopt fashions, and often take them 
 from some remote source, to which people of 
 ordinary rank never would have gone to look 
 for them. 
 
 The grand fault in what concerns the toi- 
 lette, and that against which they ought to be 
 greatly on their guard, is not to give too 
 much into general fashion, and not to believe 
 that because a particular dress becomes one 
 woman, it will become all in the like manner. 
 To destroy this prejudice, it will be sufficient 
 to observe, that ornaments employed in dress, 
 ought to be varied lii their composition, and 
 to be suited to the shape and figure of these 
 who adopt them. Though one cannot form 
 genera! principles upon this subject, yet after 
 having taken a view of the modes of preced- 
 ing ages, 1 shall venture to make a few cur- 
 sory observations upon the fashions which 
 prevail at present. 
 
 It is with disgust that the imagination re- 
 turns to those remote ages, when nature, in- 
 sulted in every respect, and disfigured b; 
 
THE FAIR SEX. 267 
 
 most whimsical dresses, presented to the sight 
 only hideous figures. In the first ages of the 
 ich monarchy, the dress of the men va- 
 more than that of the women. Their 
 clothes were alternately either too long or too 
 short. In general, long vestments are more 
 becoming and mon noble than those that are 
 short. It is a great pity that this custom 
 should be attended with so many inconveni- 
 ences, and that it should absolutely impede 
 the exercise of the body, and those labours 
 which our wants require, and which luxury 
 commands. 
 
 Under Philip the Fair, an epocha when 
 dress began to emerge from barbarity, long 
 coats only were worn by men in any consi- 
 deration. In the army, however, as well as 
 in the country, short coats were always retain- 
 ed. In the fourteenth century, the same 
 dress was worn by men and women. Under 
 the reigns of Charles V. and Charles VI. 
 long coats only were in fashion ; but Charles 
 VII. who had ill made legs, again introduced 
 long coats. - 
 
 Nothing is more curious, and at the same 
 time ridiculous, than the dress of people of 
 fashion during the first years of the reign of 
 Louis XL Figure to yourself a petit maitre, 
 with Iiis hair flat and bushy, dressed in a 
 doublet shaped like an under waistcoat, 
 which scarcely covered his reins ; his breeches 
 
 * May not this circumstance, as well as many- 
 others ihat might be mentis' fri, serve to prove the 
 iostoe&s of the proverb, which ssys, ihai wise people 
 invent fajbizus, and fools follow them ? 
 
268 HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF 
 
 exceedingly close, rising very high, and his 
 middle bound round with ribbands, in a most 
 whimsical manner, as may be still seen in 
 some ancient paintings; add to all this, arti- 
 ficial shoulders, in form of a cushion, which 
 were placed upon each shoulder-blade, to 
 make him appear to have a large chest, and 
 to give him a robust and vigorous appearance. 
 This strange cancatura was terminated by 
 shoes, the points of which, for people of the 
 first quality, were full two feet in length. — 
 The populace had them only of six in- 
 ches : those were what they called shoes a la 
 poulaine. They were invented by Henry 
 Piantagenet, duke of Anjou, to conceal a very 
 large excrescence which he had upon one of 
 his feet. As this prince, the most gallant and 
 beautiful man of his age, gave the lead to the 
 court, every one was desirous of having 
 shoes like his. Hence comes the origin of 
 the French proverb eire suritn grand pied. — 
 Under Francis I. and his successors, the 
 form cf men's dress began to approach per- 
 fection; but under the good Henry IV. it 
 became preferable to that which we have 
 since adopted, and which still subsists. The 
 most useful of all modes, and that which will 
 survive all others, though it has found many 
 enemies in France, is the peruke. Ecclesi- 
 astics were long forbidden to wear one in 
 church. In 1685, a canon of the cathedral 
 of Beauveais was prevented from celebrating 
 mass, because he wore a peruke. He, how- 
 ever, deposited it in the hands of two nota- 
 ries, at the entrance into the choir, and pro- 
 
THE FAIR SEX. s6$ 
 
 tested against the violence offered him. In 
 1689, several Oratorians* were dismissed 
 from their order, because they had put on 
 perukes. At that time they were very large, 
 but at present every thing is so much chang- 
 ed, that even physicians, who formerly consi- 
 dered an enormous peruke as the basis of 
 their reputation, seem to disdain that orna- 
 ment. Several have adopted the bag, and 
 perhaps we shall soon see them performing 
 their morning visits with a long queue. 
 
 When bags began first to be in fashion, 
 people never wore them except when in dish- 
 abille ; in visits of ceremony one could not 
 a, pear but with the hair tied in a ribband, 
 and fioating over the shoulders. This is ab- 
 solutely contrary to our present fashion. 
 
 In the early periods of the monarchy, the 
 ladies scarcely paid any attention to dress. — 
 It would appear that they thought of nothing 
 more than pleasing their husbands, and of 
 giving a proper education to their children, 
 and that the rest of their time was employed 
 in family concerns, and rural economy. If 
 their dress was subject to little change in 
 those primitive times, we ought not to be 
 astonished to see the fair sex indemnify them- 
 selves at present- for their long inaction. — 
 Their dress, however, has experienced the 
 same revolutions as that of men. There was 
 a time when their robes rose so high, that 
 
 they absolutely covered the breast ; but under 
 
 I 
 
 * A Conaregation of priests instituted in France, by 
 Cardinal 'de Berulle, and approved by ihe Pope in 
 
 1635, 
 
 Z 
 
370 HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF 
 
 Charles VI. Queen Isabella of Bavaria, at> 
 remarkable for her gallantry as her beauty, 
 brought back the fashion" of leaving the 
 shoulders and part of the neck uncovered. 
 
 Let us hear what Juvenal des Ursins says 
 respecting the manner in which the women 
 dressed their heads. " Both married and un- 
 married ladies were very extravagant in their 
 dress, and wore caps wonderfully high and 
 large, having two great ears at each side, 
 which were of such a magnitude, that when 
 they wished to enter a door, it was impossible 
 for them." About that time, the famous 
 Carmelite, Thomas Cenare, exercised his 
 oratorical talents against these caps. His ef- 
 forts were at first successful ; but his triumph 
 was of short duration, and they again rose to 
 a prodigious degree ; they however, at length, 
 became entirely out of fashion. 
 
 The reign of Charles VII. brought back 
 the use of ear-rings, bracelets and collars. — 
 Some years before the death of that prince, 
 the dress of the ladies was ridiculous in the 
 highest degree. They wore robes so exceed- 
 ingly long, that several yards of the train 
 dragged behind ; the sleeves were so wide 
 that they swept the ground ; and their heads 
 were lost under immense bonnets, which 
 were three fourths of their breadth in height. 
 To this whimsical fashion another succeeded, 
 which was no less so. The ladies placed a 
 kind of cushion upon their heads, loaded with 
 ornaments, which displayed the worst taste 
 imaginable. This head diess was so large, 
 that it was two yards in breadth. At that 
 
THE FAIR SEX. 271 
 
 period it was absolutely necessary to enlarge 
 the doors of all the houses. From this ex- 
 tremity, the fair sex passed to another no less 
 extravagant. They adopted the use of bon- 
 nets so exceedingly low, and they arranged 
 the hair in so dose a manner, that they ap- 
 peared as if their heads had been shaven.— 
 On the death of Charles VIII. Anne of Bre- 
 tagne, his queen, introduced the use of the 
 black veil, which she always wore. The la- 
 dies of her court adopted it also, and orna- 
 mented it with red and purple fringes ; but 
 the cits, improving upon this mode, enriched 
 it with pearls and clasps of gold. 
 
 It was under the reign of Francis I. that 
 the women began to turn up their hair. — 
 Margaret, queen of Navarre, frizzed that on 
 the temples, and turned back that before. — 
 This princess occasionally added to this head 
 dress a small bonnet of velvet or satin, orna- 
 mented with pearls and jewels, and placed 
 ever it a small tuft of feathers. Such a fa- 
 shion was very becoming, and this perhaps is 
 the first period when the ladies began to dress 
 with any taste. A revolution was absolutely 
 requisite. The gallant and voluptuous reign 
 Catharine de Medicis necessarily brought 
 about a happy change in the French fashions. 
 It was about this time that the chaperon or 
 hood appeared. This mode continued a long 
 time, because the sumptuary laws established 
 a distinction in the stuff which composed it. 
 The hoods of ladies of quality were of vel- 
 vet, and those of citizens, of plain cloth. — 
 La Bourckr % midwife to Mary of Medicis, 
 
272 HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF 
 
 obtained an express order from the king to 
 wear one of velvet. Of all the sumptuary 
 iaws made at different periods, none had so 
 sudden an effect as the edict of Henry the 
 Great in 1604. This monarch, after having 
 forbid his su bjects to wear either gold or sil- 
 ver upon their dresses, adds, " except, how- 
 ever, ladies of pleasure and pick-pockets, for 
 whom we are rot so far interested as to do 
 ihern the honor of attending to their conduct." 
 This ordinance was attended with the proper 
 effect, and neither ladies of pleasure, nor pick- 
 pockets took any advantage of their permis- 
 sion. 
 
 The French ladies in the present day have 
 made such a rapid progress in the art of set- 
 ting off their charms, that they are now fol- 
 lowed by all the ladies in Europe. We have 
 seen modes of different kinds succeed one 
 another with inconceivable rapidity. Names 
 cf all sorts have been exhausted. Four vo- 
 lumes would scarcely contain the nomencla- 
 ture of all the novelties which the inventive 
 genius of the ladies has devised in the last 
 ten years. But this is not all, the fair sex 
 have so far disfigured nature, that one must 
 look at them very closely not to be mistaken. 
 Their cavalier gait, the black hat:, the riding- 
 coat and the cane which they have adopted, 
 have given them almost the appearance of 
 men. Such a dress does net at all become 
 them, and we cannot help saying, that it de- 
 stroys all their graces. 
 
 Let us now make a few observations on 
 the advantages and disadvantages of female 
 
THE FAIR SEX. 273 
 
 dress ; and let us begin with the ornaments 
 of the head, which may be called the citadel 
 of coquetry. 
 
 As the head oVcss should be considered 
 only as an accessary part, whenever its height 
 exceeds the length of the face, it produces a 
 disagreeable effect ; and its effect will become 
 more sensible in a woman whose physiogno- 
 my is small, than in one who has Roman fea- 
 tures. The former can derive no advantage 
 but from slight ornaments which do not occu- 
 py much space; she must always avoid large 
 figures and straight lines. A head dress 
 which comes too far forward on the head of a 
 woman who has a small nose and fiat chin, 
 will render these blemishes more sensible, 
 whilst such a dress will admirably become 
 one who has a prominent chin and a large 
 nose. 
 
 Beautiful eyes lose great part of their 
 splendour under large hats worn as they are 
 at present. This head dress ought to be the 
 resource of those ladies who can boast of 
 nothing but a pretty mouth, and an agreeable 
 smile. The colours of gauze and ribbands 
 employed to ornament the head, ought to be 
 suited to that of the hair and complexion. — . 
 This care adds much to the graces of nature. 
 It must, however, be allowed* that the ladies 
 understand the harmony of colours much 
 better than the relation of forms. 
 
 The advantages of an elegant figure are of- 
 ten lost by the ridiculous folly of wishing to 
 appear very slender. One needs only to stu- 
 dy the shape of the supurb antioue statue of 
 
274 HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF 
 
 Venus, to be convinced that the beauty of 
 proportion is hurt as much by too slenckrand 
 uniform, as by too clumsy a waist. It must 
 be observed also, that too narrow boddice and 
 stays absolutely destroy gracefulness and ease. 
 The motions become stifF, and the attitudes 
 confined ; besides speaking of the fatal acci- 
 dents which may arise from this violence of- 
 fered to nature. 
 
 Depravation of taste in regard to dress was 
 some years ago carried to a great length. 
 Very corpulent women wished to increase 
 their size by cork rumps, whieh women who 
 were too slender, had ingeniously invented to 
 supply what nature had refused them. We 
 have seen some of a very diminutive size, 
 who by the help of this ridiculous piece of 
 furniture seemed to have acquired as much di- 
 mensions in breadth as in height. 
 
 Those ornaments which are intended to a- 
 dorn nature ought to be simple and light. 
 The Grecian ladies, who knew so well how 
 to make the most of their charms, took great 
 care never to use veils but of the most plia- 
 ble stuffs. These veils yield to their various 
 motions, and added to the natural graceful- 
 ness of their persons. All the ancient statues, 
 therefore brought us from that country, which 
 gave birth totlte arts, are admired by artists 
 and connoisseurs for a character of lightness 
 and ease which can never be surpassed. 
 
 It is wrong to believe, that cold. climates 
 should prevent people from wearing thin 
 dresses : by means of furred cloaks, which 
 may be used in the open air, one may wear 
 
THE FAIR SEX. 275 
 
 an u ntier dress of the lightest stuff poss ; ble. 
 The manner in which the Russian ladies dress, 
 may serve as a proof of what we have here 
 advanced ; but a proper medium ought to 
 be observed between dresses which arc too 
 clumsy, and those which, on account of their 
 thinness, might give offence to decency. A 
 woman who exposes herself to these inconve- 
 niences does not understand her own interest. 
 
 It was above all in the arrangement of the 
 hair that the Greek ladies excelled, especially 
 with regard to simplicity. We must allow, 
 that the ladies dress better at present than 
 formerly : and that they are nearer to perfec- 
 tion than they were some years ago. A slight 
 dawning begins already to appear in the man- 
 ner in which they dress their hair, and there 
 is reason to hope that they will make a very 
 rapid progress in this part of the business of 
 the toilette, especially if they consult nature 
 and good artists. 
 
 Nothing is more agreeable and becoming 
 than to wear the hair floating over the shoui- 
 dcas. It is much to be wished that the ladies 
 would adhere to this custom. The curls 
 which they have adopted before, would be- 
 come them much better, were they less regu- 
 lar, and disposed with more taste. 
 
 When by some lucky chance a woman has 
 attained almost to perfection in the art of dress- 
 ing, that is to say, in the art of knowing what 
 best becomes her, she ought to be very nice 
 in her choice of new fashions. In an age so 
 frivolous as the present, the loss of a lover 
 may be the consequence of even such a tti- 
 
2li> HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF 
 
 fling circumstance as that of the hat being wrong 
 placed, or turned too much to the right or 
 the left. When a passion is founded only up- 
 on trifles, ought we to be surprised that a tri- 
 fle should destroy it ? 
 
 Artists, who have spent their lives in stu- 
 dying the beauties of nature, are the best 
 judges in this respect. They alone have the 
 privilege of fixing the public opinion in such 
 matters. '1 his is really their province. The 
 time is perhaps not far distant, when the fair 
 sex., better acquainted with their dearest in- 
 terests, will invite them to their toilettes, and 
 consider them as the arbiters of taste. Favor- 
 ed then by the graces and by beauty, and en- 
 vied by all the other classes of men, they will 
 be indemnified with usury for that neglect 
 with which they have so long been treated. 
 But a great revolution must take place before 
 that happy day arrives. At that epocha, e- 
 very thing will return to its primitive order, 
 and, according to the French proverb, every 
 man will be in his own place, and every abbe 
 in his benefice. 
 
 CHAPTER LX. 
 
 On looking at the Picture of a beautiful 
 Female. 
 
 VVH AT dazzling beauties strike my ravish'ci 
 
 eyes, 
 And fill my soul with pleasure and surprise \ 
 
THE FAIR SEX. 27? 
 
 What blooming sweetness smiles upon that 
 
 face ! 
 How mild, yet how majestic every grace ! 
 Injthose bright eyes what more than mimic fire 
 Benignly shines, and kindles gay desire ! 
 Yet chasten'd modesty, fair white-rob'd dame, 
 Triumphant sits to check the rising flame. 
 Sure nature made thee her peculiar care : 
 Was ever form so exquisitely fair ? 
 Yes, once there was a form thus heav'nly 
 
 bright, 
 But now 'tis veii'd in everlasting night ; 
 Each glory which that lovely face could boast, 
 And every charm, iti traceless dust is lost ; 
 An unregarded heap bf ruin lies 
 That form which lately drew ten thousand 
 
 eyes. 
 What once was courted, lov'd, ador'd, and 
 
 praisM, 
 Now mingles with the dust from whence 
 
 'twas rais'd. 
 No mcr£ soft dimpling smiles those cheeks 
 
 adorn, 
 Whose rosy tincture sliam'd the rising morn ; 
 No more with sparkling radiance shine those 
 
 eyes, 
 Nor over those the sable arches rise ; 
 Nor from those ruby lips soft accents Row, 
 Nor hllies on the snowy forehead blow ; 
 All, all are cropp'd by death's impartial hand. 
 Charms could not bribe, nor beauty's powV 
 
 withstand ; 
 Not all that crowd of wond'rous charms could 
 
 save • 
 The fair possessor from the dreary grave, 
 
273 HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF 
 
 How fair is beauty, transient, false and vain I 
 It flies with morn, and ne'er returns again. 
 Death, cruel ravager, delights to prey 
 Upon the young, the lovely and the gay. 
 If death appear not, oft corroding pain, 
 With pining sickness in her languid train, 
 Blights youth's gay spring with some untime- 
 ly blast, 
 And lays the blooming field of beauty waste: 
 But should these spare, still time creeps on 
 
 apace, 
 And plucks with wither'd hand each winning 
 
 grace ; 
 The eyes, lips, cheeks, and bosom he disarms, 
 No art from him can shield exterior charms. 
 
 But would you, fair ones be esteem'd, ap- 
 
 prov'd, 
 And with an everlasting ardor lov'd ; 
 Would you in wrinkled age, admirers find, 
 In every female virtue dress the mind ; 
 Adorn the heart, and teach the soul to charm, 
 And when the eyes no more the breast can 
 
 warm, 
 These ever-blooming beauties shall inspire 
 Each gen'rous heart with friendship's sacred 
 
 fire ; 
 These charms shall neither wither, fade, norfly ; 
 Pain, sickness, time, and death, they dare defy. 
 When the pale tyrant's hand shall seal your 
 
 doom, 
 And lock your ashes in the silent tomb, 
 These beauties shall in double lustre rise, 
 Shine round the soul, and waft it to the skies. 
 
TH£ FAIR SEX. 37? 
 
 CHAPTER LXT. 
 
 THK Extracts which fnliow, ate exclusively from 
 «« The Hisrory o( Women, from « h e earliest Ami* 
 quuy, 10 the present lime" — by Dr. Alexander. 
 
 Education of JFomen in Asia and Africa — 
 Amusements of the Grecian Ladies — Re- 
 ligious Festivals of the Greeks — fieligi- 
 ous Dancers, &c. 
 
 IN several of the warmer regions of Asia 
 and Africa, where women are considered 
 merely as instruments of animal pleasure, the 
 little education bestowed upon them, is en- 
 tirely calculated to debauch their minds and 
 give additional charms to their persons. They 
 are instructed in such graces and alluring arts 
 as tend to inflame the passions ; they arc 
 taught vocal and instrumental music, which 
 they accompany with dances, in which every 
 movement, and every gesture, is expressive- 
 ly indecent : but they receive no moral in- 
 struction ; for it would teach them that they 
 were doing wrong : no improvement ; for it 
 would shew them that they were degrading 
 themselves, by being only trained up to sa- 
 tisfy the pleasures of sense. This, however, 
 is not the practice of all parts of Asia and A- 
 frica : the women of Hindostan are educated 
 more decently ; they are not allowed to learn 
 music or dancing ; which are only reckoned 
 accomplishments fit for ladies of pleasure : 
 they are, notwithstanding, taught all the per- 
 sonal graces ,; and particular care is taken t© 
 
tSo HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF 
 
 instruct them in the art of conversing with e- 
 legance and vivacity : some of them are also 
 taught to write, and the generality to read, 
 that they may be able to read the Koran ; in- 
 stead of which, they more frequently dedicate 
 themselves to tales and romances ; which, 
 painted in all m* lively imagery of the Eiist, 
 seldom fail to corrupt the minds of creatures 
 shut up from the world, and consequently 
 forming to themselves extravagant and ro- 
 mantic notions of all that is transacted in it. 
 
 In well regulated families, women are 
 taught by heart some prayers in Arabic, which 
 at certain hours they assemble in a hall to re- 
 peat ; never being allowed the liberty of go- 
 ing to the public mosque. They are enjoined 
 always to wash themselves before praying ; 
 and, indeed, the virtues of cleanliness, of 
 chastit} r and obedience, are so strongly and 
 constantly inculcated on their minds, that in 
 spite of their general debauchery of manners, 
 there are not a few among them, who, in their 
 common deportment, do credit to the instruc- 
 tions bestowed upon them ; nor is this much 
 to be wondered at, when we consider the 
 tempting recompense that is held out to them ; 
 they are in paradise, to flourish forever, in the 
 vigour of youth and beauty ; and however 
 old or ugly, when they depart this life, are 
 there to be immediately transformed into all 
 that is fair, and ail that is graceful. 
 
 AS the Greek ladies were almost constant- 
 employed, and as voluntary employment 
 
THE FAIR SEX. 281 
 
 often banishes even every wish of pleasure 
 and dissipation, we have reason to believe 
 that they had few, if any, private diversions 
 or amusements; which are generally the off- 
 spring of idleness, as appears plainly from 
 the difference, in this respect, between the 
 women and the men ; the former, as we have 
 observed, being fully employed, had no need 
 of amusements ; the latter oeing frequently, 
 and, in Sparta, even by law obliged to be 
 constantly idle, were thereby induced to have 
 recourse to games and sports of various kinds 
 to fill up their vacant hours, and prevent that 
 uncomfortable tedium which so constantly 
 attends idleness : to some of these public 
 sports the women were admitted, and from 
 others excluded by the severest penalties. — 
 Their legislator possibly imagined, that should 
 they be indiscriminately admitted to all the 
 amusements of the men, they would acquire 
 an unsuitable boldness, and neglect the seve- 
 ral duties and offices required of them at 
 home. To what we have here observed the 
 Spartan women are, however, an objection : 
 we have already seen, that they amused them- 
 selves with the masculine exercises of wrest- 
 ling, throwing darts, &c. But this is not all : 
 they were obliged to appear naked at some 
 of their solemn feasts and sacrifices, and to 
 dance and sing, while the young men stood 
 in a circle around them ; an amusement 
 highly indelicate, or, if a religious ceremony, 
 only worthy of the Cyprian goddess, 
 A a 
 
232 HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF 
 
 ANOTHER cause, which contributed to 
 make the religious festivals of the Greeks 
 appear as amusements and diversions, was 
 that ridiculous buffoonery that constituted so 
 great a part of them : it would be tedious to 
 ennumerate one half of these buffooneries; 
 but let a few serve as a specimen. At a fes- 
 tival held in honor of Bacchus, the women 
 ran about for a long time seeking the god, 
 who, they pre tended, had run away from 
 them : this done, they passed their time in 
 proposing riddles and questions to each other, 
 and laughing at such as could not answer 
 them ; and at last often closed the scene with 
 such enormous excesses, that at one of these 
 festivals, the daughters of Minya, having, in 
 their madness, killed Hippasus, had him 
 dressed and served up to table as a rarity. — 
 At another, kept in honour of Venus and 
 Adonis, they beat their breasts, tore their 
 hair, and mimicked all the signs of the most 
 extravagant grief, with which they supposed 
 the goddess to have been effected on the 
 death of her favourite paramour. At another, 
 in honour of the nymph Cotys, they address- 
 ed her as the goddess of wantonness with 
 many mysterious rites and ceremonies. At 
 Corinth, these rites and ceremonies, being 
 perhaps thought inconsistent with the charac- 
 ter of modest women, this festival was only 
 celebrated by harlots. Athenacus mentions a 
 festival, at which the women laid hold on all 
 the old batchelors they could find, and drag- 
 ged them round an altar; beating them all 
 the time with their fists, as punishment for 
 
THE FAIR SEX. 2 8$ 
 
 their neglect of the sex. We shall only- 
 mention two more ; at one of which, after 
 the assembly had met in the temple of Ceres, 
 the women shut out all the men and dogs, 
 themselves and the bitches remaining in the 
 temple all night : in the morning, the men 
 were let in, and the time was spent in laugh- 
 ing together at the frolic. At the other, in 
 honour of Bacchus, they counterfeited phren- 
 zy and madness ; and to make this madness 
 appear the more real, they used to eat the 
 raw and bloody entrails of goats newly 
 slaughtered. And, indeed, the whole of the 
 festivals of Bacchus, a deity much worship- 
 ped in Greece, were celebrated with rites 
 either ridiculous, obscene, or madly extra va- 
 gant. There were others, however, in honor 
 of the other gods and goddesses, which were 
 more decent, and had more the appearance 
 of religious solemnity, though even in these, 
 the women dressed out in all their finery; 
 and adorned with flowers and garlands, either 
 formed splendid processions, or assisted in 
 performing ceremonies, the general tendency 
 of which was to amuse rather than instruct. 
 
 IN the neighbourhood of .Surat, the Hin- 
 doos have many magnificent temples; and in 
 every temple are a number of Bramins, or 
 priests, dedicated to the service of the god 
 there worshipped. A part of that service 
 consists in dancing on religious assemblies, 
 and other solemn occasions ; and these dan- 
 ces are performed by young women, the most 
 
!$4 HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF 
 
 handsome and beautiful in the country.* — 
 These reside in the temple, and are by the 
 Bfatnins carefully collected from every place, 
 where their own influence, or the veneration 
 of their temple reaches. In order to induce 
 them to enter into this service, besides the 
 immense rewards held out to them in the 
 world to come, they have some peculiar pri- 
 vileges in this. They may leave the temple 
 when they please ; and being accounted holy, 
 they are then eagerly sought after in marriage, 
 and have the presence in this respect to all 
 other women. While in the temples, they 
 are entirely under the direction of the Bra- 
 mins; and it is by many supposed, that they 
 are also entirely appropriated to their plea- 
 sures ; but however this be, they are hardly 
 ever allowed, like the ether female dancers 
 of the country, to perform for the amusement 
 of the public. 
 
 Besides these religious dancers, there is 
 almost in every large city, companies of danc- 
 ing girls, called Bailiaderes ; who, in the 
 manner of our strolling players, go about for 
 the amusement of the public; and who will 
 exhibit their performances at the house of 
 any person, who is able to pay what they de- 
 mand ; or may be seen by any one for a trifle 
 at their public assemblies. These beautiful 
 girls are constantly followed by an old de- 
 formed musician, who beats time with a bra- 
 sen instrument, called a Tom ; and continu- 
 
 • 
 
 * When M*cnood first took the magnificent temple 
 of Surr.nai.he found there five hundred dancing girls, 
 nnd three hundred music] 
 
THE FAIR SEX. 2Sf 
 
 ally at every stroke repeats the word Tom 
 with such vociferation, that he soon works 
 himself into a kind of phrenzy — the Ballia- 
 deres, at the same time eager to please, and 
 intoxicated with the music, and the smell of 
 the essences with which they are perfumed, 
 soon after begin to be in the same state: 
 their dances are in general expressive of the 
 passion of love, and they manage them so as 
 to give, even the most ignorant, tolerable 
 ideas of that passion in all its different situa- 
 tions and circumstances — and so great is 
 their beauty, so voluptuous their figure, so 
 rich and ingeniously contrived their dress, 
 that they seldom perform without drawing 
 together a numerous crowd of spectators. 
 
 Strolling female dancers, who live by that 
 profession, are not, however, peculiar to the 
 East Indies; they have of late been met with 
 fri Otaheite, and several other places ; but be- 
 side their strolling dancers in Otaheite, they 
 have a dance called Timoradee, which the 
 young girls perform, when eight or ten of them 
 can be got together ; it consists in every mo- 
 tion, gesture, and tone of voice that is truly 
 lascivious ; and being brought up to it from 
 their childhood, in every motion, and in every 
 gesture, they keep time with an exactness 
 scarcely excelled by the most expert stage, 
 dancers of Europe. But though this diver- 
 sion is allowed to the virgin, it is prohibited 
 to the wife ; who, from the moment of mar- 
 riage, must abstain from it forever. 
 
 Aa 2 
 
»S6 HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF 
 
 CHAPTER LXII. 
 
 Punishment of Polygamy in Egypt — Semi- 
 ramis of Assyria — Account of the Sybar- 
 ites — Customs of the Grecian Women. 
 
 "THE men in Egypt were not allowed to 
 infliilge m polygamy., a state which always 
 presupposes women to be slaves. The chas- 
 tity of virgins was protected by a law of the 
 severest nature ; he who committed a rape on 
 a ircc woman, had his privates cut off, that 
 it might be out of his power ever to perpe- 
 trate the like crime, and that others might be 
 terrified by so dreadful a punishment. Con- 
 cubinage, as well as polygamy, seems either 
 not to have been lawful, or at least not fashion- 
 able ; it was a liberty, however, in which their 
 hings were sometimes indulged, for we fu d 
 when Sesostris set out on his expedition to 
 conquer the world, he left the government of 
 the kingdom to his brother, with full power 
 over every thing, except the royal diadem, 
 the queen, and royal concubines. The queens 
 of Egypt are said to have been much honor- 
 ed, as well as more readily obeyed than the 
 kings ; and it is also related, that the husbands 
 were in their marriage-contracts obliged to. 
 promise obedience to their wives ; a thing 
 which in our modern times we are often oblig- 
 ed to perform, though our wives entered into 
 the promise. 
 
THE FAIR SEX. 2S7 
 
 WHILE Ninus, king of Assyria, was be- 
 sieging Bactria, it is sai ! tlv.it the attempt 
 would have failed, had it not been for the as- 
 sistance of Semiramis, then wife of one of his 
 principal officers; who planned a method of 
 attacking the city, with such superior skill, 
 that he soon became master of it. Ninus be- 
 ing attracted by the beauty and art of this vi- 
 rago, soon became passionately fond of her ; 
 in the mean time, her husband foreseeing that 
 this passion would end in his destruction, to 
 avoid falling a victim to licentious despotism, 
 privately put an end to his life. The main 
 Obstacle being thus removed, Ninus took the 
 adultress to wife, an action which, acording to 
 some authors he had soon reason to repent, 
 for she having first brought over to her interest 
 the principal men of the state, next prevailed 
 on her silly husband to invest her, for the 
 space of five days, with the sovereign power; 
 a decree was accordingly issued, that all the 
 provinces should implicitly obey her during 
 that time ; which having obtained, she began 
 the exercise of her sovereignty, by putting to 
 death the too indulgent husband who had con- 
 ferred it on her, and so securing to herself the 
 kingdom. Other authors have denied that Ni- 
 nus committed this rash, or Semiramis this ex- 
 ecrable deed, but all agree that she succeeded 
 her husband at his death, in whatever manner 
 it happened. Seeing herself at the head of a 
 mighty empire,and struck with the love of mag- 
 nificence and fame, she proposed to render her 
 name immortal, by performing something 
 that should far surpass all that had been doas 
 
283 HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF 
 
 by her predecessors ; the scheme she fell up- 
 on, was to build in the space of one year, the 
 mighty city of Babylon ; which being finish- 
 ed within the proposed time, greatly exceed- 
 ed in magnificence any thing in the world 
 had ever seen ; two millions of men are said 
 to have been constantly employed on it, dur- 
 ing the time it was erecting. 
 
 THE Sybarites, from the imperfect ac- 
 counts we have of them, placed the whole of 
 their happiness in indolence, eating, finery, and 
 women. Their bodies were so much relax- 
 ed with sloth, and their minds with voluptu- 
 ousness, that the greatest affront that could 
 be offered to any one, was to call him a Sy- 
 barite, an appellation, which comprehended in 
 it almost every human crime, and every hu- 
 man folly. In grottos, cooled with foun- 
 tains, their youth spent a great part of their 
 time in scenes of debauchery, amid women, 
 either elegantly adorned by art, or sometimes 
 reduced to a state of nature. Women of the 
 first quality, though not disposed of by auc- 
 tion, were treated in a manner somewhat si- 
 milar ; they were given as a reward to him 
 who, in contending for them, shewed the 
 greatest splendor and magnificence. When 
 any great entertainment was designed, the wo- 
 men, who were to make a part of the compa- 
 ny, were invited a year before, that they might 
 have time to appear in all the lustre of beauty 
 and of dress; a circumstance which plainly 
 proves that they did not, as some other na» 
 
THE FAIR SEX. 2S9 
 
 dons, value the sex only as objects of sensu- 
 al pleasure, but as objects which added ele- 
 gance to their scenes of magnificence and 
 grandeur ; and perhaps because they excell- 
 ed the men in softness and effeminacy, quali- 
 ties upon which they set the greatest value, 
 and cultivated with the utmost asbiduity. — 
 These people, after having been for many cen- 
 turies the contempt of the universe, were at 
 last shamefully driven from their country, 
 and entirely dispersed by the Cratonians. 
 
 BUT confinement was not the greatest evil 
 which the Grecian women suffered ; by o- 
 ther customs and laws they were still more 
 oppressed : it was not in their power to do 
 any judicial act without the consent of a tu- 
 tor or guardian ; and so little power, even o-' 
 ver themselves, did the legislature devolve 
 upon women, though ripened by age and ex- 
 perience, that when the father died, the son 
 became the guardian of his own mother. 
 When a woman was cited into court, she was 
 incapable of answering without her guardian ; 
 and therefore the words of the proclamation 
 were, " We cite A. B. and her guardian*" 
 In making a will, it was not only necessary 
 that the guardian should give his consent, but 
 that he should be a party. These facts shew, 
 that the Greek women were under the most 
 complete tutelage, whereby they were depriv- 
 ed of almost all political existence ; and teach 
 us to consider a guardian and his pupil as the 
 substance and the shadow, the later of which 
 
2$o HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF 
 
 could not exist without the former. But this 
 is not all ; we have already mentioned some 
 of the slavish employments to which they 
 were put, and shall now add, that in the hero- 
 ic ages, the women did all the slavish and do- 
 mestic offices, even such as were inconsistent 
 with the delicacy and modesty of the sex ; 
 they conducted the men to bed, dressed and 
 undressed them, attended them while in the 
 baths, dried and perfumed them when they 
 came out of them ; nor were these, and such 
 other cilices only alloted to servants or slaves ; 
 no rank was exempted from them. The 
 princess Naussica, daughter of Alcinous, car- 
 ried her own linen to the river in a chariot, 
 and having washed and laid it on the bank, sat 
 down by it, and dined on the provision she 
 had brought along with her. When such was 
 the employment of their own women of rank, 
 we cannot expect that their captives should 
 share a happier fate ; accordingly, we find 
 Hector lamenting, that, should Troy be taken, 
 his wife would be condemned to the most 
 slavish drudgery ; and Hecuba bewailing, 
 th at, like a cic^ she was chained at the gate 
 of Agamemnon. 
 
 In the state of wedlock, a state of all others 
 the most delicate, the Lacademonians seem to 
 have been destitute of all the finer feelings ; 
 for, despising that principle of mutual fidelity, 
 which in some degree appears to have been 
 cherished by every people only a single de- 
 gree removed from the rudest barbarity, they 
 without any reluctancy, borrowed and lent 
 wives with each other ; a kind of barter to 
 
THE PAIR SEX. agx 
 
 tally inconsistent with that sympathetic union 
 of souls, which always does, or ought to take 
 place, between husband and wife : but the 
 n Mtrrdid not end here ; for, by the htws of 
 Solon, a lusty well-made young fallow might, 
 when he pleased, demand permission to coha- 
 bit with the wife of any of his fellow citizens, 
 who was less handsome and robust than him- 
 self, under pretence of raising up children to 
 the state, who should, like the father be strong 
 and vigorous ; and such an unreasonable de- 
 mand, the husband was not at liberty to re- 
 ject : what still further shews how little de- 
 licacy existed in their connections with their 
 wives, is their conduct in a war with the 
 Myssinians ; when, having bound themselves 
 by a solemn oath, not to return to their own 
 city till they had revenged the injury they had 
 received, and the war having been unexpect- 
 edly protracted for the space often years, they 
 began to be afraid that a longer absence would 
 tend greatly to depopulate their state ; to pre- 
 vent which, they sent back a certain number 
 of those who had joined the army, after the a- 
 bove mentioned oath had been taken, with 
 full power to cohabit with all the v/ives, whose 
 husbands were absent. Nothing can more 
 plainly discover the despicable condition of 
 the Grecian women : the state, as a body po- 
 litic, regarded them only as instruments of 
 general propagation ; and their husbands in- 
 delicately acquiesced in the idea, which they 
 never could have done, had they been actu- 
 ated by any thing but animal appetite, and 
 
29a HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF 
 
 had not that appetite been fixed more on the 
 sex than the individual. 
 
 CHAPTER LXIIL 
 
 Rape of the Sabine Virgins — Women of Scy- 
 ihh\ Messaged — Cruelty of Amestris. 
 
 WHEN Romulus, the founder of Rome, 
 had formed his infant republic, finding that 
 he had no women, and that none of the neigh- 
 boring nations would give their daughters in 
 marriage to men whom they considered as a 
 set of lawless banditti ; he was obliged by- 
 stratagem to procure for his citizens, what he 
 could not obtain for them by Entreaty. Ac- 
 cordingly, having proclaimed a solemn feast, 
 and an exhibition of games in honor of Eques- 
 trian Neptune, and by that means gathered a 
 great number of people together ; on a sig- 
 nal given,*thc Romans, with drawn swords in 
 their hands, rushed among the strangers, and 
 forcibly carried away a great number of their 
 daughters to Rome. The next day Romulus 
 himself distributed them as wives to those of 
 his citizens, who had thus by violence carried 
 them away. From so rude a beginning, and a- 
 monga people so severe and inflexible as the 
 Romans, it is not unnatural for the reader to 
 expect to find, that women were treated in the 
 same indignant, if not in a worse manner, than 
 they were among the nations we have already 
 mentioned. In this, however, he will be mis- 
 taken ; It was the Remans who first gave to 
 
THE FAIR SEX. 2 9 3 
 
 the sex public liberty, who first properly cul- 
 tivated their minds, and thought it as necessary 
 as to adorn their bodies : among them were 
 they first fitted for society, and for becoming 
 rational companions ; and among them, was it 
 first demonstrated to the world, that they were 
 capable of great actions, and deserved a bet- 
 ter fate than to be shut up in seraglios, and 
 kept only as the pageants of grandeur, or in- 
 struments of satisfying illicit love ; truths 
 which the sequel of the history of the Sabine 
 women will amply confirm. 
 
 The violent capture of these young women 
 by the Romans, was highly resented by all 
 the neighboring nations, and especially by the 
 Sabines, to whom the greatest part of them 
 belonged ; they sent to demand restitution of 
 their daughters, promising, at the same time, an 
 alliance, and liberty of intermarrying with the 
 Romans, should the demand be complied with. 
 But Romulus not thinking it expedient to part 
 with the only possible means he had of rais- 
 ing citizens, instead of granting what they ask- 
 ed, demanded of the Sabines, that they should 
 confirm the marriages of their daughters with 
 the Romans. These conferences, at last, 
 produced a treaty of peace ; and that, like 
 many others of the same nature, ended in a 
 more inveterate war. The Romans having in 
 this gained some advantages, the Sabines re- 
 tired ; and having breathed awhile, sent a se- 
 cond embassy to demand their daughters, 
 were again refused, and again commenced 
 hostilities. Being this time more successful, 
 they besieged Romulus in his citadel of Rome, 
 B b 
 
294 HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF 
 
 and threatened immediate destruction to him 
 and all his people, unless their daughters were 
 restored. In this alarming situation, Hersilia, 
 wife of Romulus, demanded an audience of 
 the senate, and laid before them a design, 
 which the women had formed among them- 
 selves, without the knowledge of their hus- 
 bands, which was to act the part of mediators 
 between the contending parties. The propo- 
 sal being approved, a decree was immediate- 
 ly passed, permitting the women to go on the 
 proposed negociation ; and only requiring, 
 that each of them should leave one of her 
 children, as a security that she would return ; 
 the rest, they were all allowed to carry , with 
 them, as objects which might more effectual- 
 ly move the compassion of their fathers and 
 relations. Thus authorised, the women laid 
 aside their ornaments, put on mourning, and 
 carrying their children in their arms, advanc- 
 ed to the camp of the Sabines, and threw 
 themselves at the feet of their fathers. The 
 Sabine king, having assembled his chief of- 
 ficers, ordered the women to declare for what 
 purpose they were come ; which Hersilia 
 did in so pathetic a manner, that she brought 
 on a conference between the chiefs of the two 
 nations, and this conference, by her media- 
 tion, and that of the other women, soon end- 
 ed in an amicable alliance. 
 
 THIS corruption of manners reigned but 
 too universally among the ancients. The 
 Messaged, a people of Scythia, being confin- 
 
THE FAIR SEX. 29$ 
 
 ed to "one wife, while the nations around them 
 were indulged with the liberty of polygamy 
 and concubinage ; in order to put themselves 
 in some decree on a footing with their neigh- 
 bors, introduced a kind of community of wives, 
 and a man who had an inclination to the wife 
 of his friend only earned her into his waggon 
 or hut, and hung up a quiver while she wafc 
 there, as a sign, that they plight not be hrter- 
 ruoted. In tin's manner Were dccenc) 
 the most sacred ties of matrimony publicly vi- 
 olated ; but what decency, what regard to the 
 most solemn institutions can we expect in a 
 people who were so rude and barbarous, that 
 when any of their relations became old, they 
 met together, and along with some cattle set 
 apart for the purpose, sacrificed them to their 
 gods ; then having boiled together the flesh 
 of the human and the more ignoble victims, 
 they devoured it as a most delicious repast. 
 The Lydians were still more debauched than 
 the Mtssageta*. In the reign of Jardanes, so 
 ungovernable was their lust, that Omphale, the 
 kings only daughter, could scarcely, even 
 within the walls of the royal palace, find shel- 
 ter from the licentious multitude. Omphale 
 at length succeeding to the throne of her fa- 
 ther, punished with the utmost seventy such 
 as had formerly abused her ; on the women, 
 whom it appears she considered as not less 
 criminal than the men, she revenged herself 
 in a singular manner ; she ordered, that over 
 all her kingdom, they should be shut up with 
 thejr slaves, 
 
 ^ 
 
*»6 HISTORICAL SKETCHES OP 
 
 The Scythians, whose character is far from 
 being the most abandoned of the ancients, 
 seem not to have much cause to boast of the 
 chastity and fidelity of their women ; the 
 greatest part of their men having on some 
 occasion made an expedition into Asia, 
 were detained much beyond thtir expectation, 
 when their wives, cither impatient for thtir 
 long absence, or despairing of their return, 
 tcok their servants and slaves, and invested 
 them in all the privileges of their absent hus- 
 bands. These, sometime after hearing that 
 their masters were about to return, fortified 
 and irtrenehed themselves, in order to hinder 
 them from entering into their own country, 
 and claiming their' wives and possessions. 
 The Scythians having advanced to their slaves, 
 several skirmishes were fought between them, 
 with doubtful success, when one of their lead- 
 ers advised his countrymen not to fight again 
 with their own slaves as with equals, nor to at- 
 tack them with warlike weapons, which were 
 signs of freedom, but with such whips and 
 scourges as they had formerly been accustomed 
 to make them feel. Tins advice being put into 
 execution, the whips recalled their ideas of 
 slavery, and all the pusillanimity naturally at- 
 tending it ; they threw down their arms and 
 fled in confusion, many of them were taken 
 and put to death, and not a few of the unfaith- 
 ful wives destroyed themselves, to avoid the 
 resentment of their injured husbands. Tho' 
 this story has been by different authors varied 
 in several of its circumstances, yet as so ma- 
 my have agreed in seating it, we have not 
 
THE FAIR SEX. 297 
 
 the least doubt of its authenticity, especially 
 as we are assured that the Novcgorodians, 
 whose city stands in Sarmatian Scythia, had 
 formerly a coin stamped in memory of it, with 
 a man on horseback shaking a whip in his 
 band ; and it is supposed that the ancient cus 
 torn in Russia, which is now happily forgot, 
 of the bride presenting the bridegroom on the 
 nuptial night with a whip, originated from this 
 story of the Scythian wives. . 
 
 IN countries where there is, as in Persia, 
 an unlimited liberty of polygamy and concu- 
 binage, jealousy in the fair sex is a passion 
 much weakened by the variety of objects 
 that divide it, and the restraint laid ©n it by 
 the despotism of the men; we should not 
 therefore expect to find it operating very 
 strongly. But even here, where the king is 
 the severest despot of the country, and wo- 
 men only the tools of his lust, and slaves of 
 his power, we meet with instances of this 
 passion exerting itself in the most cruel man- 
 ner. Xemes, among many other amours, 
 had conceived a passion for the wife of his 
 brother Masistus, which he prosecuted for a 
 long time by promises and threafenirigs, 
 without any success, when quite tired of so 
 many fruitless efforts, he at last changed his 
 attack from the mother to her daughter, who, 
 with much less opposition, yielded herself to 
 his wishes. Amestris his queen, having dis- 
 covered the amour, and imagining that the 
 danghter only acted !>v the direction of her 
 B'ba- 
 
298 HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF 
 
 mother, from that moment resolved on the 
 severest revenge. By ancient custom in Per- 
 sia, the queen had a right, on the king's birth- 
 day, to demand of him any favour that she 
 thought proper ; Amestris asked that the wife 
 of Masistus should be delivered into her 
 hands, whom she had no sooner received, than 
 she ordered her breasts, nose, tongue and 
 lips to be cut off, and thrown to the dogs, 
 and that she should be detained to see her 
 own flesh devoured by them. 
 
 Among a people so abandoned, and so 
 much the slaves of cruelty and lust, a people 
 who made every thing subservient to volup- 
 tuousness and debauchery, it is natural to 
 think that modesty among the fair sex could 
 scarcely have any existence. This, however, 
 was not universally the case ; a few women, 
 even in Persia, were far from being destitute 
 of that modesty and sensibility which are the 
 ornament of their sex, and the delight of 
 ours. Alossa, the daughter of Cyrus, and 
 the wife of Darius, being attacked with a 
 cancer in her breast, and thinking it incon- 
 sistent with the modesty of her sex to disco- 
 ver the diseased part, suffered in silence, till 
 the pain became intolerable, when, after ma- 
 ny struggles in her own mind, she at last pre- 
 vailed on herself to shew it to Democedes, 
 her physician. We might mention more 
 particular instances of the modesty of the 
 Persian women, but we pass over them, to 
 take notice of an anecdote of a lady in a 
 neighbouring kingdom, which shews, that, in 
 'the times under review, there were some 
 
THE FAIR SEX. 297 
 
 women susceptible of sentiment and feeling ; 
 things which arc not frequently met with in 
 the East. Tygranes and his new married 
 wife being taken prisoners by Cyrus, Ty- 
 granes offered a great ransom for her liberty ; 
 Cyrus generously released them both without 
 any reward ; as soon as they were alone, the 
 happy couple, naturally falling into a dis- 
 course concerning their benefactor; " What 
 do you think," said Tygranes, " of his as- 
 pect and deportment ?" " I did not observe 
 either," said the lady. " Upon what then 
 did you fix your eyes," said Tygranes ? 
 " Upon the man," returned she, " who gen- 
 erously offered so great a ransom for my 
 liberty." 
 
 So little was modesty and chastity cultivat- 
 ed among the ancients, that many nations 
 seem to have had no idea of either. The 
 Ausi, a people of Lybia, cohabited so pro- 
 miscuously with their women, that the whole 
 of the children of the state were considered 
 as a community till they were able to walk 
 alone, when, being brought by their mothers 
 into a public assembly of the people, the 
 man to whom a child first spoke was obliged 
 to acknowledge himself its father. The 
 wives of the Bactrians were, through a long 
 series of years, famed for licentiousness ; and 
 custom had given such sanction to their 
 crimes, that the husbands had not only lost 
 all power of restraining them, but even durst 
 hardly venture to complain of their infidelity. 
 In Cyprus, an island sacred to Venus, the 
 very rites of their religion were all mingled 
 
3©o HISTORICAL SKETCHES Of 
 
 with debauchery and prostitution. And the 
 Lydians, and many other nations, publicly 
 prostituted their daughters, and other f male 
 relations, for hire. But to multiply instances 
 of the depravity of ancient manners would 
 be endless; mankind, even when bridled by 
 the strongest penal laws, and restricted in 
 their passions by the sacred voice of religion, 
 are but too often, in the pursuit of unlawful 
 pleasures, apt to disregard both ; what then 
 must they have been before society, before 
 laws existed, and when religion lent its sanc- 
 tion to encourage the vices and deprave the 
 heart ? In those times we have the greatest 
 reason to believe that debauchery reigned 
 with but little controul over two-thirds of the 
 habitable globe. 
 
 CHAPTER LXIV. 
 
 Japanese Delicacy — Delicacy of the Lydians — 
 Licentious Law of Denmark — Extraor di- 
 nar y ivojnen* 
 
 AMONG people holding a middling de- 
 gree, or rather perhaps something below a 
 middle degree, between the most uncultivat- 
 ed rusticity, and the most refined politeness, 
 we find female delicacy in its highest perfec- 
 tion. The Japanese are but just emerged 
 some degrees above savage barbarity, and in 
 their history we are presented by Kempfer, 
 with an instance of the effect of delicacy, 
 which perhaps has not a parallel in any other 
 
THE FAIR SEX. 301 
 
 country. A lady being at a table in a pro- 
 miscuous company, in reaching for bome- 
 thing that she wanted, accidently broke wind 
 backwards, by which her delicacy was so 
 much wounded, that she immediately arose* 
 laid hold on her breasts with her teeth, and 
 tore them till she expired on the spot. In 
 Scotland, and a tew other parts of the north 
 of Europe, where the inhabitants are some 
 degrees farther advanced in politeness than 
 the Japanese, a woman would be almost as 
 much ashamed to be detected going to the 
 temple of Cloacina, as to that of Venus. In 
 England, to go in the most open manner to 
 that of the former, hardly occasions a blush 
 on the most delicate cheek. At Paris, we 
 are told that a gallant frequently accompanies 
 his mistress to the shrine of the goddess, 
 stands centinel at the door, and entertains her 
 with bonmots, and protestations of love all 
 the time she is worshipping there; and that 
 a hdy when in a carnage, whatever company 
 be along with her, if called upon to exone- 
 rate nature, pulls the cord, orders the driver 
 to stop, steps out, and having performed 
 what nature required, resumes her seat with- 
 out the least ceremony or discomposure. — 
 The Parisian women, as well as those in 
 many of the other large towns of France, 
 even in the most public companies make no 
 scruple of talking concerning those secrets 
 of their sex, which almost in every other 
 country are reckoned indelicate in the ears 
 of the men : nay, so little is their reserve on 
 this head, that a young lady on being asked 
 
.C2 HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF 
 
 by her lover to dance, will without blush or 
 hesitation, excuse herself on account of the 
 impropriety of doing so in her present cir- 
 cumstances. The Italians, it is said, carry 
 their indelicacy still farther : women even of 
 character and fashion, when asked a favour 
 of another kind, will with the utmost com- 
 posure decline the proposal on account of 
 Ixing at present under a course of medicine 
 for the cure of a certain disorder. When a 
 people have arrived at that point in the scale 
 of politeness, which entirely discards delica- 
 cy, the chastity of their women must be at a 
 low ebb; for delicacy is the centinel that is 
 placed over female \irtue, and that centinel 
 once overcome, chastity is more than hall' 
 conquered. 
 
 EVEN among the Lydians, a people who 
 were highly debauched, it appears that female 
 delicacy was far from being totally extin- 
 guished; Candaules, one of their kings, be- 
 ing married to a lady of exquisite beauty, 
 was perpetually boasting of her charms to his 
 courtiers, and at last, to satisfy his favourite 
 Gyges that he had not exaggerated the de- 
 scription, he took the dangerous and indeli- 
 cate resolution of giving him an opportunity 
 of seeing her naked. To accomplish this, 
 Gyges- was conveyed by the king into a secret 
 place, where he might see the queen dress 
 and undress, from whence, however, as he 
 retired, she accidently spied him, but taking 
 no notice of him for the present, she only set 
 
THE FAIR SEX. 303 
 
 herself to consider the most proper method 
 of revenging her injured modesty, and pun- 
 ishing her indelicate husband; having resolv- 
 ed how to proceed, she sent for Gyges, an<J 
 told him that as she could not tamely submit 
 to the stain which had been offered to her ho- 
 nour, she insisted that he should expiate his 
 crime either by his own death or tiiat of the 
 king, that two men might not be living at the 
 same time who had thus seen her in a state of 
 nature. Gyges, after some fruitless remon- 
 strances, performed the latter, married the 
 queen, snd mounted the throne of Lydia. — 
 Besides the fables and historical anecdotes of 
 antiquity, their poets seldom exhibited a fe- 
 male character in its loveliest form, without 
 adorning it with the graces of modesty and 
 delicacy ; hence we may infer, that these 
 qualities have not only been always essential 
 to virtuous women in civilized countries, but 
 have been also constantly praised and esteem- 
 ed by men of sensibility. 
 
 Piutarch, in his treatise, entitled, " The 
 Virtuous Actions of Women," mentions se- 
 veral anecdotes which strongly favour our i- 
 deas of delicacy being an innate principle in 
 the female mind ; the most striking is that of 
 the young women of Milesia, many of whom, 
 about that time of, life, when nature giving 
 birth to restless and turbulent desires inflames 
 the imagination, and astonishes the heart at 
 the sensatioo of wants which virtue forbids to 
 gratify, to free themselves from the conflict 
 between nature and virtue, laid violent hands 
 on themselves ; the contagion becoming every 
 
3»4 HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF 
 
 day more general, to put a stop to it, a law 
 was made, ordaining that every one who com- 
 mitted that crime should be brought naked 
 to the market place and publicly exposed to 
 the people ; and so powerfully did the idea of 
 this indelicate exposure, even after death, ope- 
 rate on their minds, that from thenceforth not 
 one of them ever made an attempt on her own 
 life. 
 
 THIS institution of auricular confession, in 
 the light which we have just now considered 
 it, lays an obstacle in the way of unchastity, 
 by exposing it to public shame, which in all 
 civilized countries is one of the strongest pas- 
 sions which mark the female character. But 
 women are now become too cunning to fall 
 into the snare ; and while their actions of this 
 kind remain private, it is presumable they 
 seldom confess them. But as the exposure 
 to public shame is one of the most powerful 
 methods of laying hold of the mind of the sex, 
 the laws of society, as well as those of religi- 
 ous institutions, have availed themselves of it, 
 and made it, among every polished people, one 
 of the severest parts of the punishment to which 
 the female delinquent, who has departed from 
 the path of rectitude, is exposed ; and conse- 
 quently one of the greatest obstacles which 
 can be thrown in the road to unchastity. This 
 appears from the conduct of the women of 
 Iceland, when the public shame attending in- 
 continency was suspended on the following; 
 occasion : In the year one thousand seven 
 
THE FAIR SEX. 3*3 
 
 hundred and seven, a great part of the inha- 
 bitants of Iceland having died of a contagious 
 distemper, the king of Denmark, in order to 
 repeople the country in a more expeditious 
 manner than the common rules of procrea- 
 tion admitted of, made a law, authorising all 
 young women to have each six bastards, 
 without being exposed to any shame, or suf- 
 fering the loss of reputation. This succeed- 
 ed beyond the expectation of the monarch ; 
 and the young women employed themselves 
 so sedulously in the affair of population, that, 
 In a few years, it was thought necessary to 
 abrogate the law, least the country should be 
 overstocked with inhabitants, and that sense 
 of shame annexed to imchastity, so much ob-« 
 iiterated from the female breast, that neither 
 law nor custom would be able afterwards to 
 revive it. Were it not almost self-evident 
 to every one, that this public shame attend- 
 ing female indiscretion, is one of the strong- 
 est motives to secure their chastity, we might 
 prove it more fully from other circumstances. 
 Nothing can be more certain, than that in 
 those countries where no shame is fixed to 
 any action, there is no public chastity ; and 
 that this virtue flourishes the most, where its 
 contrary vices are branded with the very 
 greatest degree of infamy. 
 
 WHAT we have now advanced, points 
 
 out to us the reason, why women have st.-l- 
 
 dom or never contributed to the impr jve- 
 
 mer.t of the abstract sciences : but there is 
 
 C c 
 
3*6 HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF 
 
 still another reason ; the sex are almost every 
 where neglected in their education, and in 
 some degree slaves ; and it is well known, 
 that slavery throws a damp on the genius, 
 clouds the spirits, and takes more than half 
 the worth away from every human being. — 
 The history of every period, and of every 
 people, presents us with some extraordinary 
 women, who have soared above all these dis- 
 advantages, and shone in all the different cha- 
 racters, which render men eminent and con- 
 spicuous. Syria furnishes us with a Semi- 
 ramis, Africa with a Zenobia^ both famous 
 for their heroism and skill in government. — ■- 
 Greece and Rome, with many who set public 
 examples of courage and fortitude ; Germa- 
 ny and England have exhibited queens, 
 whose talents in the field, and in the cabinet, 
 would have done honor to any sex ; but it 
 was reserved for Russia, in the person 
 of the present Empress, to join both ta- 
 lents, and to add to them, what is still more 
 noble, an inclination to favour the sciences, 
 and restore the natural rights of mankind; 
 rights which almost every other sovereign has 
 endeavoured to destroy. Upon the whole, 
 we may conclude, that though in the pro- 
 gress of mankind from ignorance to know- 
 ledge, women have., for the reasons already 
 assigned, seldom taken the lead, yet they 
 have not been backward to fellow the path to 
 utility or improvement, when pointed out to 
 them. 
 
THE FAIR SEX. $ #9 
 
 CHAPTER LXV. 
 
 Courage of Savage women — Desperate act 
 of Euthira — Luxurious Dress of tfic Gre- 
 cian Ladies — First use of Hair Poxuder. 
 
 AMONG the Esquimaux, and several 
 ether savage people, the women go out to 
 hunt and fish along with the men. In these 
 excursions, it is necessary for them not only 
 to have courage to attack whatever comes in 
 their way, but to encounter the storms of a 
 tempestuous climate, and endure the hard- 
 ships of famine, and every other evil, inci- 
 dent to such a mode of life, in so inhospita- 
 ble a country. In some places, where the 
 woods afford little game for the subsistence 
 of the natives, and they are consequently 
 obliged to procure it from the stormy seas 
 which surround them, women hardly show 
 less courage, or less dexterity, in encounter- 
 ing the waves, than the men. In Greenland, 
 they wiil put off to sea in a vessel ; and in a 
 storm, which would make the most hardy 
 European tremble. In many of the islands 
 of the South Sea, they will plunge into the 
 waves, and swim through the surf, which no 
 European dare attempt. In Himia, one of 
 the Greek Islands, young girls, before they 
 be permitted to marry, are obliged to fish up 
 a certain quantity of pearls, aad dive for 
 them at a certain depth. Many of the other 
 pearl-fisheries are carried on by women, who, 
 besides the danger of diving, are exposed to 
 
3&8 HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF 
 
 attacks of the voracious shark, and other 
 ravenous sea-animals, who frequently watch 
 to devour them. 
 
 IN ancient and modern history, we are 
 frequently presented with accounts of women, 
 who, preferring death to slavery or prostitu- 
 tion, sacrificed their lives with the most un- 
 daunted courage to avoid them. Apollodo- 
 rus tells us, that Hercules having taken the 
 city of Troy, prior to the famous siege of it 
 celebrated by Homer, carried away captive 
 the daughters of Laomedon then king. One 
 of these, named Euthira, being left with se- 
 veral other Trojan captives on board the Gre- 
 cian fleet, while the sailors went on shore to 
 take in fresh provisions, had the resolution to 
 propose, and the power to persuade her com- 
 ,ns, to set the ships on fire, and to per- 
 ish themselves amid the devouring flames. — 
 The women of Phoenicia met together before 
 an engagement which was to decide the fate 
 of their city, and having agreed to bury 
 themselves in the flames, if their husbands 
 and relations were defeated, in the enthusi- 
 asm of their, courage and resolution, they 
 crowned her with flowers who first made the 
 proposal. Many instances occur in the his- 
 tory of the Romans, of the Gauls and Ger- 
 mans, and of other nations in subsequent pe- 
 riods ; where women being driven to despair 
 by .their enemies, have bravely defended their 
 walls, or waded through fields of blood to 
 ,': then; countrymen- and free themselves 
 
THE FAIR SEX. 309 
 
 from slavery or from ravishment. Such he- 
 roic efforts arc beauties, even in the charac- 
 ter of the softer sex, when they proceed from 
 necessity : when from choice, they are blem- 
 ishes of the most unnatural kind, indicating 
 a heart of cruelty, lodged in a form which 
 has the appearance of gentleness and peace. 
 It has been alleged by some of the writers 
 on human nature, that to the fair sex the loss 
 of beauty is more alarming and insupporta- 
 ble than the loss of life ; but even this loss, 
 however opposite to the feelings of their na- 
 ture, they have voluntarily consented to sus- 
 tain, that they might not be the objects of 
 temptation to the lawless ravisher. The nuns 
 of a convent in France, fearing they should 
 be violated by a ruffian army, which had ta- 
 ken by storm the town in which their cop.? 
 vent was situated, at the recommendation of 
 their abbess, mutually agreed to cut off all 
 4heir noses, that they might save their chasti- 
 ty by becoming objects of disgust instead of 
 .desire. Were we to descend to particulars. 
 We could give innumerable instances of wc*. 
 inen, who from Semiramis down, to the pre- 
 sent time, have distinguished themselves by 
 their courage. Such was Penihesilea, who, 
 if we may credit ancient story, led her army 
 of viragoes to the assistance qf Priam .king of 
 Troy ; Thorny ris, who encountered ;Cyrus 
 king of Persia ; and Thalestris,. famcus for 
 her righting, as well as for her amours with 
 Alexander the Great Such was Bcvtlieca } 
 queen of the Britons, who led en that people 
 t& revenge the wrongs done to her^T 
 
3io HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF 
 
 her country by the Romans. And in later 
 periods, such was the Maid of Orleans, and 
 Margaret of Anjou ; which last, according 
 to several historians, commanded at no less 
 than twelve pitched battles. But we do not 
 choose to multiply instances of this nature, as 
 we have already said enough to shew, that 
 the sex are not destitute of courage when 
 that virtue becomes necessary ; and were 
 they possessed of it, when unnecessary, it 
 would divest them of one of the principal 
 qualities for which we love, and for which 
 we value them. No woman was ever held 
 up as a pattern to her sex, because she was 
 intrepid and brave ; no woman ever conciliat- 
 ed the affections of the men, by rivaling them 
 in what they reckon the peculiar excellencies 
 of their own character. 
 
 AS the Greeks emerged from the barbarity 
 of the heroic ages, among other articles of 
 culture, they b gan to bestow more attention 
 on the convenience and elegance of dress. — 
 At Athens, the ladies commonly employ the 
 whole morning in dressing tl.emselves in a 
 decent and becoming manner; their toilette 
 consisted in paints and washes, of such a na- 
 ture as to clear and beautify the skin, and 
 they took great care to clean their teeth, an 
 article too much, neglected : some also black- 
 ened their%ye- brows, and, if necessary, sup- 
 1 the deficiency of the vermilliou on their 
 lips, by a paint said to have been exceeding- 
 ly b.autifitfi At this tiaie the women in the 
 
THE FAIR SEX. 3" 
 
 Greek islands make much use of a paint 
 which they call Sulam 1, which imparts a beau- 
 tiful redness to the checks, and gives the 
 skin a remarkable gloss. Possibly this may- 
 be the same with that made use of in the 
 times we are considering; but however that 
 be, some of the Greek iadies at present gild 
 their faces all over on the day of their marri- 
 age, and consider this coating as an irresisti- 
 ble charm ; and in the island of Scios, their 
 dress docs not a little resemble that of ancient 
 Sparta, for they go with their bosoms unco- 
 vered, and with gowns which only reach to 
 the calf of their leg, in order to shew their 
 jine gaiters, which are commonly red ribbons 
 .curiously embroidered. But to return to an- 
 cient Greece, the ladies spent likewise a part 
 of their time in composing head dresses, and 
 though we have reason to suppose that they 
 were not then so preposterously fantastic as 
 those presently composed by a Paris an mil- 
 •, yet they were probably ohj .xts of no 
 small industry and attention, especially as we 
 find that they then dyed their hair, perfumed 
 it with the most costiy essences, and by the 
 means of hot irons disposed of it in curls, as 
 fancy or fashion directed. Their clothes 
 were made of stufFi so extremely light and 
 iin.. as to show their shapes, without offend- 
 ing against the rules of decency. At Sparta, 
 the case was widely different ; we snail not 
 describe the dress of the women, it is suhi- 
 cuit to say that it has been loudly complain- 
 ed ot by almost every ancient author who has 
 treated o» u>e subject, 
 
-312 HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF 
 
 From what has row been related it appears, 
 that the women of antiquity were not less so- 
 licitous about their persons than the moderns, 
 and that the materials for decorating them, 
 were neither so few, «or so simple, as has 
 been by some imagined; facts which, in the 
 review of the Romans, will appear still more 
 conspicuous. In the more early periods of 
 that great republic, the Romans, in their per- 
 sons as well as in their manners, were simple 
 and unadorned ; we shall, therefore, pass over 
 the attire of these times, and confine our ob- 
 servations to those when the wealth of the 
 whole, world centered within the wails of 
 Rome. 
 
 The Roman ladies went to bathe in the 
 morning, and from thence returned to the tpi* 
 lette, where women of rank and fortune had 
 a number of slaves to attend on and do every 
 thing for them, while themselves, looking, con- 
 stantly in their glasses, practised various at* 
 tittides, studied the airs of. negligence, the 
 smiles that best became them, and directed 
 the placing of every lock of the hair, and 
 every pan of the head dress. Crquetts, la- 
 dies of morose temper,, and those whose 
 charms had not attracted so much notice as 
 thty expected, often blamed the slaves who 
 dressed them for this want of success.; 
 and if we may believe Ju\enaJ, some ti meg 
 -chas ised them for it with the most unfeeling 
 severity. At first, the maids who attended 
 the toilette were to assist in adjusting every 
 .part of the dress, but, afterwards each had hor 
 .proper task assigned her ; one had the cum!> 
 
THE FAIR SEX. 51$ 
 
 ing, curling, and dressing of the hair ; another 
 managed the purfumes ; a third disposed of 
 the jewels, as fancy or fashion directed ; a 
 fourth laid on the paint and cosmeties : all 
 these, and several others, had names expres- 
 sive of their different employments ; but be- 
 sides these, whose business it was to put their 
 hands to the' labour of the toilette, there were 
 others, who, acting in a station more exalted, 
 only attended to give their opinion and advice, 
 to declare what colours most suited the com- 
 plexion, and what method of dressiag gave 
 the greatest additional lustre to the charms of 
 nature. To this important council of the toi- 
 lette we have no account of the male sex being 
 ever admittted ; this useful, though perhaps 
 indelicate invention was reserved for the ladies 
 of Paris, who wisely considering, that as they 
 dress only for the men, the men must be the 
 best judges of what will please themselves. 
 
 BUT the disposing of the hair in various 
 forms and figures ; the interweaving it with 
 ribbons, jewels, and gold ; were not the only 
 methods they made use of to make it agree- 
 able to taste ; light coloured hair had the 
 preference of all others; both men and wo- 
 men therefore dyed their hair of this colour, 
 then perfumed it with sweet scented essences, 
 and powdered it with gold dust; a custom of 
 the highest extravagance, which the Romans 
 brought from Asia, and which according to 
 josephus, was practised among the Jews; 
 White hair-powder was not thet* invented. 
 
$T4 HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF 
 
 nor did the use of it come into fashion till te- 
 wards the end of the sixteenth century ; the; 
 first writer who mentions it is L'Etoiie, who 
 relates, that in the year 1593, the Nuns walk- 
 ed the streets of Paris curled and powdered j 
 from that time the custom of powdering has 
 become so common, that in most places of 
 Europe, but espeecially in France, it is used 
 by both sexes, and by people of all ages, ranks 
 and conditions. 
 
 CHAPTER LXVI. 
 
 Grecian and Spartan Indecency — Cruelty of 
 the Grecian JFomen. 
 
 IN a preceding chapter we have observed, 
 that, during the whole of what are called the 
 heroic ages, the history of Greece is nothing 
 but a compound of ihe most absurd fable ; from 
 that fable it however appears, that their gods 
 and men employed much of their time and 
 ingenuity in seducing, stealing, and forcibly 
 debauching theiryoung women, circumstances 
 which naturally suggest an idea that those wo- 
 men who could not be obtained by any other 
 means must have been virtuous : nor indeed 
 does it appear that they were t\\Qu much less 
 so than in those succeeding periods, when 
 the Greeks flourished in all their splendor, and 
 were reckoned a highly polished people ; nay, 
 they were perhaps, more so, for infant colo- 
 nics and kingdoms commonly display more 
 virtue than those already arrived at maturity ; 
 
THE FAIR SEX. 315 
 
 the reason is plain, the first have not yet at- 
 tained riches, the sources of idleness and de- 
 bauchery, the last have attained them, and are 
 corrupted. But the Greeks, even in the in- 
 fancy of their existence as a people, seem to 
 have been remarkably vicious, for we hardly 
 meet with any thing in their early history but 
 murder, rapes, and usurpations ; witness the 
 transactions of the kingdom of Mycene, of 
 Pelops, and his descendants. The rapes of 
 lo, Proserpine, Helena, &c. all of which stain 
 the character of their gods and men with the 
 foulest infamy ; and as it has never happened 
 in any nation that the one sex has been ex- 
 ceedingly vicious, and the other not panici- 
 pated of its crimes, we may conclude that the 
 Greek women were, in the heroic ages, far 
 from being famous for any of the moral vir- 
 tues. The greatest part of the Grecian prin- 
 ces who assembled at the siege of Troy, were 
 guilty of many of the most enormous "crimes, 
 while their wives, not less flagitious, murder- 
 ed almost the whole of them after their return ; 
 a thing nearly incredible, when we consider 
 that in those times custom had condemned 
 the wife who had lost a husband to perpetual 
 widowhood ; but even c«stom, though often 
 more regarded than all the laws of heaven and 
 earth, must in time yield to a general corrup- 
 tion of manners. 
 
 But to proceed to times of which we are 
 better informed. The women of other na- 
 tions were indecent through the strength of 
 their ungovernable passions ; some of the 
 Greek women were obliged to be indecent by 
 
3i6 HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF 
 
 law. In Sparta, what virtue, what decorum 
 can we expect, when even the strongest temp- 
 tations to vice had the public sanction of the 
 legislature ? In the heroic ages, while igno- 
 ranee and brutality of manners prevailed, we 
 are not much surprised to find the women 
 conducting the men to the baths, undre&sing 
 them, and attending to dress and rub them 
 when they came out ; but in Sparta, fumed 
 for its salutary laws, and when Greece was in 
 its most polished condition, we are amazed to 
 find that both sexes resorted to, and bathed 
 together in the public bafhs. And this amaze- 
 ment is still heightened, when we are assur- 
 ed that here also plays were acted by order 
 of the legislator, where young people of both 
 sexes were obliged to fight, and to dance na^ 
 ked on the stage, that the men, according to 
 his ideas, might be thereby excited to matri- 
 mony. What were the consequences of the 
 indecencies we have now mentioned ? The 
 intention of Lycurgus, if he really had any- 
 such intention, was but little attended to, and 
 it is agreed on all hands, that both sexes went 
 to those plays only for the sake of debauche- 
 ry ; and further, that, disgusted by this shame- 
 less exposure, the men paid less regard to the 
 women, and the women became less virtuous, 
 and at last grew dissolute to such a degree as 
 to be thereby distinguished from all the other 
 women of Greece. Euripides, and some o- 
 thers of the Greek authors, bestow upon them 
 epithets which decency will not allow us to 
 translate, nor were these epithets the over- 
 £avrh".g*i of the gall of satyric poets and vio- 
 
THE FAIR SEX. 317 
 
 lent declaimers only, but the cool and consi- 
 derate reflections of the impartial historian ; 
 but we would not be understood as altogether 
 confining dissoluteness and debauchery to the 
 women of Sparta, those of many of the other 
 states were little inferior to them. In Thracia 
 and Bceotia, they every third year held a festi- 
 val in memory of the expedition of Bacchus 
 into India, at which both married women and 
 virgins, with javelins in their hands and dishe- 
 velled hair, ran about like furies bellowing 
 the praises of the god, and committing every 
 disorder suggested by madness and folly. 
 
 Whatever public prostitution becomes so 
 fashionable that it is attended with no dis- 
 grace in the opinion of the male, and with 
 exceedingly little in that of the female sex, 
 there, we may assure ourselves, the morals 
 cf the women are highly contaminated :, a cir- 
 cumstance of which Athens afforded the most 
 glaring proof. In that city courtezans were 
 not only kept in a public manner by most of 
 the young men of fashion, but greatly coun- 
 tenanced, and even publicly visited by Solon 
 their law-giver, who applauded such young 
 «ien as were found in the stews, because their 
 going to these places rendered them less apt 
 to attempt the virtue of modest women. — 
 But Athenian courtezans were not only visit- 
 ed by their great lawgiver, but also by the 
 celebrated Socrates, and most of their other 
 philosophers, who, not content with going fre- 
 quently to see them themselves, even some- 
 times carried their wives and daughters along 
 with them ; a circumstance of which we do not 
 D d 
 
51-S HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF 
 
 recollect to have heard in any other country, 
 and which could not but tend to give these 
 wives a mean opinion of virtue, when they 
 saw the preference that was given to vice; 
 and when such of their own sex as thus pub- 
 licly deviated from the paths of chastity were 
 so openly esteemed and regarded, it was na- 
 tural for those of a different character to pay 
 the less regard to that chastity, the practising 
 of which gained them no superior privilege 
 nor advantage. 
 
 AS the female form is of a softer and more 
 delicate nature than that of the male, so their 
 minds are generally more finely attuned to 
 the gentler feelings of tenderness and huma- 
 nity ; but the Grecian women, either by na- 
 ture, or more probably by custom, were in 
 this respect miserably deficient. At an an- 
 nual festival, celebrated in honor of Diana, 
 all the children of Sparta were whipt till the 
 blood ran down on the altar of the goddess* 
 Under this cruel ceremony, which w r as in- 
 flicted, as they pretended, to accustom them 
 to bear pain without murmuring, some almost 
 every year, expired. The inhuman barbarity 
 was performed in the presence of the whole 
 city; the fathers, and what our female readers 
 will hardly credit, even the mothers, beholding 
 thrir children bathed in blood, and ready to 
 expire with pain, stood exhorting them to 
 suffer the number of lashes assigned them t 
 without a groan or a complaint. It may be 
 alledged here, that women being spectators 
 
THE FAIR SEX. S19 
 
 and encouragers of a cruel ceremony, is no 
 proof of their want of proper feelings, but only 
 an instance of the power of custom. A doc- 
 trine to which we cannot altogether assent, 
 being persuaded, that there are many of the 
 fair sex, of a composition so humane and ten- 
 der, that even custom could not reconcile 
 them to barbarity ; but allowing it to have 
 that power, what folly were the men guilty of 
 in instituting such a ceremony ! they were 
 robbing the women of every thing valuable in 
 the female mind, and labouring to make them 
 what they were not intended to be by nature. 
 But this inhuman custom was not the only 
 proof of the Greek women were divested of 
 that female tenderness which we so much ad- 
 mire in the sex. There was in Greece a cus- 
 tom, if possible, still more barbarous ; ay 
 .soon as a boy was born at Sparta, he was vi- 
 sited by a deputation 0? the elders of each 
 tribe ; if he appeared to be of a weakly con- 
 stitution, and not likely to become a stout 
 and healthful member of their state, they 
 judged him not to be worth the trouble of 
 rearing ; and therefore ordered him to be 
 thrown into a quagmire, at the bottom of the 
 Mountain Taygeta, This was valuing human 
 beings, exactly as we would do an ox or at) 
 ass ; and entirely setting aside all the moral 
 turpitude of murder. It was only, however 
 practised at Sparta ; and we should have 
 l3oped, that, even there, it was contrary to the 
 inclination, and without the consent of the 
 women ; were we not assured by a variety of 
 authors tliat the Spartan dames, in every 
 
?20 HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF 
 
 circumstance, almost, entirely governed their 
 husbands. To the barbarous customs now 
 mentioned, we shall adil only one more : To so 
 weak and expiring a state was the paternal 
 instinct of nature reduced among the Greeks, 
 that they frequently, as we have already re- 
 lated, exposed such children as they were not 
 able, or did not chuse to maintain.* A bar- 
 barity, which, more or less, prevailed in all 
 the Grecian states ; except at Thebes, a ci- 
 ty, where, to the immortal honor of the inha- 
 bitants, it was so much abhorred, that, by their 
 Jaws, it was capitally punished. We shall 
 finish this subject, by observing, that the 
 Spartan matrons received the news of their 
 sons having been slain in battle, not only 
 without any signs of grief, but even with an 
 appearance of extravagant joy and satisfaction, 
 which they took the most early opportunity 
 of shewing in public. Those same women, 
 however, who pretended to have imbibed so 
 much heroism, that they were strangers to e- 
 very fear, but such as arose on account of their 
 country, when they saw Epaminondas, after 
 the battle of Leuctra, marching his victorious 
 army towards Sparta, testified by their beha- 
 viour, that they were subject to fears of ano- 
 ther nature ; and that all their joys and sor- 
 rows arose not solely from the prosperity or 
 adversity of their country. They ran up and 
 down the streets in terror and despair, filling 
 
 ♦Though the Greek* might expose infants, they 
 cr.uld not sell a daughter, or a sssicr, ud1cs3 she be* 
 came a whore. 
 
tub: fair sex. 521 
 
 the air with shrieks, and transfusing their own 
 timidity into the men, caused more disorder 
 than the approach of the victorious army. 
 
 CHAPTER LXVIL 
 
 Drunkenness of some Grecian TFomen — Story 
 of Lucretia — Indecency of Ro?nci7i wo<- 
 men — Indecency of Savage Nations. 
 
 WHEN we come to the history of the ma- 
 trimonial compact, we shall see how the Gre- 
 cian women behaved to their husbands ; and 
 shall at present sum up the rest of their cha- 
 racter, by observing, that at Athens, even 
 drunkenness seems to have been among the 
 number of their vices ; as is evident by a law 
 of Solon, in which it is enacted, that no wo- 
 man shall be attended by more than one ser- 
 vant when she goes abroad, unless when she 
 is drunk. It would seem that the Athenian 
 women also made use of the darkness of the 
 night to screen them in their intrigues ; for 
 another law cf Solon ordains, that no woman 
 shah walk abroad at night unless she intends 
 to play the whore ; and from several other 
 ordinances of this legislator, it plainly appears, 
 that to keep women within the bounds of that 
 decorum proper to their sex, was a matter of 
 no small difficulty ; for, to the laws we have 
 just now mentioned, he was obliged to add 
 others, which shew that the sex were only to, 
 be governed by coercive measures- fie or- 
 d ; that no woman should ro out pf 
 
: 22 KISTORICAL SKETCHES OP 
 
 city with more provisions than could be pur- 
 chased for an cbolus, nor with a basket high- 
 er than a cubit ; and if a woman went abroad 
 at night, she was to be carried in a waggon, 
 preceded by a flambeau : from all which it 
 seems evident, that the design of Solon was 
 to make the Athenian women decent and vir- 
 tuous. If Lycurgus had the same intention in 
 the laws that he gave the Lacedemonians, we 
 cannot help thinking that he had but ill stu- 
 died human nature ; for as a learned author 
 of the present age has observed, though na- 
 kedness of both sexes is no incentive to lust, 
 and though the inhabitants of countries where 
 no clcathvs ^re used, are not on this account 
 less virtuous than their neighbours, where 
 they are used, yet there may be modes of 
 eloathing which more powerfully excite the 
 passions, than the most absolute nakedness. 
 Of this kind, in our opinion, was the dress of 
 Sparta. We shall have occasion afterwards 
 to describe it, and at present shall only ob- 
 serve, that it has been exclaimed against by 
 a variety of the writirs of antiquity. 
 
 THOUGH such is the general character of 
 the Greeks, we have happily no instance of a 
 corruption of manners having spread itself over 
 a whole nation, in such a manner as to leave 
 nobody free from the contagion. In the midst 
 of licentiousness and barbarity, at least in 
 those periods, that were subsequent to the 
 siege of Troy, the Grecian wo men afford 
 us several instances of chastity, conjugal fi- 
 
THE FAIR SEX. 323 
 
 delity, and maternal affection. In the heroic 
 ages, or those periods when their states were 
 in infancy, they appear to have been abandon- 
 ed almost to every species of wickedness ; but 
 when we turn to the Romans, we find the case 
 quite otherwise, In the earlier periods of the 
 Roman republic* before the wealth poured in 
 from innumerable conquests, had introduced 
 luxury and dissipation, no women were more 
 famous for their virtues, none more infamous 
 afterwards for their vices. The whole histo- 
 ry of Rome, for several ages after its founda- 
 tion, bears testimony of the tenderness, fru- 
 gality, and chastity of her women. Of this 
 nothing can be a stronger proof, than the long- 
 period that intervened betwen the foundation 
 of the republic and the ilrst divorce ; a peri- 
 od of five hundred and twenty years, though 
 the men had a power of divorcing their wives 
 almost at pleasure. To this proof we eould 
 add a great variety of others, but shall only 
 mention the story of the rape of Lucretia, 
 which in the strongest manner demonstrates 
 the value which the Roman women set upon 
 the most unspotted chastity. Lucretia, being 
 violated in secret, could not have found the 
 smallest difficulty in concealing what had 
 happened ; and besides, should it have been 
 discovered, the fraud and force made use of 
 against her were sufficient to have quieted her 
 conscience, and exculpated her to her hus- 
 band and the public from every imputation of 
 criminality : yet, so exalted were her ideas of 
 chastity, that she was resolved not to give 
 back to Uie arms of her husband, a body even 
 
3*4 HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF 
 
 involuntarily polluted, nor to survive the 
 guiltless stain which her honor had suffered ; 
 but calling together her friends in the presence 
 of her husband, she revealed them the secret 
 of the rape that had been commitcd upon her ; 
 and while conjuring them to revenge her in- 
 jured name, she stabbed he rself in the breast 
 with a dagger she had concealed under her 
 garments for that purpose*; -^ . 
 
 COURTS are but too frequently the se- 
 minaries of vice. This was evidently the 
 case at Come. The e m press generally took 
 the lead in lawless indulgence ; the example 
 of the great is commonly followed by the 
 little : from the court, a scene of the most 
 shameless libertinism, hardly to be paralleled 
 in history, disseminated itself ail over Rome. 
 Women danced naked on the stage, bathed 
 promiscuously with the men, and, with more 
 than masculine effrontery, committed every 
 sort of irregularity. By the unbounded li- 
 cence thus given to unlawful pleasures, ma- 
 trimony became unfashionable, and was con- 
 sidered as a confinement and a burden, not 
 consistentwith Roman freedom and indepen- 
 dence. To these ideas also the conduct of 
 the married women did not a little contribute, 
 and raised in the husbands such a disgust at 
 marriage, that even Meteilus the Censor^ who 
 ought to have been the protector of that in- 
 stitution, made tiie following speech to the 
 people against it: u If it were possible for 
 lis to do without wives, we should ddher 
 
THE FAIR SEX. 3*5 
 
 ourselves from this evil ; but as nature has 
 ordained, that we cannot live very happily 
 with them, nor without them, we ought to 
 have more regard to our own preservation, 
 than to transient gratifications." Rome is the 
 only place that ever furnished an instance of 
 a general conspiracy among the married wo- 
 men to<poison their husbands. 
 
 A variety of laws were from time to time 
 devised by the Romans to stop the progress 
 of public prostitution. Among others it was 
 ordained, that all courtezans should take out 
 a licence from the court of the JEdilcs; 
 which they should renew once every year, 
 and without which they should not be allowed 
 to carry on their trade ; that their names, 
 and the price of their favours, should be 
 wrote upon the doors of their houses. These, 
 one would have imagined, were such condi- 
 tions as no women who had the least remain- 
 ing spark of sensibility would have agreed to. 
 But the torrent of vice was not to be stopped 
 so easily : women, who were wives and 
 daughters to Roman knights, were not asham- 
 ed to apply for such licences ; and the infec- 
 tion was even reaching higher. Vistilla, a 
 lady of a Praetorian family, with an unparal- 
 leled effrontery appeared ill public court be- 
 fore the iEdiles, and declaring herself a pros- 
 titute, demanded a licence to enable her to 
 exercise her trade. Debauched as the Ro. 
 mans then were, under a prince so dissolute 
 as Tiberius, their fears were alarmed; and 
 the senate enacted several laws to restrain at 
 Ipast women of rank from degrading them* 
 
32b - HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF 
 
 selves and families by a conduct so infamous : 
 they ordained, no woman whose father, 
 grandfather, or husband, was a Roman knight, 
 or of any higher quality, should be allowed 
 to take upon her the trade of prostitution. — 
 The debauchery of the women was also the 
 occasion of the Voconian law, which we 
 have already mentioned \ but when corrup- 
 tion had interwoven itself so dexterously into 
 the manners and customs of the Romans, 
 laws became too feeble to bring on a refor- 
 mation. The emperor Titus prohibited all 
 public stews : the prohibition was but little 
 regarded. When Severus mounted the throne, 
 he found on the roil of causes to be tried, no 
 less than three thousand prosecutions for 
 adultery : he had formed a scheme of refor* 
 roatior/; from that moment he abandoned it 
 as impossible. 
 
 IN savage life, female delicacy has no ex- 
 istence : the most absolute nakedness raises 
 not a blush; nor can any action excite the 
 idea of shame : and as chastity itself has not, 
 in many places, the same value stamped upon 
 it as in civil society, deviations from it are 
 either considered as no fault, or at most as a 
 fault of a very triftinf nature, which neither 
 draws down on a delinquent the ridicule and 
 contempt of her own sex, nor the neglect and 
 desertion of ours. The instances, we could 
 give of this would be almost endless. Among 
 the Natches, husbands voluntarily lend their 
 23 to each other, and married as well a* 
 
THE FAIR SEX. 327 
 
 unmarried women, without the least ceremo- 
 ny, ofilr themselves to strangers; nay, in 
 some places, they even complain to their 
 countrymen, and desire them to revenge the 
 indignity they have suffered, when refused by 
 a stranger. In the district of the Hurons, 
 not the least degree of criminality is fixed 
 upon her who offers herself to prostitution : 
 it is a practice, into which girls are early 
 initiated by their parents, and in which the 
 custom of their country continues them thro' 
 life. In many parts of" South America, so 
 little restraint is laid on the commerce of the 
 sexes, that it plainly appears to be considered 
 as an object not worthy of legislation. Don 
 Ulloa reports, that the ancient Peruvians did 
 not knowingly marry such women as were 
 virgins, and if on trial they found them such, 
 were highly affronted at being imposed upon : 
 and it is said, that in the kingdom of Thibet, 
 no women who has not been deflowered is 
 reckoned fit for matrimony. 
 
 The Brazilian women are so far from pay- 
 ing any regard to chastity, that they even vi- 
 olate every principle of decency ; not being 
 in the least ashamed to prepare and adminis- 
 ter to the men stimulating potions, to create 
 or increase their natural desires ; which 
 when they wish to raise to an extravagant 
 height, the potions sometimes prove mortal. 
 At Mindanao, as soon as a stranger arrives, 
 the natives ikk.k about him, and eagerly in- 
 vite him to their houses : the person whose 
 invitation he accepts, is sure to offer him a 
 female companion, whom he is obliged to 
 
3*3 B*STOHICAL SKETCHES OF 
 
 accept, and to return a genteel present for 
 the unsolicited favour. This custom, which, 
 besides implying an absolute and disposing 
 power in the male, likewise supposes female 
 unchastity to be a matter of no consideration, 
 is observed at Pulo Condore, Pegu, Siam, 
 Cochin- China, Cambodia, in some places of 
 the East Indies, and on the coast of Guinea. 
 In Otaheite, chastity does not seem to be con- 
 sidered as one of the virtues, nor is the most 
 public violation of it looked upon either as 
 criminal or indecent. The women not only 
 readily and openly trafficked with the Eng- 
 lish sailors for personal favours, but were 
 brought by their fathers and brothers for that 
 purpose, as to a market; and those who 
 brought them were always abundantly con- 
 scious of the superior value of youth and 
 beauty. 
 
 CHAPTER LXVIIL 
 
 Naked Falciers — Mahometan plurality of 
 Wives — Women of Otaheite. 
 
 SO different over all the world are the sects 
 of saints, as well as of sinners, that besides 
 the Bramins, a set of innocent and religious 
 priests, who have rendered their women vir- 
 tuous by treating them with kindness and 
 humanity, there are another sect of religio- 
 philofeophical drones, called Fakiers, who 
 contribute as much as they can to debauch the 
 sex, under a pretence of superior sanctity. 
 
THE FAIR 'SEX. 329 
 
 These hypocritical saints, like some of the 
 ridiculous sects which formerly existed in 
 Europe, wear no clothes; considering them 
 only as proper appendages to sinners, who 
 are ashamed, because they are sensible of 
 guilt; while they, being free from every stain 
 of pollution, have no shame to cover. In this 
 orginai state of nature, these idle and pretend- 
 ed devotees, assemble together sometimes in 
 armies of ten or twelve thousand, and under 
 a pretence of going in pilgrimage to certain 
 temples, like locusts devour every thing on 
 their way ; the men flying before them, and 
 carrying all that they can out of the reach of 
 their depredations ; while the women, not in 
 the least afraid of a naked army of lusty 
 saints, throw themselves in their way, or re- 
 main quietly at home to receive them. 
 
 It has long been an opinion, well establish- 
 ed all over India, that there are not in nature 
 so powerful a remedy for removing the steril- 
 ity of women, as the prayers of these sturdy 
 naked saints. On this account, barren wo- 
 men constantly apply to them for assistance ; 
 which when the good-natured Fakier has an 
 inclination to grant, he leaves his slipper, or 
 his staff at the door of the lady's apartment 
 with whom he is praying ; a symbol so sa- 
 cred, that it effectually prevents any one from 
 violating the secrecy of their devotion : but, 
 should he neglect this signal, and at the same 
 time be distant from the protection of his 
 brethren, a sound drubbing is frequentl^the 
 reward of his pious endeavors. But though 
 they will venture sometimes, in Hiudostsui, 
 E e 
 
33Q HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF 
 
 to treatf a Fakicr, in this unholy manner ; i& 
 other parts of Asia and Africa, such is the 
 veneration in which these lusty saints are held, 
 that they not only have access when they 
 please, to perform private devotions with bar- 
 ren women, but are accounted so holy, that 
 they may at a^ y time, in public or in private, 
 confer a personal favor upon a woman, witl> 
 out bringing upon her either shame or guilt; 
 and no woman dare refuse to gratify their 
 passion. Nor indeed, has any one an incli- 
 nation of this kind ; because she, upon 
 whom this personal favour has been confer- 
 red, is considered by herself, and by all the 
 people, as having been sanctified and made 
 more holy by the action. 
 
 So much concerning the conduct of the 
 Fakiers in debauching women, seems certain. 
 But it is by travellers further related, that 
 whenever they find a woman who is exceed- 
 ingly handsome, they carry her off privately 
 to one of their temples ; but in such a man- 
 ner, as to make her and the people believe, 
 that she was carried away by the god who is 
 there worshipped ; who being violently in love 
 with her took that method to procure her for 
 his wife. This done, they perform a nuptial 
 ceremony, and make her further believe, that 
 she is married to the god ; when, in reality, 
 she is only married to one of the Fakiers 
 who personates him. Women who are treat- 
 ed in this manner are revered by the people 
 as th* wives of the gods, and by that strata- 
 gem secured solely to the Fakiers, who have, 
 cunnkig enough to impose themselves as gods 
 
THE FAIR SEX, 
 
 3*1 
 
 upon some of these women, through the 
 whole of their lives. In countries where 
 reason is stronger than superstition, we al- 
 most think this impossible : where the con- 
 trary is the case, there is nothing too hard to 
 be credited. Something like this was done 
 by the priests of ancient Greece and Rome; 
 and a itw centuries ago, tricks of the same 
 natare^werc practised by the monks, and 
 other libertines, upon some of the visionary 
 
 and enthusiastic women of Europe. 
 
 Hence we need not think it strange, if the 
 Fakters generally succeed in attempts of this 
 nature; when we consider, that they only 
 have to deceive a people brought up "in the 
 most consummate ignorance; and that no- 
 thing can be a more flattering distinction to 
 female vanity, than for a woman to suppose 
 herself sue!) a peculiar favorite of the divini- 
 ty she worships, as to be chosen, from all her 
 companions, to the honor of being admitted 
 to his embraces; a fovor/ which her self-ad- 
 miration will dispose her more readily to be- 
 lieve than examine. 
 
 BuT it is not the religion of the Hindoos 
 only, that is unfavourable to chastity ; that of 
 Mahomet, which now prevails over a great 
 part of India, is unfavourable to it likewise. 
 Mahometanism every Where indulges the 
 men with a plurality of wives, while it ties 
 clown the women to the strictest conjugal 
 delity; hence, while the men riot in unlini. 
 ned variety % the women are in great numbers 
 
332 HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF 
 
 confined to share among them the scanty fa- 
 vours of one man only. This unnatural and 
 impolitic conduct induces them to seek by- 
 art and intrigue what they are denied by the 
 laws of their prophet. As polygamy prevails 
 over all Asia, this art and intrigue follow as 
 the consequence of it; some have imagined, 
 that it is the result of climate, but it rather 
 appears to be the result of the injustice 
 which women suffer by polygamy ; for it 
 seems to reign as much in Constantinople, 
 and in every other place where polygamy is 
 in fashion, as it does on the banks of the 
 Ganges, or the Indus. The famous Montes- 
 quieu, whose system was, that the passions 
 are entirely regulated by the climate, brings 
 as a proof of this system, a story from the 
 collection of voyages for the establishment cf 
 tin East India Company, in which it is said, 
 that at Patan, " the wanton desires of the 
 women are so outrageous, that the men are 
 obliged to make u:e of a certain apparel to 
 shelter them from their designs." Were this 
 story really true, it would be but a partial 
 
 f cf the effect cf climate, for why should 
 the burning suns of Patan only influence the 
 
 ions of the fair ? Why should they there 
 transport that sex beyond decency, which in 
 all other climates is the most decent, and 
 leave in so cool and defensive a state, that 
 sex, which in all other climates is apt to be 
 the most offensive and indecent? To what- 
 ever length the spirit of intrigue may be car- 
 ried in Asia and Africa, however the passions 
 of the women may prompt then} to excite 
 
THE FAIR SEX. 333 
 
 desire, and to throw themselves in the way of 
 gratification, we have the strongest reasons to 
 reprobate all these stones, which would make 
 us believe, that they are so lost to decency as 
 to attack the other sex : such a system 
 would be overturning nature, and inverting 
 the established laws by which she governs the 
 world. 
 
 IN Otahcite, an island lately discovered in 
 the great Southern Ocean, we are presented 
 widi women of a singular character. As far 
 as we can recollect, we think it is a pretty 
 general rule, that wherever the sex are accus- 
 tomed to be constantly clothed, they are 
 ashamed to appear naked : those of Otahcite 
 seem however to he an exception to this rule ; 
 to shew themselves in public, with or with- 
 out clothing, appears to be to them a matter 
 of equal indifference, and the exposition of 
 any part of their bodies, is not attended with 
 the least backwardness or reluctance ; cir- 
 cumstances from which we may reasonably 
 infer, that, among them, clothes were not 
 originally invented to cover shame, but ei- 
 ther as ornaments, or as a defence against 
 the cold. But a still more striking singulari- 
 ty in the character of these women, and 
 which distinguishes, them not only from the 
 females of all other nations, but likewise from 
 those of almost all other animals, is, their 
 performing in public these rites, which in 
 every other part of the globe, and almost 
 among all animals, are performed in privacy 
 £ e 
 
334 HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF 
 
 and retirement : whether this is the effect of 
 innocence, or of a dissoluteness of manners 
 to which no other peoplr have yet arrived, 
 remains still to be discovered ; that they are 
 dissolute, even beyond any thing we have 
 hitherto recorded, is but too certain. As 
 polygamy is not allowed among them, to sa- 
 tisfy the lust of variety, they have a society 
 called Arreoy, in which every woman is com- 
 mon to every man ; and when any of these 
 women happens to have a child, it is smo- 
 thered in the moment of its birth, that it may 
 not interrupt the pleasures of its infamous 
 mother; but in this juncture, should nature 
 relent at so horrid a deed, even then the mo- 
 ther is not allowed to save her child, unless 
 she can find a man who will patronise it as a 
 father; in which case, the man is considered 
 as having appropriated the woman to himself, 
 and she is accordingly extruded from this 
 hopeful society. These few anecdotes suffi- 
 ciently characterise the women of this island. 
 In some of the adjacent ones, which were 
 visited by his majesty's sVsips upon this dis- 
 covery, if the women were not less unchaste, 
 they were at least less flagitious and indeli- 
 cate. 
 
THE FAIR SEX. ag 
 
 CHAPTER LXIX. 
 
 liatian Debauchery— — Female Slanderers— 
 Crinu Con. of Claudius and Pompeia. 
 
 IF chastity is one of the most shining vir- 
 tues of the French, it is still less so of the Ita- 
 lians. Almost all the travellers who have vi- 
 sited Italy, agree in describing it as the most 
 abandoned of all the countries of Europe. At 
 Venice, at Naples, and 'indeed in almost eve- 
 ry part of Italy, women are taught from their 
 infancy, the various arts of alluring to their 
 arms, the young and unwary, and of obtain- 
 ing from them, while heated by love or wine, 
 every thing that flattery and false smiles can 
 obtain in those unguarded moments ; and so 
 little infamous is the trade of prostitution, and 
 so venal the women, that hardly any rank or 
 condition sets them above being bribed to it, 
 nay, they are frequently assisted by their male 
 friends and acquaintances to dtrive a good 
 bargain ; nor does their career of debauchery 
 finish with their unmarried state : the vows 
 of fidelity which they make at the altar, are 
 like the vows and oaths made upon too many 
 other occasions, only considered as nugatory 
 forms, which law has obliged them to take, 
 but custom absolved them from performing. 
 They even claim and e joy greater liberties 
 after marrhge than before; every married 
 woman has acicisbeo, or gallant, vvhouttends 
 her to all public places, hands her in and out 
 4)1 hvr carnage, picks up her gloves or iun, 
 
§36 mSTOPUCAL SKETCHES OF 
 
 and a thousand other little offices of the same 
 nature ; but tiiis is only his public employ- 
 ment, as a reward from which, he is entitled 
 
 to have the i : dy as often as he pleases at a 
 place sacreel to themselves, 
 
 re no person* not even the most intrusive 
 l enter, to be witness of what 
 passul between them. This has been consi- 
 dered by people of all other nations, as a cus- 
 tom not altogether consistent with chastity 
 and purity of manners ; the Italians them- 
 selves, however, endeavor to justify it in their 
 conversations with strangers, and Barctti has 
 of late years published a formal vindication of 
 it to the world. In this vindication he has 
 not only deduced the original of it from pure 
 Platonic love, but would willingly persuade 
 us that it is still continued upon the same men- 
 tal principles ; a doctrine which the world 
 will hardly be credulous enough to swallow, 
 even though he should offer more convincing 
 arguments to support it than he has already 
 done. 
 
 THERE is amongst us another female cha- 
 racter, not uncommon, which we denominate 
 the outrageously virtuous. Women of this 
 stamp never fail to seize all opportunities of 
 exclaiming, in the bitterest manner, against 
 every one upon whom even the slightest sus- 
 picion of indiscretion or unchastity has fallen ; 
 taking care > as they go along^to magnify e- : 
 very mole-hill into a mountain, and e\cry 
 thoughtless freedom into the blackest of crimes* 
 
TH£ FAIR SEX. 157 
 
 But besides the illiberally of thus treating 
 such as may frequently be innocent, you may 
 credit us, dear countrywomen, when we aver, 
 that such a behavior, instead of making you 
 appear more virtuous, only draws down upon 
 vou, by those who know the wortn, suspicions 
 not much to your advantage. Your sex are in 
 general suspected by ours, of being too much 
 addicted to scandal and defamation ; a sus- 
 picion, which has not risen of late years, as we 
 find in the ancient laws of England a punish- 
 ment, known by the name of ducking-stool, 
 annexed to scolding and defamation in the 
 women, though no such punishment nor crime 
 is taken notice of in the men. This crime, 
 however, we persuade ourselves, you are less 
 guilty of, than is commonly believed : but 
 there is another of a nature not more excusa- 
 ble, from which we cannot so much exeuJ* 
 pate you ; which is, that harsh and forbidding 
 appearance you put on, and that ill-treatment, 
 which you no doubt think necessary, for the 
 illustration of your own virtue, you should be- 
 btow on every one of your sex who has devi- 
 ated from the path of rectitude. A behavior 
 of this nature, besides being so opposite to 
 that meek and gentle spirit which should dis- 
 tinguish female nature, is in every respect 
 contrary to the charitable and forgiving' tem- 
 per of the Christian religion, and infallibly 
 shuts the door of repentance against an un- 
 fortunate sister, willing, perhaps, to abandon 
 the vices into which heedless inadvertency had 
 plunged her, and from which none of you can 
 promise yourselves an absolute security. 
 
338 HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF 
 
 We wish not fair countrywomen, like the 
 declaimer and satirist, to paint you all vice 
 and imperfection, nor, like the venal panegy- 
 rist, to exhibit you all virtue. As impartial 
 historians, we confrss that you have, in the 
 at age, many virtues and good qualities, 
 which were either nearly or altogether un- 
 known to your ancestors ;, but do you not ex- 
 ceed them in some follies and vices also ? Is 
 net the levity, dissipation, and extravagance 
 of the women of this century arrived to a pitch 
 unknown and unheard-of in former times ? Is 
 not the course which you steer in life, almost 
 entirely directed by vanity and fashion ? And 
 are there not too many of you, who, throwing 
 aside reason and good conduct, and despising 
 the counsel of your friends and relations, seem 
 determined to follow the mode of the world, 
 however it may favour of folly, and however 
 it may be mixed with vice ? Do not the ge- 
 nerality of you dress, and appear above your- 
 station, and arc not many of yen ashamed to 
 be seen pci forming the duties of it ? To sum 
 :!, do not too, too many of you act as if 
 you thought the care of a (Vanity, and the other 
 domestic virtues, beneath your attention, and 
 that the soje end for which you uere sent in- 
 to the world, was to please and divert your- 
 selves, at the expense pfihose poor wretches 
 the men, whom you coi sider as obliged to 
 support you in every ki 
 
 travagance ? While such is your conduct, 
 and while the contagion is every d^y increas- 
 ing, you are not to be surprised if the men, 
 BtUI ibnd of vqu as piuytbingj hours of 
 
THE FAIR SEX. 539 
 
 mirth and revelry, shun ever}' serious connec- 
 tion with you ; and while they wish to be 
 possessed of your charms, are so much afraid 
 of your manners and conduct, that they pre- 
 fer the cheerless si te >F a t h tar; to ihe 
 numberless evils Jtng tied to a 
 
 modern wife. 
 
 OUR own times furnish us 
 of a ceremony from which all women 
 fully excluded ;* but the Roma-) ladies, in 
 performing the rites sacred to the good god- 
 dess, were even more afraid of the men than 
 our masons are of women ; for we are told 
 by some authors, that so cautious were they 
 of concealment, that even the statues and pic- 
 tures of men and other male animals were 
 hood- winked with a thick veil. The house 
 of the consul, though commonly so large that 
 they might have been perfectly secured a- 
 gainst all intrusion in seme remote apartment 
 of it, was obliged to be evacuated by all male 
 animals, and even the consul himself was not 
 suffered to remain in it. * Before they began 
 their ceremonies, every corner and lurking- 
 place in the house was carefully searched, and 
 1 no caution omitted to prevent all possibility 
 of being discovered by impertinent curiosity, 
 or disturbed by presumptive intrusion. But 
 these cautions were not all the guard that was 
 placed round them ; the laws of the Romans 
 made it death for any man to be present at the 
 solemnity. 
 
 * Masonry. 
 
34o HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF 
 
 Such being the precautions, and such the 
 penalties for insuring the secrecy of this cere- 
 mony, it was only once attempted to be violated, 
 though it existed from the foundation of the 
 Roman empire till the introduction of christi- 
 an! :y ; and this attempt was made, not so 
 much perhaps with a view to be present at 
 the ceremony, as to fulfil an assignation with a 
 mistress. Pompeia, the wife of Caesar, hav- 
 ing been suspected of a criminal correspon- 
 dence with Claudius, and so closely watchtd 
 that she could find no opportunity of gratify- 
 ing her passion, at last, by the means of a fe- 
 male slave, settled an assignation with him at 
 the celebration of the rites of the good goddess, 
 Claudius was directed to come in the habit of 
 a singing-girl, a character he could easily per- 
 sonate, being young and of a fair complexion. 
 As soon as the slave saw him enter, she rail 
 to inform her mistress. , The mistress eager 
 to meet her lover, immediately left the com- 
 pany, and threw herself into his arms, but 
 could not be prevailed upon by him to return , 
 so soon as he thought necessary for their mu- 
 tual safety upon which he left her, and began 
 to take a walk through the rooms, always a- 
 voiding the light as much as possible. While 
 he was thus walking by himself, a maid ser- 
 vant accosted him> and desired him to sing ; 
 betook no notice of her, but she followed and 
 urging him so closely, that he was at last oblig- 
 ed to speak. His voice betrayed hi.; sex ; the 
 ir.akl servant shrieked, and running into the 
 room where die rites were performing, told 
 that a man was in the house. The women in the 
 
THE FA!R SEX, ^i 
 
 utmost consternation, threw a veil over the 
 mysteries, ordered the doors to be secured, 
 and with lights in their hands, ran about the 
 house searching for the sacrilegious intruder. 
 They found him in the apartment of the slave 
 who had admitted him, drove him out with 
 ignominy, and, though it was in the middle of 
 the night, immediately dispersed, to give an 
 account to their husbands of what had hap- 
 pened. Claudius was soon after accused of 
 having profaned the holy rites ; but the popu- 
 lace declaring in his favor, the judges, fearing 
 an insurrection, were obliged to acquit him. 
 
 CHAPTER LXX. 
 
 Jewish Customs — Ancient Customs — Atheni- 
 an Midwife* &fc. — Canadian Women — ■ 
 Superstition, £sfc. 
 
 IN the religion of the modern Jews, there 
 are some ceremonies peculiar to their women, 
 at the commencement of their sabbath, which 
 is on the Friday evening at half an hour be- 
 fore the sun sets. Every conscientious Jew 
 must have a lamp lighted in his house, even 
 though he should borrow the oil of his neigh- 
 bour. The lighting of these lamps is a kind 
 of religious rite, invariably assigned to the 
 women, in order to recal to their memory the 
 crime by which their original mother first ex- 
 tinguished the lamp of righteousness, and to 
 teach them, that they ought to do every thing 
 in their power to atone for that crime by re- 
 f i 
 
342 HISTORICAL SKETCHES OP 
 
 kindling it. Instead of the sca 3 e-goat, whicfc 
 this people formerly loadtd with their sins, 
 and sent into the wilderness, they now substi. 
 tute a fowl. Even fatfttr of a family takes 
 a white coek, and the mother of the family a 
 white hen, which she strikes upon the head, 
 repeating at every stroke, " Let this lien atone 
 for my sins ; she shall die but I shall live." 
 This done she twists her neck, and euts her 
 throat, to signify, that without shedding of 
 blood there is no remission of sin. If a wo- 
 man, how ever, happens to be pregnant at the 
 time of this ceremony, as bhe cannot ascer- 
 tain whether the infant is a male or a female, 
 that its sins, of whatever gender it be, may not 
 be unexpiated, she takes both a hen and cock, 
 that she may be assured of having performed 
 the ceremony as required by their law. 
 
 BESIDES these ceremonies already men- 
 tioned, the women in ancient times, as direct- 
 ed by fancy or instigated by regard, decked 
 the tombs of their deceased friencls ; thty hung 
 lamps upon them, and adorned them iv.th a 
 variety of ht rbs and flowers ; a custom at this 
 time observed by the inhabitants of Constan- 
 tinople and its neighborhood, who not only 
 adorn the tombs oi tnc ir dead, but plant their 
 burying-grounds with rosemary, c\ press, and 
 other odoriferous shrubs and flowers ; but 
 whether with a view to please the manes of 
 the d^nclf or preserve the health of the living, 
 is uncertain. There were other ornaments 
 besides these we have now mentioned, used 
 
THE FAIR SEX. 345 
 
 by the women of antiquity to deck the tombs. 
 Among the Greeks, the tomb of a deceased 
 lover was frequently hang round with locks 
 of the hair of his mistress. They likewise 
 made offerings, and poured out libations to the 
 ghGsts, whom they suppose to smell, to eat, 
 and to drink as they did while upon earth. 
 This was not only a prevailing opinion among 
 the ancients, but has not as yet been totally 
 obliterated. It is still believed by the Chiri- 
 guans; and at Narva, one of the principal 
 towns of Livonia, they celebrate a remarka- 
 ble festival sacred to the manes of the dead. 
 On the eve of Whitsuntide the women assem- 
 ble in the churchyard, and spreading napkins 
 on the graves and tomb-stones, cover them 
 with a variety of dishes of broiled and fried 
 fish, custards, and painted eggs ; and to ren- 
 der them more agreeable to the ghosts, the 
 priest, while he is praying over them, perfumes 
 them with frankincense, the women all the 
 time howling and lamenting in the most dis- 
 mal manner, and the intelligent clerk not less 
 assiduously employed in defrauding the 
 ghosts, by gathering up all the viands for the 
 use of the priest. 
 
 BESIDES these ceremonies of religion and 
 of mourning, which the women have appro- 
 priated to themselves, there are others observ- 
 ed by them, which, arising from their nature, 
 and the circumstances attending it, may for 
 that reason, be denominated sexual. In 
 Chirigua, when a girl arrives at a certain age, 
 
544 HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF 
 
 her female relations inclcseher in a hammoc, 
 and suspend it at the end of her cottage. Hav- 
 ing remained in this hammock for one month, 
 they let it down halfway, and at the end ofa- 
 jhother month, the neighboring women assem- 
 ble, and having armed themselves with clubs 
 and staves, enter the cottage in a frantic man- 
 ner, striking furiously upon every thing with- 
 in it, Having acted this farce for some time f 
 one of tliem declares that she has killed the 
 serpent which had stung the girl; upon which 
 sha is liberated from her confinement, the 
 women rejoice for some time together, and 
 then depart every one to her own home. A- 
 rhong some of the Tartarian tribes, when a 
 girl arrives at the same period of life, they 
 shut her up for some days, and afterwards 
 hang a signal on the top of her tent, to let the 
 young men know that she is become marri- 
 ageable. Among others of these tribes, the 
 parents of the girl make a feast on this occa- 
 sion, and having invited their neighbors, and 
 treated them with milk and horse-flesh, they 
 declare their daughter is become marriageable, 
 and that they are ready to dispose of her as soon 
 as a proper opportunity shall offer. In Cir- 
 cassia and Georgia, where parents are some- 
 times obliged to marry their daughters while 
 infants, to prevent their being violently taken 
 from them by the rich and powerful, the cir- 
 cumstance of a girl being arrived at the time 
 of puberty, is frequently concealed for some 
 time, as the. husband has then a right to de- 
 mand her, and the parents perhaps think her 
 too young for trie matrimonial state, 
 
THE FAIR 5£X« 545 
 
 Among the circumstances whieh gave rise 
 to these customs which we have called sexual, 
 child-bearing is one of the most particular. 
 As in child-bearing some little assistance has 
 generally been necessary in almost all coun- 
 tries ; to afford this assistance, the women 
 have commonly employed midlives of their 
 own sex. The Athenians were the only peo- 
 ple of antiquity who did otherwise. They 
 had a law which prohibited women and slaves 
 from practicing physic : as midwifery was ac- 
 counted one of the branches of this art, many 
 lives had been lost, because the delicacy of 
 the women would not submit to be delivered 
 by a man. A woman called Agnodice, in 
 order to rescue her country-women from this 
 difficulty, dressed herself in the habit of a man, 
 and having stuikd the art of physic, reveal- 
 ed herself to the women, who all agree to em- 
 ploy no other. Upon this the rest of the phy- 
 sicians, enraged that she should monopolize 
 all the business arraigned her before the court 
 of Areopagus, as only having obtained the 
 preference to them by corrupting the chastity 
 of the women whom she delivered. This 
 obliging her todiscovcr her sex, the physicians 
 then prosecuted her for violating the laws of 
 her country. The principal matrons of the 
 city, now finding her in such danger, assem- 
 bled together, came into the court, and peti- 
 tioned the judges in her favor. The petition 
 of the matrons was so powerful, and the rea- 
 sons which they urgerl for having employed 
 her, so conducive to the preservation of fe- 
 male delieacv, that a law was made, allowing 
 
346 HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF 
 
 women to practice midwifery. The sex a- 
 vailed themselves of this law, and the assist- 
 ance of the men soon became quite unfashion- 
 able, 
 
 Among the Romans, and the Arabians, 
 who after them cultivated the science of me- 
 dicine with great assiduity, the women in case 
 of difficulty, sometimes submitted to be deli- 
 vered by a man ; but this was far from being 
 a matter of choice or a general practice : nor 
 was it till the latter end of the last centiir) T , 
 snd beginning of this, when excess of polite- 
 ness in France and Italy had begun to eradi- 
 cate delicacy, that the sex began to give so 
 much into the mode of being delivered by 
 male practitioners ; a mode which now so 
 commonly prevails, that there is scarcely to 
 be found in Europe, a woman so unfashiona- 
 ble as to be delivered by one of her own sex, 
 if she can afford to pay for the assistance of a 
 man. How far the women may be safer in 
 this fashionable way than in the other, we 
 shall not take upon us to determine, but of 
 this we are assured, that the custom is less 
 consistent with delicacy. 
 
 IN some climates, where the constitution 
 is relaxed by the heat, and at the same time 
 not vitiated by those habits which in politer 
 nations destroy mankind, women are said to 
 be delivered with but little pain, and frequent- 
 ly without any assistance ; nor is this singu- 
 larity altogether peculiar to warm countries, 
 but seems" to depend more on living agreca- 
 
THE FAIR SSX, Hi 
 
 b!y to nattffe, than on climate, or any other 
 circumstance; for we have heard it asserted 
 by several people who have been in Canada, 
 that a savasje women, when she feels the 
 symptoms of labor coming on her, steals 
 silent y to the woods, lay* herself down in a 
 coppice, and is delivered alone ; which done, 
 she goes to the nearest river or pool, washes 
 herself and the child, and then returns home 
 to her hut. 
 
 WHILE ignorance and superstition dis- 
 turbed the human mind with groundless ter- 
 rors and apprehensions, it was a prevailing 
 opinion overall Europe, that lying-in women 
 were more su bject to the power of daemons 
 and witches than a people in any other con- 
 dition, and that new-born infants, if not care- 
 fully watched, and secured by ceremonies 
 and spells, were frequently carried away by 
 them : on this account various ceremonies 
 and spells were commonly made use of; and 
 even so lately as our times, we remember to 
 have seen in the west of Scotland, a horse- 
 shoe nailed upon tht door, in an inverted 
 manner, to secure a lying-in woman from the 
 power of witchcraft. But this opinion was 
 not confined to Europe ; it pervaded at least 
 half the globe. The No£ais Tartars are the 
 particular dupes of it; when one of their 
 women is in labor, the relations of the family 
 assemble at her door, and make a prodigious 
 noise by beating on pots and kettles, in order 
 to fright away the devil, who they suppose 
 
 4* 
 
54^ HISTORICAL SKETCHES Or 
 
 would, if he did not find them on their gu arc!,' 
 do some mischief to the mother or chiid, or 
 to both. 
 
 CHAPTER LXXL 
 
 Custom of the Muscovites — Castration — Eu* 
 nuchs — Orig in of J\ unneries — Custom in 
 the Mogul Empire. 
 
 IF the laws we have formerly mentioned, 
 forbidding the marriage of near relations with 
 each other, originated from the politieal view 
 of preserving; the human race from degenera- 
 cy, they are the only laws we meet with on 
 that subject, and exert almost the only care 
 wc find taken of so important a matter. The 
 Asiatic is careful to improve the breed of his 
 elephants, the Arabian of his horses, and the 
 Laplander of his rein-deer. The English- 
 man, eiiger to have swift horses, staunch dogs. 
 and victorious cocks, grudges no care, and 
 spares no expense, to have the males and fe- 
 males matched properly ; but since the days 
 of Solon, whe#e is the legislator, or since the 
 times of the ancient Greeks, where are the 
 private persons, who take any care to improve, 
 or even to keep from degeneracy the breed of 
 their own species? The Englishman who 
 solicitously attends the training of his colts 
 and puppies, would be ashamed to be caught 
 in the mirsery ; and while no motive could 
 prevail upon him to breed horses or hounds 
 from an improper or contaminated kind, he 
 
THE FAIR SEX. 549 
 
 will calmly, or rather inconsiderately, match 
 himself with the most decrepid or diseased 
 of the human species; thoughtless of the 
 weaknesses and evils he is going to entail on 
 posterity, and considering nothing but the 
 acquisition of fortune he is by her alliance to 
 convey to an offspring, by diseases rendered 
 unable to use it. The Muscovites were for- 
 merly the only people, besides the Greeks, 
 who paid a proper attention to this subject. 
 After the preliminaries of a marriage were 
 settled between the parents of a young cou- 
 ple, the bride was stripped naked, and care- 
 fully examined by a jury of matrons, when, 
 if they found any bodily defect, they endea- 
 voured to cure it; but if it would admit of 
 no remedy, the match was broke off, and she 
 was considered not only as a very improper 
 subject to breed from, but improper also for 
 maintaining the affections of a husband, after 
 he had discovered the imposition she had put 
 upon him. 
 
 In England, the marriage ceremony is not 
 to be performed but in the church, and be- 
 tween the hours of 3 and 12 o'clock iri die 
 .forenoon. In Scotland, this is deemed in- 
 compatible with morality and sound policy, 
 as it hinders the valetudinarian from doing 
 ail the justice in his power to the mistress he 
 has lived with and debauched ; he may 
 therefore marry her at any hour, or in any 
 place, and by that marriage, legitimate all the. 
 children he has by her, whether ^hzy be pre- 
 sent at the marriage or not. Nearly the same 
 thing takes pi \:;e all over Germany, only in 
 
350 HISTORICAL SKETCHES OP 
 
 some parts of it, the children to be legitimat- 
 ed are required to be present, to be acknow- 
 ledged by the father, and to hold the lappet of 
 his garment, during the performance of the 
 marriage ceremony. 
 
 AS the appetite towards the other sex is 
 ®ne of the strongest and most ungovernable 
 in our nature; as it intrudes itself more than 
 any other into our thoughts, and frequently 
 diverts them from every other purpose or 
 employment ; it may, at first, on this account, 
 have been reckoned criminal when it inter- 
 fered with worship and devotion; and emas- 
 culation was made use of in order to get 
 rid of it, which may, perhaps, have been the 
 origin of eunuchs. But however this be, it 
 is certain, that there were men of various re- 
 gions, who made themselves incapable of 
 procreation on a religious account, as wc are 
 told that the priests of Cybele constantly cas- 
 trated themselves, and by our Saviour, that 
 there are eunuchs who make themselves such 
 for the kingdom of heaven's sake. 
 
 SOON after the introduction of Christian- 
 ity, St. Mark is said to have founded a soci- 
 ety calhd Therapeutes, who dwelt by the 
 lake Moeris in Egypt, and devoted them- 
 selves to solitude and religious o(iices. About 
 the year 305 of the Christian computation, 
 St. Anthony being persecuted by Dioclesian, 
 retired into the desart near lake Moeris ; 
 
THE FAIR SEX. 35* 
 
 timbers of people soon followed his exam- 
 ple, joined themselves to the Then.peutts ; 
 St. Anthony beipg placed as tbtir bead, and 
 improving upon thtir rules, first forced them 
 int© regular monasteries, and enjoined them t« 
 live in mortification and cnasthy. About die 
 same time, or soon after, St. Synclittea, re- 
 solving not to be behind St. A,,th in tq her 
 zeal for chastity, is generally believed to have 
 collected together a number of enthusiastic 
 females, and to have founded the ,fi si nunne- 
 ry for their reception. Some imagine the 
 scheme of celibacy was concerted b« twceii 
 St. Anthony and St. Synclitica, as St. Antho- 
 ny, on his first retiring into solitude, is said 
 to have put his sister into a nunnery, which 
 must have been that of St. Synclitica ; but 
 however this be, from their institution, monks 
 and nuns increased so last, that in the city of 
 Orixa, about seventeen years after the death 
 of St. Anthony, there were twenty thousand 
 virgins devoted to celibacy. 
 
 Such at this time was the rage of celibacy ; 
 a rage which, however unnatural, will cease 
 to excite our wonder, when we consider, that 
 it was accounted by both sexes the sure and 
 only infallible road to heaven and eternal hap- 
 piness; and as such, it behoved the church 
 vigorously to maintain and countenance it, 
 which she did by beginning about this time 
 to deny the liberty of marriage to her sons. 
 In the first council of Nice, held soon after 
 the introduction of Christianity, the celibacy 
 of the clergy was strenuously argued for, and 
 some think that even m an earlier period it 
 
35a HISTORICAL SKETCHES OP 
 
 had been the subject of debate ; however this 
 be it was not agre< d to }i the council of Nice, 
 though at the t nc! el the fourth century it is 
 s':id that Syricus, bishop oi Rome, enacted 
 the fu st decree against the marriage of monks; 
 a decree which was not universally received : 
 for several centuries after, we find thatitwafc 
 not uncommon tor clergy men to have wives; 
 even the popes were allowed this liberty, »s 
 it is said in tome of the old statutes of the 
 church, that it was lawful for the pope to 
 marry a virgin for the sake of having children. 
 So exceedingly difficult is it to combat a- 
 gainst nature, that little regard seems to have 
 been paid to tins decree of Syricus ; for we 
 are informed, that several centuiies after, it 
 was no uncommon thing for the clergy to 
 have wivesj and perhaps even a plurality of 
 them; us we find it among the ordonnances 
 of pope Sylvester, that every priest should be 
 the husband of one wife only ; and Pius the 
 Second affirmed, that though many strong rea- 
 sons might be adduced in support of the ce- 
 libacy of the clergy, there were still stronger 
 reasons against it. 
 
 IN a variety of parts of the Mogul empire, 
 when the women are carried abroad, they are 
 put into a kind of machine, like a chariot, 
 and placed on the backs of camels, or in co- 
 vered sedan chairs, and surrounded by a guard 
 of eunuchs, and armed men, in such a man- 
 ner, that a stranger would rather suppose the 
 cavalcade to be carrying some desperate vil- 
 
THE FAIR S£X« 3S3 
 
 lain to execution, than employed to prevent 
 the intrigues or escape of a defenceless wo- 
 man. At home, the sex are covered with 
 'gauze veils, which they dare not take off in 
 the presence of any man, except their hus- 
 band or some near relation. Over the great- 
 est part of Asia, and in some places of Afri- 
 ca, women are guarded by eunuchs, made in- 
 capable of violating their chastity. In Spain, 
 where the natives are the descendants of the 
 Africans, and whose jealousy is not less strong 
 than that of their ancestors, they, for many 
 centuries, made use of padlocks to secure 
 the chastity of their women ; but finding 
 these ineffectual, they frequently had recourse 
 to old women, called gouvernantes. It had 
 been discovered, that men deprived of their 
 virility, did not sometimes guard female vir- 
 tue so strictly, as to be incapable of being 
 bribed to allow another a taste of those plea- 
 sures they themselves were incapable of en- 
 joying. The Spaniards, sensible of this, 
 imagined, that vindictive old women were 
 more likely to be incorruptible ; as ^n\y 
 would stimulate them to prevent the young 
 from enjoying those pleasures, which they 
 themselves had no longer any chance for ; 
 but all powerful gold soon overcame even 
 this obstacle ; and the Spaniards, at present, 
 seem to give up all restrictive methods, and 
 to trust the virtue of their women to good 
 principles, instead of rigour and hard usage. 
 
354 HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF 
 
 CHAPTER LXXII. 
 
 Grecian Courtship, Power of Philtres and 
 Charms — Eastern courtship — Long Hair 
 of Saxons arid Danes* 
 
 WHAT we have row observed concern* 
 ing the manner of courtship, was too much 
 the case with the Greeks. In the earlie? pe- 
 riods of their history, their love, if v.e may 
 call it so, was only the animal appetite, impet- 
 uous and unrestrained either by cultivation 
 of manners, or precepts of morality ; and al- 
 most every opportunity which fell in thtir 
 way prompted them to satisfy that appetite 
 by force> and to revenge the obstruction of 
 it by murder. \\ hen they became a more 
 civilized people, they shone much more illus- 
 triously in arts and in arms, then in delicacy 
 of sentiment and elegance of manners: 
 hence we shall find, that their method of 
 making love was more directed to compel 
 the fair sex to a compliance with their wishes 
 by charms and philtres, than to win them bj 
 the nameless assiduities and good offices of a 
 lover. 
 
 As the two sexes in Greece had but little 
 communication with each other, and a lover 
 was seldom favoured with an opportunity of 
 telling his passion to his mistress, he used to 
 discover it by inscribing her name on the 
 walls of his house, on the bark of the trees 
 of a public walk, or the leaves of his books; 
 it was cubtomary for him also to deck the 
 
THE FAIR SEX. S5S 
 
 tieor of the house, where his fair one lived, 
 with garlands and flowers, to make libations 
 of wine before it, and to sprinkle the entrance 
 with the same liquor, in the manner that was 
 practised at the temple of Cupid. Garlands 
 were of great use among the Greeks in love 
 affairs; when a man untied his garland, te 
 was a declaration of his having been subdued 
 by that passion; and when a woman compos- 
 ed a garland, it was a tacit confession of the 
 same thing : and though we are not informed 
 of it, we may presume that both sexes had 
 methods of discovering by these garlands, 
 not only that they were in love, but the object 
 also upon whom it was directed. 
 
 Such were the common methods of dis- 
 covering the passion of love, the methods 
 of pros cutlng it were still more extraordina- 
 ry, and less feconcileable to civilization and to 
 good principles ; when a love affair did not 
 prosper in the hands of a Grecian, he did 
 not endeavor to become more engaging in 
 his manners and person, he did not lavish his 
 fortune in presents, or become more oblig- 
 ing and assiduous in his addresses, but im- 
 mediately had recourse to incantations and 
 phikres; in composing and dispensing of 
 which, the women of Thessaly were reckon- 
 ed the most famous, and drove a traffic hi 
 them of no inconsiderable advantage. These 
 potions were given by the women to the men, 
 as well as by the men to the women, and 
 were generally so violent in their operation 
 as for some time to deprive the person who 
 took them, of sense, and not uncommonly of 
 
556 HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF 
 
 life : their composition was a variety of herb:) 
 (J the most strong and virulent nature, 
 which we shall not mention; but Ixrbs were 
 not the only things they relied on for their 
 purpose, they called in the productions of the 
 animal and mineral kingdoms to their assis- 
 tance ; when these failed, they roasted an im- 
 age of wax before the fire, representing the 
 object of their love, and as this became 
 warm, they Haltered themselves that the per- 
 son represented by it would be proportionally 
 warmed with love. When a lover could ob- 
 tain any thing belonging to his mistress, he 
 imagined it of singular advantage, and de- 
 posited it in the earth beneath the threshold 
 of her door. Besides these, they had a vari- 
 ety of other methods equally ridiculous and 
 unavailing, and of which it would be trifling 
 to give a minute detail : we shall-, therefore, 
 just take notice as we go along, that such of 
 either sex as believed themselves forced into 
 love by the power of philtres and charms, 
 commonly had recourse to the same methods 
 to disengage themselves, and break the pow- 
 er of these enchantments, which they sup- 
 posed operated involuntarily on their iuclina-* 
 lions ; and thus the old women of Greece, 
 like the lawyers of modern times, were em- 
 ployed to defeat the schemes and operations 
 of each other, and like them too, it is presu* 
 mable, laughed in their sleeves, while they 
 hugged the gains that arose from vulgar ere-, 
 dulity. 
 
THE FAIR SEX. 357 
 
 THE Romans, who borrowed most of their 
 customs from the Greeks, also followed them 
 in that of endeavouring to concilitate love by 
 the power of philtres and charms ; a fact of 
 which wc have not the least room to doubt, 
 as there are in Virgil and some other of the 
 Latin poets so many instances that prove it. 
 But it depends not altogether on the testimo- 
 ny of the poets : Pi March tells us, that Lu- 
 cullus, a Roman General, lost his senses, by a 
 love potion 5* and Laius Caligula, accor- 
 ding to Suetonius, was thrown into a fit of 
 madness by one which was given him by his 
 wife Caesonia ; Lucretius too, according to 
 some authors, fell a sacrifice to the same folly. 
 The Romans, like the Greeks, made use of 
 these methods mostly in their affairs of gal- 
 lantry and unlawful love ; but in what man- 
 ner they addressed themselves to a lady they 
 intended to marry, has not been handed down 
 to us, and the reason as we suppose is, that 
 little or no courtship was practised among 
 them ; women had no disposing power of 
 themselves, to what purpose was it then to ap- 
 ply to them for their consent ? They were un- 
 der perpetual guardianship, and the guardi- 
 jan having the sole power oi disposing oi them, 
 
 * As the notion of love potions and powders is at 
 Shis day not altogether eradira'ed, we take this op., 
 porrun«'yot afluring our reade* s, that there is no 
 po ion, powder, or medicine known to mankind, tha-c 
 j)as an\ (pecific power ot raiding or determining the 
 atf'fttons to any certain object, and that all preten* 
 (ions to fuch are not only vain and illafsve^ foul illr* 
 £al. 3C ] 10 ibe la,ft degree d^ogerous. 
 
35S HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF 
 
 jt was only necessary to apply to him. In the 
 Roman authors, we frequently read of a fa- 
 ther, a brother, or a guardian, giving his 
 daughter, his siiter, or his ward, in marriage ; 
 but we do not recollect one single instance of 
 being told that the intended bridegroom ap- 
 plied to the lady for her consent ; a circum- 
 stance the more extraordinary, as women in 
 the decline of the Roman empire had arisen 
 to a dignity, and even to a freedom, hardly 
 equalled in modern times. 
 
 IT has long been a common observation 
 among mankind, that love is the most fruit- 
 ful source of invention; and that in this case 
 the imagination of a woman is still more 
 fruitful of invention and expedient than that 
 of a man ; agreeably to this, we are told, 
 that the women of the island of Amhoyna, 
 being closely watched on all occasions, and 
 destitute of the art of writing, by which, in 
 other places, the sentiments are conveyed at 
 any distance, have methods of making known 
 their inclinations to their lovers, and of fixing 
 assignations with them, b}' means of nose- 
 gays, and plates of fruit so disposed, as to 
 convey their sentiments in the most explicit 
 manner : by these means their courtship is 
 generally carried on, and by altering the dis- 
 position of symbols made use of, they con- 
 trive to signify their refusal, with the same 
 cxplicitness as their approbation. In some 
 of the neighbouring islands, when a young 
 man has fi&ed his affection, like the Italians, 
 
THE FAIR SEX. §59, 
 
 he goes from time to time to her door, and 
 plays upon some musical instrument ; if she 
 gives consent, she conies out to him, and 
 they settle the affair of matrimony between 
 them : if, after a certain number of these 
 kind of visits, she does not app ar, it is a 
 denial ; and the disappointed lover is obliged 
 to desist. 
 
 We shall see afterward, when we come to 
 treat of the matrimonial compact, that, in 
 some places, the ceremony of marriage con- 
 sists in tying the garments of the young 
 couple together, as an emblem of that union 
 which ought to bind their affections and inte- 
 rests. This ceremony has afforded a hint for 
 lovers to explain their passion to their mis- 
 tresses, in the most intelligible manner, with- 
 out the help of speech, or the possibility of 
 offending the nicest delicacy. A lover in 
 these parts, who is too modest to declare 
 himself, seizes the first opportunity he can 
 find, of sitting down by his mistress, and 
 tying his garment to hers, in the manner that 
 is practised in the ceremony of marriage : if 
 she permits him to finish the knot, without 
 any interruption, and does not soon after cut 
 or loose it, she thereby gives her consent ; if 
 sue looses it, he may tve it again on some 
 other occasion, when she may prove more 
 propitious ; but if she cuts it, his hopes are 
 blasted forever. 
 
 TO this account we shall add some re- 
 marks on the circus of the Anglo S.ixons and 
 
3ft» HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF 
 
 Danes. They considered their hair as one 
 of their greatest personal beauties, and took 
 great care to dress it to the utmost advantage. 
 Young ladies wore it loose, and Sowing in 
 ringkts over their shoulders; hut after mar- 
 riage they cut it shorter, tied it up, and co- 
 vered it with a head dress, according to the 
 fashion of the times; hut to have the hair 
 cut entirely off, was a disgrace of such a 
 nature, that it was even thought a punish* 
 me nt not inadequate to the crime of adultery ; 
 so great, in the middle ages, was the value set 
 upon the hair by both sexes, that, as a piece 
 of the most peculiar mortification, it was or* 
 dcred by the canons of the church, that the 
 clergy should keep their hair short, and shave 
 the ci own of their head ; and that they should 
 not, upon any pretence whatever, endeavour 
 Jo keep the part so shaved from the pubiic 
 view. Many of the clergy of these times, 
 finding themselves so peculiarly mortified, 
 and perhaps so easily distinguished from all 
 other people by this particularity, as to be 
 readily detected when they committed any of 
 the follies or crimes to which human nature 
 is in every situation sometimes liable, endea- 
 voured to persuade mankind, that long hair 
 Has criminal, in order to reduce the whole to 
 a similarity with themselves. Amongst these, 
 St. Wulstan eminently distinguished himself; 
 41 He rebuked," says William of Malmsbury, 
 " the wicked of all ranks with great bold- 
 ness ; but was particularly severe upon those 
 y/ho were proud of their long hair. When 
 any of these vain people bowed their heads 
 
THE FAIR SEX. 361 
 
 before him, to receive his blessing, before be 
 gave it he cut a lock from their hair, with a 
 sharp pen-knife, which he carried about him 
 for that purpose ; and co nmanded them, by 
 way of penance for th ir sins, to cut ail the 
 rest in the same manner: if any of them re- 
 fused to comply with his command he re- 
 p bached then for their effeminacy, and de- 
 nounced die most -dreadful, judgments against 
 them. Such, However, was tne value of the 
 hair in those days, that many gather submit- 
 ted to his censures, than part with it; and 
 such was the lolly of the church, and of this 
 saint in particular, that the most solemn 
 judgments were denounced against multi- 
 tudes, for no other crime than not nruki g 
 us j of pen-knives and scjssars, to cut off an 
 
 CHAPTER LXXIII. 
 
 The Lapland and' 'Greenland Lady — sale cf 
 Children to purclvise JFhjes — Plurality and 
 Community 0/ [Fives — Girls sjfdat Auctl- 
 en 
 
 THE delicacy of a Lapknd lady* which !i 
 not in the least hurt by be^mg drunk as often 
 as she can procure liquor, would be wound. 
 ed in the most sensible manner, should she 
 deign at first to listen to the declaration of a 
 lover ; he is therefore obliged to employ a 
 match- maker to speak for him ; and this 
 match-maker must never go empty-handed y 
 
36a HISTORICAL SKETCHES OP 
 
 and of all other presents, that which most in- 
 fallibly secures him a favourable reception, 
 is brandy. Having, by the eloquence of this, 
 gained leave to bring the lover along with 
 him, and being, together with the lover's fa- 
 ther or other nearest male relation, arrived at 
 the house where the lady resides, the father 
 and match-maker are invited to walk in, but 
 the lover must wait patiently at the door till 
 further solicited. The parties, in the mean 
 time, open their suit to the other ladies of the 
 family, not forgetting to employ in their fa- 
 vour their irrcsistabie advocate brandy, a li- 
 beral distribution of which reckoned the 
 strongest proof of the lover's affection. When 
 they have all been warmed by the lover's 
 bounty, he is brought into the house, pays 
 his compliments to the family, and is desired 
 t0 partake of their cheer, though at this in- 
 terview seldom indulged with a sight of his 
 mistress; but if he is, he salutes her, and 
 offers her presents of rein-deer skins, tongues, 
 &c. ; all which, while surrounded with her 
 friends, she pretends to rtfuse; but at the 
 same time giving her lover a signal to go cut, 
 she soon steals after him, and is no more that 
 modest creature she affected to appear in 
 company. The lover now solicits for the 
 completion of his wishes; if she is silent, it 
 is construed into consent; but it s]vj throws 
 his presents on the ground with disdain, the 
 match is broke off forever, 
 
 It is generally observed, that women enter 
 into matrimony with more willingness, and 
 less anxious <; ire and solicitude, than men, 
 
THE FAIR SEX. 36$ 
 
 for which many reasons naturally suggest 
 themselves to the intelligent reader. The 
 Women of Greenland are however, In many 
 c 1 .. s. an exception to this general rnle. A 
 Greeuhmder, having fixed his aff; etion, ac- 
 quaii its his parents with it ; they at quaint the 
 parents of the girl ; upon whfch two female 
 negotiators are sent to her, who, lest they 
 should shock h^r delicacy, do not enter di- 
 rectly on the subject of their embassy, but 
 launch out in pnuses of the lover they mean 
 to recommend, of his house, of his furniture, 
 and whatever else belongs to him* but dwell 
 nio^t particularly on his dexterity in catching 
 of seals. She, pretending to be affronted, 
 runs away, tearing the ringlets of her hair as 
 she retires; after which the two females, 
 having obtained a tacit consent from her pa- 
 rents, search for her, and on discovering her 
 lurking place, drag her by force to the house 
 of her lovt r, arid there leave her. For some 
 days she sits with di shrivelled hair, silent and 
 dejected, refusing every kind cf sustenance, 
 and at last, if kicd entreaties cannot prevail 
 up n : e , is compelled by force, and even by 
 blows, to complete the marriage with her 
 husband. It sometimes happens* that when 
 the female match makers arrive to propose a 
 lover to a Greenland young woman, she either 
 faints, or escapes to the uninhabited moun- 
 tains, where she remains till she is discovered 
 and carried b^ck by her relations, or is forced 
 to return-by hunger and cold; in both which 
 cases, bhe previously cuts off her hair; a 
 
364 HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF 
 
 most infallible indication, that she is deter, 
 mined never to marry. 
 
 IN Timor, an island in the Indian Ocean, 
 it is said, that patents sell their children in or- 
 der to purchase more wives. In Circassia, 
 women are reared and improved in beauty- 
 arid every alluring art, only for the purpose 
 •of being sold. The prince ofthe Circassians 
 demanded from the prince of Mingrelia an 
 hundred slaves loaded with tapestry, an hun* 
 dred cows, as many oxen, and the same num- 
 ber of horses, as the price of his sister. In 
 New -Zealand, we meet with a custom which 
 may be called purchasing a wife for a night, 
 and which is a proof that those must also be 
 purchased who are intended for a longer du- 
 ration ; and what to us is a little suprising, this 
 temporary wife, insisted upon being treated 
 with as much deference and respect, as if she 
 had been married for life ; but in general, this 
 is not the case in other countries, for the wife 
 who is purchased, is always trained up in the 
 principles of slavery ; and, being inured to 
 every indignity and mortification from her 
 parents, she expects no better treatment from 
 her husband. 
 
 There is little difference in the condition 
 of her v, ho is put to sale by her sordid parents, 
 and her who is disposed of in the same man- 
 ner by the magistrates, as a part ofthe state's 
 property. Besides those we have already 
 mentioned in this work, the Thracians put 
 the fairest of their virgins up to public sale, 
 
THE FAIR SEX. 565" 
 
 and the magistrates of Crete had the sole poor- 
 er of chusing partners in marriage for their 
 young men ; and, in the execution of this 
 power, the affection and interest of the parties 
 Was totally overlooked, and the good of the state 
 the only object of attention ; in pursuing which, 
 they always allotted the strongest and best 
 made of the sex to one another, that they 
 might raise up a generation of warriors, or 
 of women lit to be the mothers of warriors. 
 
 POLYGAMY and concubinage having In 
 process of time become fashionable vices, the 
 number of women kept by the great became 
 at last more an article of grandeur and state, 
 than a mode of satisfying the animal appetite: 
 Solomon had threescore queens, and four- 
 score concubines, and virgins without num- 
 ber. Maimon tells us, that among the Jews 
 a man might have as many wives as he pleas- 
 ed, even to the number of a hundred, and that 
 it was not in their power to prevent him, pro- 
 vided he could maintain, and pay them all the 
 conjugal debt once a week ; but in this duty- 
 he was not to run in toarrearany of them a- 
 bove a month, though with regard to concu- 
 bines he might do as he pleased. 
 
 It would be an endless task to enumerate 
 all the nations which practised polygamy ; 
 we shall, therefore, only mention a few where 
 the practice seemed to vary something from 
 the common method. The ancient Subaeansare 
 r.ot only said to have had a plurality, but even 
 a community of wives ; a thing strongly in- 
 H h 
 
366 HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF 
 
 consistent with that spirit of jealousy whick 
 prevails among the men in most countries 
 whert* polygamy is allowed. The ancient 
 Germans were so strict monogamists,* that 
 they reckoned it a species of polygamy for a 
 woman to marry a second husband, even af- 
 ter the death of the first. " A woman (say 
 they) has but one life, and but one body, 
 therefore should have but one husband ;" and 
 besides, they added, " that she who ki cws 
 she is never to have a second husband, will 
 the more value and endeavour to promote the 
 happiness and preserve the life of the first." 
 Among the Heruli this idea was carried far- 
 ther, a woman w r as obliged to strangle herself 
 at the death of her husband, lest she should 
 afterwards marry another ; so detestable was 
 polygamy in the North, while in the East it is 
 one of these rights w hich they most of all others 
 esteem, and maintain with such inflexible 
 firmness, that it will probably be one of the 
 last of those that it will wrest out of their 
 hands. 
 
 The Egyptians, it is probable, did not al- 
 low of pol} gamy, and as the Greeks bor* 
 rowed their institutions from them, it was 
 also forbid by the laws of Cecrops, though 
 concubinage seems cither to have been allow- 
 ed or overlooked ; for in the Odyssey of Ho- 
 mer we find Ulysses declaring himself to be 
 the son of a concubine, which ne would pro- 
 bably not have done, had any great degree of 
 infamy been annexed to it. In some cases, 
 
 * Monogamy is having only one wife. 
 
THE FAIR SEX. 367 
 
 however, polygamy was allowed in Greece, 
 from a mistaken notion that it would increase 
 population. The Athenians, once thinking 
 the number of their citizens diminished, de- 
 creed that it should be lawful for a man to 
 have children by another woman as well as by 
 his wife ; beside this, particular instances oc- 
 cur of some who transgressed the law of 
 monogamy. Euripides issaid to have had 
 two wives, who, by their constant disagree- 
 ment, gave him a dislike to the whole sex ; a 
 supposition which receives some weight irons 
 these lines of his in Andromanehe : 
 
 ne'tr will I commend 
 
 Morr Weds, more wives than o<\e nor children curf'd 
 Wish doable mothers, banes and plagues or life. 
 
 Socrates too had two wives, but the poor 
 culprit had as much reason to repent of his 
 temerity as Euripides. 
 
 THE ancient Assyrians seem more tho* 
 roughly to have settled and digested the af- 
 fairs of marriage, than any of their cotempo- 
 raries. Once in every year they assembled 
 together all the girls that were marriageable, 
 when the public crier put them up to sale, one 
 after another. For her whose figure was a- 
 greeable, and whose beauty was attracting, 
 the rich strove against each other, who should 
 give the highest price ; which price was put in^ 
 to a public stock, and distributed in portions to 
 those whom nature had less liberally accom- 
 plished, and whom nobody would accept 
 without a reward. After the most beautiful 
 
368 HISTORICAL SKETCHES OP 
 
 were disposed of, these were also put up by 
 the crier, and a certain sum of money offered 
 with each, proportioned to what it was thought 
 she stood in need of to bride a husband to ac- 
 cept her. When a man offered to accept of 
 them, on the terms upon which she was ex- 
 posed to sale, the crier proclaimed, that such 
 a man had proposed to take such a woman, 
 with su oh a Sum of money along with her, 
 provided none could be found that would take 
 her with l<°5s; and in this manner the sale 
 went on, till she was at last allotted to him 
 who offered to take her with the smallest por- 
 tion. — When this public sale was over, the 
 purchasers of those that were beautiful were 
 not allowed to take them away, till they had 
 paid down the price agreed on, and given suf- 
 ficient security that they would marry them ; 
 nor on the other hand, would those who were 
 to have a premium for accepting of such as 
 were less beautiful, take a delivery of them, 
 till their portions were previously paid. It is 
 probable, that this sale brought together too 
 great multitudes of people from inconvenient 
 distances, to the detriment, perhaps of agricul- 
 ture and commerce, and that strangers could 
 not give sufficient security to fulfil the bar- 
 gains they had made ; for a law was after- 
 wards issued prohibiting the inhabitants of 
 different districts from intermarrying with 
 each other, and ordaining, that husbands 
 should not use their wives ill ; a vague kind 
 of ordonnance, which slews how imperfectly 
 legislation was understood among those pec 
 Die. 
 
THE FAIR SEX, $9 
 
 CHAPTER LXXIV. 
 
 Punishment of Adultery — Anecdote of Cesser 
 — Power of Marrying, &fc. — Celibacy of 
 the Clergy. 
 
 AS fidelity to the marriage-bed, especially 
 on the part of the woman, has always been 
 considered as one of the most essential duties 
 of m ttrimony, all wise legislators, in order to 
 secure that fidelity, have annexed some pun- 
 ishment to the breach of it ; these punish- 
 ments, however, have generally some refer- 
 ence to the manner in which wives were ac~ 
 qu red, and to the value stamped upon wo- 
 men by civilization and politeness of man- 
 ners. It is ordained by the Mosaic code, 
 that both the man and the woman taken in 
 adultery shall be stoned to death ; whence it 
 w< uld seem, that no more latitude was given to 
 the male than to the female. But this was not 
 the case ; such an unlimited power of con- 
 cubinage was given to the man that we may 
 suppose him highly licentious indeed, who 
 could not be satisfied therewith, without com- 
 mitting adultery. Tne Egyptians, amoRg 
 whom women were greatly esteemed, had a 
 singular method of punishing alulnrersof 
 both sexes ; they cut off the privy parts of 
 the man tint he might never be able to de- 
 bauch another woman ; and the nose of the 
 woman, thatsiv, might never be the object of 
 temptation .to another man. 
 
Zio HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF 
 
 Punishments nearly of the same nature, 
 and perhaps nearly about the same time, were 
 instituted in the East- Indies against adulter- 
 ers; but while those of the Egyptians origin- . 
 ated from a lave of virtue and of their 
 women, those of the Hindoos probably aiose 
 from jealousy and revenge. It is ordained by 
 the Shaster, that if a man commit adultery with 
 a woman of a superior cast, he shall be put to 
 death ; if by force he commit adultery with a 
 woman of an equal or ii ferior east, the ma- 
 gistrate shall confiscate all his possessions, cut 
 of! his genitals, and cause him to be carried 
 round the city, mounud on an ass. If by 
 fraud he commit adultery with a woman of an 
 equal or inferior cast, the magistrate shall take 
 his possessions, brand him in the ion ht ad, 
 and banish him the kingdom. Such are the 
 laws of the Shaster, so far as they regard all the 
 superior casts, except the Bra m ins ; but if any 
 of the most inferior casts commit adultery 
 with a woman of the casts greatly superior, 
 he is not only to be dismembered, but tied to 
 a hot iron piate, and burnt to death ; where- 
 as the highest casts may commit adultery with 
 the lowest, for the mc^t trilling fine; and a 
 Bramin, or priest, can only suffer by having the 
 hair of his head cut off; and like the clergy 
 of Europe, while under the dominion of the 
 Pope, he cannot be put to death for any crime 
 whatever. But the laws, of which he is always 
 the interpreter, are not so favourable to his 
 wife; they inflict a severe disgrace upon her, 
 if she commit adultery with any oi the high- 
 er cast; but if with the lowest, the magistrate 
 
TH8 FAIR SEX, 371 
 
 shall cut off her hair, anoint her bo^y with 
 Ghee, and cause her to be carried through 
 the whole city, naked, and riding upon an ass/ 
 and sh ill cast her out on the north side of 
 the citv, or cause her to be eaten, by dogs. If 
 a woman of any of the other casts goes to a 
 man, and entices him to have a criminal cor- 
 respondence with her, the magistrate shall 
 cut off her ears, lips and nose, mount her upon 
 "an ass, and drown \vjv, or throw her to the 
 dogs. To the commission of adultery with 
 a d inciog-girl, or prostitute, no punishment 
 nor fine is annexed. 
 
 WHEN Caesar had subdued all his com- 
 petitors, and most of the foreign nations 
 which made war against him, he found that 
 so many Romans had been destroyed in the 
 quarrels in which he had often engaged them. 
 that, to repair the loss, promised rewards to 
 fathers of families, and forbade all Romans 
 who were above twenty, and under forty 
 3 r ears of age, to go out of their native coun- 
 try. Augustus, his successor, to check the 
 debauchery of the Roman youth, laid heavy 
 taxes upon such as continued unmarried af- 
 ter a certain age, and encouraged with great 
 rewards, the procreation of lawful children. 
 Sonic years afterwards, the Roman knights 
 having pressingly petitioned him that he 
 would relax the severity of that law, he or- 
 dered their whole body to assemble before 
 him, and the married and unmarried to ar- 
 range themselves m two separate parlies, 
 
rii HISTORICAL SKETCHES OP 
 
 when, observing the unmarried to be the 
 much gr ater company, he first addresad 
 those who had compli< d with his law, telling 
 them, that ;h< -y alone had served the purposes 
 of natttre and sc :iety; that the human race 
 Was created male and female to prevent the 
 extinction of the species; and that marriage 
 was contrived as the most proper method of 
 renewing the children of that species. He 
 added, that they alone deserved ihe name of 
 men and f .thers, and that he would prefer 
 them to such offices as they might transmit 
 to their posterity. Then turning to the bat- 
 chelors, he told them, that he knew not by 
 what name to call them ; not by that of men, 
 for they had done nothing that was manly ; 
 nor by that of citizens, since the city might 
 might perish for them ; nor by that of Ro- 
 mans, for they seemed determined to let the 
 race and name become extinct; but by what- 
 ever name he called them, their crime, he 
 said, equalled all other crimes put together, 
 for they were guilty of murder, in not suffer- 
 ing those to be born who should proceed 
 from them; of impiety, in abolishing the 
 names and honors of their fathers and ances- 
 tors ; of sacrilege-, in destroying their species, 
 and human nature, which ow«.d its original 
 to the gods, and was consecrated to them ; 
 that by leading a single life they overturned, 
 as far* as in them lay, the templesjand altars 
 of the gods; dissolved the government* by 
 disobeying its laws; betrayed their country, 
 by making it barren. Having ended ins 
 speech, he doubled the .rewards and priyi* 
 
THE FAIR SEX. $73 
 
 leges of such as had children, and laid a hea- 
 vy fine on all unmarried persons, by reviving 
 the Popse-m law. 
 
 Though by this law all the males above a 
 certain age were obliged to marry under a 
 severe penalty, Augustus allowed them the 
 space of a full year to comply with his de- 
 mands ; but such was the backwardness to 
 matrimony, -and perversity of the Roman 
 knights, and others, that every possible me- 
 thod was taken to evade the penalty inflicted 
 upon them, and some of them even married 
 children in the cradle for that purpose; thus 
 fulfilling the letter, they avoided the spirit of 
 the law, and though actually married, had no 
 restraint upon their licentiousness, nor any 
 incumbrance by the expense of a family. 
 
 Among nations which had shaken off the 
 authority of the church of Rome, the priests 
 still retained almost an exclusive power of 
 joining men and women together in marriage, 
 Tins appears rather, however, to have been 
 by the tacit consent of the civil power, than 
 from any delect in its right and authority; 
 for in the, time of Oliver Cromwell, marria- 
 ges were solemnized frequently by the justi- 
 ces of the peace ; and the clergy neither at- 
 tempted to invalidate them, nor to make the 
 children proceeding from them illegitimate ; 
 and uh^n the province of New England was 
 first settled, one of the earliest laws of the 
 colony was, that the power of marrying 
 siioujd belong to the magistrates, How dlfc 
 
274 HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF 
 
 ferent was the case cf the French settlers in 
 Canada ! For many years a priest had not 
 been seen in that country, and a magistrate 
 could not marry : the consequence was natu- 
 ral ; men and women joined themselves to- 
 gether as husband and wife, trusting to the 
 •vows and promises of each other. Father 
 Charlevoix, a Jesuit, at last travelling into 
 those wild regions, found many of the simple, 
 innocent inhabitants living in that manner ; 
 with all of whom he found much fault, en- 
 joined them to do penance, and afterwards 
 married them. After the restoration, the 
 power of marrying again reverted to the 
 clergy. The magistrate, however, had not 
 entirely resigned his right to that power; but 
 it was by a late act of parliament entirely sur- 
 rendered to them, and a penalty annexed to 
 the solemnisation cf it by any other person 
 whatever. 
 
 AT a synod held at Winchester under St. 
 Dunstan, the monks farther averred, that so 
 higlriy criminal was it for a priest to marry, 
 that eveii a wooden cross had audibly declar. 
 ed against the horrid practice. Others place 
 the. first attempt of this kind, to the account 
 of Aiefrick, archbishop of Canterbury, »1 
 the beginning of the eleyentb century : how. 
 ever this be, we have among the canons a 
 decree of the archbishops of Canterbury^ 
 and York, ordaining, that all the ministers of 
 God, especially priests, should observe chas- 
 titv, and not take wives: and in the year 
 
THE FAIR SEX. %-}$ 
 
 1076, there was a council assembled at Win- 
 ch sjter, under Lanfranc, which decreed, That 
 no can >n should have a wife; that such 
 priests as lived in castles and villages should 
 not be obliged to put their wives away, but 
 that such as h d none should not be allowed 
 to marry ; and that bishops should not either 
 ordain priests nor deacons, unless they previ- 
 ously declared that they were not married. — 
 In the year 1102, archbishop Anselm held a 
 council at VYestUiinsL r, where it was decreed, 
 That no archdeacon, priest, deacon or canon, 
 should either marry a wife, or retain her if he 
 had one. Ansel m, to give this decree great- 
 er weight, desired of the king, that the prin- 
 cipal men of the kingdom might be present 
 at the council, and that the decree might be 
 enforced by the joint consent both of the 
 clergy and laity ; the king consented, and to 
 these canons the whole realm gave a general 
 sanction. The clergy of the province of 
 York, however, remonstrated against them, 
 and refused to put away their wives ; the un- 
 married refused also to oblige themselves to 
 continue in that state ; nor were the clergy of 
 Canterbury much more tractable. 
 
 In the celibacy of the clergy, we may dis- 
 cover also the origin of nunneries: the in- 
 trigues they could procure, while at confes- 
 sion, were only short, occasional, and with 
 women who they could not entirely appro- 
 priate to themselves ; to remedy which, they 
 probably fabricated the scheme of having re- 
 ligious houses, where young women should 
 be shut up from the world, and where no 
 
376 HISTORICAL SKETCHES, & c . 
 
 man but a priest, on pain of death, should 
 enter. That in these dark retreats, sefcJudefl 
 from censure, and from the knowledge of the 
 world, they might riot in licenticrusness.*;-*' 
 They were sensible, that women, surrounded 
 with the gay and the amiable, plight frequent- 
 ly spurn at the ofilrs of a cloistered priest, 
 but that while confined entirely to their own 
 sex, they would take pleasure in a visit from 
 one of the other, however slovenly and un- 
 polished. In the world at large, should the 
 crimes of the women be detected, the priests 
 have no interests in mitigating their punish- 
 ment ; but here the whole community of 
 them are interested in the secret of every in- 
 trigue, and- should Lucinda unluckily pro- 
 claim it, she can seldom do it without the 
 walls of the convent, and if she does, the 
 priests lay the crime on some luckless laic, 
 that the holy culprit may ccme off with im- 
 punity. 
 
 FIRI 
 
oOo oC>o OOO o^o 0O0 OO^ 
 ooo oOo oOo oOo 
 
 SUBSCRIBERS' NAMES. 
 
 GETTYSBURG. 
 
 Robert Hayes, efq. Alexander Dobbin 
 
 Doft. Elijah Wales Maibew Dobbin 
 
 Wiiiiam Buchanan Alexander Cobean, e/fq. 
 
 William M'Clelian, jun, IVlichael Newman, efq. 
 
 John Greer Walter Smith, efq. 
 
 James Gillfiand, efq. William Ewing. Jan. 
 
 rbomss Dinfman George W. Spencer 
 
 Doct. James H. Miller Jeremiah Chamberlain 
 
 John LuGiells, e(q, John M. Sweney 
 
 Ephraim Martin Samuel E. Kail 
 
 Samuel Pauly James P. Scott 
 
 William W. Bell John Rimmel 
 
 Jcfle M'Hvajn Michael Dovrns 
 
 Thomas P. Smith William M 'Sherry 
 
 Stephen Rhea Henry Wales 
 
 Samuel Degroft John M'Dermot 
 
 Janaes DegrofFc Col. John Weeras 
 
 Mrs. Margaret Drgroft Capt. Francis Leas 
 Mrs. Margaret Creamer Major Samuel Galloway 
 
 Barnbart Gilbert fames Galloway 
 
 George Z'egler William Watkfns 
 
 Charles Wasmus J°' in Watkias 
 
 Nathan Harris Mifs Sarah Fie mm ins 
 
 Andrew Giffin Jofcph Swing 
 
 James Lloyd Robert Campbell 
 
 Philip Slen'z Benjamin Lorgwell 
 
 John Garvin John MifFord 
 
 Henry Sell Kier Grubb 
 
 John Sweney Michael Troxel 
 
 John He;zer John Leas 
 
 Abraham Troxel David Middlektuff 
 
 Jacob Weaver John Hamilton 
 
 Thomas SfcKeUip John fenkir.s 
 
 Kfory Kcons j Q h G V^r 
 
SUH3C RIMERS' NAMS& 
 
 ADAMS COUNTY. 
 
 John Kerr Daniel Watkics 
 
 m'ifi Eleanor P.ols Caleb White 
 
 James Smith John Myers 
 
 tnifj Polly Dunwoody Peter Brough 
 
 Jocob Work Jofeph Irwia 
 
 David Newman Richard Williams 
 
 miff Pegf/y Black, Jan. Frederick Shuil 
 
 B.obert Hunter Col. John Kin^ 
 
 James Brinkerhoof John Livingfion 
 
 mifs Margaret Meredith John Irwin 
 
 George Brinkerucol J on " M'Grew 
 
 John Myers J olin M'Wiliiancs 
 
 William' §Uft William MPherfon, e!$. 
 
 Robert Alexander Robert A/Pherfoo 
 
 David Stewart J°' ia ^ ea £T 
 
 David Csffat Hezekiah Vannorfdcllaa 
 
 D. C. Caflat John Bain 
 
 fnif3 Jani Murphy James Guinn 
 
 mils Mary Scott J onn Slentz 
 
 mifs Sally Mark Samuel M Reed 
 
 toifs Polly Mark Francis Allifon 
 
 mifs M. F. M'ilhetmy Jacob Butnrtardner 
 
 mis. Juliana Middlekauft George Leas 
 
 Jetfe 'M'Allifter /Michael Crowl 
 
 Gto. A. Rogers Patrick Caffidy 
 
 •Capt. Alex M'ilhenny Samuel Ke^hcrin^ofi 
 
 U. States Army T a mes Bleckly, efq. 
 
 Barnabas M S urry William Wright 
 
 Samuel M'CuUough George Kelly 
 
 William Scott John Denwicdie 
 
 Michael Row Robert M Curdy 
 
 John Troxtl, jan. David Shriver 
 
 I timb D. Thomas George Will 
 
 Thomas Herman Samuel Eyfter 
 
 Tames M'ANUfcf Samuel Sinclair 
 
 Abraham Fletcher Jonathan Swope 
 
 Peter Dsardorff if.iac Paxion, jun. 
 
 Tatob Sanders Robert M. Paxtcn 
 
 Archibald M'KMip Thomas H. Black 
 
 Henry Myers George Tawney 
 
 Fsier Ferr«* ./Wary M Cleat 
 
SUBSCRIBERS' NAMES. 
 
 Hoberr 5lemm.int, jm, 
 Alexander Brice 
 Abraham Wilfon 
 Jofeoh Shepherd 
 Will Jaw Waugh 
 James Burd 
 Mr 8. Ann D nvglafs 
 
 ohn Ma: (hall 
 
 ohn A. 5cort 
 
 ohn Murphy, jud» 
 
 ( .hn Hall 
 
 ames Black 
 William Prober 
 James Rowaa 
 John Aj»new 
 Margaret Maginlv, 
 
 Car roll' j Delight 
 Robert Fletcher 
 John A. M'Ksffm 
 
 M ' Kejfonjlown 
 Jsmes Ewing 
 William Diu^lafs 
 Jofias Ferree 
 Thomas Bailey 
 William M'Cleary 
 William Moorhead, jua. 
 David Fletcher 
 James M'Williams 
 ,Gtorge Thornton 
 Samuel Dou^lafs- 
 John Cunningham, jun. 
 Mifs Mary Murphy 
 Jacob Cohlftock 
 George Walter 
 Francis Walter 
 Adam Walter, jun. 
 Jamcj) Cunningham 
 lienry Fergufcn 
 John W. Black 
 John Cobean 
 Thomas Orr 
 Alexander Stammers 
 •Sianicl Thompfon 
 
 John Hun? 
 James Sample 
 Mifs }tne Stammtrs 
 M-i. Sally Walters 
 William Caldwell 
 Mifs Mary Ewing 
 William M 'Millsn, jua. 
 Jam?s Neely 
 Jame^ Fletcher 
 Alexander Ellis 
 James M'Curdy 
 Capr. Adam LivingHon 
 John Edie, jun. 
 George P. Bercaw 
 George Lafliells, efq. 
 fleory Zander* 
 James H. Bailey 
 John Felty 
 John F. Lsfever 
 Thomas Armor 
 James 3e!l 
 Col. R. M'llvain 
 Major Wm. Galbreath 
 William Vanduya 
 Robert King 
 Peter Bercaw 
 Abraham Linah 
 J hn Adair 
 My les Sweney 
 
 Peter Jburg, 
 Andrew Will, efq. 
 Mr?. Margaret Wioratl 
 Peter Crabs 
 Jacob Hoftetter, jun. 
 Joieph Stealy, jun. 
 
 Millerflcvn. 
 Amos Magir.iy 
 David M'Cleilai 
 Jacob Hcagy 
 Alexander Mack 
 George Pvl'Cullough 
 
 Abbetifiomm. 
 .Mifs Hcbecca Abbe&t 
 
SUBSCRIBERS' N AMKS. 
 
 FRANKLIN COUNTY. 
 
 Capr. Jofiah Adair Samuel Houfcr 
 
 James B-igger William Schlatter 
 
 George Brown Jactb Srttyely 
 
 William Da v, fan John Snively 
 
 Jofeph P*r*s, Efq. Charles J. Wifta* 
 
 Jofiah M*Cullct>gh Pbclcmcn.CromwcIi 
 
 Mrs. Sarah WiT'iams George Nigh 
 
 William Dennifoa Evan Evar.s 
 
 Eli A. Bauman Robert B. .Dencifoa 
 
 Jo: n Snivel? Robert JourHsn 
 
 Hugh Gr-eenfield Eieazer Lindfley 
 
 William-M'&ean Michael Ktfiinger 
 
 Jofeph Dunn, juo. Alexander Gordon 
 
 Nancy Sharp David Fiifan 
 Capt. Robert Crifwell Wayne/burg 
 
 James Dickey, New Mills James Coffey 
 
 William M 4 fctelUtod D-niel Roycr, Efq. 
 
 Robert Robifon, elq. William Grove 
 
 William Barber H^nry Keagy 
 
 ElieaRoiipe George Mayers 
 
 Mary Cnbertfon Abraham S'.oner, Judy 
 
 Ckan-bcrfiurg. C b r : ft ia o Good 
 •G. K. Harper— % copies Samuel Fifcer 
 
 Thomas G;iffitU ^ iVid R*y« 
 
 Daniel Flood Hcory Funk 
 
 Ccl. John Fistcber Samuel Ni^h 
 
 Andrew Lindfay Samuel Gxccr 
 John Green William H. BrotliertOD-' 
 
 William Dougherty Hans Gordon 
 
 Tames Knox J oha Wallace, 
 
 jofeph Barnilt Michael Reed 
 
 Green -Cejile. Solomon Elliot 
 
 Andrew B Rankin James Bourns 
 
 John ptandaT] Thomas Pa-.terfon 
 
 rev- Snutly, jun, George Cougbran 
 J. M. Pawlicg RofcertWCIellaa 
 
 Mathew Lbd Michael Miller 
 
 Jajcoi) K-tcpi Jacob Royer 
 
SUBSCRIBERS* NAMES, 
 
 Cumberland county. Turk county, 
 
 Jobti M'llhenny Stephen Harry 
 
 Mrs.Eflher Williams William Slyde 
 
 Mifs Rofanna Q^iig,ley Nicholas Pyle 
 
 William Clark Solomon Stoddard 
 
 John Smith George Bayler 
 
 Patrick Laverty Daniel Stump 
 
 William Shcppard "*John Dinner 
 
 James M'Crofkey David Dungan 
 
 Michael Frlez ' Jacob Keller, jun. 
 
 Samuel Coover William Reiehenbach 
 
 H. C. Manhews F. & J- frchelberget 
 
 Samuel Knifley, jurt. James Graham 
 Mil's Margaret Crocket Mathew Dill, jun. 
 
 Mifs Margaret Scott I^pmiel Leas 
 
 David Smiley James Shee 
 
 Frederick Rinehart George Bradley 
 
 Jofepb Morris $ Nathaniel Graham 
 
 Mifs .Hannah Negley Jacob Coughnower 
 
 John Tannyhill A. Ritchey 
 
 "ohnMonka Thomas Campbell, efq, 
 
 i 
 
 j-ohn Cannon George Bayler— Hanover 
 Jofeph Mille Northumberland county , 
 
 James Martin Abraham Hows 
 
 Carlisle. Jofaph Power 
 
 Edward Bar ton John Walker, jun. 
 
 John Leas John J. M'CohL 
 
 Mifs Eliza Craver Thomas Ott 
 Nicholas Ulerich V Conrad Shofers ' 
 
 David Mil liken J°^ n Walker, jun. 
 
 Samuel Lyon William M'Elevey 
 
 JLloyd Noland Daniel Blochsr 
 William M. LUtlejohn Robert Clark 
 
 M. Kaucher J°l 10 KMtmaker 
 
 James Crever I James Ramfey 
 
 John Hoven, jun. George Mitchell 
 John Stephens Sun bury. 
 
 Shippsnjburg George Young 
 
 Hugh Allifon William Hazlct, jun. 
 
 James Hill William Armor 
 
 Robert M< Bride Jared Irwin 
 
SUBSCRIBERS* NAMES. 
 
 Jsfeph Alter Huntingdon county, 
 
 Peter Grab! Samuel Royer 
 
 • r >' Ru -^ Armstrong county. 
 
 William Haha David Keid 
 
 b Singer WUliawsport t Pa. 
 
 John Co'.fh.r James Gordon 
 
 James Farrow Mercer, Pa. 
 
 Rees HaAris Thomas Bingham, Efq. 
 
 Theodora P. Matter— 10 copies 
 
 Adam Kline Berlin, Somerset county 
 
 Jac^b Forma n Jacob G. Miller 
 
 Benjamin Waters Indiana countv. 
 
 Jofeph T. Wallace Mifs Elizabeth Aoey 
 
 Millerflown. Philadelphia. 
 
 K?nry Leyman Caleb CrefTon, jun. 
 
 Thomas Cochran Baltimore. 
 
 DaviJ Rumbaugh Samuel M<ClrIlan'' 
 
 William Waugn William D.Conway 
 
 William Cox Alexandria,' Fa, 
 
 Anthony Brandt Daniel Dalany 
 
 William Powers Louisville, Kent. 
 William Wallace, E. I. William W. Lawes 
 
 Augujla. . State of Ohio. 
 
 Henry Yo\himer David Denwiddic, jsn. 
 
 John Auchqnaty m.i, . yaaa 
 .Henry Brown 
 
 Eli (hi Kline Frederick county, Md. . 
 
 Jonathan Cornel James Shriver— -JA'ic« 
 
 6 a mud Awl . M'tllt 
 
 ielins Grove. John Enters 
 
 B-. Wiflett John iV. 3 thews 
 
 Jofeph Feehfcer Everard Hfcrr 
 
 Jacob Pvhcad James Cochran 
 
 Jacob Leechncr Jofeph Green 
 
 Robert Smith J°' ln StemsWel 
 
 Beav;r: Jofeph Delaplain— Cafec m 
 
 Simon Snyder, jun. tin Furnace. 
 
 John Cumroinga J° n P W^cyMrow— Liberty 
 
 hVtgiintfQiin. W. B. Cumming— do. 
 
 Tames Km>x Anthony Livers 
 
 Bedjord count?. Join r of Lawrence 
 
 Andrew Irwiu —Gractbam 
 
SUBSCRIBERS' NAMES. 
 
 Solomon Davis 
 Benjamin Biggs 
 William Wuherow 
 James Welfh 
 2cbulon Kuhn 
 John "M l Slierry 
 John MifFord 
 Edward Nuzum' 
 John L. Head 
 D. L. M k Shcrry 
 Edward M'Bride 
 Jacob Beckenbaugh 
 Creigcrstozon, 
 Samuel Johntton 
 Frederick C. Hofe 
 Cbrillian Kuho,jua. 
 Jacob Englcr, jun. 
 John Stewarc 
 Benjamin Ogle, jun. 
 
 — 2 copies 
 Daniel Hoover 
 Francis Bcever 
 Henry Loy 
 Jacob Plaine 
 Jofeph Walter 
 Baker john(ton 
 Anthony Livers 
 Hcfiry Picczcl 
 
 Emmhtshurg* 
 Jacob Troxel 
 George Troxel 
 Elias Troxel 
 John Troxel, jun. 
 James Geitys 
 John Irvine 
 Henry Loy # 
 Joel Ward 
 Robert Brothertoa 
 Andrew Smith 
 John Bones 
 Henry Elder 
 
 Frederick .. Town, 
 Mrs. Margaret Schnensci 
 Jofeph L, Smith, jon, 
 John Baec of Henry 
 William Htiberc 
 .George Miller 
 William Ritchie 
 'John Gcpharr, jun. 
 John Jamcfon 
 W. C Hubbi 
 
 ffagerstozvn* 
 Otbo Rtnch 
 John Ktnnedy 
 D. Sprigg 
 Jobo Robert fab 
 
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