Whilst, on the contrary,
the reward which virtue promises to her votaries is confined, it seems
clear, to their own bosoms; and often must they contend with the
most vexatious worldly cares, and bear with the vices and humours of
relations for whom they can never feel a friendship.
There have been many women in the world who, instead of being
supported by the reason and virtue of their fathers and brothers, have
strengthened their own minds by struggling with their vices and
follies; yet have never met with a hero, in the shape of a husband;
who, paying the debt that mankind owed them, might chance to bring
back their reason to its natural dependent state, and restore the
usurped prerogative, of rising above opinion, to man.
SECT. II.
Dr. Fordyce's sermons have long made a part of a young woman's
library; nay, girls at school are allowed to read them; but I should
instantly dismiss them from my pupil's, if I wished to strengthen
her understanding, by leading her to form sound principles on a
broad basis; or, were I only anxious to cultivate her taste; though
they must be allowed to contain many sensible observations.
Dr. Fordyce may have had a very laudable end in view; but these
discourses are written in such an affected style, that were it only on
that account, and had I nothing to object against his mellifluous
precepts, I should not allow girls to peruse them, unless I designed
to hunt every spark of nature out of their composition, melting
every human quality into female meekness and artificial grace.
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