The indolent parent of high rank may, it is true, extort a shew of
respect from his child, and females on the continent are
particularly subject to the views of their families, who never think
of consulting their inclination, or providing for the comfort of the
poor victims of their pride. The consequence is notorious; these
dutiful daughters become adulteresses, and neglect the education of
their children, from whom they, in their turn, exact the same kind
of obedience.
Females, it is true, in all countries, are too much under the
dominion of their parents; and few parents think of addressing their
children in the following manner, though it is in this reasonable
way that Heaven seems to command the whole human race. It is your
interest to obey me till you can judge for yourself; and the
Almighty Father of all has implanted an affection in me to serve as
a guard to you whilst your reason is unfolding; but when your mind
arrives at maturity, you must only obey me, or rather respect my
opinions, so far as they coincide with the light that is breaking in
on your own mind.
A slavish bondage to parents cramps every faculty of the mind; and
Mr. Locke very judiciously observes, that 'if the mind be curbed and
humbled too much in children; if their spirits be abased and broken
much by too strict an hand over them; they lose all their vigour and
industry.' This strict hand may in some degree account for the
weakness of women; for girls, from various causes, are more kept
down by their parents, in every sense of the word, than boys.
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