qualities which made him the delight of the age in which he lived, from his mother, lady Jane Seymour. Many other inftances might be mentioned, if neceffary, from ancient and modern history, to establish the truth of this propofition.

I am not enthusiastical upon the subject of education. In the ordinary course of human affairs, we shall probably too soon follow the footsteps of the nations of Europe in manners and vices. The first marks we fhall perceive of our declenfion, will appear among our women. Their idleness, ignorance, and profligacy will be the harbingers of our ruin. Then will the character and performance of a buffoon on the theatre, be the subject of more converfation and praise, than the patriot or the minifter of the gofpel ;-t -then will our language and pronunciation be enfeebled and corrupted by a flood of French and Italian words;-then will the hiftory of romantic amours, be preferred to the pure and immortal writings of Addifon, Hawkefworth and Johnfon;-then will our churches be neglected, and the name of the fupreme being never be called upon, but in profane exclamations ;-then will our Sundays be appropriated, only to feafts and concerts?—and then will begin all that train of domestic and political calamities-But, I forbear. The profpect is fo painful, that I cannot help, filently, imploring the great arbiter of human, affairs, to interpose his almighty goodness, and to de

N

fiver us from these evils, that, at least one spor of the earth may be referved as a monument of the effects of good education, in order to fhew in fome degree, what our species was, before the fall, and what it fhall be, after its restoration.

Thus, gentlemen, have I briefly finished what I proposed. If I am wrong in those opinions in which I have taken the liberty of departing from general and fafhonable habits of thinking, I am fure you will difcover, and pardon my mistakes. But if I am right, I am equally fure you will adopt my opinions; for to enlightened minds truth is alike acceptable, whether it comes from the lips of age, or the hand of antiquity, or whether it be obtruded by a perfon, who has no other claim to attention, than a defire of adding to the ftock of human happiness

I cannot difmifs the fubject of female education without remarking, that the city of Philadelphia first faw a number of gentlemen affociated for the purpose of directing the education of young ladies. By means of this plan, the power of teachers is regulated and reftrained, and the objects of education are extended. By the feparation of the fexes in the unformed state of their manners, female delicacy is cherished and preferved. Here the young ladies may enjoy all the literary advantages of a boarding-fchool, and at the fame time live under the protection of their pa

Tents*.

Here emulation may be excited without

without ftrife.

jealousy,-ambition without envy,-and competition The attempt to establish this new mode of education for young ladies, was an experiment, and the fuccefs of it hath answered our exToo much praife cannot be given to

pectations. our principal

and his affistants, for the abilities and fidelity with which they have carried the plan into execution. The proficiency which the young ladies have discovered in reading-writing-spelling-arithmetic-grammar-geography-mufic-and their different catechifms, fince the laft examination, is a lefs equivocal mark of the merit of our teachers, than any thing I am able to exprefs in their favour.

But the reputation of the academy must be fufpended, till the public are convinced, by the future conduct and character of our pupils, of the advantages of the inftitution. To you, therefore, YOUNG LADIES, an important problem is committed for folution; and that is, whether our present plan of education be a wife one, and whether it be calculated to prepare you for the duties of focial and domestic life. I know that the elevation of the female mind, by means of moral,

*Unnatural confinement makes a young woman embrace with avi"dity every pleasure when she is fet free. To relish domeftic life, one "must be acquainted with it; for it is in the houfe of her parents a young "woman acquires the relish." Lord Kaims's thougnts upon education, and the culture of the heart.

Andrew Brown.

physical and religious truth, is confidered by fome men as unfriendly to the domeftic character of a woman. But this is the prejudice of little minds, and fprings from the fame spirit which opposes the general diffufion of knowledge among the citizens of our republics. If men believe that ignorance is favourable to the government of the female fex, they are certainly deceived; for a weak and ignorant woman will always be governed with the greatest difficulty. I have fometimes been led to afcribe the invention of ridiculous and expenfive fashions in female drefs, entirely to the gentlemen, in order to divert the ladies from improving their minds, and thereby to fecure a more arbitrary and unlimited authority over them. It will be in your power, LADIES, to correct the mistakes and practice of our fex upon these subjects, by demonftrating, that the female temper can only be governed by reason, and that the cultivation of reafon in women, is alike friendly to the order of nature, and to private as well as public happinfs.

*The very expenfive prints of female dreffes which are publi.hed annually in France, are invented and executed wholly by GENTLEMEN.

A DEFENCE OF THE USE OF THE BIBLE AS A SCHOOL

BOOK. ADDRESSED TO THE REV. JEREMY BElknap,

OF BOSTON.

DEAR SIR,

IT

T is now feveral months, fince I promised to give you my reasons for preferring the bible as a school book, to all other compofitions. I fhall not trouble you with an apology for my delaying fo long to comply with my promise, but shall proceed immediately to the fubject of my letter.

Before I ftate my arguments in favour of teaching children to read by means of the bible, I fhall affume the five following propofitions.;

I. That christianity is the only true and perfect religion, and that in proportion as mankind adopt its principles, and obey its precepts, they will be wife, and happy.

II. That a better knowledge of this religion is to be acquired by reading the bible, than in any other

way.

III That the bible contains more knowledge neceffary to man in his prefent ftate, than any other book in the world.