of every man's life which is most susceptible of the strongeft impreffions, is neceffarily under female direction; as there are few instances, perhaps, in which that sex is not one of the fecret fprings which regulates the most important movements of private or public tranfactions. What Cato obferved of his countrymen, is in one refpect true of every nation under the fun : "The Romans, faid he, govern the "world, but it is the women that govern

the Romans." Let not, however, a certain pretended Cato of your acquaintance take occafion from this maxim to infult a fecond time that innocence he has fo often injured: for I will tell him another maxim as true as the former, that " there are circumftances wherein no woman has power "enough to controle a man of fpirit."

IF it be true then (as true beyond all peradventure it is) that female influence is thus extenfive; nothing, certainly, can be of more importance, than to give it a proper tendency, by the affiftance of a welldirected education. Far am I from recommending any attempts to render women learned; yet furely it is neceffary they fhould

03

fhould be raised above ignorance. Such a general tincture of the most useful sciences as may serve to free the mind from vulgar prejudices, and give it a relish for the rational exercife of its powers, might very justly enter into the plan of female erudition. That fex might be taught to turn the course of their reflections into a proper and advantageous chanel, without any danger of rendering them too elevated for the feminine duties of life. In a word, I would have them confidered as defigned by Providence for ufe as well as fhew, and trained up, not only as women, but as rational creatures. I am, &c.

LETTER XLII.

To PALEMON.

HILST you are engaged in turn

Wing over the records of paft ages,

and tracing our conftitution from its rife, thro all its feveral periods; I fometimes amufe myself with reviewing certain annals of an humbler kind, and confidering the various

various turns and revolutions that have happened in the fentiments and affections of those with whom I have been moft connected. A history of this fort is not, indeed, fo ftriking as that which exhibits kings and heroes to our view; but may it not be contemplated, Palemon, with more private advantage?

METHINKS we should fcarce be so imbittered against those who differ from us in principle or practice, were we oftener to reflect how frequently we have varied from ourselves in both thofe articles. It was but yesterday that Lucius, whom I once knew a very zealous advocate for the most controverted points of faith, was arguing with equal warmth and vehemence on the principles of Deifm; as Bathillus, who fet out in the world a cool infidel, has lately drawn up one of the most plaufible defences of the mystic devotees, that, perhaps, was ever written. The truth is, a man must either have paffed his whole life without reflecting, or his thoughts must have run in a very limited chanel, who has not often experienced many remarkable revo, lutions of mind.

THE fame kind of inconftancy is observable in our purfuits of happiness as well as truth. Thus our friend Curio, whom we both remember in the former part of his life, enamored of every fair face he met, and enjoying every woman he could purchafe; has at laft collected this diffufive flame into a fingle point, and could not be tempted to commit an infidelity to his marriage vow, tho a form as beautiful as the Venus of Apelles were to court his embrace; whilst Apemanthes, on the other hand, who was the moft fober and domeftic man I ever knew till he loft his wife, 'commenced a rake at five and forty, and is now for ever in a tavern or a stew,

WHO knows, Palemon, whether even this humor of moralizing, which, as you often tell me, fo ftrongly marks my character, may not wear out in time, and be fucceeded by a brighter and more lively vein? who knows but I may court again the mistress I have forfaken, and die at laft in the arms of ambition? Cleora, at least, who frequently rallies me upon that fever of my youth, affures me I am only in the intermiffion of a fit, which will certainly

return.

return. But tho there may be fome excuse, perhaps, in exchanging our follies or our errors, there can be none in refuming those we have once happily quitted: for furely he must be a very injudicious fportsman, who can be tempted to beat over those fields again which have ever disappointed him of his game. Farewel.

IT

LETTER XLIII..

To EUPHRONIUS.

Tis a pretty observation, which I have fomewhere met, that " "the moft pleafing of all harmony arises from the " cenfure of a fingle perfon, when mix"ed with the general applaufes of the "world." I almost fufpect, therefore, that you are confidering the intereft of your admired author, when you call upon me for my farther objections to his performance: and are for joining me perhaps, to the number of those who advance his reputation, by oppofing it. The truth, however, is, you could not have chofen a critic (if a critic I might