others, and that indeed, not only in regard to the choice of their religion, and the motives of their virtue, but in regard alfo to the practice of both.

But furely this can never be esteemed the conduct of intelligent creatures; fuch I mean, as is always fuggefted by the true fpirit of wisdom and virtue; very far from it; it must rather be a conduct fuggefted wholly by the dictates of vice and folly; for it is defeating obftinately the kindeft intentions of nature, it is perverting fome of the choiceft bleffings of heaven by acts of the bafeft ingratitude; 'tis in fhort wantonly bartering true happinefs for falfe, and unpardonably degrading at the fame time all the native lovelinefs of beauty to the vile level of the moft hideous deformity: I will allow indeed, if the flattering power of charming at any rate, be their fupreme delight, their fole point of view, that a knave may be very deeply fiitten, and doubtlefs often is with the charms of a fair idiot's fortune; but it is contrary to the natural order of things, that any man but a fool, should ever be charmed with her beauty; I muft fuppofe therefore, that the happiness refulting from alliances of this fpecies, if it deferves the name of happinefs, can never be an object either of envy or defire, to I 4

any

any woman who has not abfolutly difclaimed all pretenfions to the merit of true beauty, religion, delicacy, and even common fenfe.

Thus then have I endeavoured, though I confefs in a very crude and unconnected manner, to give my fair readers a tranfient view at leaft of the irreparable injuries which their charms fuftain, particularly from the exclufion of religion out of their plan of operations: and here I would be understood to mean, not barely the name of religion, fince experience, upon many other occafions, as well as the prefent, convinces us that the names of things may be inviolably preferved, while the reality of the things themselves is intirely loft; and therefore I beg leave to affirm, that I explicitly mean here the effence of religion; fuch a fettled conviction of its principles and precepts, as is capable of producing a Tuitable and uniform influence on the whole life and converfation of each of my fair country women, by the regular practice of every focial, and every chriftian virtue: they would in truth become infinitely more amiable, nay quite angelic, by fuch a conduct as this; nor would they then find the men, in general, wanting either in point of love, honour, or good

good fenfe, to acknowlege the force and reasonableness of this affertion; however they may have been hitherto unaccountably biaffed to fall in with the foibles of the fex, and to footh their follies, as if it was the only effectual method to fecure their esteem.

But it is high time to acknowledge that this chapter has already very much exceeded its intended limits, for which, if it should be thought a fault, I humbly entreat my readers pardon: the fubject indeed was interefting and important, being nothing lefs than the true happinefs of my whole fex; if my apprehenfions on that account fhould be merely imaginary, the anxiety, which muft neceffarily have attended them, while they were fuppofed real, can then be only mine; and muft at leaft evince the fincerity of my good wishes for the true intereft of my fair country women; while I should hope, it would likewife plead my apology for avowing that, if fuch fhould be thought neceffary: but if those apprehenfions fhould be founded in reality, the exquifite mifery arifing from thence muft then be wholly their's; mine being in that case at worft but the crime of impertinence in alarming them with

15

with the dangers of a precipice before they had tumbled quite down.

I fhall fufpend the conclufion of this chapter no longer than while I fubjoin a quotation, not alto gether foreign tothe main purport of it, taken from Doctor Young's inimitable poem, I mean his night thoughts.

Yet would thou laugh, but at thine own expence, This counfel ftrange fhould I prefume to give,"Retire, and read thy Bible to be gay,'

There truths abound of fovereign aid to peace;
Ah! do not prize them lefs, because infpir'd,
As thou and thine, are apt and proud to do.
If not infpir'd, that pregnant page had ftood,
Time's treafure! and the wonder of the wife!
Thou think'ft, perhaps, thy foul alone at stake;
Alas! fhould men mistake thee for a fool; ---
What man of tafte for genius, wifdom, truth,
Though tender of thy fame, could interpofe?
Believe me, fense, here, acts a double part,
And the true critic is a Chriftian too.

CHAP.

CHAP. XIV.

Farther continuation of the authorefs's story in relation to herself; in which, as interwoven in fome measure with her affairs, She gives her readers fome account of Fabius, the uncle of Afpatia, and likewife the character of that lady, and her happy union with Hortenfius.

T

HE favorite fubject, upon which I dwelt fo long in my laft chapter, has occafioned fuch an interruption in the course of my narrative, as demands from me an apology, particularly to all thofe of my fair readers, who think that chapter wholly without its ufe; and yet for their fake, as well as my own, I am almoft willing to flatter myself, that either their number must be very fmall, or that not one of them requires the officious, though falutary inftruction contained therein; however, the goodness of my intention at least, being, I hope, in both cafes implicitly admitted, I fhall proceed to inform them, that by the death of Sipiana I was now left more abfolute