No. LXII. THURSDAY, APRIL 3. .......Qualem cereris vult esse sacerdos. What female though to papal modes they run, Juv. HAVING lately informed my readers, that the Female Parliament is now sitting, I shall proceed to lay before them the substance of a debate that happened in the committee of Religion, and which was unexpectedly occasioned by a motion that was made by Miss Grave-airs. This committee had long been looked upon as useless, but for form sake conti-nued to meet, though it was adjourned immediately: But one day, there being more members present than usual, the chair-woman was no sooner in the chair, than the lady abovementioned addressed her in the following speech: MADAM, IT is with no less surprise than concern, that I reflect on the danger, to which the greater part of my sex, either through ignorance or choice, are now exposed; and I have the strongest reason to believe, that nothing but the vigorous and timely resolutions of this wise assembly can prevent them from changing their religion, and becoming Roman Catholics. What subject can be more interesting and important to us, whether we consider ourselves as a Committee of Religion, a Parliament of Women, or an Assembly of Protestants? Was such a design to be carried into execution, the free use of our tongues would be taken away; we should never be suffered perhaps to speak to the other sex, but through grates and bars; and this place of our assembly would probably be the a bode of nuns and friars. But lest you should think me thus alarmed without reason, I shall now lay before you the grounds of my complaint; that, if it is not too late, we may prevent the evil, or, if it is, we may remove it. My fears are grounded on those remarks that have long been made on the dress of the sex. Constant as the men have stiled us to the love of change, little have they imagined, that popery was invariably the object, to which every innovation was designed to lead. So long ago as when, to the honour of our sex, a queen was upon the throne, it was the fashion, as we may learn from * Pope, for the ladies to wear upon their breasts a flaming Cross. The same fashion has been transmitted to the present times. What, Madam, is this, but downright popery? In the catholic countries they are contented with erecting crucifixes in their roads and churches; but alas! in this protestant kingdom, crosses are alike to be seen in places sacred and profane, the court, the play-house.....and (pardon me, ladies) this venerable assembly itself is not without them. I am apt to suspect, that this heterodox introduction of the cross into the female dress had an higher original than the days of queen Anne, whose affection for the church was very well known. It seems rather to have been imported among us, together with the Jesuits, by the popish consorts of the first or second Charles: or perhaps the ladies first wore it in complaisance to the English pope Joan, queen Mary. This much is certain, that at the same time our pious reformer queen Elizabeth expelled the cross from our altars, she effectually secured the necks of our ladies from this superstition, by the introduction of the ruff. * Upon her breast a sparkling cross she wore, The next part of our dress that I shall mention, which savours of popery, is the capuchin. This garment in truth has a near resemblance to that of the friar, whose name it bears. Our grandmothers had already adopted the hood, their daughters by gradual advance introduced the rest; but far greater improvements were still in store for us. We all of us remember, for it is not above two years ago, how all colours were neglected for that of purple. In purple we glowed from the hat to the shoe; and in such request were the ribbands and silks of that favorite colour, that neither the milliner, mercer, nor dyer himself could answer the demand. Who but must think, that this arose from popish principles? And though it may be urged, that the admired Fanny, who first introduced it, is no nun, yet, you all may remember, that the church of Rome herself has been styled the Scarlet, or, as some render it, the Purple Whore. But to prove indisputably cur manifest approaches to popery, let me now refer you to that fashionable cloak, which (sorry I am to see it) is wore by the far greater part even of this assembly, and which indeed is with great propriety styled the Cardinal. For were his holiness the pope to be introduced among us, he would almost fancy himself in his own conclave; and were I not too well acquainted with my sisters prin ciples, I myself should be induced to think, that to those in such grave attire nothing but a cloyster and a grate was wanting. As to those of gayer colours, you need not be told, that there are white and grey friars abroad as well as black; and as the English are so remarkable for improving on their originals, we shall not then be surprised at the variety of colours that appear among us. It has been whispered too, that some of my sisters have been so fond of their monkish austerities, as to have their heads shaved. This I do not aver to my own knowledge; but if it is so, they still condescend to wear artificial locks: though it would not be at all strange, if they also should soon be laid aside, as they are already prepared for it by leaving off their caps. I shall only desire you still farther to reflect, how fashionable it is for the ladies to shine with borrowed faces; and then I believe you will readily allow, that their votaries, the men, are in great danger also of being seduced to popery; since do they not already, by the compliments they pay to a painted face, address an image and adore a picture? What has now been said, will induce you, I hope, to pay a proper regard to the following resolutions; which, I humbly move, may be agreed to by this committee, and represented to the house. Resolved, That it is the opinion of this committee, that, in order to prevent the growth of popery, no garments shall for the future be imported, of popish make, or distinguished by popish names. Resoived, That in order to inforce a due obedience, every one shall be obliged to practise the austerities of the sect they imitate; so that, for example, the Cardinals shall be compelled to lead a single life, and the Capuchins to go bare-font. Lastly, It is recommended, that as a farther sanction to the bill proposed, every offender, who shall be deemed incorrigible, shall be banished from all routs and transported to her country seat for seven winters. This motion was strongly seconded by Lady Mend'em; who urged in it's support, that to her certain knowledge, many of the sex very frequently as sembled at one another's houses, and particularly on the Sabbath, where mass books were actually laid before them, and the warmest adoration paid to some small pictures or painted images, which, she was told, resembled some kings and queens that had been long canonized and the offerings that were constantly made at their shrines, would (she said) be found, on a moderate computation, to exceed those that were formerly made at the tomb of Thomas a Becket. She added, that after the catholic custom, they always fasted on those nights, or, if they supped at all, it was only on fish. The chief speaker on the other side of the question, was lady Smart, one of the representatives of Grosvenor-Square; who, by the bye, was strongly suspected of being a prejudiced person; her enemies not deny. ing that she had charms, which could almost sanctify error itself. Nobody, she said, could suspect the sex of inclining to popery, who observed the aversion they all discovered to a single life. The uses of the obnoxious garments were allowed to be many; the names at least were innocent: and the cry against them, she was sure, could only be raised by the old and the ugly; since nothing could be so fantastic, as not to become a pretty woman. Her ladyship was joined by the beauties present; but they being few, their objections were over-ruled, and the motion was carried. The next day the house on receiving the report, after some debate, agreed to the resolutions, and a bill was ordered to be prepared and brought in accordingly. Though at the same time they were of opinion, nem. con. that if the Figleaf bill took place, these restrictions would be quite needless. |