MONTAIGNE's reflection upon this circumstance was, that too fcrupulous caution often raises a curiofity in young girls minds, that would otherwife have been dormant, and was frequently fatal to them. They may learn from fuch a plan, if not enforced by good fense and good principles, to mask and conceal their paffions, but not to conquer or fubdue them; and they may lie fmothered, only as fire pent up for want of air, which, if ever they give vent to, fpreads to their complete ruin and deftruction. I therefore am very careful, my Lord, how I talk mysteriously before this girl; and whenever I mention any thing to her that concerns her behaviour towards your fex, I never talk of them as fcarecrows; but endeavour to inculcate how far they may, conducted by her own delicacy and prudence, be inftrumental to her happiness, and, without that fpecial care of herself, to her utter and certain mifery.

SHE is a beautiful girl; yet in my life I never told her that beauty had, or ought to have, one fingle grain of merit effential to her well-being: On the contrary, that there is no other way to make herself happy, but by endeavouring to cultivate those lafting accomplishments of which men never tireA well-taught honest mind.

SHE has great sharpness of wit and vivacity.This, my Lord, I keep under the severest constraint, by perpetually expofing to her view pictures of ridi

cule, in the characters of witty wives, which, begging their pardons, I must confess I think one of the greatest curses an honest man can be tormented with. In fhort, I have an utter abhorrence for wit at any rate, unless it is in a sensible good-natured man's keeping; but in a wife it is productive of many ills. The first thing one of these conceited witty ones generally finds out is, that her husband is a fool; and can there be a more dangerous fituation in nature for a woman? They may flatter themselves with an opinion of the figure they make in that light; but, my Lord, I do infift upon it, the only one they ever can fhine in is that which borrows its luftre from their husbands.-But to return to my niece.

To prevent it ever creeping into her thoughts that any woman can be a goddess, I take great care that her reading fhall be fuited to the lectures I give. I am not, nor in my life ever was, poffeffed of a novel or a romance. She has Telemaque to read for the improvement of her French; the Bible and Dr Tillotson for her English, and both, I hope, for her moral instruction; Hiftory I read with her, and La Bruyere I lay near her by way of looking glass; and now and then, inftead of telling her what I mean, I fet her to translate fome of the useful places. How my endeavours may fucceed, Heaven only knows; but these are the best methods I can fuggeft to train up a girl, by which fhe can ever learn what is truly the duty of a woman; and if the lives to that estate,

this ground-work, I hope, will produce condefcenfion, affability, temperance, prudence, charity, chastity, wisdom, and religious conduct; out of which materials, if she does not make the man happy who falls to her lot, I am afraid it will be his own fault.

E. C.

May 31. 1784.

THE letters to Lord Chefterfield contained a great deal of good fenfe, and well deserve the perufal of female readers. As fupplementary to one part of these letters, allow me to fend you the following paffage, from Swift's account of Mrs Johnston (his celebrated Stella), written after her death. It may teach fome of our fex how to check the offenfive prefumption of a puppy, or the vulgar impudence of a blockhead, which it is too often our misfortune now-a-days to meet with. The diffolutenefs of mens education allows many of them to make use of a low unbecoming fpecies of wit, which yet they have delicacy enough to be shocked at when uttered before a fifter, and would be disgusted at the woman who should seem to understand them. It would be well for modern manners that many of our fex could exert the fpirit of Stella.-Your's, &c.

LOUISA.

"SHE never (fays Dr Swift) interrupted any body who spoke; she laughed at no mistakes they made, but helped them out with modefty; and, if a good thing was spoken, but neglected, she would not let it fall, but set it in the best light to those who were prefent. She liftened to all that was faid, and had never the least distraction, or absence of thought.

IT was not fafe nor prudent, in her prefence, to offend in the leaft word against modefty; for fhe then gave full employment to her wit, her contempt, and refentment, under which even ftupidity and brutality were forced to fink into confufion; and the guilty perfon, by her future avoiding him like a bear or a fatyr, was never in a way to tranfgrefs a fecond time.

IT happened, one fingle coxcomb, of the pert kind, was in her company, among feveral other ladies; and, in his flippant way, began to deliver fome double meanings; the rest flapped their fans, and used the other common expedients practised in such cafes, of appearing not to mind or comprehend what was faid. Her behaviour was very different, and perhaps may be cenfured.-She faid thus to the man: "Sir, All these ladies and I understand your "meaning very well, having, in spite of our care, "too often met with those of your sex who wanted "manners and good fenfe. But, believe me, nei"ther virtuous nor even vicious women love fuch

"kind of converfation. However, I will leave you, ❝and report your behaviour; and, whatever visit "I make, I fhall firft enquire at the door whether

you are in the house, that I may be sure to avoid "you."-I know not whether a majority of ladies. would approve of fuch a proceeding; but I believe the practice of it would foon put an end to that corrupt conversation, the worst effect of dullness, ignorance, impudence, and vulgarity, and the highest affront to the modesty and understanding of the female fex."

E. C.

SIR,

August 28. 1784.

THE following paper I lately met with by

accident, and I send it you as a valuable communication. It contains the genuine sentiments (for it is in his own hand-writing) of one who lately lived an honour to this country as a man of learning, a philofopher, a critic, and a friend to fociety. The reflections of fuch men in the calm hours of retire-. ment are always to be regarded as precious. It is from them that we may look for useful observations, truth, and good sense; for the hurry, bustle, diffipation, and luxury of the world, leave little room for reflection to the generality of mankind. Most

men