getful of the relationship between them, she was not fatisfied with having her treated with infolence and fcorn during her imprisonment, (for no fault,) but actually wished to find a pretence for taking away her life; and had not her hufband infifted upon her fifter's enlargement, in all probability she would have accomplished her detestable defign. ON THE ADVANTAGES OF A GOOD EDUCATION. SENTIMENTS. If the mind is well cultivated, it produces a ftore of fruit: if neglected, it is over-run with weeds. A wise man carries all his treasure within himself. What Fortune gives, she may take away: but a wife man does not depend upon her mercy, and is therefore beyond her reach. Seneca. THERE HERE are many prejudices entertained against the character of a learned lady; and, perhaps, if all ladies were profoundly learned, many inconveniencies might arise from it. But it it does not appear to me that a woman will be rendered less acceptable in the world, or worfe qualified to perform any part of her duty in it, by having employed her time from fix to fixteen in the cultivation of her understanding. The literary education of women ought indisputably to be varied according to their fortunes and expectations. Much refinement, and too great tafte for reading, will injure her whofe time, from prudential motives, must be engroffed by economy. Few women are indeed entirely exempted from domeftic cares; yet the opulent and unmarried have many intervals which ought to be devoted to improvement; and wherever a young lady of fortune appears to possess a genius and inclination for learned pursuits, she ought to be permitted to indulge it: for the mind of a female is certainly as capable of acquiring knowledge as that of the other fex; and the inftances which I fhall infert will poffibly prove the validity of this opinion, and will be fuffi cient to confute those authors who have taken fo much pains to depreciate the capability of a female understanding. But if an enlightened mind must consequently be a conceited one, I should be a ftrenuous advocate for your remaining in ignorance. Or fhould I, by endeavouring to improve your understandings, attract your inclinations from the performance of those duties which are peculiarly attached to a female ftation, I should then have reason to lament my having bestowed the culture, and prefer a barren rock to a flowing mead. But as I dread no fuch melancholy effect from the improvement of your minds, and flatter myself I am laying a foundation for virtue, I fhall perfevere in the courfe I have began, and prefent to your view fome examples of female characters, where humility is attached to greatnefs, gentleness to refinement, and genuine piety to scientific knowledge. Calphurnia, Calphurnia, the wife of Julius Cæsar, was at once the object of his love and admiration. Her wit amused, her understanding charmed, and her sweetness captivated the conqueror of the world. Her mind had been cultivated with the niceft care, and her manners were formed upon the moft perfect model. Anxious to promote the happiness of her people, fhe in fact became their idol; and it is difficult to fay whether she was moft venerated, loved, or esteemed! Plautina, wife to the emperor Trajan, was as much celebrated for the sweetness of her manners, as fhe was for the folidity of her judgment, and the refinement of her understanding; and fo thoroughly was the emperor acquainted with the capability of her intellectual powers, that he always confulted her upon affairs of importance: yet this flattering compliment to her abilities neither filled her with pride, or puffed her up with presumption; for her |