Neither will the women of this Society be considered as deficient in knowledge, if compared with women of other religious deno minations. It is too much the practice, but particularly in the higher circles, to edueate females for show. We too seldom see a knowledge of the domestic duties. To dance well, to sing well, and to play well,these are the usual accomplishments that are insisted on, and they are and they are insisted upon with an earnestness as if they included all the valuable purposes of life. Thus the best part of youth is spent in the acquirement of trivial things; or rather, the acquirement of such things takes up so much time as to leave but little for the moral and intellectual improvement of the mind. The great object, on the other hand, of the education of the females in question, is utility, and not show. They are taught domestic œconomy, or the cares and employments of a house. They are taught to become good wives and good mothers. Prohibited the attainments of music, and dancing, and many of the corruptive amusements of the world, they have ample time for the improvement of the understanding. Thus they have in general as

good

good an education as other females, as far as literary acquirements are concerned,--so that, whether they are compared with the Quaker-men, or with the other women of the island, they will not incur the imputatation of a deficiency of knowledge.

It must be obvious, too, that the moneygetting spirit, which the world has fixed upon as a blemish in the character of some of the men, can seldom be a trait in that of the women in this Society. For men are the principals in trade.. They lay their plans for the getting of money.

They see the ac

cumulating surplus rise. They handle it. They count it. They remember it. The women, on the other hand, see it only in the disposition of their husbands or parents, who make probably a larger allowance for domestic wants or gratifications than before. Hence a charge cannot so frequently be brought against them of a want of that spiritual-mindedness, which is the great characteristic of Quakerism, as they have but little to do with the Mammon of the world.

To these exceptions in Quaker-women from the reputed imperfections of the Quaker-men, I cannot help adding in this place, that the females of this Society are peculi

arly distinguishable for that, which has been at all times considered as one of the brightest ornaments of their sex. Modesty is particularly conspicuous in their looks, and in their whole outward demeanour. It is conspicuous in their conversation. It is conspicuous also in their dress. And here it may not be improper to observe, that, whatever objections may be made to the Quaker-apparel, it is estimable as far as it gives this appearance of modesty to the females, who wear it; or rather, as far as it hinders them from wearing the loose and indelicate garments, which are frequently worn without any scruple by many of the females of the world.

SECTION II.

Quaker-women, besides their private, have a public character-low light in which women have been held-importance given them by chivalry-and by the revival of learning in Europe-and by the introduction of Christianity-but still held in an inferior light-Quakers have given them their due importance in society influence of their public character on their minds.

• THE Quaker-women, independently of their private, have that, which no other body

of

of women have, a public character. This is a new era in female history. I shall therefore make a few observations on this, before I proceed to another subject.

When we look into the history of women, it is melancholy to see the low estimation, in which they have been held from the earliest times. It is possible, because they have not possessed the strength of constitution, that they may have been thought not to have had the intellect, of men. It is possible, because domestic cares and the rearing of children have been consigned to them, that other occupations may not have been considered as falling within the province of their stations. But, whatever may have been the causes, polygamy or concubinage has unquestionably been the greatest in hindering women from occupying an useful, dignified, and important station in society. This custom has held them up as little better than slaves, or than living toys or playthings. And this custom has prevailed over a great portion of the globe, from times of the earliest antiquity to the present day.

Among the many circumstances, which contributed to give importance to women in Europe,

VOL. III.

U

Europe, we may reckon the introduction of chivalry. Honour and humanity were the characteristics of this institution. Hence weakness was to be protected by it. And as weakness was more particularly the lot of women, so these became more peculiarly the objects of its care. Hence women began to feel a consequence, which had been hitherto denied them. They were treated with politeness and tenderness by all, and men began to be even solicitous of their applause. But though this was the case, chivalry did not elevate them beyond a certain height. It rendered a polite attention to them essential. But this attention was a homage to the weakness of females, and not to their intellect. It presupposed no capacity of usefulness in them; for every thing in fact was to be done for them, and they were to do but little for themselves.

The revival of learning in the twelfth century was another cause of adding to the importance of women. As men became more learned, they began to respect the power of the human understanding. They began to be acquainted, by means of history, with the talents of women in former ages. They began