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station in life affords them opportunity and leisure for such inquiries to study the history of this kingdom, and examine the principles of its venerable Constitution, and we are very sure that such knowledge will greatly attach them to the beautiful form of Government under which we have the happiness to live.

But all this is an affair totally independent of a disposition to argue upon political questions, or engage in popular disputes. The contests of rival factions, the distinctions of Whig and Tory, or any other party names, are in our minds quite unsuited to the habits of our fair countrywomen; we think them unfeminine subjects of conversation. It is impossible to plunge into these contentions without an excitement of temper, and a rivalry of feeling, very unbecoming the chaste and tranquil habits of a well-regulated disposition: success in any such debates is almost sure to lead to a vain and presumptuous deportment highly disgusting to a delicate mind. We believe no man of sense would deliberately marry a politician.

The violence and acrimony of political dispute are fatal to the Christian meekness and forbearance, which are the highest ornaments of the female character; but it is also to be observed, that the discussion of such questions leads away the attention from those better pursuits which are the appropriate occupations of a Woman.

We have been led to these remarks from observing the diabolical exertions of some of the worst of our countrymen, to involve Englishwomen in the ferment of infidelity and treason, by bringing them forward as the representations of those wicked principles which have for their object the overthrow of our Constitution in Church and State. The most licentious and blasphemous publications of the present day issue from the repository of a deluded female, whose opinions are contaminated by the contagious breath of her more profligate associates. Women are employed by their misguided husbands and fathers, in presenting seditious addresses, and forming themselves into clubs and societies of the worst description.

It is the policy of all pretenders to Reform to lower the tone of public morals, because when once the barriers of decency and order are thrown down, they know that the torrent of revolution will soon carry all before it. The combination of virtuous women to exclude those of bad reputation from their society, is the great safeguard to female virtue; but if for political purposes these distinctions are abandoned, and females so far forget their character as to exhibit themselves at seditious meetings, in union with the most corrupt of both sexes, they cannot hope to maintain their personal respectability, or to sustain that unblemished purity of character which is best sheltered in the privacy of retirement.

Let no Woman gravely complain that she is unjustly debarred from political debate. However various the forms of government throughout the world, whether in ancient or in modern times, all nations have concurred in the principle of excluding females from any participation in affairs of State. Without denying the extent of their capacity, or the acuteness of their understanding, it is quite certain that their

talents are unfitted for political deliberation, and that Providence has wisely appointed their place in domestic life, where their duties are equal in importance to those of man, although exercised with less of public notice. The duties of wives, of mothers, and of daughters, are of the highest importance. The female character is not merely the solace of human life, but it is most powerfully employed in forming the minds of the rising generation. When we consider that the dispositions of the whole human race are principally formed under maternal care and culture, that the tone of our character is in great measure dependent on the prudence and piety of a mother's example and instructions,let no one so far undervalue her privileges as to regret the insignificance of her station. The rank and importance of the female character would be of the utmost value even if its duties were exclusively directed to infant education. But when it is further considered that most of the religious instruction, most of the pious impressions we receive in after-life, are conveyed to us by females;-when the pure example of a mother, the devout piety of a wife, the gentle persuasions of a sister, and often the affectionate remonstrances of a daughter, accomplish great part of the religious reformation which passes upon our minds; we cannot but reflect, with the deepest gratitude, upon the incalculable value of such advantages, and wonder that any serious complaint should ever be heard as to the inferiority of their condition, or the unimportance of those duties and occupations which Providence has assigned to Women.

But as we value their conversation as the most delightful channel by which we obtain some of our best principles, so we hesitate not to express our regret that ever it should be perverted to purposes of political controversy. Much of our literature, and most of our morality, gains access to our minds through our intercourse with the softer sex, and religious persuasion comes with a peculiar charm from female lips. Let them still be the gentle monitors of our domestic life; and let any Woman who has had the benefit of a Christian education remember that if her station is less conspicuous, her influence is not less powerful; and that she owes to Heaven a responsibility for those gifts and graces which enable her to render the most important benefits to her fellow

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ADMIRAL DUNCAN'S VICTORY OVER THE DUTCH FLEET, OCT. 11, 1797.

To the Editor of the Plain Englishman's Library.

SIR,It has been my object to point out the leading circumstances which give a Providential Character to those great Naval Victories achieved in the late war. The defeat of the Dutch Fleet by Admiral Duncan in the autumn of 1797, presents so many of those circum

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stances to our consideration that I think no pious mind could hesitate to recognise them.

In the summer of this year the aspect of our internal affairs had been more than usually gloomy. The financial difficulties under which the country laboured had then risen to their greatest height; and the alarming mutiny among the seamen had threatened to lay, not our naval glories merely, but our independent existence as a nation, at the feet of our rancorous enemies. The discontents of the Mutineers had indeed been laid, and they had been induced to return to their professional duties; but no one could be free from anxiety who looked to the circumstances under which their allegiance was resumed. The feelings of insubordination which had so recently threatened destruction even to our harbours and arsenals, might, it was to be feared, burst forth with new violence in the presence of the enemy.

But further: republican Holiand was now making her first naval exertions in behalf of the cause she had lately espoused. The Revolutionists promised themselves that it was reserved for them to restore the balance of maritime power, and that the highly-excited zeal of their Commanders would now bring back to them such days as those of De Ruyter and Van Tromp. It was Admiral Duncan's arduous duty to make head against those manifold difficulties. On shore there was scarcely any feeling but dismay and apprehension; on board he could. find little consolation from crews whose best expressions of loyalty were sullen and equivocal: whilst opposed to him he saw the choicest ships of a nation, eminent for a long series of years for its navàl resources, and now excited to unusual exertions by the operation of political feelings little short of frenzy. Duncan had kept at sea during the whole summer, partly for the purpose of watching the enemy's fleet which lay at anchor in the Texel, but principally with a view of keeping his sailors from the contaminating influence of that mutinous spirit which had burst forth at Portmouth and at the Nore. After a cruise of unusual length, the Admiral had gone into Yarmouth to refresh his men; but he had scarcely come to an anchor, when a signal was made to him by a vessel at the back of Yarmouth Roads, intimating that the Dutch fleet was at sea. The whole fleet, consisting of 16 sail of the line and three frigates, immediately got again under weigh with surprising alacrity. This was on the morning of the 9th of October; and at nine in the morning of the 11th, the Admiral got sight of the squadron of observation he had left under the command of Captain Trollope, with signals flying for an enemy to leeward. He immediate made a signal for a general chase, and in less than an hour came up with the enemy, as they were in the act of forming line to receive him. The fleets were nearly equal in point of strength; for though the Dutch had more ships of force, the superiority in men and guns inclined to the side of the British. As the British fleet approached they could see the land between Egmont and Camperdown, not more than nine miles to leeward of the enemy. Not a moment was to be lost; and the Admiral, with a fortunate boldness, determined on the instant to pass through their line, and engage them to leeward; and thus to

place himself between them and the land. His signals were obeyed with such promptitude, that by forty minutes after twelve every ship of the British had broken the enemy's line, and was hotly engaged, Duncan's own ship, the Venerable, was in close action for nearly two hours and a half, when he had the satisfaction to see the masts of the Vryheid, the Dutch Admiral's ship, go by the board; she was however defended for some time longer with such spirit, that when her colours were struck, De Winter (the Admiral) himself was the only man left on the quarter-deck, who was not either killed or wounded. About the same time the Dutch Vice-Admiral struck to Admiral Onslow, in the Monarch, and before half-past three o'clock many more had surrendered; but the British Admiral, finding himself only in nine fathoms water, and scarcely five miles from a dangerous lee shore, had his whole attention occupied in extricating his disabled ships, and such prizes as he could immediately take possession of, from their perilous situation. Several of the vessels which struck therefore took advantage of the night to escape, and some of them were seen going into the Texel the following morning. The prizes, however, which were secured, were eight ships of the line,-two of 56 guns, two of 44, and a frigate. One of these, however, the Delft of 56 guns, foundered within sight of the British coast, and the frigate also was lost.

A more bloody conflict than this is not to be found in the Naval History of this country. The carnage on board the two ships which bore the Admirals' flags, was, (in the words of Lord Duncan) beyond all description: There were not less than 250 men killed and wounded in each of them, and none of the Dutch ships that surrendered lost less then 100 men. The battle was fought so near shore that every manœuvre could be seen distinctly, and the whole coast was covered for many miles with thousands of spectators, who had the mortification of witnessing the entire destruction of their fleet; and, what must have been quite as painful, of seeing one of their Admirals (Story) run off, at the very commencement of the action, with three ships of the centre division, leaving his gallant companions to their fate. This dastard made up a story to his own advantage, and was received with great distinction by the Directory, while the gallant De Winter was calumniated and neglected: so much for the discrimination and gratitude of governments purely democratical! Our own gallant Admiral, immediately on his return, was created Baron Duncan, of Lundie in Perthshire, and Viscount Duncan of Camperdown, in allusion to that part of the coast where the victory was achieved.

Thus, by this great and eminently providental event, were the hopes of our domestic traitors finally crushed; and our implacable foreign foe was at once quelled in his pride and crippled in his means of aggression.

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ON SAVING BANKS.

THERE could scarcely have been a happier thought than that of providing the means by which the smallest sums may be secured and turned to the most productive account. The idea scarcely ever enters the mind of a servant, or day labourer, who earns something more than his present wants demand, that the small redundancy may be turned into advantage for the future; and hence, such are tempted to spend a portion of their time in idleness, satisfied with just acquiring what is necessary for their present support, or, what is equally common, to throw away their little gains upon the most foolish trifles, or worse than waste it, in public-houses; and in those few instances where a prudent young person has laid by a small sum for future emergencies, how often has he been induced to lend it to some treacherous friend, who never intended to restore it, or if he did never took the proper steps to have it in his power to do so; or to deposit it with some tradesman or banker, as a place of safety, and has lost his all, by the unexpected but too common insolvency of the individuals in whom he had confided! But these institutions remove all difficulties on this head. They exhibit examples of small savings having accumulated into considerable sums in the course of a few years, and every instance of this kind is the strongest inducement to others to imitate so profitable a speculation-if speculation that can be called, which insures a great benefit without the least risk. ui L&M Z

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These institutions are likely also to form the greatest barrier against £ imprudent marriages. One who has been accustomed to lay by his s savings, will be constantly measuring them with the calls which are likely to be made on them. He will consider the necessary expenses B of decently furnishing his cottage, and the demand which a young d family will make on his stock; he will therefore hesitate before he takes the step which is connected with all that has engaged his care and anxiety for many years of past labour, and will be little disposed to risk the whole at one desperate adventure.

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They will also induce a habit of care and economy in the other d sex: for besides their affording an opportunity to them also of laying by a portion of their wages, and thereby adding to the stores of the person to whom they are to be united; they will soon learn that those men who have acquired cautious and prudent habits, are not likely to be captivated with individuals, who would squander away, in extravagance, their laborious earnings, or suffer them to be wasted by habits of carelessness and want of economy. Hence a greater regard for domestic comforts and decent appearance would follow: "the pence, as well as the pounds, would begin to take care of themselves," and the effort be still continued to add to rather than diminish the original stock.

But the moral which such institutions teach is of incalculable benefit. They practically illustrate the importance of little things. Nothing could seem a matter of much less importance, than whether

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