direct the means be entirely free themselves from any motives of the like kind, and are duly impressed with the necessity of avoiding every circumstance tending to vanity or display: they can then, and only then, give a proper direction to this accomplishment, and render it innocent and delightful, or dangerous and detrimental. As in music, Nature here has the first and principal share in proficiency: without her graceful gifts, learning and practising do little ; and with them, little is wanted for the real purposes of enjoyment, or for regulating the carriage and movements according to gentlewomanly propriety of appearance. But there can be no question as to the general purposes for which this art has been cultivated to the extent that we have witnessed in these days. The revival of our intercourse with our continental neighbours certainly gave a fresh impetus to the cultivators of dancing. It had almost degenerated, during our days of joyous country dancing, into a mere matter of amusement it soon, however, became a more serious business; for with a degree of politeness un paralleled even in our French neighbours, we hailed our reunion with them by forthwith abolishing our own national dance, and adopted theirs. We even extended our politeness to Germany; and the quadrille and the waltz were, by the laws of Almack's, to become henceforth our national dances. The absolute laws, however, which exist there, could not, if they desired it, confine this refined instance of courtesy to the aristocratic region, whence it doubtless originated and as fashion, and the adoption of novelty, finds its way with inconceivable rapidity in this country, in these days, every rank and degree have united in rendering our compliment of greater value. : We, who look upon the scene, and indulge in such contemplations as a ball-room affords, however incompetent we may be to draw any satisfactory conclusions from our observations, may yet plainly perceive, that in adopting the dances of foreigners, English young ladies have a greater opportunity of displaying their proficiency in this art, than any former means afforded them. But I am not writing a treatise on accom plishments, or a dissertation upon education; although, considering them as to their effects upon society, I cannot avoid making some observations upon the manner in which female education is generally conducted, and offering an opinion as to the views and hopes of those who regulate the conduct of it. 25 CHAP. III. ART OPPOSED TO NATURE IN EDUCATION. HAVING already lived long enough to see the effects of a plan which has been pursued with little variation for the last thirty years, I feel a powerful inclination to question the wisdom which has directed it. We may now see hundreds, nay thousands of young women emerge from their school-rooms, at the blooming age of seventeen, with the same portion of wisdom they entered into them at the innocent age of seven. That they have there imbibed a large stock of knowledge, and a great variety of accomplishments, I do not doubt. They may have gained, too, a considerable share of that experience which is gained from history and other books of instruction and information; and as much of the manners of the day as occasional visits to the drawing room on gala days and other days could afford. They have learned too, perhaps, in . proportion to the habits of the family, many duties, and many modes of exercising charity towards the poor; and may have contributed, with the pleasure natural to youth and innocence, their share of money, or the neat work of their own art, for the like purposes. But with all this, there is a vapid sameness of character which prevails almost universally. Nature is too much left out of the scheme: she is a powerful friend and assistant when we submit to her laws and regulations; but she is also, when in array against us, an enemy not to be despised. But in female education, Art has fairly taken possession; and her work is imperfect; it wants those brighter attractions which Nature gave when she employed Art as her assistant; but in yielding to her the superiority, she has, perhaps in revenge, carried away that which she lent to complete the performance, and it too often remains unfinished. We must know that human intellect, like all and every other human power, is limited and finite; it can then receive only a certain portion of mental nourishment. Our minds, like our bodies, may vary very considerably: and though |