T HE progrefs of the female fex, riety of matter, curious and interesting. But sketches are my province, not complete hiftories; and I propose in the present sketch to trace the gradual progrefs of women, from their low state VOL. II. A in in favage tribes, to their elevated state in. civilized nations. With regard to the outlines, whether of internal difpofition or of external figure, men and women are the fame. Nature, however, intending them for mates, has given them difpofitions different but concordant, fo as to produce together delicious harmony. The man, more robust, is fitted for fevere labour and for field-exercises: the woman, more delicate, is fitted for fedentary occupations; and particularly for nurfing children. That difference is remarkable in the mind, no less than in the body. A boy is always running about; delights in a top or a ball, and rides upon a ftick as a horse. A girl has lefs inclination to move her firft amusement is a baby; which she delights to dress and undrefs. I have feen oftener than once a female child under fix getting an infant in its arms, careffing it, finging, and walking about staggering under the weight. A boy never thinks of fuch a pastime. The man, bold and vigorous, is qualified for being a protector: the woman, delicate and timid, requires protection. tection *. The man, as a protector, is directed by nature to govern: the woman, confcious of inferiority, is difpofed to obey. Their intellectual powers correfpond, to the deftination of nature: men have penetration and folid judgement to fit them for governing: women have fufficient understanding to make a decent figure under good government; a greater proportion would excite dangerous rivalship. Women have more imagination and more fenfibility than men ; and yet none of them have made an eminent figure in of the fine arts. We hear of no fculptor nor ftatuary among them; and none of them have rifen above a mediocrity in poetry or painting. Nature has avoided rivalship between the fexes, by giving them different talents. Add another capital difference of difpofition: the gentle and infinuating manners of the female fex, tend to foften the roughness of the other fex; and where-ever women are in any * From which it appears to proceed, that women naturally are more careful of their reputation than men, and more hurt by obloquy. dulged with any freedom, they polish fooner than men *. These are not the only particulars that diftinguish the fexes. With refpect to matrimony, it is the privilege of the male, as fuperior and protector, to make a choice: the female preferred has no privilege but barely to confent or to refufe. Nature fits, them for these different parts: the male is bold, the female bafhful. Hence among all nations it is the practice for men to court, and for women to be courted: which holds alfo among many other animals, probably among all that pair. Another diftinction is equally visible: The mafter of a family is immediately connected with his country: his wife, his * The chief quality of women, fays Rouffeau, is fweetness of temper. Made by nature for fubmiffion in the married ftate, they ought to learn to suffer wrong, even without complaining. Sournefs and ftubbornnefs ferve but to increase the husband's unkindness and their own diftreffes. It was not to indulge bad humour, that Heaven beftow'd on them manners infinuating and perfuafive: they were not made weak in order to be imperious: a fweet voice fuits ill with fcolding; delicate features ought not to be disfigured with paffion. They frequently may have reafon for complaints; but never, to utter them publicly. children, |