the compliment, especially when stimulated both by pride and revenge. She thinks a gallant's admiration repairs the affront which a husband puts upon her charms, by giving her place to another, perhaps less hand. some than herself. This has been thought a plausible excuse by many women, and upon their husbands running astray, have diverted their melancholy hours at the expense of their honor. But whatever I have said of mutual feelings, I do not make any comparison in favor of my own sex, as I know the crime is much greater in the wife, and even de testable, modesty being the highest ornament of women, and the casting it off becomes a sin both against God and nature. For my part, if I commit a fault against my sex, in being for so much resignation, they must pardon me; for I cannot advise others to more obedience than I would wish to practice myself; and I intreat all those who despise me as being so tame a fool, that they would banish all anger out of their minds for one year and then tell me if they have not more content in forgiving than returning a reproach.

I fear I have already exceeded the bounds of a letter, for which I ought to make an apology, but more words would give you trouble therefore I will only beg of you to excuse and love

Your ever sincere and affectionate friend

LETTER 159.

From a Lady to her Friend, whose Lover had basely deserted her and married another.

MY DEAR FRIEND,

Our expectation of happiness is generally soil placed that it is no wonder we meet with perpetual- disappointments. When our choice arises from passion we have so very Lind a guide as will inevitably leac us to destruction; for though love appears then gentlest, yet our affec tions are so much the right of our Almighty Creator, that as often as we fix them immoderately upon any of the fading objects here below, we are certainly guilty of sacrilege to the Divine goodness, which fault is commonly punished by the very thing we doat o.. This, I doubt not, has been your case, and not yours alone; for soon or late, few escape that mischief, especially amongst our weaker sex, whose tender nature leaves them most exposed to ruin; and though they see others ship wrecked before their eyes, will yet venture out to sea on the same bot tom, insensible of danger, till they perish, and often fall unpitied.

Men have a thousand advantages over us, but in the affair of court ship they add cunning to all their other accomplishments, and are as zealous to deceive as if their lives would be made happy by the cheat However, they will find it a sad mistake, at least if perjury is to be accounted for; although your false traitor, like many others, may look ov that time as at a great distance. But I suppose he thinks himself excused, as being more knave than fool, which title, indeed, so highly due to him, that I believe none will do him such manifest wrong as to dispute it; and I am sure, the blacker he appears, the greater reason you have to bless that Providence which permitted him to break the contract; for without doubt, he that proved so ill a lover to the best of mistresses would have made an intolerable husband to the best of wives;

and ill usage would have cost you more than his infidelity. I am sensible a heart so generous and constant as yours cannot easily efface the deep impression he has made in it; that must be the work of time, with God's assistance, which I hope will never fail you. 1 do assure you I am deeply touched with every thing that concerns you; nor is it without great regret that I submit to the unhappy circumstances which detain me from being the companion of your melancholy hours, which I should endeavor, with all my power, to divert.

You say it is a daily aggravation to your trouble, to reflect that you suffered yourself to be so easily imposed upon; but that, as I told you before, is our common fate, although all impostors are not equally industrious to be wicked; and you ought not to condemn your own judgment for want of sagacity to discover a cheat, a. it would be to arraign the conduct of almost all the human race.

Pardon me, dear madam, for troubling you so far. Indeed I might have told you at first what I must mention now, and what you know already, that He only can give us comfort whom we seldom regard only when we are driven to it by necessity. Solomon, who had tried all the alluring charms of love and beauty, whose quality and riches gave him an opportunity to gratify every inclination without any bounds to his wishes, could call them all "vanity and vexation of spirit." It is no wonder then if every one of us discover the same truth to our own cost. Let us therefore resolve, as much as we can, to submit eur wills to the will of our heavenly Father, who sees all our actions, and has so decreed that our way to everlasting happiness should be through the wilderness of affliction. Yours affectionately.

LETTER 160.

From a Lady who had formerly kept a Boarding School to another of the same profession, on Female Education.

MADAM,

I received your letter, containing the following request, viz: What are the most proper methods to be used in conducting the education of young ladies, so as to avoid extravagance on the one hand, and meanness on the other? This is a very important question, and perhaps above my poor abilities to answer. However, as I have had many years experience in female education, I shall tell you my thoughts on the subject with the greatest freedom. It is the misfortune of the present age, that almost all ranks of people are so much infatuated as to strive who shall outdo one another in extravagance, and a daughter of an ordinary tradesman can scarce be distinguished from one of the nobility. If we inquire into the causes from which such effects flow, we shall find that they are partly owing to the conduct of their mothers, and partly to those intrusted with their education. I shall mention a few things relating to both and you can judge of their propriety.

Mothers should, on every occasion, teach their daughters that it is a duty incumbent on them not to have aspiring views beyond that station in which Providence has placed them. That humble, unaffected modes

in a stuff gown, will be preferred by every sensible person before eihe ilks or Brussels lace That is a greater accomplishment for a

tradesman's daughter to wash a floor than to dance on it; ar mach more useful to be able to dress a joint of meat, than to point out the particular merits of an actress, and applaud or condemn a song. Bu the keepers of boarding schools are still more culpable than parents No sooner is Miss placed in cne of these seminaries than she is taught to consider herself a young lacy, and is even honored with that appel lation. Thus the seeds of vanity are sown in the first rudiments of learning, and continue to operate on her conduct as she advances ir

years.

It is almost impossible for those who are any way acquainted with human nature to imagine that the girl who is taught to consider herself as a lady can ever be a proper wife for a tradesman, and common sense teaches her that she has nothing greater to expect.

But there is something still worse. She is not only unfit to be the wife of an honest, industrious tradesman, but she often occasions his ru in. She expects to be supported in the same extravagant manner as at the boarding school; dissipation takes place of prudence; public di versions are more attended to than domestic duties; and the unhappy husband, to enjoy peace, is often obliged to leave his business, that his lady may be honored with his company. The fatal effects of such extravagance are soon felt, and the woman who formerly considered herself as a lady, finds, by woful experience, that she had assumed an im proper name.

The best, nay, the only way to educate children, consistent with their own station in life, is, on all occasions, to teach them not to expect more than their birth entitles them to. It would likewise be very beneficial to the nation, if those women who keep boarding schools were to in struct the girls in useful employments, rather than in useless arts, that cannot be of any real benefit to them, but on the contrary are a mate. rial injury in their intercourse with the world.

I have thus thrown together a few reflections upon the subject of female education, but it is impossible to treat it properly in the small compass of a letter, but I will endeavor to be more explicit in a future communication. In the mean time, believe me, dear madam,

LETTER 161.

Your sincere friend.

To a young Man on the commencement and pursuit of Trade. HAVING formerly stated to you the nature and advantages of pru. dence and discretion, I will now instance the particulars wherein you are called to the exercise of it, viz :

1. In getting a full insight into your calling; so as to know the parts and lawful arts and methods of it. The nature and quality of the com modities you deal in; proper times and places for buying and vending them; the quantities of each that are most likely to produce advantage⚫ the best method and art of manufacturing goods, and the certain nos trums which are in most callings, and on which much of the success of them depends; these and every other part should be well studied and fully understood. Leave it to others to pri le themselves in the knowl edge of callings foreign to their own; or to be curiously prying Into the

Conduct and concerns of others; and remember, "the wisdom of the rudent is to understand his own way." Your trade or calling is your roper province, for the improvement of which your mind and capacities should be employed; and neither God nor man will condemn you for inexperience in the business of others. Let the time of your ap prenticeship be carefully improved to this end. Treasure up all the knowledge you can attain by observation and instruction, and never be ashamed to continue learning any honest skill; for no fortune or application will support a man who is remarkably defective in knowledge. Your success is likely to be that of a rich vessel guided by an unskilful pilot, in danger soon to be shipwrecked and lost. On the other hand, all masters should endeavor honestly and faithfully to instruct their ap prentices in the lawful and gainful mysteries of their callings. This Lhey are bound to do by their own agreement, and by all the rules of justice and honor

2. In the prudent choice of the several circumstances of trade.

For time. Choose that which is most suitable for your business; "for to every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose." And among the rest," a time to buy, and a time to sell," which every wise tradesman will observe. The future contingencies of business, and the rise and fall of the value of commodities, often depend upon such uncertain or such unknown causes, that the deepest penetration is not able to fathom; but, to buy goods when they are cheap, and sell them when they are growing dear; and at all times to be cautions of overcharging yourselves with dear or changeable goods, are maxims of prudence that never vary. Futurity is hid from us, but discretion is given to direct us, and those of the best discernment and sagacity are most likely to be successful.

For place. Prudence will direct the tradesman to consider which is most suitable and proper for his calling, and fix there. The conveniences of his family must give way to the conveniences of his business, and his fancy be regulated by his judgment in this affair. That place may be exceeding proper and advantageous for one employment, which persons of a different one must starve in; and a fine house, or a pleasant situation, or even a small rent, will not make amends for the want of customers.

Great prudence is necessary in the choice of persons. First, whom to trust; for, it is not the metal that glitters most that is always the richest; men are often deceitful, and too many make it their business to deceive, and enrich themselves with the spoils of the unwary and credulous. It is better, therefore, to be at the pains of a diligent inquiry after their abilities for the trust which we repose in them, than endure the grief of sad experience, that we were mistaken in our apprehensions concerning them. Certain it is, that as there is prudence in trusting some, and charity in trusting others, so there are many whom it is neither prudent nor charitable to trust at all. Whom to deal with; to wit, with men of conscience, or at least of common honesty; for these may be relied upon with more security than others, and it is at all times more creditable to correspond with men of virtue than with knaves, and common fame will generally accquaint you who and what they are. Lastly, whom to be familiar with. For though we should be friendly to