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fecond, will not be found fo repugnant to truth, and reason, and common sense, as may on a firft view be fuppofed.

But if on candidly fumming up the evidence, the defign and scope of the Author be fairly judged, not by the customs or opinions of the worldly, (for every English fubject has a right to object to a fufpected or prejudiced jury,) but by an appeal to that divine law which is the only infallible rule of judgment; if on fuch an appeal her views and principles fhall be found cenfurable for their rigour, abfurd in their requifitions, or prepofterous in their restrictions, fhe will have no right to complain of such a verdict, because she will then stand condemned by that court to whose decision fhe implicitly fubmits.

Let it not be fufpected that the Author arrogantly conceives berfelf to be exempt from that natural corruption of the heart which it is one chief object of this flight work to exhibit; that the fuperciliously erects herself into the impeccable cenfor of her sex and of the world; as if from the critic's chair fhe were coldly pointing out the faults and errors of another order of beings, in whofe welfare fhe had not that lively interest which can only flow from the tender and intimate participation of fellow-feeling :

With a deep felf-abasement, arising from a strong conviction of being indeed a partaker in the fame corrupt nature; together with a full perfuafion of the many and great defects of thefe volumes, and a fincere confcioufnefs of her inability to do juftice to a fubject which, however, a fenfe of duty impelled her to undertake, the commits herself to the candour of that Public which has fo frequently, in her instance, accepted a right intention as a fubftitute for a powerful perform

ance.

BATH,

March 14, 1799.

N

STRICTURES

ON THE

MODERN SYSTEM

OF

Female EducATION.

CHAP. I.

Addrefs to women of rank and fortune, on the effects of their influence on jociety.-Suggestions for the exertion of it in various inftances.

AMONG the talents for the application of which women of the higher clafs will be peculiarly accountable, there is one, the importance of which they can. fcarcely rate too highly. This talent is Influence. We read of the greatest orator of antiquity, that the wifeft plans which it had coft him years to frame, a woman could overturn in a fingle day; and when we confider the variety of mifchiefs which an ill-directed influence has been known to produce, we are led to reflect with the most fanguine hope on the beneficial effects to be expected from the fame powerful force when exerted in its true direction.

The general state of civilized fociety depends more than thofe are aware who are not accustomed to fcrutinize into the fprings of human action, on the prevailing fentiments and habits of women, and on the nature an

ON THE

MODERN SYSTEM

OF

FEMALE EDUCATION.

WITH

A VIEW OF THE PRINCIPLES AND CONDUCt prev¿
ALENT AMONG WOMEN OF RANK

AND FORTUNE.

BY

HANNAH MORE.

May you fo raife your character that you may help to make the next
age a better thing, and leave pofterity in your debt, for
the advantage it shall receive by your example.

Lord HALIFAXÍ

TWO VOLUMES IN ONE-AND THIRD AMERICAN
EDITION, WITH CONSIDERABLE ADDITIONS.

BOSTON:

Printed for JOSEPH BUMSTEAD, Printer and
Bookfeller, No. 20, Union-Street.

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