THOUGHTS ON THE MORAL ORDER OF NATURE. BY ANNA MARIA WINTER. IN THREE VOLUMES. VOL. III. DUBLIN: JOHN CHAMBERS, 4, ABBEY-STREET. THOUGHTS WOMEN ARE TREATED AS IF THE TYPE OF THEIR § 1. THE principle followed in the treatment of women at Were I to undertake to prove that woman is a corrupted creature, I should only employ arguments to sustain a propo- sition, the truth of which is not questioned by any human being notwithstanding that a contrary principle is, apparently, followed in practice, there is not any one who doubts that wo- Yes, she has the same passions, and requires, like him, to have them corrected; not by repressing them, but by calling them forth, and teaching her, resolutely, to encounter them. Where you attempt to stifle them in her breast, you only contract her mind, you cannot purify it. § 2.-By arresting, in women, the natural current of personal ambition, you do a great moral injury to men. First-By depriving them of those incentives to virtue, which they would derive from acquiring a deep sense of her charms. They would acquire this sense from the anxiety with which they would watch, in women, the impulse of ambition. They would recognise, in regard to them, with incomparably greater quickness than they do relatively to themselves, how much this passion is contemptible and disfiguring, when it is not regulated by the laws of virtue. Secondly-By nullifying the influence, which women, whose ambition had been purified by the enlightened cares of society, would exercise over men. § 3.-A great moral injury is also done to women by not allowing to their personal ambition its proper scope. Women are entirely abandoned, in consequence, to those strong, partial affections, which prompt them to forget their country's weal, for the sake of promoting the private interest of their family. By being left thus resigned to them, they are denied the opportunity to undergo that mental process by which it is the especial intention of nature, that the desires of their heart shall be rectified. The process to which I allude, lies in a conflict established between their general principles, and particular affections. Their general principles, which should bid them prefer, to every partial advantage, the good of their conntry. Their particular affections, which tempt them to postpone that good to the private interests of their family. Their true triumph over their weak, erring nature, consists in the display, on their part, of such vigour of mind, as that their principles gain the victory. Where women are left, as they now are, with no other concern than to attend to the welfare of their family, surely their task is rendered too easy for creatures who ought to become virtuous by combating their native propensities. Though they may have rigorous obligations to fulfil in regard to the objects of their private affections, yet these affections are commonly so strong that they impel them by an irresistible force, willingly to make every sacrifice which they may require of them. Whilever, therefore, women's chief duty is made to consist in an entire abnegation of self for the sake of their families, instead of in a vigorous resolution to establish a happy accord between their private and public affections; we shall see great numbers of them whom we must, in justice, pronounce to have performed, in an exemplary manner, the duties imposed on them by the construction of the society; and yet whom it will be impossible for our hearts to reverence as characters, determined to obey, whatever it may cost them, the ordinances of virtue. 4. Notwithstanding that amiable, pious women, never, perhaps, more abounded in this and the neighbouring kingdoms than they do at present; yet, the complaint which aged persons generally make of the rapid increase, in them, of a deplorable corruption of morals, is, I believe, too well founded, for it to be reasonable to conclude, that it originates, solely, in the cynical, peevish temper which, too often, accompanies declining years. It, therefore, appears, that the excellently disposed women to whom I allude, exercise but little influence over their fellow-creatures, and, indeed, when we observe them closely, we cannot help being struck with the idea that their views are too petty, too little favourable to the beneficial display in the world of all the powers of mind and frame with which mankind are endowed, for them to induce men to hearken to them; or for society to be, at all, inclined to fashion itself according to their notions of a virtuous system of social order. § 5.-If they be not proper to advance, on earth, the reign of virtue and good national morals; if, too, as I think it probable, the system of social order established here below, has direct bearings on the polity of the inhabitants of higher spheres, this world will be far from doing its part, in sending, continually, to nobler globes, beings proper to contribute their 16 |