ing their" into her," with the Oxford editor. But it hould not be conceal'd from him, that the fpeech has fome other detects befides these which are mention'd; fuch as will draw upon it the cenfure of the grammarian and logician too; the latter will fay of it, that what the countefs is made to urge, is no fit reafon for entertaining the "hope" that the fpeaks of; and the other will find a relative in it, that does not belong, as it fhould, to the fubftantive nearest at hand, but to another remote one; and these circumstances too have their share in the fpeech's obfcurity. 5, 11. Laf. How understand we that ?] But the critick may fay, he underftands better the words alluded to, than he does why Lafeu makes fo pert a remark on them: is it, for that the author would make us timely acquainted with a branch of this amiable character, -it's unthinking and frenchman-like liveliness? 6 • Do, 24. He cannot want the befl,] i. e. the best advice, better than can be given him by me, taxing modeftly his own infufficiency; the procurement of which advice, fays the fpeaker, must be the neceflary confequence of the "love" his good deserts will draw on him. The third line before this, is printed thus in the folio;-Fall on thy head. Farewell my lord," the change made in the punctuation, and confequently in the addrefs, by the present editor, and what he has put in black cha, racter, can furely ftand in need of no words to explain or defend them: And the fame may alfo be faid of fome other changes: to wit, of that in l. 4; of the infertion, 1.8, in this page, and of that in the next at 1. 5, the firft of which was made by the third modern. 6, 27. Locks bleak.] But wherefore not-lock, fays an ob jector? Because "virtue's fleely bones," which it accords with, is put (poetically) for-teely-bon'd virtue. What follows, may ask a little explaining, which take in these words. "Withal," that is-Add to this, that wisdom," (perfons of underftanding) poor and thinly attir'd, may very often be seen to dance attendance on " "folly" (men of flender capacities) that riots in all fuperfluity. • Do, 30. monarch.] This word (which should be accented upon the ultima) alludes, fomething covertly, to a being well known in the court of queen Elizabeth; fee the "School" in --Monarcho) but is understood by Farolles, and occasions his reply that of Helen, which follows it, fignifies-Nay, if you difclaim my appellation, fo do I yours." Soltly a con ard,” fix lines above this, has the force of and a coward, (admiringly) one that ftands alone and by himself, not to be match'd. 7, 5. Keep him out.] The Oxford editor has here the most violent alteration that can well be conceiv'd, and the most unneceffary; owing evidently to an opinion, that "keep out" could have no other meaning than "barricado" which is made a reply to: but "keep out" may mean-keep at a dillance, let him not come near you and that it is fo understood by the perfon, 'tis fpoke to, is evinc'd by her reply," But be affails;" that is, he will not keep his distance, he has made his ap. proaches, and will attack us in form.Inftead of “rational,” a little way lower, the fame editor has-national, taking it from his predeceffor; but "rational encreafe" fignifies-encrease of beings that have reafon And a fentence fome lines after this, "He, that hangs himself, is a virgin," has been needlefly tamper'd with too: “" is a virgin," imports more than is like a virgin, for it is the ftrongest mode of expreffing fimilitude; fignifying is the thing itfelf, guilty of the very fame crime that fhe is guilty of, for " virginity murders itself;" &c. The emendation, 1. 6, is found in the fourth modern only; the other, 1. 17, in all of them, and fo is that in the opposite page. 8, 24. Not my virginity yet.] With fhould be fupply'd from the fentence before: "Not [with] my virginity yet" meaning that he would keep it a little longer and is an evafive reply to a knavifh question. The difcourfe growing fomething too rich for her, is abruptly broken off; and the fanciful paffage that follows, as abruptly begun upon: the words that introduce it, are taken from the Oxford edition, and happily chofen; the chafm as completely filled up by them, as was ever done by words of that fort. 10, 12. Our remedies, &c.] This fententious and rythmical fpeech is like others of the kind in this author, close, and full of words of no ufual fignification. 66 Fated," in the next line, means inhabited by fates: that is, in the opinion of men: "Native," a little lower, has the sense of congenial; and the line it occurs in, affords a substantive~ “ likes”—that will not be found in our ampleft dictionaries. Weigh their pains in fenfe," is calculate over-nicely, what trouble and pain of the fenfe their undertaking muft put them to; and fo intimidate themfelves by it, as to "Suppose," that "what hath been cannot be," which is certainly groundlefs, for (as the presently fubjoins) "Who ever ftrove," &c. The means he takes afterwards then comes into her thoughts, and the leaves the scene with a declaration of trying them.' Among the numerous blemishes of this uncouth production, we may include the multiplicity of references, not only to various paffages of the volume, but to the author's "School," a work not yet published, and which, for the honour of tafte and literature, we hope will never appear. VI. Letters from the Duchefs de Crui and others, on Subjects moral and entertaining, wherein the Character of the Female Sex, with their Rank, Importance, and Confequence is stated, and their relative Duties in Life are enforced. 5 vols. Small 8vo. 125. 6d. feed. Robfon. THE HE narrow limits which cuftom has affigned to the province of the fair, in the occupations of life, had given rife to an opinion that the fex was formed by nature incapable of great attainments in what relates to the more elevated faculties of the mind. But of late, the Britifh ladies in particular have by their own example, as well as arguments, clearly refuted this error; and there is hardly any branch of polite literature which has not been fuccessfully cultivated by fome female genius of the prefent age. The lady whofe production now lies before us, affords additional proof of the juftness of the claim, which has been maintained by other advocates for the fex in favour of their diftinguished abilities. Nor can we avoid obferving, in justice not only to her modefty, but to that of her fifter-authors, that they seem to be animated with an emulation for vindicating the honour of woman in general, rather than for acquiring to themselves the invidious reputation of great accomplishments. Though thefe Letters nominally derive their origin from the correfpondence of a lady whofe title might appear to be of French etymology, it is evident that the author is one of the fair daughters of this ifland; and the principal characters are 'either English or Scotch. We are informed by an advertisement, that they were written in the nursery, while the lady was furrounded by her children; and that they never would have been made public, had not the importunity of friends overcome the diffidence which the author entertained respect. ing their merit. Admonitions of this nature are too often the effect of partiality; but we are perfuaded that, in the prefent inftance, the generality of readers will fubfcribe to the opinion of thofe who advifed the publication. Indeed the lady must have been totally void of female vanity, not to feel a ftrong defire of committing to the prefs fuch a production, as was likely not only to afford inftruction and entertainment, but to procure her a confiderable degree of literary fame, when the fhould be known as the author. It cannot be expected that we should give a particular account of a series of familiar Letters, that amount to seventyfour in number, and thofe too, for the most part of great extent. We must therefore content ourfelves with laying be fore fore the reader a fpecimen of the work, and delineating its general character. The chief defign of thefe Letters is to recommend a rational fyftem of education, to each of the fexes; and this important object is accomplished both by precept and example. The following extract, as being the most easily de tached, is taken from a part of the work, in which fix ladies are introduced, in different fituations, with whom the lady is fuppofed to converfe on the fubject of marriage. • Your pafion was to be rich, you married a man you defpifed, and whofe intrinfic worth is centered in his wealth: which gave charms even to deformity, transformed Hymen into Mammon, and the God of love into a fatyr. Content yourfelf then with his riches, enjoy it, cultivate your taste for thofe advantages it can produce; and let thefe confole you for the lofs of every thing you have facrificed for it. Have recourfe to the principles of your determination: you had other offers; you have therefore examined, compared, chofen, and regreted. Be firm to this decifion of your own judgment, and do not act inconfiftently, by repining you do not poffefs what you did not purchase. If the vices, if the follies of your husband, thould become every day more and more intolerable to you, it will be in vain for you to regret the tranquility, the peace, the tender affection, endearing attention, or confidential intercourse, which might have diftinguifhed your days, had you been united to a man of merit. In the height of your defpair, you exclaim! "Was it for this, my amiable mother nurtured me with fuch care, and cultivated in me, every idea replete with honour, enlivened by fentiment, and corrected with tenderness? Alas! thefe embellishments do now but add to my mifery, in rendering me more fenfible of the wretchedness of my ftate. The man I am chained to, is fo far from poffeffing fenfibility or tafte, that he is dead to every impreffion of merit; and modefty, which might have endeared me to a man of delicacy, renders me hateful to this libertine; who, by the indecency of his difcourfe, is continually offending against the fenfations of a virtuous mind. While I regret the lofs of intellectual enjoyment, my regret is ftrengthened by the direful effects of its privation on him. Mutual esteem is as neceffary in the married state, as mutual affection; neither of which I enjoy. What is pomp, equipage, or fplendor, compared with fuch feraphic fenfations dwelling in the human heart? Will the blaze of diamonds atone for the deficiency of this paffion? Will the gold of Ophir, melted into one mafs, weigh against the raptures of uniting hearts, warmed with fentiment and truth? As this man's character was well known before you married him, can you have now any just reafon of complaint, especially as you have not even the excufe of partiality to plead for his perfon? Recollect your own fordid felfifh views; your prevail. ing paffion has been gratified, and you will pardon me, for questioning whether you would relinquish the advantages of your wealth, to be restored again to your liberty. Mifs Aitchen favours us with the following paffage from one of Lucian's Dialogues. Jupiter complains to Cupid, that though he had fo many intrigues, he was never fincerely beloved: in order to be beloved, fays Cupid, you must lay afide your ægis and your thunderbolts; you must curl and perfume your hair, place a garland on your head, and walk with a foft ftep, and affume a winning abfequious deportment." But, replied Jupiter, I am not willing to refign fo much of my dignity."" Then, returns Cupid, leave off defiring to be loved." He wanted to be Jupiter and Adonis at the fame time: as you do to be rich and happy. What right had you to expect that a miracle was to be performed in your favour? you knew well that the wretch to whom you have allied yourfelf, forfook humanity, and every genial feeling of an upright and honeft heart, in the acquifition of that fortune, which you wifhed to poffefs, and have obtained, and which has fince pampered the vices which difguft you. If he enumerates the fpoils of his victories in, are they not covered with the blood of the vanquished! Did he give peace and happiness to the conquered! Did he accept the gifts of their princes, to use them for the comfort of thofe whofe fathers, fons, or husbands, were maffacred! Did he ufe his power to gain fecurity and freedom to the regions of oppreffion and Hlavery! Did he endear the British name by examples of generofity! Did he return with the confcioufnefs of his duty dif charged to his country, and humanity to his fellow-creatures! If he was deficient in all this, what manner of right had you to expect tenderness and affection from him! You might with the fame propriety look for the fenfitive plant in a bed of nettles, and then complain you are ftung by them. But you need not be upbraided for the folly of your election, fince your own experience is but too fevere a monitor, Debafement is the child of pride. All that remains for you now, is to render yourself as eafy as poffible; it is your duty to foothe the melancholy difpofition your hufband will be in (when alone), from a recollection of his crimes. Perhaps, by ufing your influence judiciously, you may yet have it in your power to humanife his paffions, and refine his pleasures: but your good fenfe will tell you that there is fo much pride interwoven with the heart of man, that his obftinacy will never condefcend to receive any more than a hint from a wife. A husband is more likely to be praised into virtue, than rallied out of vice; and the most ef fential point in the art of leading others, is to conceal from them that they are led at all. If he reforms, and thinks the world gives him the credit of it, in a fhort time he will believe it proceeded from his own will and inclinations, which will infure his conftancy in it. Every method is laudable on your part, to reclaim your husband, except an affectation of fond |