contents.*

However I may take the liberty of differing in fome points from the able and ingenious authors of that judicious treatise, I consider it upon the whole as an inestimable treasure of useful hints and fenfible obfervations; and, therefore, earnestly recommend it to your attentive perusal. In the chapter to which I have alluded, the injudicious method employed to quiet the clamours which have been injudiciously excited, are considered with regard to their tendency towards hurting the temper. In addition to this evil of mighty magnitude, I consider the frequent employment of the engine of terror, as having a tendency to debilitate the powers of the mind, and to introduce malevolence and selfishness into the difpofitions of the heart.

Timidity, when confidered merely as an enemy to vigorous exertion, will be found an obstacle to every fpecies of excellence;

* Edgworth on Practical Education. See the chapter on Toys.

as by fettering the mind it is particularly friendly to prejudice, and inimical to truth. That felf-poffeffion which feems the inheritance of great minds, is in reality but the triumph of reafon over the paffions of furprife and fear, which on no emergency can be promptly conquered by minds accuftomed to the early dominion of terror. It furely, then, is our business to guard as much as poffible against the early introduction of a paffion that is in its excess equally injurious to the happiness and the

virtue.

66

"This may be all very truly observed (you will, perhaps, fay) with regard to boys. But in females timidity appears "fo graceful and engaging, that in them "it ought by all means to be encouraged."

I beg your pardon; I thought we were speaking of the best method of cultivating the powers of human beings, so as to bring them to the greatest perfection of which they are capable; and of watching over

the

the impreffions and affociations of early life, fo as to preserve it from the influence of prevailing errors.* In this I can make no distinction of fex, it being my opinion. that the mind which is most fedulously preferved from the influence of prejudice, will be best prepared for pursuing that line of conduct that is beft adapted to its fituation. and circumstances. Females are, indeed, feldom placed in those where the exertion of active courage is required. Whatever is unneceffary is abfurd: the affectation of it is difgufting. But of that paffive courage which takes the name of fortitude, where is the woman who, in fome period of life, is not called on for its exertion?

By the delicacy of her frame expofed to inevitable fuffering from bodily pain, ought not her mind to be strengthened to support it with firmness? Unhappy the friends, doubly unhappy the attendants, who are doomed to listen to the querulous murmurs

of amiable weakness, under the preffure of
bodily infirmity! Here, I believe, it would
be readily excufed, even by the most stre-
nuous advocate for the charms of feminine
imbecility. But having once deprived the
mind of ftrength and energy, we must take
all the confequences: of these the incapa-
city of fupporting pain with any degree of
firmness, is, perhaps, not the worst. The
felfishness that is almost always connected
with extreme timidity of temper, is a con-
fequence we should still more ftrongly de-
precate. Active benevolence requires a
degree of resolution, a direliction of self,
to which the timid can never attain.
us compare the two by examples from
real life.

Let

Is it an uncommon thing to fee a lady, who is the flave of foolish fears with regard to her own perfonal fafety, fhew very little concern for the fafety of others? I have feen one who, if a cow but looked at her in her walks, would fcream with ter

ror,

ror, and run from it as fhe would from a Bengal tyger. Yet, with great sang froid, permit her child to face the formidable animal, and turn it from the path!

It is the nature of cowardice and pusillanimity, to direct the mind exclufively to the attention of self. On a mind thus occupied the fufferings of others can make no impreffion; nor ean the focial or fympathetic affections in fuch circumstances exert their influence over the heart. How mistaken is it, then, to confound the idea of gentleness, of which the feelings of benevolence and complacency are the constitúents, with that cowardice which is the confequence of an unmixt regard to self!

Permit me to illuftrate the union of gentleness and fortitude by an apt example, with which my memory now furnishes me.

Mrs. B. a lady whose gentleness arose from the pure fource of Chriftian meeknefs, and unbounded philanthropy, after having fuffered with unrepining patience

the