the variety of crowded and incumbered accomplishments, which do now make essential parts of female education in every rank and station in life, should be intrusted to such adventurers, -tinctured as many of them must be with foreign habits and vices ;-and this too, of young women in the bloom of youth, at the period when the female character is to formed, and when every exertion ought to be made to fix the eternal and unvaried principles of religion and virtue indelibly on the mind. Those who have had any opportunity of appreciating the superior degree of taste, talent, refinement of feeling, and sympathy of character, which many English women possess, may correctly ascertain, whether they are by nature ùnfitted to communicate instruction to their own sex, and how far the employment of foreign men, for the education of English women, is a necessary and incorrigible evil.

practicable, it is hardly necessary to observe, that the present is, of all times the most practicable, propitious, and favourable to such an alteration.-As to the use of the French language in female schools, it is impossible not to observe of many of the sources of literature which it opens, that they are highly tainted and infected. At the same time there seems to be but little hope of succeeding, under modern prejudices, in bringing the language into any degree of disuse.

The personal attendance of male hair dres-, sers, shoemakers, and staymakers, in the dressing rooms and private apartments of our fair countrywomen, has been frequently noticed, not only as indecorous, but as derogatory to the character and intrinsic purity of the sex. It should seem natural for female delicacy to accept, as an attendant at the toilet, the assistance of a virtuous and well educated English woman, in preference to men, unknown, unaccredited, and no otherwise recommended than by having been imported from the shores of France or Italy. It should also seem natural for ladies who feel what is due, either to their own character, or to the unprotected of their own sex, to desire to frequent those shops only, from whence the employment and assistance of women are not entirely excluded; and to avoid those, where files of athletic men,*

In this age of chivalry and warlike enterprise, the appeal might with confidence be made to the gallantry and bravery of those gentlemen, who, so bravely and so gallantly equipped, do now attend, in the place of females, in many of the shops of the metropolis,-whether they will not be better employed in defending their fair countrywomen, than in depriving them of the means of support and existence?-Whether they would not handle a Birmingham firelock better than Brussels lace; and feel more satisfaction in piuning a Frenchman to the ground, than a feather to a cap-Admired as they now

ranged in order behind the counter, are employed, like Hercules in the service of Omphale, in the most minute, trivial, and effeminate occupations of the female sex.

In the execution of the proposed plan, it is of great importance for those ladies, whose talents and discretion will direct the efforts of their benevolent coadjutors, to caution them not to attempt too many, or too extensive objects:—an attempt, which may excite the jealousy and hostility of some, who might otherwise have been disposed to have given not merely their wishes, but their aid, to the attainment of proper and practicable objects.-If, without carrying the war into the aggressor's country, the fair sex can only regain the territory which has been wrested from them,-or (to drop the metaphor) if, without interfering with any occupation which properly belongs to men, they can resume those which do pecu. liarly and exclusively appertain to their own sex,-those which public morals and female

*

justly are, whether they will not be more admired, when de corated with a military uniform, and employed in manly oc cupation? And whether the love and gratitude of the sex will not be more delightful, than the confidence of the toilet, or an occasional smile of approbation, on the tasteful disposition of a ribband?

248 Ladies Committee for the Female Poor.

decency require to be in the hands of women,

and which the candour and good sense of every unprejudiced man would admit to be proper for women only;-and if to this they can add, for the benefit of the ignorant and unprotected of their own sex, such a degree of education,* as may make them useful to themselves and to society, and may impress them with the principles of religious and moral truth, MILLIONS, WHO MIGHT OTHERWISE HAVE SUNK IN MISERY AND VICE, will live in. nocent and happy ;-will live to commemorate the virtues, and record the names, of their BENEFACTRESSES ;-as the friends, not only of their country, but of the human race.

13th April, 1804.

* One of the most important objects of the Ladies Committee will be to establish a seminary, for the education of female teachers and governesses. In such a school it seems to be indispensable that the establishment should be strictly of the Church of England; not from exclusive bigotry, oper. ating to the prejudice of any denomination of Christians, but from the necessity of the peculiar doctrines of every church, making an essential part of education for teachers of youth;

-a consideration very often neglected in the selection of a teacher, or governess.-Nothing will prevent the establish ment of similar schools for other sects, and those even with the assistance of the Ladies Committee, or at least some of the District Committees. It will probably be found that of all persuasions of Christians in England, those of the Established Church have been most deficient in the provision for the peculiar education of their own poor.

No. XIX.

EDUCATION OF THE POOR IN IRELAND.

In the course of the benevolent exertions*

which have been made at Dublin, by the association for "discountenancing vice, and for "promoting the knowledge and practice of " religion and virtue," circular letters had been sent to their own members, requesting information upon the subject; and other letters have been since addressed to the Archbishops and Bishops, soliciting, through their interference, returns from the parochial clergy to queries, respecting not only the actual state of education in their several parishes, but also as to the impediments by which its progress is obstructed, and the means whereby they might be removed. The object of these enquiries being to ascertain how far it may be expedient for the public to interfere in removing these impediments, and how far the suggestions or exertions of individuals can be usefully directed Reports, No, CXVII.