company, unless when compelled to it by the punctilio of ceremony, which she took care should happen as rarely as possible. Being a perfect mistress of her needle, and having an excellent taste in that, as in many other things, her manner, whether at home, or abroad with her friends (for friends she had enough, though a lady of fashion, and bred at court) was to be constantly engaged in working something useful, or something beautiful; at the same time that she assisted in supporting the conversation, with an attention and capacity, which I have never seen exceeded. For the sake of variety and improvement, when in her own house, some one of the company would often read aloud, while she and her female visitants were thus employed. I must add that during an intimate acquaintance of several years, I do not remember to have seen her at once driven to the polite necessity of either winning or losing money at play, and making her guests defray the expence of the entertainment.

Permit me, before I dismiss this article, to offer a hint or two, that may not be unworthy your observation. Instead of that minute and laborious kind of work, which is often practised by young ladies, I should think that slighter and free patterns would for the most part be greatly preferable. The sight would be in no danger

of being strained; much less time would be required to finish them; and, when finished, they would produce a much better effect. They would give, beyond comparison, more scope to the imagination; they would exhibit an ease, a gracefulness, and a flow that ought to enter, as much as possible, into all works of taste; and as they would admit a far greater multiplicity of ornament, so likewise the purpose of utility would be promoted in a far higher degree.

The business of shading with the needle is now comparatively, seldom thought of but at school, where it is frequently taught in a paltry, and always in a defective manner, though certainly deserving a particular attention. The disposition, harmony, and melting of colours in this way, afford one of the finest exercises to female genius, and one of the most amusing that can be imagined; besides that such productions are the most permanent.

But the truth is, nothing complete or distinguished in those attempts can be expected, while the proper foundation is so generally omitted to be laid; I mean drawing, which is

The third accomplishment I would take the liberty to inculcate. That many more young ladies would be found qualified for such a study than is usually apprehended, I cannot doubt. Several, I am certain, have applied to it with

the greatest success and pleasure, who before they began, did not promise themselves the least. It is truly surprising, that so few of our more intelligible females should show a desire of being instructed in so pleasing an art, at a time too when it is to be learnt with such advantage and encouragement.

None can be ignorant, that the principles and practice of drawing were never understood amongst us to the height they are at present ; owing chiefly to the patronage of a society, that reflects the greatest credit on this country, and on this age. But here justice to your sex demands an acknowledgement which we joyfully make, that several honorary rewards have been most deservedly gained by young ladies of rank and character, for specimens of ingenuity, which it is to be hoped their grand-children will one day mention and emulate with honest pride.

If such of you, my amiable hearers, as are in a situation to try whether nature has given you talents for this beautiful accomplishment, would fairly make the essay, you might very probably open to yourselves, and to your friends, a spring of entertainment that would never run dry; that would contribute to improve, while it delighted' you, by adding to your ideas of elegance and grace; that would prevent many a folly, and many a sin, which proceed from idleness; and

be not hurt if I add, that would prove the means of future support, should it please the supreme wisdom to reduce you to a state of dependence.

Let it

There are other pretty works extremely proper for female hands, which I need not specify here, since several of the remarks already made will, I presume, be applicable to them. suffice to say in general, that whatever is genteel, and whatever is useful, in such occupations, should always claim your regard, when you have leisure and capacity. The former you will seldom want, if you have learnt to portion out. your time with judgment; and in the latter you ought never to pronounce yourselves defective, before you have honestly tried.

The last accomplishment of the elegant kind, which I shall mention, is music. This, I conceive, is to be recommended with more discrimination than the rest, how much soever such a notion may contradict the prevailing opinion. There are young ladies indeed, who, without any particular advantage of a natural air or good voice, have by means of circumstances peculiarly favourable, made great proficiency in music: but then they have made it at a vast expence of time and application; such as no woman ought to bestow upon an object, to which she is not carried by the irresistable impulse of genius.

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In many other arts it is possible for original talents to lie dormant, till called up by assiduity or accident; but where there is a strong propension to this, it will, I imagine, hardly forbear to burst out, by means of the trancendant pleasure derived from it on all occasions. If it does not, if even the best music can be heard without a degree of delight bordering on transport; either the practice will never reward the pains necessary for acquiring it; or, there being no native vein of excellence in that way, it will, as has been commonly observed, be discontinued on a change of condition; in which case you lose the labour of years, that might have been directed with lasting benefit into some other channel.

Be this as it may, you will readily allow, that for a young lady who has no turn for the study I am speaking of, to be condemned both to mortify herself, and to punish her acquaintance, by murdering every lesson put into her hands, is a very aukward situation, however much her master may, for the sake of his craft, flatter her and her friends; assuring them, perhaps with an air of great solemnity, that he never had a better 'scholar in all his life. If she whose attainments in this kind are but indifferent, could be contented to amuse herself, and those of her own family. now and then, with an air that happened to please them, it were well; but how does a judi

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