of the sexes. The same phrensy which renounced all belief in a supernatural revelation in France, in the time of the revolution, proclaimed an almost unlimited license of divorce, and the domestic hearth and the public altars of religion were violated and desecrated together. One of the most appalling horrors of that awful crisis, was the dissolution of family ties, the separation of husbands and wives, who, up to that period, had lived together in harmony and peace; the scattering of children, who were first made spectators of their parents' quarrels, and then turned adrift to get their morals and their education from the mobs of Paris.

What was then done in a mad moment of political excitement, is now attempted to be accomplished by the more deliberate process of a profligate literature, scattered abroad with a profusion equalling the multitudinous leaves of autumn. This literature has for its object to bring into contempt the whole institution of marriage, to pollute all its holy associations, to represent those who have been entrapped into it, as the victims of an absurd prejudice, or an antiquated usage. The relation in general is represented as a state of discontent,

rather than enjoyment, and those who rebel against its restraints are rather to be commended for their moral courage in re-asserting the rights of women, than blamed for their hardihood in striking at the root of all that is most sacred in the human heart, and all that is most precious in social institutions.

It is not wonderful, perhaps, that such a literature should be tolerated in France, where the traces of the infidelity and radicalism of the last century are not yet worn out. But it is strange that it should cross the channel and find English translators and readers; still more strange, that it should meet a reception in the United States, where, thanks to the influence of Christianity, marriage is still held in honor. Our whole country is at this moment flooded with these leprous dregs of corruption. If a premium were proposed for the composition of the most efficient instrument of the defilement of a whole generation, nothing could be brought forward more exactly fitted for its purpose. The mother who commends, or even tolerates in her family, such licentious productions, deserves to see her daughters unhappy in their married

life.

Woman has a right to education. By this I mean, that it is expedient for all parties that as much care and expense should be bestowed on the daughters as on the sons of a family. This, I am aware, is not the opinion or the practice which prevails in those parts of the world that are most civilized and most Christian. I shall attempt to give my reasons for thinking that the importance of giving women a thorough education is not sufficiently appreciated.

It is thought, because women do not exercise the learned professions, do not mingle in politics, do not transact public business, do not address assemblies, do not, as a general rule, employ their talents in authorship, that it is of minor importance whether or not their minds are stored with knowledge, whether their intellectual powers are disciplined by culture, whether they can transcend with credit to themselves, the most ordinary topics of conversation.

A part of mankind seem to think of woman as a mere doll, to be dressed up fantastically, and set up in the house as something to be looked at, or as a piece of automaton furniture, necessary to the completeness of a domestic

establishment.

Others seem to regard their

wives as the connecting link between themselves and society, to maintain the forms of daily intercourse, as a necessary instrument of success in business or ambition. Others make

a wife nothing more or other than a domestic drudge, to manage and labor for the daily wants of a household, to care for their physical wants and comforts, to see that they are well fed and clothed and lodged.

Those who entertain such an estimate of the sphere and duties of woman, will, of course, consider her education as a matter of but very little importance. But, I ask if this be a worthy conception of one half the human species? It might answer for a Mahometan, who believes that women are created without souls, and are not made to be the companions of men here or hereafter. But such ideas ought not to be so much as named among Christians, who believe that all souls are equal in the sight of God.

Woman has a right to be educated for her own sake, because it adds to her resources within herself, and enlarges her means of happiness. Besides adding to the stores of positive knowledge, education disciplines and perfects

all the faculties, gives acuteness to the perceptions, delicacy to the sensibilities, accuracy to the power of observation, solidity to the judgment, and gives a woman weight, influence and respect with those with whom she associates. Literature is becoming one of the chief means of entertainment, indeed, almost the only source of amusement to those who are past middle life. The profit and delight of reading is nearly in direct proportion to the knowledge already obtained. What more dignified, than for a woman to possess a sound judgment and a cultivated taste in literature, to be able to appreciate the greatest productions of the human mind, to be well informed on the principal subjects which engage the attention of the world?

What greater priviappreciate and enjoy educated and accom

lege than to be able to the conversation of the plished of both sexes, to be fluent and unembarrassed in the presence of the most learned and distinguished, to be delivered from the fear of committing disgraceful mistakes, and betraying the most humiliating ignorance in all companies, to have at hand some better and higher topics of conversation than the mere gossip of the day, to be able to relieve