The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1804-08-18
FOR THE ENQUIRER.
ON THE CONDITION OF WOMEN.
T II e x Il 7 " b @ W.....No. II.

1T has been fsid that the civilization Of
country may be fairly eftimated by the degree
of refpect which is paid to its women. The
ientiment is not more gallant than it is juh. Its
truth has been Demonstrated by MefIieurs Alex
ander, Thomas, Rutleil, and various other wri-
tiers who, for this purpoie, have retorted, not
to any ATTRACTED enquiries into the characters
of the itxes but to direct appeal to the ex-
perience of nations. They have filewn, BY
curious and mott iatereiting inveitigation, that
from the benighted and ienfual iavage of New
Zealand, or of Nootka Sound, through every
graduation, up to the poliihed gentleman of Eu-
rope or America, the difference and veneration
for the female part of the fociety is exactly in
proportion to the degree of retirement which
each nation has attained. In national point of
view, Virginia need not to ihrink from this teG
or her refinement. I'm every focal circle in
which the teXes are blended, we may obierve
ianctity as we'll as tenderness of attention to
the fair, which would not dEgrace knight in
the proudeit days of chivalry. But the moral
aft, who aims ut the culture OF the virtues, will
direct his attention not 10 much to the manners
OF the drawing-room, as 10 thofe which may be
obierved in till more private life. He will look
through the ceremonies which men may act
from Difference to their company, and BY which
indeed, they recognize and bow obedience to
the fentiment above expreiisd he will look
ttSlC DliltOS Oh ltdtS, INTO the DOAOfn or
the private family, and watch the manners of
the hufband and the father when every reitraint
is removed. 1t will be by the discoveries which
he iiisli make here, that he will dired his ido-
nitions and on this ground, l fear that the nlo-
ralit not of Virginia only, but OF all thofe itates
which boat of their refinement, will ind too
much room for cenfure and admonit'on.
What is true ofnations, in this cafe, Is, r~s-
fume, equally true OF individuals or in other
nc h.A hat, &c
the nation, may be fairly citimated by the de-
gree Of refpeGt which he pays 10 the fair. When
ipcal; OF civilization, do not mean fcence !;
hnce we have fometimes feen a very highly iu-
minated mind, connected with cold, malig-
nant, or ferocious heart but by civilization,
mean, that change which is wrought upon the
favage man by the humanzing, foftening, re-
finng power of focial virtue. Neither, by REF
pea to tie. fair do mean the bows and grinace
of betit ,uaifre, which monkey might learn ;
nor the ftill more impofing exterior of elegance
and fenhbility which a Zeluco could aiIume {;
but, by re[3e7 TO fbs fair, mean genuine and
tender difference, which has not merely CLAN
ced upon the furface, but penetrated and per-
,vaded every portion of the heart /; mean not
an vocational thew, but iinccTe, perennial,
an habitual reiped and affection, which renders
man involuntarly aiiduous to the wants, and
sympathetic with the minutet fifferings of the
fofter and genterfex. With thefe explanations
4 reiume my petition, and beg my male reader
TO allure hmfsf that whatever figure he NAV
make in other fpe6ts; however brilliantly he
may thine as a man of erudition, genius, wit, or
humour, he is, nevertheless, civilized or not in
proportion he has learned to refpeGt the fair !;
aud more particularly that portion Of them
Whole protection ne may have affirmed.
x IS ;GioGrf;i t;;tis chat the life ff
eft girl among us, is too often a ferries of fufer-
ing and offorrow. Too many of them pats on
20 death, without having once found the 4" fun
ny flope" of tranquility, on which they could re-
pofe & declare themGelves, for momcnt, at cafe.
Their fuferings begin often with life. The REL
traint oftheir childhood even when they are falu-
tary, are foirceso of trouble becaufe thvirmotive
is net yet perceived by the young & inexperier-
ced mind But not unfrequently the reftraiEts
OF childhood infead of being prompted by pa
rental wiidom and tenderness, are the nior1enta-
ry dictates OF headlong PATTON and brutal cruel
ty. TINS tyranny commenced in their child
hood, IS extended even to their maturel' years !;
ard II becomes the more fevere as it is then in
fiGfcd on Il mind capable of eftimatne its
wrongs, and often eXerted on thofe fenGibiities
fthe heart which can leaf brook the curb and
la!h of authority. Marriage itfei is, too fire.
quietly, little more than change of tyrants {;
and the idol of the lighing and adoring lover,
dwiudes down into the neglected opprcllcd,
iniuted drudge Of an unprincipled and proiligate
hHIo3nd. lit the poor, lonely momner, gives
birth 70 fous ; Che locks on with remorie to the
time when they, iuther turn, armed with the au-
thority of huband, illall " play ftIch fantaitic
tricks before high Heaven, as will make even al
gels weep" if fhe gives birth to daughters
1t would not be fubjett of great wonder, if,
Ike the miferable mothers on the banks of the
Croonoko, ihe llould flay them, out OF compaf.
fon, and fmother them in the hour of their
birth.--How many women have here their hifo-
ny iketChed Look clofey into the domcftic
movements Of our people, and you will find
that this fombre picture has too many originals.
am not accuiing parents or hulbands with the
practice OF favage violence on their daughters or
their wives to generous woman there are
many wrongs infinitely more humiliating and
agolizing than the in!li3tion of actual violence.
The deftiny Of poor MARIA differed in fome
refps6ts from the preceding fketch. Maria was
among the faircIt and fweeteit girls that have
ever known. IF the love OF the fondeh and befl
Of parents--if the moff enchanting grace and
bcauty--if the pure fprit and difpoftions of a
feraph could have faved her from mifery, Maria
had been fayed. Ny heart bleeds at the recol.
lection Of her. But let me try to command inv.
fvif while tell ibis tale of Joy turned into for.
row oftac fairof hopes reverted and blaRed-
of The brishteft lufre and beauty extingulhed
forever.
Her parents were not ricI but they were
good. Although they had lived much I'm the