The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1805-04-06

Let us then form for onrlelves an imaginary wo-
man. Without pretending to work by any fanciful
and magnificent model, let fafhion her by Ra1-
dard, mott futable the acknowledged qualities OF
her fex and the exiting infitations Of iocety We
will not attempt adapt her character the captiva-
ting etons of the year $780," or to any of thoi.
blfful fages Of fociety, which fome speculative
reformars have delighted to mufe and expatate
This fancul ERA, if it fhould arrive, will MOI
probably extend the influence and attainments of wo-
man. But yet it exits only in the copieetures OF
philoophy, in the dreams of imagination and the
men now find them would be little calculated
toenjoy itsrehnements, & even difpofedto with
for its approach In word, would it not be ridicu-
lous for all genius in forming fome vi
honary Eve, who after traverilng the many-peo-
pied earth in feareh OF help mate" and companion
NUT at ait lit down with one who not fortunate
enough fhare her affections, or was incapable of
loving her for her moa ineaimable attractions
Laura then is female, who po1elles the ui.a ge-
MUS of her TEX. AS yet have not made the dcove-
ry whether he has the mind of man, with all it, ca-
pacities for deep argument, comprehensive views and
reeis relearch. The condition Of her Tex has hther-
been little favourable to the difplay of genius.
and it is therefore in vain determine whether their
actual iDferory is owing to the real of natr-
raj capacity, OF the proper of exciting it.
Some of the females of Europe have indeed Eloue
forth with iplendour, which would have given even
luitre to our own fex; yet even thefe exceptions
brilliant as they are, have lcarcely efablhed their
claim to the highet attributes of the mind.
We admire, for inRance, the literary produc-
duetons of the Engfh females. There glow of fem
timent about them, fearing ofthe imagination & a
delicate tate rthe picturefque which capvate, our
feelings But they Partake very little of the logic of az
gunient, and the correctness of analysis "1he rights
of woman," by Mary WolRencroft pronounced bv
intelligent and well known obferver to be the
greatet ornament her TEX ever had to boat :" the
mott raonatve competition, perhaps that ever came
from the pen ola woman, is completely deficient M
the force ofmethod.
You may fee in it the mot admirable materials.
from which competenta architect might rear a fpepd
id ffruaure But You mutt ALTO feel, a. YOU wander
through 1t, that you Plungng like Millions Satan
into a rude and indgeRible chaos, that needs an in
teligent mind to bring it into 1yaem, and give the
fiat, GO Let there be light"
The education of young female, houId not there
lore be as iolid as that of man, hould it be as
superficial as chat Of ordinary women. To draw the
line of determination between the nalculine and fe
mii,ine itudes, is problem of not lefs difficulty,
than the naturafs attempt to diftnguiih the vege-
table from the animal kingdom yet as there are fomc
caaes. which he finds trouble at all in aiiennq 20
their proper kingdom, hall alto find that there are
fome purflits, which we fia no. helitate 90 aaant
to the mind of Laura.
The genius OF her iex is tien my only guide III di-
recaing the itudes OF my pupil We will teach her
nothing which we may not continually illuarate by
facts, and embelifh by fenfible impreflions Laura
hail not become mathematician, or an aitrono,er
viii not make her lu5tle doctor of logic or1peta
phytics For thefe will admit of continue: re-
ference to fome pleaing, and captivating Object. Yet
mark, reader though Laura verified in iuch abb
rufe licences for the prefent, may perhaps find
an uie for them hereafter, when Laura has grown
old, or when Laura becomes the companion OF fome
enlightened man.
What then ihall we teach our pupil, We will in
troduce her to the hiffory of Pa ages. Laura fall
ne acquainted with man not only as he u.s. but as he
has been, through uccefion of years. If novels and
plays, preient her with picture of the mott prevail
ing manners ofiociety, fhe hall enquire among the
records OF hltory, for the various cufoms which hui
man nature has exhibited at different periods She
hall no longer be dihonored by the opinion that the
heroes and heroines Of the imagination the Cecili-
as, the Ovias, the Trevors of the noves are the
only characters which fhe is capable of understanding
we will take the liberty of Introducing to her ac-
quaintance, the Portias and Catos of antiquity. We
would convince her that the world has already pro-
duced fine models of virtue, worthy of her love 6,
imitation, the glowing fancy of TIE noye has ever
conceived.
We will make Laura acquainted with the other ia
miles of animated nature We will put into her
hands the eloquent volumes of Button, and as the
leaves iuccevey pats beneath their eyes, the eloquent
natrat ihall bring into review before her the d.
verified genera Of quadrupeds, BIRDS he and infects
which inhabit this nlanypeoped globe. Natural hii-
tory is Pleaiing, beeauie it is fmple udy. Il is
ufeu becaule it expands the conceptions and awaI-
ems the curioity of the mind. Laura fiall not ne
glea fcence, which he 70 many of the orna-
ments her perfon. ihould almof be aihained, if
Laura were TO dpIay plane Of feathers without be-
ing able TO defcribe the feaihered tribe to whom fe
owes 70 MANY obligations; or that ignorance ihould
prevent her from giving the hilory of the animal who
has contributed By its ihell the grace and decora-
ton of her hair.
The great family Of plants, which foine botanins
have ancifuly enough conldered as an inferior kind
of animals without the powers of ocomotion is more
especially entitled to attention. They are found
every where in the meads in the forefts on the fun,
nits Z: the oitet mountains, on the mott barren rock
aud every where they amuic us by the fragrance OF
,heir flowers, their diyerfed and graceful forms. 8;
the inDunerabe variations, which they receive from,
climate and art They delight and improve our fen.
ies; they caer beauty the Landscapes of nature
and they exalt the conceptions Of fancy To woman
fair and fading as themfeves to woman whole fenIe
fufceptibe of the mott thrilling fenations int,
whole boioms, nature has kindly breathed the fnef
tsfte for the pi6tureSque heGe innocent thee ever
varying, and pleafing productions of nature ou
be the Objects ofpeculiar care. What more elegan
sinuiement can Laura enjoy, than TO wander in he
parterres and her Hower-knots to dfpay tate IN IN
Election OF her flowers watch the proqreI of we're
tdtion, and TO catch nature in her happicH tunoJ