The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1810-01-04
REFLECTIONS ON
FEMALE EDUCATION

Among the various agents concerned i'm the
production OF national happiness, there is
none mora constant in its operation or jnoDor
tant in its consequences than Education. IL
is the grand principle which preserves the
harniony and vigour Of of the social system.
winch imparts eaergy to government with
out rendering 1t despotic, and liberty to the
people without rendering them lieentious.
Notning can excite greater astonishment,
IMAM thaf subJsct so completely identified
with the interests of the public, should have
been considered with such little attention.
Although patriotic efforts have been made to
uiffuse more widely the streams of kpowl.
cage and to render them accessible to every
CLASS ef Citizens, yet these efforts have not
peeh commensurate to the magnitude of the
OBJECT, whose Accomplishments was desigped
Institutions for the instruction of youpe men
nave been reared, and submitted to the CON
troll OF enlightened professors. In this man
her the cause of science has been promoted
ana the number OF her votaries Increased ::
but she has never found a SANITARY amenpst
thaS sex, whose situation in life requires ev
cry advcntitious support
The necessity of enlareipp the limits of
female education will be acknowledged by
every generous and unprejudiced mind. and
All inc peretricious arts of sophistry will ne
yer pc sufnclent to palliate its neglect. We
aHipiify the functions which belong to men.
because we are accustomed to see them CO.
vered with the purple robes of power. "hoId.
ing the balance in which the destinies of pa
tons arc deposited, at one tune summoninr
Whoie world to arms, at another recalling
.hsih' win the gentle voice of peace to the
hailowed pursuits Of honest industry.
we deprecia,e the respectabiiity of women
IN corresponding proportion, because we
in ,,fi,s IL e
lie than that of attending to culinary prepa-
rations, or Ut Diminishing an exhausted ward
ropc with the splendid trappings of fashion.
But let MS recolleCt that the characters of
the most distinguished actors on this capa-
cious theatre are modified by the Impressions
winch they receive from their mothers
mat they are virtuous or vicious, that thew
burn with a holy zeal for the happiness of
mankind, or are hurried into the work OF
destruction by the infatuation of ambition.
III proportion as those who gave them birth.
anu VINO are the organs OF awakening their
ihteiiectuai energies, are ightened or igno.
rant, generous or dcpraved In infancy the
mind IS peculiarly ductie, ana NAV with G.
quail facility, be made the seat of corruption.
or the shrine of morality. At this eventfui
period OF human life, the mother implsuts
the rudunents of the character which futu
rity viii develope. Who formed the Grac-
Chi to virtue, stored their young minds with
knowledge and tuned their tongues to ell
o9uences The illustrious Cornelia-O;hsr
names might be added, and numerous reHec-
tens introduced to shew the p edominan, IN
iuence OF early impressions in deciding the
tate OF lndividuals-but this truth. i, * pre-
sumsd, cannot be controverted, and there
tore requires no Further illustration
In passing from tbs duties Of a mother to
those OF wife, we snail not fad less ist!ucc
NJ snts 20 ame,iorate the system OF female
edSc~i'on. In the latter character which
concentrates zoe mos. ,sader rels,i3.s efha.