Alexandria gazette & advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1822-1824, 1823-07-29
For fhe .alerandria Gazette.

For The .HieTGndrld GGzeHe.
Jir. Editor--You will confer an obligation
upon lady, by inserting the enclosed commu.
nication in your paper.
TO LAVATER.
It cannot but be. readily imagined
that | feel a considerable degree of
diffidence in addressing a lady, whose
reputation as a writer is already at
its highest pitch, by producing SO
wonderfully displaying such strength
of mind, elegance of diction, and ex-
tensive reading; but [ am inspired
with more confidence than | could
otherwise possess, having the proud
satisfaction Of knowing that it is in
the defence of my own sex Contrary
to your opinion, but congenial to my
own)-proud Of its accomplishment,
gifted with rare beauty, and blessed
with superiority over the other; and
I assure you, while am constrained
to differ from you in many material
points, my feelings of pride are ex-
allied that our sex have one among
them who, though widely aversc to
their general principles, can WELD
the pen with the power of a Dc Stael,
and paint the scenes Of cruel SANDER
in a manner which would do credit to
a Hogarth. Pity it is, that such a
pen and talent was not exercised in
the defence of, instead of calumniating
the sex.
1t is somewhat, dearest Madam, to
your disadvantage, that the impress
siLn is circulating among the males,
as well as the females. that some pet
ty affair has taken place between you
and one or others Of our own sex,
upon mere groundless suspicion, and
in order to seek that rsuenge, (Which,
sorry for the fair eyes of beauty, is
sometimes felt among them) you have
had recourse to step which would
.t"nd, If trnn, tn l"oean tho female sex.
not in their own opinion, but in the
eyes of those whom they most wish to
please. If it were true, the males
would fail to regard us with the same
sentiments of respect which is attach
ed to every word VIC utter, and every
glance we give instead of the bumi-
liating love-sick look with which they
accost us, it would be the proud over
bearing spirit of master; and then,
indeed, might we exclaim against
her, who, probably conscious of her
own want Of charms, has endcavored
TO destroy the effect which others so
wonderfully possess: but firmly am 1
of contrary opinion, not only in re-
spect to the motives which urged you
on. but of your beauty, wit and Ia
Tents.
| l am well aware, that the gossip
ing mania has great range among a
certain portion of the female sex, but
am also conscious that it is confined
to narrower bounds than with the o.
Their. You yourself state, "that
the love of scandal is generally in
proportion to the deficiency Of other
topics.' Let me, madam, admit this
ground. and we find, that shat out
from the world, excluded from al
most all the rational enjoyments
which every human being should be
granted, it cannot &c at all topic of
surprise that eur conversation would
be upon such subjects as our ideas
would conjure up. We talk plainly
of every thing which enters our
mind, and even if an idea of cruel
nature occurs, it does not interrupt
our conversation, bnt freely and ho-
nestly discuss its merits. and the JUS
tiCe Of it. Are we at all to blame?
arc we to be called to an account at
| q cnnrt nf iuStice en- nI,iniono ,,n;