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HE progrefs of the female fex, a capital branch of the hiftory of man, comprehends great va

riety of matter, curious and interesting. But sketches are my province, not complete histories; and I propofe in the present sketch to trace the gradual progrefs of women, from their low ftate VOL. II. A

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in favage tribes, to their elevated state in civilized nations.

With regard to the outlines, whether of internal difpofition or of external figure, men and women are the fame. Nature, however, intending them for mates, has given them difpofitions different but concordant, fo as to produce together delicious harmony. The man, more robust, is fitted for fevere labour and for field-exercises the woman, more delicate, is fitted for fedentary occupations; and particularly for nurfing children. That difference is remarkable in the mind, no lefs than in the body. A boy is always running about; delights in a top or a ball, and rides upon a ftick as a horse. A girl has lefs inclination to move her first amusement is a baby; which she delights to drefs and undrefs. I have feen oftener than once a female child under fix getting an infant in its arms, careffing it, finging, and walking about ftaggering under the weight. A boy never thinks of fuch a paftime. The man, bold and vigorous, is qualified for being a protector: the woman, delicate and timid, requires protection.

tection *. The man, as a protector, is directed by nature to govern: the woman, confcious of inferiority, is difpofed to obey. Their intellectual powers correfpond to the deftination of nature: men have penetration and folid judgement to fit them for governing women have fufficient understanding to make a decent figure under good government; a greater proportion would excite dangerous rivalfhip. Women have more imagination and more fenfibility than men ; and yet none of them have made an eminent figure in any of the fine arts. We hear of no fculptor nor ftatuary among them; and none of them have rifen above a mediocrity in poetry or painting. Nature has avoided rivalfhip between the fexes, by giving them different talents. Add another capital difference of difpofition: the gentle and infinuating manners of the female sex, tend to foften the roughness of the other fex; and where-ever women are in

*From which it appears to proceed, that women naturally are more careful of their reputation than men, and more hurt by obloquy.

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