Paradise, the eleven thousand virgins alone shew that the feminine sex has as good a share therein as men. In thrones, Semiramis, Thomiris, many queens and empresses, have manifested, that women as well know how to command as men; Judith cutting off the head of Holofernes, and the Maid of Orleans, proving that men are not alone courageous, and fit for martial achievements. In brief, there is no kind of performances in which examples are not to be found, both of men and women, who have acquitted themselves well therein. In economy, or the management of a family, if some men are masters, there are found women, too, who, having the supremacy, perform so well, that the man cannot complain. Therefore, they who seek the cause of the nobleness or abjectness of man and woman in the sex, seek it where it is not. It is not the being a man or a woman that makes noble or ignoble; it is the being an excellent man, or an excellent woman; for, as they are mistaken who impute some vice or virtue to a whole province, because to be vicious or virtuous are personal things; the same ought to be said concerning man or woman, who are citizens of the whole world; either of whom, taken in general, has nothing in them but what is very decorous, good, and perfect, and, consequently, very noble, as proceeding from an Author, who communicated to them what perfection and nobleness were respectively requisite. If there be any defect, it proceeds from the individual person, and ought no more to be attributed to the sex, than to the species.

The following very curious observations on women, are extracted from Owen Feltham's Resolves :

"Some are so uncharitable as to think all women bad; and others are so credulous, as to believe they all are good. Surely, though every man speaks as he finds, there is no reason to direct our opinion, without experience of the whole sex, which, on a strict examination, makes more to their honour, than most men have acknowledged. At first, she was created his equal, only the difference was in the sex; otherwise, they both were man. If we argue from the text, that male and female made man, so the man, being put first,

was worthier: I answer, so the evening and the morning were the first day; yet few will think the night the better. The man is made her governor, and so above her; I believe rather the punishment of her sin, than the prerogative of his worth. Had they both stood, it may be thought she had never been in that subjection; for then it had been no curse, but a continuance of her former estate, which had nothing but blessedness in it. Peter Martyr is of opinion, that man, before the fall, had priority. But Chrysostom, he says, does doubt it. All will grant her body more admirable, more beautiful, than man's; full of curiosities, and noble nature's wonder, both for conception, and fostering the producted birth. And can we think that God would put a worse soul into a better body? When man was created, it is said, 'God made man;' but when woman, it is said 'God builded her;' as if he had then been about a frame of rarer rooms, and more exact composition. And, without doubt, in her body she is much more wonderful; and by this, we may think her so in her mind. Philosophy tells, though the soul be not caused by the body, yet, in the general, it follows the temperament of it: so the comeliest outsides are naturally, for the most part, virtuous within. If place can be any privilege, we shall find her built in Paradise, when man was made without it. It is certain that women are, by constitution, colder than the boiling man: so, by this, more temperate. It is heat that transports man to immoderation and fury; it is that which hurries him to a savage and libidinous violence. Women are naturally the more modest; and modesty is the seat and dwelling-house of virtue. Whence proceed the most abhorred villanies, but from a masculine unblushing impudence? What a deal of sweetness do we find in a mild disposition! When a woman grows bold and daring, we dislike her, and say, she is too like a man: yet, in ourselves, we magnify what we condemn in her. Is not this injustice? Every man is so much the better, by how much he comes nearer to God. Man in nothing is more like him, than in being merciful. Yet woman is far more merciful; it being a sex wherein pity and compassion have dispersed far brighter rays. God is said to be love; and I am sure, every where woman is spoken of for transcending in that quality. It was never found but in two men only, that their love exceeded that of the feminine sex; and, if you observe them, you shall find that they were both of melting dispositions. I know, when women prove bad, they are a sort of the vilest creatures; yet still the same reason gives it; for optima, corrupta, pessima;' the best things, corrupted, become the worst.' They are beings, whose souls are of a more ductile temper than the harder metal of man, so may be made both better and worse.

The representation of Sophocles and Euripides may be both true; and for the tongue-vice, talkativeness, I see not, but at meetings, men may very well vie with them in many words. It is true, they are not of so tumultuous a spirit, so not so fit for great actions. Natural heat does more actuate the striving genius of man. Their easy natures make them somewhat more irresolute; whereby men have argued them of fear and inconstancy. But men have always held the parliament, and have enacted their own wills, without ever hearing them speak; and then how easy is it to conclude them guilty! Besides, education makes more difference between men and women than nature; and all their aspersions are less noble, since coming entirely from their enemies. Diogenes snarled bitterly, when, walking with another, he saw two women talking, and said, 'See, the viper and asp are changing poison.' The poet was conceited that said, 'After they were made ill, then God made them fearful; that man might rule them, otherwise they had been past dealing with. Still I am resolved to honour virtue in what sex soever I find it; and I think, in general, I shall find it more in women than in men, though perhaps weaker, and more infirmly guarded. I believe they are better, and may be brought to be worse. Neither shall the faults of many make me uncharitable to all; nor the goodness of some, make me credulous of the rest. Though hitherto, I confess, I have not found more sweet and constant goodness in man, than I have found in woman; and yet, of these, I have not found a number.""

In the same work we have many curious questions on love affairs, with their answers. For the amusement of the reader I insert the following selection:

QUESTION.

Why men oblig'd, do still fresh loves pursue,
While those denied are generally true?

ANSWER.

By wind and water, sparks and flames arise,
While soon the quiet flame in ashes dies.

QUESTION, FROM THE LADIES.
How Love to all our hearts the way can find,
When he himself, vain deity, is blind!

ANSWER.

Unless ourselves we yield, he can't command,
He finds the way, because we guide his hand.

QUESTION.
Say, if your studies can devise,

Ör what new methods can you find,
That men, made up of oaths and lies,
May yet be charm'd by woman kind,

Or, since the task so hard does prove,
What is't that our poor sex must do,
While, tho' we would declare our love,
Tis yet too dangerous to woo?
If we surrender soon our hearts,
Those easy conquests breed disdain,
You rail at all our female arts,

And swear that maids should never feign.
How wretched then is virgin youth,
Which neither path can safely try,
Since scorn attends on speaking truth,
And virtue yet forbids to lie!

ANSWER.

A brave resistance gives renown.
While easy conquests all disdain;
The longer you defend the town,

The greater honour still you gain.
Nor ever was 't esteem'd disgrace,

When there's no succour in the field,
Although you'll not betray the place,
On honourable terms to yield.
That weak within, you need not own
To those who eagerly pursue;
Nor are without our forcès known,
But you cheat us, and we cheat you.
From questions, by ensnaring youth
Propos'd, your wit must set you free;
You need not tell us all the truths-

You're on your oaths no more than we.

Ledyard, the famous traveller, gives the following just character of the fair sex :

"I have always remarked, that women, in all countries, are civil, obliging, tender, and humane; that they are ever inclined to be gay and cheerful, timorous and modest; and that they do not hesitate, like men, to perform a generous action. Not haughty, not arrogant nor supercilious, they are full of courtesy, and fond of society; more liable, in general, to err than man; but in general, also, more virtuous, and performing more good actions than he. To a woman, whether civilized or savage, I never addressed myself in the language of decency and friendship, without receiving a decent and friendly answer. With men, it has been otherwise. In wan dering over the barren plains of inhospitable Denmark, through honest Sweden, and frozen Lapland, rude and churlish Finland, unprincipled Russia, and the wide-spread regions of the

wandering Tartar, if hungry, dry, cold, wet, or sick, the women have ever been friendly to me, and uniformly so; and to add to this virtue, so worthy the appellation of benevolence, these actions have been performed in so free and so kind a manner, that if I was dry, I drank the sweetest draught, and if hungry, I ate the coarse morsel with a double relish."

The sentiments of this enterprising traveller are thus expressed in poetry,

Through many a land and clime a ranger,
With toilsome steps I've held my way,
A lonely unprotected stranger,

To all the stranger's ills a prey.
While steering thus, my course precarious,
My fortune still has been to find
Men's hearts and dispositions various,
But gentle woman ever kind.
Alive to every tender feeling,

To deeds of mercy always prone;
The wounds of pain and sorrow healing,
With soft compassion's sweetest tone.
No proud delay, no dark suspicion,
Stints the free bounty of their heart;
They turn not from the sad petition,
But cheerful aid at once impart.
Form'd in benevolence of nature,
Obliging, modest, gay, and mild,
Woman's the same endearing creature,
In courtly town, and savage wild.
When parch'd with thirst, with hunger wasted,
Her friendly hand refreshment gave;
How sweet the coarsest food has tasted!
What cordial in the simple wave!

Her courteous looks, her words caressing,
Shed comfort on the fainting soul:
Woman's the stranger's general blessing,
From sultry India to the Pole.

Mr. Mungo Park, in his Travels, gives the following interesting story, which corroborates the account of other travellers, respecting the natural kindness of females: "I was prevented from crossing over to the southern bank of the Niger, by an order from Mansong, king of Bambarra, and was advised to spend the night in a distant village. At this vil