THE FEMININE SOUL: Its Nature and Attributes. WITH THOUGHTS UPON MARRIAGE, AND FRIENDLY HINTS UPON FEMININE DUTIES. BY ELIZABETH STRUTT, AUTHOR OF "THE BOOK OF THE FATHERS, 66 YOUNG CHRISTIAN'S COMPANION," 66 "SIX 66 "There is a Sex in our Souls." COLERIDGE. "For Woman is not undeveloped Man, But diverse could we make her as the man, Sweet love were slain; whose dearest bond is this, TENNYSON. LONDON: J. S. HODSON, 22, PORTUGAL STREET, LINCOLN'S INN. 1857. 270.C. 335. ΤΟ LEOPOLD HARTLEY GRINDON. DEAR SIR, HAD your "Essay on the Sexuality of Nature" sooner come within the sphere of my observation, the following pages might, probably, never have been laid before the Public. I was, however, by a lengthened sojourn on the continent, prevented the gratification of perusing it, until my work was so far advanced that, being deeply interested in its subject, I could not prevail upon myself to forego its completion. In now dedicating it to you I only fulfil a debt of gratitude for the pleasure, and, I may very truthfully add, the profit your writings have afforded me as well from the purity and sublimity of the religious views exhibited in them, the accuracy with which the operations of nature a* are described, the beauty of the analogies drawn from them, the appropriateness of the classical citations, the amiable spirit of the philosophy which pervades the sentiments, and the elegance of the language in which they are expressed. I trust, Sir, that this testimonial of my esteem will not be received by you with less cordiality, on account of its being offered by a stranger. I am, indeed, rather inclined to hope that, on the contrary, that very circumstance may prove a recommendation in your eyes, as an evidence of impartial judgment, and I beg you to believe me, DEAR SIR, Sincerely and respectfully yours, ELIZABETH STRUTT. 40, Great Ormond Street, Queen Square, December 24, 1856. The Feminine Soul. "That there is spiritual sex, as well as corporeal sex, is one of the sublimest facts in human nature."-GRINDON. THE question of the equality of the sexes, or rather, to speak more correctly, of their relative positions to each other, is one which has, of late years, been the frequent subject of literary and oratorical discussion; without, however, its having arrived, as yet, at any satisfactory conclusion. It is, nevertheless, a question of the first importance to the interests and happiness of society; because upon a right understanding of it, the discharge of the peculiar duties of both sexes greatly depends. The error that has hitherto attended the enquiry, seems to have been more in terms than in arguments. The proposition itself, as it appears to us, stands simply thus : FIRST. Is Woman equal to Man? We do not mean equal, as to her existing social position; for Man, possessing superior physical |