N° 89.

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TUESDAY, March 14. 1780.

To the AUTHOR of the MIRROR.

SIR,

Was lately one of a pretty numerous com

pany of both fexes, when a lady then going to be married was the fubject of converfation, and was mentioned, by a gentleman prefent, as a very accomplished woman, to which the company in general affented. One lady remarked, fhe had often heard that phrafe made use of, without being able precifely to understand what was meant by it; that she doubted not it was bestowed with propriety on Mifs ; but, as fhe was not of her acquaintance, fhe wished to know, whether, when one was faid to be an accomplished woman, we were to understand fuch accomplishments as mufic, dancing, French, &c. which a boarding-school affords, or those higher attainments which the mind is suppofed to acquire by reading and reflection? Reading and reflection, repeated, with an iro

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nical

nical sneer, a very fine gentleman, who fat oppofite to her; I wonder how any one can fill girls' heads with fuch ridiculous nonfenfe. I am fure I never faw a woman's learning have any other effect than to make her conceited of herself, and a plague to her neighbours. Were I to enter the shackles, I have too much regard to my own ease to chuse a lady of reflection; and, had I any daughters, I should probably have plague enough with them, without their being readers. Another lady, without taking the fmalleft notice of what the gentleman had faid, obferved, that fhe did not wonder young ladies were discouraged from taking much pains in improving their minds, as, whatever a girl's understanding or mental accomplishments might be, they were univerfally neglected, at least by the gentlemen; and the company of any fool, provided The was handfome, preferred to theirs.-But, as this lady was rather homely, I durft not rely on her opinion.- An elderly gentleman then faid, he did not fee that reading could do a woman any harm, provided they confined themselves to books fit for them, and did not meddle with fubjects they could not understand, such as religion and politics. As to

the

the first, he faid, that, if a woman went regularly to church, faid her prayers, read her Bible, and did as she was bid, he thought it all that was neceffary; and as for politics, it was a fubject far beyond the reach of any female capacity. This gentleman had a little before given a very circumftantial (and I am fure I thought a very tirefome) account of the method of making votes for the next general election, to which the company feemed to pay very little attention; and, if that was what he meant by politics, he was certainly in the right; for I acknowledge I did not understand one word of it; nor did any of the ladies prefent, as I afterwards found, comprehend it more: than myfelf.

A young gentleman, who, from his correct manner of fpeaking, I fuppofe, belonged to the law, and who had hitherto liftened with great attention, then took upon him to be our fex's advocate, and was proceeding to fhow (in a very fenfible manner, as I thought) the little danger that was to be feared, and the great advantage that might be reaped from a young lady's appropriating a confiderable part of her time to reading, provided her studies were properly directed, when the arrival of fome:

fome ceremonious vifitors put an end to the converfation; and the company fat down to cards.

When I came home, I could not help reflecting, with a good deal of uneafiness, on what I had heard. For, if there is really no fuch thing as mental accomplishment rendering a young lady more amiable, or, if reading is to be of no real fervice to us, I have certainly employed a great part of my paft life to very little purpofe. I was brought up in the country, where reading was not only my greatest amufement, but I was always told, that, by that, and making proper reflections on what I read, I fhould become contented with myself, and be beloved and respected by all who knew me; and, by these improvements alone, could hope to equal my fifter, who is a great deal handfomer than I, but who could feldom be perfuaded to open a book.

But the converfation above mentioned, which happened very foon after I came to town, has raised many doubts in my mind, as to the real importance of my former ftudies. I have mentioned my uneafinefs to feveral of my female companions, who are all (efpecial

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ly fuch as are not handsome) very much interested in it, and would be very happy to fee a MIRROR on this fubject, though they were much furprised at my courage in propofing to write to you; which, indeed, I never could have done, had I been able to find any other way to communicate my diftrefs.

If you think this letter worthy your attention, I intreat you to give us, as foon as poffible, your opinion as to what fort of accomplishments a young lady ought to be most anxious to acquire, and whether there is not fome real advantage to be derived from reading; for, I would fain think the young gentleman was in the right, though I am forry I have never seen him fince, to hear what he had further to fay on the fubject.

But if, on the contrary, you convince me, that I either cannot, or need not aim at any mental accomplishments, I fhall lay by my book, and proceed to finish fome ornamental pieces of work, which have hitherto advanced very flowly, as I was always more folicitous to improve my mind, than to adorn my person. I am, Sir, your conftant reader and admirer,

EMILIA.

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