Women and Wedlock are the common topics of ridicule among men, who, without one spark of genius or capacity, imagine themselves wits, and set up for such; but whatever either they, or some who even have a better way of thinking in other things, pretend to alledge against the sex, it is very evident, and must be confess'd, that nature has endow'd the minds of many women with as great and valuable talents as ever she bestow'd on men.

Numberless are the examples which might be brought from the records both of ancient and modern history, to prove the truth of this assertion, but I shall content myself with mentioning only a few, yet enough to make those unworthy maligners of a sex to which, they know in their own hearts, they are indebted for all the convenience and happiness of their lives, take shame to themselves and blush for what they have said.

Who is so ignorant as not to have heard of the fam'd Cornelia of Rome, – the mother of the Gracchi, – and the wife of Brutus, – the learned Hypatia of Greece, – the Boadicea and the Cartismuda of ancient Britain; – but 'tis needless to look back into such distant times, – the wife of the late Peter the Great of Muscovy, – the imperial heroine of Germany, – Signiora Laura of Italy, – and the present queens of Sweden and the Two Sicilies, are no less public than shining proofs of the capacity of a female mind.

And even here, in this degenerate island, where all wisdom and all virtue have been gradually decreasing for upwards of fifty years, there are not wanting some, I may say many ladies, who in private, and almost obscure life, are possess'd of qualifications that might add lustre to the highest stations.