the principles that result from my experience, women, and society in general, should be induced to give a new form and colour to the sex, my sisters of the feeble frame would venerate the memory of Sophia, and, while they dropped a tear on her grave, would say, Here lie the ashes of her who was the friend of weakness, and the enemy of corruption; the upholder of virtue, and the determined foe of its suborners.

And now, Sir, that I have paved the way for the sequel of my system, or rather of the simple narrative of my practice, it might seem expedient that I should separate the ac count I am to give of my method with my different pupils into schedules of their respective arrangements. But as the corner-stone of my fabric is Reason and plain good Sense, producing gradually acquaintance with Nature and Social Energy, I include all my pupils equally in the same mode of institution, till the eldest is fit to speculate upon her future duties with suitable understanding.

I shall treat of my management of Alathea as nearly applicable to my other girls, or to girls in all the three situations I have described.

Health is necessary for a perfect state of intellect; and health is best promoted by living according to nature. My daughters went to sleep, in winter at ten, and in summer at nine at night. When I observed them exhausted with fatigue, they were advised to

sleep in a cool shady place in summer, from one to three o'clock in the afternoon. In winter, they rose so as to be able to go to work as soon as the dawn of day would permit: nine hours sleep are necessary from infancy to ten or twelve; eight from that to majority; seven from thence till thirty; and thenceforward six may suffice. Sleep is the reward of exercise, the employment of body and soul, which acquire a fresh supply of spirits by repose. During six months, from the vernal equinox to the autumnal, three charming morning hours a-day may be added to the stock of active, pleasing existence; these my daughters never failed to enjoy. We are constantly complaining of the shortness of life. Three interesting and useful hours a-day added to our existence, may be fairly estimated at a fourth part of our whole rational existence. The morning is the season for vigorous perception, and placid clear enjoyment of the beauties and peculiarities of nature and sentiment. The nerves are well braced, the animal spirits flow regularly and gently; all is still; there are no glaring objects of sense, there is no dissipating occurrence of society to disturb the imagination in this delightful portion of the day. I trained my Alathea, therefore, by taking thought, to add more than a span to her existence. She became every month more alert and vigorous by this practice. Instead of hanging her head and arms, like the willow of Babylon, she skipped and

bounded like the roe of the forest; but she was mild as a zephyr, and placid as a summer evening, after gentle showers. It was my custom to walk out with my daughters, and snatch every interval of play to attract their attention to the beautiful and interesting objects of nature and art. I walked not with them like a stately governess, to be a spy'upon their innocent enjoyments, but like an old friend, to add taste and ingenuity to their youthful inventions. This exercise of the morning succeeded immediately to their religious and moral lessons, which were enförced and rendered delightful, by making them immediately as happy as possible after these serious considerations had been excited, that virtue and happiness might be associated in their infant minds, and that their affections to the bountiful Author of their beings might be warmed by the immediate sensual enjoyment of the innocent pleasures which are afforded every where, and at all times, to those whose minds are not corrupted and debased by vicious gratifications. Then we

came home in the finest trim imaginable for study. The mind, satiated with innocent amusement, returns with a redound to the habits of regular employment. My young folks bad warm milk from the cow, with a little bread, after their sports, and then an hour and a half was spent in reading, writing, and reciting, before breakfast. I contrived, by various means, to give them an aversion

to Indian tea, butter toast, and the vile enervating breakfasts of boiling liquors, that have introduced indigestions, palsies, the scrophula, and a horrid train of diseases that follow from a relaxed state of the stomach.

The morning having been spent in the elementary study of the structure of language, -writing, and arithmetic, an interval for amusement, in the open air, being allowed after breakfast, the girls accompany me in my superintendence of domestic affairs; go with me to the dairy, the poultry yard, and the kitchen garden. They ask me a thousand little questions, which I never fail to answer pertinently, and suitably to their understanding, always taking care never to under-rate their capacities, but to treat them as rational little companions, who are deficient only in experience and firmness of mind. I teach them by these means to think. and speculate more and more, and to speak less without forethought. On some occasion or other, Alathea had rudely called one of the servants from some useful occupation, and when reproved, she said, Mamma, you know I would not for the world offend you, but it was only the scullion girl that I spoke to. Very well, Alathea, I suppose you think the girl is of no use; but I will tell you she is of more use than you are, and that you could not do without her. No more passed on the subject till dinner, when a soiled plate was set before Alathea at table. She looks confounded,

and calls for another. The butler says, Miss, the scullion would not clean your plate, as you had told your mamma that she was of no use, and supposed you meant by that you in tended to clean your own plates yourself.

Suddenly the tear stands in Alathea's eye, and she whispers me for leave to go away. I consent, and away she goes, and asks little Grizzel's pardon for her rudeness, is forgiven, and flies to the parlour with the news; the plate is sent away, and returned in trim from the scullery. Next week, when I expected a company of friends to dine with us, Alathea was not to be found at the school-hour after breakfast, nor did any of the girls know where she was; being sought for, she was found in the scullery, insisting on giving her services to Grizzel in cleaning the plates! Thus you see the effects of my management. Not only was my daughter made sensible, without harshness, of her folly, and the injury to poor Grizzel, but she is led to repair it according to the principles of justice, and to learn a lesson which will guide her in all the incidents of her future life. She is drawn to reflect, and to be a moral agent, without ser mons, lectures, and hardening reproofs !

~ The next portion of the day, before dinner, was dedicated to needle-work; and this was directed chiefly to such things as were to be applied to her own use, or done in affection to me, or to her sisters, or to Mary; or she makes up something for her father, to be