to the moment it is visibly of:  And even the most sollicitous about it, have usually employ’d their care herein but by halves with respect to the Principal Part in so great a concernment; for the information and improvement of the Understanding by useful Knowledge, (a thing highly necessary to the right regulation of the Manners) is commonly very little thought of in reference to one whole Sex; even by those who in regard of the other, take due care hereof.  But to this omission in respect of one Sex, it is manifestly very much to be attributed, that that pains which is often bestow’d upon the other, does so frequently, as it does, prove ineffectual:  Since the actual assistance of Mothers, will (generally speaking) be found necessary to the right forming of the Minds of their Children of both Sexes; and the Impressions receiv’d in that tender Age, which is unavoidably much of it passed among Women, are of exceeding consequence to Men throughout the whole remainder of their Lives, as having a strong and oftentimes unalterable influence upon their future Inclinations and Passions.

As those Persons who afforded that agreeable Conversation I have mention’d, were the greater part of them Ladies, it was not strange if they express’d much displeasure at the too general neglect of the Instruction of their Sex; a Reflection not easily to be avoided by them, when their thoughts upon the miscarriages and unhappiness of Mankind in general, terminated in a more peculiar Consideration of that part which those of their own Condition had in the one, and the other.  Wherein the Conversation concluded where it had begun; the occasion which introduced it having been the Enquiry of a Lady, What was the Opinion of one in the Company concerning a Book Intitled Conseils d’Ariste sur les Moyens de conserver sa Reputation?  Of which (she said) she had heard divers Persons of Merit and Quality, speak very differently:  Some as if it contained the most useful Instructions that could be given for the rendring any young Lady such as her best Friends could wish she should be; and others, as relishing too much of an Antiquated severity, not indulgent enough either to the natural and agreeable Gaiety of Youth, or to that innocent Liberty now in use, deriv’d like most of our other Fashions, from that Nation where these Counsels were thought needful.

I remember not the Book you speak of enough to answer to your desire, (reply’d the Person to whom this Enquiry was address’d) but what you say is objected to these Conseils is without doubt impertinent, unless the Precepts therein meant to be condemn’d, are shown to be in themselves faulty; it being certainly otherwise no matter of exception to them that they are not Indulgent to what an Age, the Manners whereof they were intended to correct, had establish’d or found agreeable.  This Objection yet can hardly (I think) be less just, than such a Character of any Book of this Nature, as some