To this I may add, that the notions of the Quakers on the subject of oaths, and their ideas of the character which it becomes them to sustain in life, must have a powerful effect upon them in inducing an attention to the truth; for they consider Jesus Christ to have abolished civil oaths, because he wished to introduce a more excellent system than that of old, that is, because he meant it to be understood by his disciples, that he laid such an eternal obligation upon them to speak truth, that oaths were to be rendered unnecessary, where persons make a profession of his religion.

CHAP.  XVIII.

SECT.  I.

Character of the Quaker women—­This differs a little from that of the men—­Women share in the virtues of the former—­but do not always partake of all their reputed imperfections—­are not chargeable with a want of knowledge—­nor with the money-getting spirit—­Modesty a feature in their character.

Having now amply enquired into the character of the men, I shall say a few words on the subject of that of the women of this society.  For though it might be supposed at the first sight (the Quakers being cast as it were in one mould) that the same character would attach to both, yet it must be obvious, on farther consideration, that it cannot be wholly applicable to the female sex.

It may be laid down as a position, that the women of this society share in the virtues of the men.  They possess their benevolence, their independence of mind, and the other good traits in their moral character.  But they do not always partake of all their reputed imperfections.

The want of knowledge, which was reckoned among the failings of the men, can have no room as a charge against the women.

For, first, let us compare the Quaker women with the Quaker men.  Now it generally happens in the world, that men have more literary knowledge than women, but this is not so generally the case in this society.  As the women here are not taken from their books, like the men, at an early age, and put into trade, they have no bar, like these, to the farther improvement of their minds.  They advance often in the acquisition of knowledge, while the latter, in consequence of their attention to business, are kept stationary.  Hence it almost uniformly happens, that they are quite as well informed, and that they have as great a variety of knowledge as these, so that they suffer no disparagement, as the women of the world do, by a comparison with the other sex.

Neither will the Quaker women be considered as deficient in knowledge, if compared with women of other religious denominations.  It is too much the practice, but particularly in the higher circles, to educate females for shew.  We too seldom see a knowledge of the domestic duties.  To dance well, to sing well, and to play well, these are the usual accomplishments that are insisted on, and they are insisted upon with