y
to lay on enough. Where therefore there is no wanton intention, nor a
wish to deceive, I can discover no immorality. But in England, I am
afraid, our painted ladies are not clearly entitled to the same
apology. They even imitate nature with such exactness that the whole
public is sometimes divided into parties, who litigate with great
warmth the question whether painted or not? This was remarkably the
case with a Miss E----, whom I well remember. Her roses and lilies
were never discovered to be spurious, till she attained an age that
made the supposition of their being natural impossible. This anxiety
to be not merely red and white, which is all they aim at in France, but
to be thought very beautiful, and much more beautiful than Nature has
made them, is a symptom not very favourable to the idea we would wish
to entertain of the chastity, purity, and modesty of our countrywomen.
That they are guilty of a design to deceive is certain. Otherwise why
so much art? and if to deceive, wherefore and with what purpose?
Certainly either to gratify vanity of the silliest kind, or, which is
still more criminal, to decoy and inveigle, and carry on more
successfully the business of temptation. Here, therefore, my opinion
splits itself into two opposite sides upon the same question. I can
suppose a French woman, though painted an inch deep, to be a virtuous,
discreet, excellent character; and in no instance should I think the
worse of one because she was painted. But an English belle must pardon
me if I have not the same charity for her. She is at least an
impostor, whether she cheats me or not, because she means to do so; and
it is well if that be all the censure she deserves.

"This brings me to my second class of ideas upon this topic, and here I
feel that I should be fearfully puzzled, were I called upon to
recommend the practice on the score of convenience. If a husband chose
that his wife should paint, perhaps it might be her duty, as well as
her interest, to comply. But I think he would not much consult his
own, for reasons that will follow. In the first place, she would
admire herself the more; and in the next, if she managed the matter
well, she might he more admired by others; an acquisition that might
bring her virtue under trials, to which otherwise it might never have
been exposed. In no other case, however, can I imagine the practice in
this country to be either expedient or convenient. As a general on