t 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 an
earnestness, as if they included all the valuable purposes of life. Thus
the best part of youth is spent in the acquirement of trivial things:
or rather the acquirement of such things takes up so much time, as to
leave but little for the moral and intellectual improvement of the mind.
The great object, on