made the fewest sacrifices to the graces.

The men of business are domestic tyrants, coldly immersed in their own
affairs, and so ignorant of the state of other countries, that they
dogmatically assert that Denmark is the happiest country in the world;
the Prince Royal the best of all possible princes; and Count Bernstorff
the wisest of ministers.

As for the women, they are simply notable housewives; without
accomplishments or any of the charms that adorn more advanced social
life. This total ignorance may enable them to save something in their
kitchens, but it is far from rendering them better parents. On the
contrary, the children are spoiled, as they usually are when left to the
care of weak, indulgent mothers, who having no principle of action to
regulate their feelings, become the slaves of infants, enfeebling both
body and mind by false tenderness.

I am, perhaps, a little prejudiced, as I write from the impression of the
moment; for I have been tormented to-day by the presence of unruly
children, and made angry by some invectives thrown out against the
maternal character of the unfortunate Matilda. She was censured, with
the most cruel insinuation, for her management of her son, though, from
what I could gather, she gave proofs of good sense as well as tenderness
in her attention to him. She used to bathe him herself every morning;
insisted on his being loosely clad; and would not permit his attendants
to injure his digestion by humouring his appetite. She was equally
careful to prevent his acquiring haughty airs, and playing the tyrant in
leading-strings. The Queen Dowager would not permit her to suckle him;
but the next child being a daughter, and not the Heir-Apparent of the
Crown, less opposition was made to her discharging the duty of a mother.

Poor Matilda! thou hast haunted me ever since may arrival; and the view I
have had of the manners of the country, exciting my sympathy, has
increased my respect for thy memory.

I am now fully convinced that she was the victim of the party she
displaced, who would have overlooked or encouraged her attachment, had
not her lover, aiming at being useful, attempted to overturn some
established abuses before the people, ripe for the change, had sufficient
spirit to support him when struggling in their behalf. Such indeed was
the asperity sharpened against her that I have heard her, even after so
many years have elapsed, charged with licentiousness, not only f