What a delightful Entertainment must it be to the Fair Sex, whom their native Modesty, and the Tenderness of Men towards them, exempts from Publick Business, to pass their Hours in imitating Fruits and Flowers, and transplanting all the Beauties of Nature into their own Dress, or raising a new Creation in their Closets and Apartments.  How pleasing is the Amusement of walking among the Shades and Groves planted by themselves, in surveying Heroes slain by their Needle, or little Cupids which they have brought into the World without Pain!

This is, methinks, the most proper way wherein a Lady can shew a fine Genius, and I cannot forbear wishing, that several Writers of that Sex had chosen to apply themselves rather to Tapestry than Rhime.  Your Pastoral Poetesses may vent their Fancy in Rural Landskips, and place despairing Shepherds under silken Willows, or drown them in a Stream of Mohair.  The Heroick Writers may work up Battles as successfully, and inflame them with Gold or stain them with Crimson.  Even those who have only a Turn to a Song or an Epigram, may put many valuable Stitches into a Purse, and crowd a thousand Graces into a Pair of Garters.

If I may, without breach of good Manners, imagine that any pretty Creature is void of Genius, and would perform her Part herein but very awkardly, I must nevertheless insist upon her working, if it be only to keep her out of Harm’s way.

Another Argument for busying good Women in Works of Fancy, is, because it takes them off from Scandal, the usual Attendant of Tea-Tables, and all other unactive Scenes of Life.  While they are forming their Birds and Beasts, their Neighbours will be allowed to be the Fathers of their own Children:  And Whig and Tory will be but seldom mentioned, where the great Dispute is, whether Blue or Red is the more proper Colour.  How much greater Glory would Sophronia do the General, if she would chuse rather to work the Battle of Blenheim in Tapestry, than signalize her self with so much Vehemence against those who are Frenchmen in their Hearts.

A Third Reason that I shall mention, is the Profit that is brought to the Family where these pretty Arts are encouraged.  It is manifest that this way of Life not only keeps fair Ladies from running out into Expences, but is at the same time an actual Improvement.  How memorable would that Matron be, who should have it Inscribed upon her Monument, ’that she Wrought out the whole Bible in Tapestry, and died in a good old Age, after having covered three hundred Yards of Wall in the Mansion-House.’

The Premises being consider’d, I humbly submit the following Proposals to all Mothers in Great Britain.

  I. That no young Virgin whatsoever be allow’d to receive the Addresses
  of her first Lover, but in a Suit of her own Embroidering.

  II.  That before every fresh Servant, she be oblig’d to appear with a
  new Stomacher at the least.