of her Sex and Condition, it cannot be doubted but that a Conduct, which carry’d with it so much Reproach to Woman’s Idleness, and disappointment to Men’s Vanity, would quickly be judg’d fit to be ridicul’d out of the World before others were infected by the example.  So that the best Fate which a Lady thus knowing, and singular, could expect, would be that hardly escaping Calumny, she should be in Town the Jest of the Would-be-Witts; tho wonder of Fools, and a Scarecrow to keep from her House many honest People who are to be pitty’d for having no more Wit than they have, because it is not their own Fault that they have no more.  But in the Country she would, probably, fare still worse; for there her understanding of the Christian Religion would go near to render her suspected of Heresy even by those who thought the best of her:  Whilst her little Zeal for any Sect or Party would make the Clergy of all sorts give her out for a Socinian or a Deist:  And should but a very little Philosophy be added to her other Knowledge, even for an Atheist.  The Parson of the Parish, for fear of being ask’d hard Questions, would be shy of coming near her, were his Reception ever so inviting; and this could not but carry some ill intimation with it to such as Reverenc’d the Doctor, and who, it is likely, might be already satisfy’d from the Reports of Nurses, and Maids, that their Lady was indeed a Woman of very odd Whimsies.  Her prudent Conduct and Management of her affairs would probably secure her from being thought out of her Wits by her near Neighbours; but the Country Gentlemen that wish’d her well, could not yet chuse but be afraid for her, lest too much Learning might in Time make her Mad.

The saving of but one Soul from Destruction, is, it is true, a noble recompense for ten Thousand such Censurers as these; but it is wondrous strange that only to be a Christian, with so much other Knowledge as a Child of Nine or Ten Years Old may, and ought to have, should expose a Lady to so great Reproaches; And what a shame is this for Men whose woful Ignorance is the alone Cause thereof?  For it is manifestly true that if the inimitable Author of Les Caracteres, ou les Moeurs de ce Siecle, had demanded in England, who forbids Knowledge to Women?  It must have been answer’d him, the Ignorance of the Men does so; and the same Answer I think he might have receiv’d in his own Country.

Monsieur Bruyere says indeed, and likely it is, That Men have made no Laws, or put out any Edicts whereby Women are prohibited to open their Eyes; to Read; to Remember what they Read, and to make use thereof in their Conversation, or in composing of Works.  But surely he had little Reason to suppose, as he herein does, that Women could not otherwise than by Laws and Edicts be restrain’d from Learning.  It is sufficient for this that no body assists them in it; and that they are made to see betimes that it would be disadvantageous to them to have it.  For how few Men are there, that arrive to any Eminence therein? tho’ Learning is not only not prohibited to them by Laws and Edicts; but that ordinarily much Care, and Pains, is taken to give it them; and that great Profits, oftentimes, and, always, Honour attends their having it.