The third accomplishment I would take the liberty to inculcate. That many more young ladies would be found qualified for such a study than is usually apprehended, I cannot doubt. Several, I am certain, have applied to it with the greatest success and pleasure, who, before they began, did not promise themselves the least. It is truly surprising, that so few of our more intelligent females should show a desire of being instructed in so plea sing an art, at a time too when it is to be learnt with such advantage and encouragement.

None can be ignorant, that the principles and practice of drawing were never understood amongst us to the height they are at present; owing chiefly to the patronage of society, that reflects the greatest credit on this country, and on this age. But here justice to your sex demands an acknowledgment which we joyfully make, that several honorary rewards have been most deservedly gained by young ladies of rank and character, for specimens of ingenuity, which it is to be hoped their grandchildren will one day mention and emulate with honest pride.

If such of you, my amiable hearers, as are in a situation to try whether Nature has given you talents for this beautiful accomplishment, would fairly make the essay, you might very probably open to yourselves, and to your friends, a spring of entertainment that would never run dry; that would contribute to improve, while it delighted you, by adding to your ideas of elegance and grace; that would prevent many a folly, and many a sin, which proceed from idleness; and, be not hurt, if I add, that would prove the means of future support, should it please the Supreme Wisdom to reduce you to a state of dependence.

There are other pretty works, extremely proper for female hands, which I need not specify here, since several of the remarks already made will, I presume, be applicable to them. Let it suffice to say in general, that whatever is genteel, and whatever is useful, in such occupations, should always claim your regard, when you have leisure and capacity. The former you will seldom want, if you have learnt to portion out your time with judgment; and in the latter you ought never to pronounce yourselves defective, before you have honestly tried.

The last accomplishment of the elegant kind, which I shall mention, is Music. This, I conceive, is to be recommended with more discrimination than the rest, how much soever such a notion may contradict the prevailing opinion. It is very true, there are young ladies who, without any particular advantage of a natural ear or good voice, have, by means of circumstances peculiarly favourable, made great proficiency in music: but it is as true, that they have made it at a vast expense of time and application; such as no woman ought to bestow upon an object, to which she is not carried by the irresistible impulse of genius.

In many other arts it is possible for original talents to lie dormant, till called up by assiduity or accident; but where there is a stong propension to this, it will, I imagine, hardly forbear to burst out, by means of the transcendant pleasure derived from it on all occasions. If it do not, if even the best music can be heard without a degree of delight bordering on transport; either the practice will never reward the pains necessary for acquiring it; or, there being no native vein of excellence in that way, it will, as has been commonly observed, be

discontinued on a change of condition; in which case you lose the labour of years, that might have been directed with lasting benefit into some other channel.

Be this as it may, you will readily allow, that for a young woman who has no turn for the study I am speaking of, to be condemned both to mortify herself, and to punish her acquaintance, by murdering every lesson put into her hands, is a very awkward situation, however much her master may, for the sake of his craft, flatter her or her friends; assuring them, perhaps with an air of great solemnity, that he never had a better scholar in his whole life. If she whose attainments in this kind are but indifferent, could be contented to amuse herself, and those of her own family, now and then, with an air that happened to please them, it were well : but how does a judicious hearer blush for the poor beginner, when set down by the command of a fond parent to entertain perhaps a large company, as we have often seen, with performing that of which she scarce knows the rudiments while all is disappointment on their part, and, if she have any understanding, confusion on hers!

Is the preacher then an enemy to music? Much the reverse. Where there is a real genius for it, improved by art, and regulated by sentiment, nothing surely can be more charming, or affecting. Its importance in the ancient Jewish worship is well known. Of its beauty and usefulness in all our churches, when conducted in a manner suitable to its sacred purpose, and not prostituted to levity, or perverted by ostentation, I am not insensible. Its influence in all ages and nations stands universally confessed. It is founded in some of the strong

est perceptions of Nature, wherever she has seen fit to confer a lively sensibility to the melody of

sounds.

But how much is it to be regretted, that this wonderful charm of melody properly so called, together with the whole merit of expression, should be sacrificed, as we frequently find, to the proud but poor affectation of mere trick and execution; that, instead of rendering the various combinations of sounds a powerful instrument of touching the heart, exciting agreeable emotions, or allaying uneasy sensations, as in the days of old, it should be generally degraded into an idle amusement, devoid of dignity, devoid of meaning, absolutely devoid of any one ingre dient that can inspire delightful ideas, or engage unaffected applause! What lover of this enchanting art but must lament, that the most insipid song which can disgrace it is no sooner heard in places of public entertainment, than every young lady who has learnt the common notes, is immediately taught to repeat it in a manner still more insipid; while the most sublime and interesting compositions, where simplicity and greatness unite, are seldom or never thought of in her case; as if the female mind were incapable of relishing any thing grave, pathetic, or exalted!

Let me here call on every musical spirit of your sex, to assert the rights of good sense; and to insist that those, who are entrusted with this branch of their education, shall not fail to introduce them as early as possible, into an acquaintance with whatever is most beautiful and noble in the article of melody. The more thorough knowledge of harmony may come afterwards, if you be ambitious, of advancing so far. In the mean time you will have the satisfaction of pleasing the best judges,

and of entertaining yourselves with such pieces as, while the words to which they are set convey no sentiments but what are elevated or virtuous, shall serve to refine and enliven your thoughts, to raise your spirits into joy, or compose them into sweetness, and on chosen occasions, by the diviner strains of solemn music, to lift your hearts to heaven, prove a kind of prelude to the airs of paradise and prepare you for joining the choir of angels.