Fenelon's Treatise on the Education of Daughters

The work is "inscribed to the founders, benefactors, and trustees, of the charity schools." It was composed by that learned printer, Mr. Bowyer; and the introduction, written by way of preface, bears strong marks of the piety and talents of its author. It is followed by a "Translation of a Letter from the Earl of Mirandola and Concordia, to his nephew, then an officer in the army of the Emperor Charles V." This letter, which is too long to extract, is serious and impressive; and such as does great honour to the religious principles, and sound sense of the writer.

9

Miss Boudler has published a small volume of useful sermons to a country congregation, which it may be advisable to procure. Her name is not prefixed to the work; but it is published by Cadell and Davies, in the Strand.

10

France.

11

This is construed in the above manner in preference to "the table of particular persons: " conceiving that Fenelon means "certain rules or laws" to be observed in regard to living and dressing.

T.

12

A preceding and subsequent sentence in the original is here omitted; because it has an allusion to antiquated high head dresses; which are now, I believe, banished not only from France, but from Europe. The present simple and unaffected mode of female dress, (with some ridiculous and indelicate exceptions) is in general very conformable to the taste and advice of Fenelon.

13

I have here omitted two or three passages of the original, because they describe such incongruity and perniciousness in the law of France, as cannot be applicable to the modes observed in the British courts of judicature.

T.

14

Another passage of the original is also here omitted; because it relates to the observance of certain feudal rites, and to a knowledge of real property, which can be of no service to a woman in this country.

T.

15

Fenelon is certainly fastidious when he censures the acquirement of the Italian language, which is one of the most soft and pleasing of any in modern Europe. Nor does it at all follow that a knowledge of the Italian language should lead to a knowledge of improper books – the same argument may be applied to any other language.

T.

16

An admirable sermon, "on the antiquity, use, and excellence, of church music," by Bishop Horne, may be seen among the 16 sermons separately published by that amiable prelate, in 8vo. Oxford, 1795, 2d edit.

T.

17

I do not think this applicable to the present system of fashion: women, in general display great taste in patterns, and great elegance in the adjustment of dress.

T.

18

What follows, in Fenelon, relating to the religious establishments of women, and taking the veil, is not here inserted – as being wholly inapplicable to the laws and customs of England.

19

I recommend the sensible mother, who has really the happiness of her daughter at heart, to peruse and reperuse the excellent observations on this head, which are to be found in a little pamphlet, lately published by the Rev. Mr. Owen; entitled "The Fashionable World Displayed."