“Gentlewomen of eight or nine years old, that can read well, may be
instructed in a year or two (according to their parts) in the Latin and
French tongues; by such plain and simple Rules, accommodated to the
Grammar of the English tongue, that they may easily keep what they have
learned, and recover what they shall lose; as those that learn Musick by
Notes.
“Those that will bestow longer time may learn the other languages
aforementioned, as they please.
“Repositories also for Visibles shall be prepared; by which, from
beholding the things, Gentlewomen may learn the Names, Natures, Values,
and Use of Herbs, Shrubs, Trees, Mineral-pieces, Metals, and Stones.
“Those that please may learn Limning, Preserving, Pastry, and Cookery.
“Those that will allow longer time may attain some general knowledge in
Astronomy, Geography, but especially in Arithmetick and History.
“Those that think one language enough for a Woman, may forbear the
Languages, and learn only Experimental Philosophy, and more or fewer of
the other things aforementioned, as they incline.
“The Rate certain shall be £20 per annum: But if a competent improvement
be made in the Tongues, and the other things aforementioned, as shall be
agreed upon, then something more will be expected. But the parents shall
judge what shall be deserved by the Undertaker.
“Those that think these Things Improbable, or Impracticable, may have
further account every Tuesday, at Mr. Mason’s Coffee-house, in Cornhill,
near the Royal Exchange; and Thursdays, at the ‘Bolt and Tun,’ in Fleet
Street, between the hours of three and six in the afternoon, by some
person whom Mrs. Makin shall appoint.”
Mrs. Makin’s school, under herself and her successors, and her system,
adopted by imitators, had good influences in their “little day.” Those
influences continued beyond that period in families like that of Mrs.
Robinson, where every variety of knowledge was accounted valuable. It was
a period when grace of carriage was held by others to be as necessary as
a well-stored mind; and very popular in some English households was a
little volume from the French, called “The Art of being Easy at all Times
and in all Places, written chiefly for the use of a Lady of Quality.”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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