It is not now necessary to enter into a discussion of the question whether the abilities of the sexes are naturally equal; it is sufficient to notice, that the circumstances of life require a varied exercise of these abilities—The employments of man & woman are so dissimilar, that no one will pretend to say that an education for these employments must be conducted upon the same plan: but the discipline of the mind, the formation of these intellectual habits, which are necessary to one sex, are equally so to the other—The difference in their employments requires a diversity of personal qualifications, but not a difference of intellectual exertions—it is equally important to both sexes, that the memory should be stored with facts; that the imagination should be chastened & confined within its due & regular limits; that habits of false judgement, the results of prejudice, ignorance, or error, should be destroyed or counteracted; that the reasoning faculty should be trained to nice discrimination, & powerful & rapid research. It has, therefore, been our endeavor to fling into that course of study & employments which may be considered peculiar to women; as many of the mental avocations of the other sex, as were necessary to all that development of intellectual energy, which woman, in her situation may require—To this course of discipline & improvement we have endeavoured, uniformly to adhere with no more variations than were necessary to keep pace with the changing state of many of the sciences, with the gradual improvement of our country, & the rapid “march of mind” in the present century— During the forty years of the existence of this Seminary, other similar schools have arisen & fallen; have had their day of reputation, & have ceased their operations—Fashion has led, during this long period, at one time to place an undue stress on external accomplishments; at another, to the study, exclusively of intellectual philosophy; at another, on the physical sciences; while we have endeavoured to mingle all that was useful in the existent fashion, with the regular course of study so long pursued— A teacher of a large & promiscuously collected school is obliged to act upon other principles, in the motives & incentives placed before the mind, than if he were conducting the education of a solitary individual or a single family or early discipline; the course pursued by parents; the difference of original constitution; the diversity of prejudice & feelings, occasion such a contrariety of character among his pupils that he can find but few motives that will operate alike upon all.