And truly were not this Matter so well attested by those Writers we have just nam’d, and by others we shall presently have Occasion to alledge; yet no Body could any longer doubt of it, after being informed by the very same Persons, that _Hypatia_ succeeded in the Government of the _Platonic_ School at _Alexandria_, the Place of her Birth and Education. This was another-guess Thing, God knows, than taking the Degree of Doctor in any of the Faculties; which one or two Women have not long since done, for which they have been loaded with fulsome Elogies, tho’ producing no Effects suitable to the Titles they have so much ambitioned. But what greater Glory for a Woman, what greater Honour redounding to all Women, than to see a Lady teaching in that Chair, where _Ammonius_ and _Hierocles_ (to Name no more, for ’tis a Mistake in _Socrates_ or his Transcriber to make _Plotinus_ one of them) where so many Professors, I say, uttered the Oracles of Learning, rather as divine Intelligences than mortal Men? What infinite Merit must she have possessed, who could be preferr’d to that conspicuous Station, at a Time when Men of immense Learning abounded both at _Alexandria_, and in many other Parts of the _Roman_ Empire? Wherefore, the Novelty of the Thing considered, and _Hypatia_’s Worth being universally acknowledged, ’tis no Wonder that she soon had a crouded Auditory. _She explained to her_ _Hearers_, says _Socrates, the several Sciences, that go under the general Name of Philosophy; for which Reason_, continues he, _there was a Confluence to her from all Parts, of those who made Philosophy their Delight or Study_. To the same Purpose speak others; and _Suidas_ adds, that _she explained all the Philosophers_, that is, all the several Sects, with the particular Tenets of their Founders, which shews an inexpressible Elevation and Capacity, each of these separately being thought a sufficient Province, to exercise the Diligence of any one Man, consummate in Letters. CHAP. V. _Hypatia’s_ School crouded with Scholars of the best Fashion. She is admired for her incomparable Beauty, and the vast Extent of her Learning.