I cannot expect _to reclaim_ any Woman who has _already used_ a _Man_, for Reasons I gave at the beginning of this Introduction, and because, by quitting him, she would _tacitly_ acknowledge the Truth of my Assertions—and because none but those possess’d of the most exalted Qualities of the Head and Heart, can have _greatness_ enough _to confess_ they have been in an Error of _such_ a Nature. I am not without hopes however, of _opening the Eyes_ of _sensible_ Men—and unmarried Women, who are _at present_ modest, and _wish_ to _remain so_—and preventing the _former from advising_, and the _latter from falling into_ the scandalous Custom of employing _Men_-Midwifes, which _I know_ to be _ERRONEOUS as to it’s PRETENDED SAFETY_—_FATALLY dangerous_ to the VIRTUE—and _CERTAINLY destructive_ of the MODESTY[1] of my fair Countrywomen.—They may believe me when I assure them that NO PURITY can withstand the _rude_ Shock of _such_ Intrusions—_the whitest_ Ermine is _most_ liable to have it’s Beauties sullied! If I should be happy enough to hear in a few Years that I have given the least Check to this most abandon’d of _vicious_ Practices, the Consciousness of having done a most signal Service to the Community, will implant genuine Pleasure—substantial Satisfaction in the Breast of the Public’s most obedient humble Servant, THE AUTHOR. [1] I make a great Distinction _between Modesty_, and _Virtue_. A Woman _may_ be _virtuous_, _without_ being _Modest_—but it is _impossible_ to be _modest_, without being _virtuous_. Modesty is _the guard_ of Virtue—but it _is possible_ a _cold_ Constitution _may_ preserve _Virtue_, even _after_ every Trace of _Modesty_ has been obliterated. THE Danger and Immodesty, _&c._ LETTER I. In times, when every winter brings scenes of prostitution from the privacy of darkness into the public light of day; when our ladies of quality, and women of fashion, instead of being as remarkable for their virtue, as for their beauty, openly cast aside every sense of shame, and barefacedly encourage the addresses of men, who, avowedly, can have no intention but to involve them in guilt; it is the duty of every honest man to endeavour to trace the evil _to its source_, in order that, by pointing out _the foul spring_ which corrupts the stream, _the fountain may be cleared_, and the contagion which rages from it, lessened, if not entirely removed.