“POETRY claims her due from the ladies. POETRY enlarges and strengthens the mind, refines the taste and improves the judgement. It has been asserted that women have no business with _satire_—now satire is but a branch of poetry. I acknowledge, however, much false wit is sent into the world, under this general title; but no critick with whom I am acquainted ever called satire false wit—for as long as vice and folly continue to predominate in the human heart, the satirist will be considered as a useful member of society. I believe _Addison_ calls him an auxiliary to the pulpit. Suffer me to enlarge on this _new idea_. Satire is the correction of the vices and follies of the human heart; a woman may, therefore, read it to advantage. What I mean by enforcing this point, is, to impress the minds of females with a principle of self correction; for among all kinds of knowledge which arise from reading, the duty of self-knowledge is a very eminent one; and is at the same time, the most useful and important. “OUR ordinary intercourse with the world, will present to us in a very clear point of view, the fallacious ideas we sometimes entertain of our own self-knowledge.—We are blinded by pride and self love, and will not observe our own imperfections, which we blame with the greatest acrimony in other people, and seem to detest with the greatest abhorrence; so that, it often happens, while we are branding our neighbour for some foible, or vanity, we ourselves are equally guilty. “RIDICULOUS as this conduct must appear in the eyes of all judicious people, it is too frequently practised to escape observation. “I WILL drop this piece of morality, with a charge to the fair reader, that whenever she discovers satire, ridiculing or recriminating the follies or crimes of mankind, that she look into her own heart, and compare the strictures on the conduct of others with her own feelings.” LETTER XII. _Mrs. Holmes_ to _Myra_. IN CONTINUATION. MY good father-in-law being so strenuous in proving the eligibility of reading satire, had spurn out, what he called his _new idea_, to such a metaphysical nicety, that he unhappily diminished the number of his hearers; for Mrs. _Bourn_, to whom he directed his discourse, had taken down a book and was reading to herself, and Miss was diverting herself with the cuts in _Gay’s_ Fables. A CONSIDERABLE silence ensued, which _Worthy_ first broke, by asking Mrs. _Bourn_ what book she had in her hand. Everyone’s attention was alarmed at this important enquiry. Mrs. _Bourn_, with little difficulty, found the title page, and began to read. “_A Sentimental Journey through France and Italy, by Mr. Yorick._” “I DO not like the _title_,” said Miss _Bourn_. “WHY, my dear!” apostrophized the mother, “you are mistaken—it is a very famous book.”