“GIVE me leave,” answered I, “to espouse the cause of this class of females. Tell me candidly, Mr. _Worthy_, whether that insipid flattery, perhaps sacrificed at the expense of truth, does not misguide many of us into erroneous paths? You declare we are handsome—and your conduct demonstrates you to be more solicitous for the possession of _beautiful_, than of _mental_ charms. Hence is the deluded female persuaded of the force of her fascinating powers, and vainly imagines, one glance of her eye sufficient to reduce a million of hearts whenever she chooses: Her aims, therefore, are confined to the decoration of her person, and her views centre solely in finishing herself in those attractive, all-powerful graces, with which you declare yourselves to be enchanted. How then are they to be censured for neglecting to improve the mind, when your adulation diverts their attention to an external object?” “I JOIN with you,” replied _Worthy_, “in calling it insipid flattery—and the vain cox-comb, the powdered beau, the insignificant _petit maître_, are those who make use of it. Will women of real merit, and sound sense, believe what is said by _them_ to be _their_ real sentiments?—No—There must be a congeniality in the minds of those who give and receive flattery—Has not the vain coquette as much inclination to be thought a goddess, as the empty admirer to declare her so? “FLATTERY is become a kind of epidemical distemper: many run into it, perhaps, without designing it, or only through civility. There are some women who expect it—who dress to be admired—and who deem it a mark of impoliteness and rudeness in men, who do not pay them the tribute of compliment and adulation. A man of sense _may_ comply with their expectation—he will still think them agreeable _playthings_, to divert him at an hour of relaxation; but I cannot suppose he will entertain any serious thoughts of _a more permanent connection_. “MAY we not conclude these things to be productive of many evils that happen in society—do they not frighten all sentiment from conversation—introduce affectation—pride—envy—clandestine marriages—elopements—division of families—and ultimately terminate in the ruin of very many innocent, but inconsiderate females?” By this time we had got into the house, and our company soon after departed, leaving us at full leisure to contemplate on the many wrong ideas entertained, and fallacious steps pursued by the generality of mankind, in the sentimental part of female education. Adieu! LETTER XIII. _Worthy_ to _Myra_. _Belleview._