It is, in my opinion, very singular that Bayle should pretend to be more severe than St. Augustine. He boldly condemns the poor woman. This would be inconceivable did we not know how much almost every writer has suffered his pen to belie his heart--with what facility his own feelings have been sacrificed to the fear of enraging some evil-disposed pedant--in a word, how inconsistent he has been with himself. _A Father's Reflection._ A word on the contradictory education which we bestow upon our daughters. We inculcate an immoderate desire of pleasing; we dictate when nature does enough without us, and add to her lessons every refinement of art. When they are perfectly trained we punish them if they put in practice the very arts which we have been so anxious to teach! What should we think of a dancing master who, having taught a pupil for ten years, would break his leg because he had found him dancing with other people? Might not this paragraph be added to the chapter of contradictions? AFFIRMATION OR OATH. We shall not say anything of the affirmations so frequently made use of by the learned. To affirm, to decide, is permissible only in geometry. In everything else let us imitate the Doctor _Metaphrastes_ of Molière--_it may be so; the thing is feasible; it is not impossible; we shall see._ Let us adopt Rabelais' _perhaps_, Montaigne's _what know I?_ the Roman _non liquet_, or the _doubt_ of the Athenian academy: but only in profane matters, be it understood, for in _sacred_ things, we are well aware that doubting is not permitted. The primitives, in England called _Quakers_, are allowed to give testimony in a court of justice on their simple affirmation, without taking an oath. The peers of the realm have the same privilege--the lay peers affirming _on their honor_, and the bishops laying their hands _on their hearts_. The Quakers obtained it in the reign of Charles II., and are the only sect in Europe so honored.