developed the faculties of the understanding.

The

following is a tabular view of the method we have taken to strengthen the understanding:

The above table may not be strictly accurate in its philosophical arrangement, but it is sufficiently so to show how numerous and various are the operations of mind which have been called into play by this course of scientific studies.

THE CULTIVATION OF LANGUAGE.

A woman has, in some respects, more need of the use and command of language than men; for she is known and is influential chiefly by conversation. The oral utterance of her thoughts is her principal mode of communion. Her expression should be fluent, and her vocabulary copious. To have this, she should study the science and art of language thoroughly. To this end, some one language should be selected, and made by the teacher the subject of critical examination and philosophical inquiry. Use, reading, and criticism, are the best means of acquiring a knowledge of the structure and philosophy of language. There is much difference of opinion at this time, even among educated men, as to the necessity or advantage of studying either or both the dead languages. This difference of opinion extends to the education of both men and women. It must be admitted, however, that if it were decided to take the most perfect language which can be found, and make that the subject of a purely philosophical study, that then no languages will compare with the Greek and Latin: they are refined, elegant, and complete ; but the time required for their study is very great compared with the total time which most students. can afford. In the case of young women, another objection is found in the fact, that one of the modern languages (in addition to our own) is generally considered necessary as an accomplishment. This ques

tion, however, is one of expediency, and may safely be left to the judgment of the teacher. It is enough to know, that a careful and analytical study of our own language, at least, is necessary for any welleducated woman. She should not be contented with any mere cursory glance at grammars and dictionaries: they are but tools. It is the actual use, power, and philosophy of language which is wanted. Take some English classic author-for example, Addison or Hume, Milton or Pope-and examine and compare sentence after sentence, and page after page. Thus the force and meaning of words, and the power and beauty of the language, will be understood. Here, as in the study of physical science, we shall have a new exercise of different faculties of the mind. We have comparison, analogies of expression, variations of thought, the application of metaphor and figures. In fine, we are in a new department of science, and acquire, as we proceed, new ideas. I have already given a sketch (Chapter IX.) of the use and advantage of this study. It is the last one which should be neglected in female education.

COMPOSITION.

Composition, or writing, is one of the very best exercises to acquire a knowledge of language. In fact, it is not possible to attain a complete knowledge of it without being expert in the use of the pen and the expression of thought. Women are not usually,

in the course of their employments, led to write much of what is termed literary composition; but there is one department in which they are, or should be, supreme—that is, epistolary composition. A very large part of the correspondence of families falls upon them. Nor is this all. The correspondence of families makes a very large part of the history of the times. Letters are the documents to which historians now resort for the materials of history: they are also among the most pleasant and instructive modes of communion in society. Cast asunder, and often separted widely for years, kindred and friends have little other mode of keeping up their intercourse and friendship. It is a mode too much neglected. It is a duty of families, and office of friends, and a delightful exercise of mind, to keep up, by letters, a constant intercourse of those whom nature and affection should bind together. Unfortunately, there is a large part of those who are even well educated, who value at too low a rate the high privilege of epistolary correspondence. They estimate the useful consequences, also, at altogether too low a value. Among these, are not only the valuable exercise of mind to the writer, but the perpetuity and strengthening of friendships, which could in no other manner be kept up. Some persons, and especially many ladies, are averse to writing letters, because they think they do not appear well on paper. Now, the appearance of a person in a letter depends on exactly three things, which it is the office of a good education.

to give. These are, thought, style, and handwriting. I need say no more on this head than to make these suggestions. Fortunately, we have in the English language some of the finest examples of epistolary correspondence. The letters of Cowper are in the first class of English literature, and are beautiful examples both of style and refined feeling.

READING.

Reading is the most important means of acquiring that general information which is necessary to appear well in conversation. Of the different classes of reading, that of history is the most valuable. But a woman, in this respect, may be contented with a thorough reading of those authors which will give her a continuous and distinct outline of the history of civilized nations. Among these, the one upon which she should specially dwell is the history of England and America. The history of England, thoroughly studied, embraces the history of the last thousand years. In that time she has been mingled with the growth and progress of the whole civilized world. Her arms, her commerce, and her arts have grown beyond those of any other nation, and given a stamp to the civilization of mankind. The Anglo-American in the United States is but a branch of the same stock. We cannot separate our history from the history of England; nor can we deny what we owe to the parent family.