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The productions of this writer are very numerous, and niformly characterized by an undeviating attention to the principles of religion and morality. Her system of female education is certainly one of the best now extant; and if, as it is asserted, a very high ecclesiastical dignitary frequently lent his aid to further the literary views of this writer, it confers the greater honour upon her endeavours, as the sanction of the good and the learned is the surest test of the sincerity of this lady's professions. If we regard the style of this author's writings, it will be found extremely flowing, while the strictest attention is paid to render the subject comprehensible to the meanest capacity; in which effort she is the more happy, as the end is completely answered, without infringing upon the principles of chaste and elegant literature. As I have, at the commencement of this note, offered a tribute of praise to the system of female education as laid down by Hannah More, I will, for the edification of the female sex, subjoin the opinion of a very clever departed writer, whose mental acumen has, I believe, completely stood the test of criticism.

Of the effects of education in women, and the evils resulting from the want of it, De Foe expresses his opinion in the following manner: “A well-bred woman, and well taught, furnished with the additional accomplishments of knowledge and behaviour, is a creature without comparison; her society is the emblem of sublimer enjoyments, her person is angelic, and her conversation heavenly. She is all softness and sweetness, peace, love, wit, and delight; she is every way suitable to the sublimest wish, and the man that has such a one to his portion has nothing to do but rejoice in her and be thankful. On the other hand, suppose her to be the same woman, and deprived of the benefit of education, and it follows thus: If her temper be good, her want of education makes her soft and easy; her wit, for want of teaching, renders her impertinent and talkative; her knowledge, for want of judgment and experience, makes her fanciful and whimsical: if her temper be bad, want of breeding makes her worse, and she grows haughty, insolent, and loud; if she be passionate, want of manners makes her a termagant and a scold, which is much as one with a lunatic; if she be proud, want of discretion (which is still ill breeding) makes her conceited, fantastic, and ridiculous; and from these she degenerates to be turbulent, clamorous, noisy, nasty, and the devil.”