 in your favourite instance,

between the two great geniuses you have named.
There is no sex in souls, and though Milton has been pleased to tell us, that on woman nature has
bestowed
Too much of ornament, in outward show
Elaborate, of inward less exact.
For well I understand in the prime end
Of nature, her the inferior, in the mind
And inward faculties, which most excel.
I must beg leave to dissent from him, nay more, to say that he accuses Providence of a particular partiality in the disposal of his intellectual gifts, between the human race, which is by no means visible in any other part of the animal creation. All instinctive qualities appearing to the full as strong, and as acute, in the female as the male, through every species of the animal world—Why then

should we conceive that the highest order of beings, that inhabit this terrestrial globe, should be more unequally dealt with? It is clear, at least, that Milton did not reason from analogy.
Superior strength of body appears to be the portion of the male through all degrees of existence; from hence, and hence only, they have arrogated to themselves an authoritative command over the weaker part of their species—but Providencc, ever equal in the distribution of its bounty to his creatures, amply atoned for this seeming partiality, by endowing the female part of the creation with beauty, to "subdue the strong," tame the ferocious, and make their boasted strength of no other value, but as it serves for the preservation and protection of the favourite female and her helpless offspring.

I think I have now established the sexes upon an equal scale, and fixed my proposition beyond the reach of controversy, I mean with regard to their natural endowments, without the least attention to the adventitious circumstances of education, which I am thoroughly persuaded makes all the difference between what is styled a masculine and feminine understanding. From you, who are a lover, I cannot expect any opposition to the opinion I have advanced, but rather a folio of thanks for having raised the dignity of your fair-one's nature, to an equality with that of the self-named lords of the creation.
I have devoted so much of my paper to the honour of the ladies, that I have scarcely room to tell you that I earnestly wish for your return to London. There is something the matter between Sir James and Lady Desmond, though she

is much too good a wife to reveal the cause of her discontent either to Mrs. Selwyn or my Lucy; but that there is a cause, is
