Page:A Biographical Dictionary of the Celebrated Women of Every Age and Country (1804).djvu/783

Rh commodiously, and to determine all reasonable women to shake off that yoke of constraint, which error, or custom, have established in the world. But it will be necessary first to consider of some rules, and such as we ought strictly to adhere to. We must reject those who love to speak of their birth, connections, or finery, or in any sort to commend themselves. We must exclude all prudes and coquettes; I think likewise, Madam, it will be right, to banish love from such a society, and substitute in its place, friendship, cordiality, politeness, good humour, and respect towards each other; such respect, I mean, as arises from esteem, not from any consideration of superior birth, fortune, &c. for every one must have the liberty of speaking their own sentiments, without reserve, and offer their opinion, without the least fear of giving offence to others who may differ from them."

The above extract will sufficiently shew the turn of mind this celebrated lady possessed; for though she wrote on a great variety of subjects, both in prose and verse, the honour of her sex, and their equality with men, seemed to be the grand hinge on which most of her writings turned. She lived to a great age, highly esteemed and honoured, and died at Alby, the place of her nativity, in 1730. . for her oratorical and poetical powers, was so much skilled in the art of penmanship that she was at the same time the admiration and example to writers. She died, aged thirty years, at the expiration of the 417th year of the Hegira. An epigram of