Page:A father's legacy to his daughters - Gregory - 1808.djvu/67

Rh years back, is sensible of a very striking change in the attention and respect formerly paid by the gentlemen to the ladies. Their 'drawing-rooms are deserted; and after dinner and supper, the gentlemen are impatient till they retire. How they came to lose this respect, which nature and politeness so well entitle them to, I shall not here particularly inquire. The revolutions of manners in any country depend on causes very various and complicated. I shall only observe, that the behaviour of the ladies in the last age was very reserved and stately. It would now be