Page:Familiar Letters between the Principal Characters in David Simple.pdf/19

x it may perhaps urprize many, to find them in the Works of a Woman; epecially of one, who, to ue the common Phrae, hath een o little of the World: and I hould not wonder on this account, that thee Letters were acribed to another Author, if I knew any one capable of writing them.

in reality the Knowledge of Human Nature is not learnt by living in the Hurry of the World. True Genius, with the help of a little Converation, will be capable of making a vat Progres in this Learning; and indeed I have oberved, there are none who know o little of Men, as thoe who are placed in the Crouds, either of Buines or Pleaure. The Truth of the Aertion, that Pedants in Colleges have eldom any Share of this Knowledge, doth not arie from any Defect in the College, but from a Defect in the PendantPedant [sic], who would have pent many Years at St. James's to as little Purpoe: for daily Experience may convince us, that it is poible for a Blockhead to ee much of the World, and know little of it.

Objection to the Sex of the Author hardly requires an Anwer: It will be chiefly advanced by thoe, who derive their Opinion of Women very unfairly from