Page:The works of Anna Laetitia Barbauld volume 1.djvu/28

 his fondest hopes of earthly felicity. Whilst the prospects of the young couple were still full of uncertainty, some distinguished persons, amongst whom was Mrs. Montague,—at once admirers of the genius of Miss Aikin and patrons of a more enlarged system of female education than was then prevalent,—were induced to propose to her to establish under their auspices what might almost have been called a College for young ladies. On a distant view, the idea had something noble and striking, but it was not calculated to bear a close examination: and it called forth from her the following remarks, well worthy of preservation, as a monument of her acuteness and good sense, and of the just and comprehensive ideas which, at a rather early age, and with slender opportunities of acquainting herself with the great world, she had been enabled to form of the habits and acquirements most important to females, and particularly to