The little reſpect which the male world pay to chaſtity is, I am perſuaded, the grand ſource of many of the phyſical and moral evils that torment mankind, as well as of the vices and follies that degrade and deſtroy women; yet at ſchool, boys infallibly loſe that decent baſhfulneſs, which might have ripened into modeſty, at home.
And what naſty indecent tricks do they alſo learn from each other, when a number of them pig together in the ſame bedchamber, not to ſpeak of the vices, which render the body weak whilſt they effectually prevent the acquiſition of any delicacy of mind. The little attention paid to the cultivation of modeſty, amongſt men, produces great depravity in all the relationſhips of ſociety; for, not only love—love that ought to purify the heart, and firſt call forth all the youthful powers, to prepare the man to diſcharge the benevolent duties of life, is ſacrificed to premature luſt; but, all the ſocial affections are deadened by the ſelfiſh gratifications, which very early pollute the mind, and dry up the generous juices of the heart. In what an unnatural manner is innocence often violated; and what ſerious conſequences enſue to render private vices a public peſt. Beſides, an habit of perſonal order, which has more effect on the moral character, than is, in general, ſuppoſed, can only be acquired at home, where that reſpectable reſerve is kept up which checks the familiarity, that ſinking into beaſtlineſs, undermines the affection it inſults.
I have already animadverted on the bad habits which females acquire when they are ſhut up to-
