ſimilar ones; and ſome, ſo very ſentimental, that I have heard rational men uſe the word indecent, when they mentioned them with diſguſt.
Throughout there is a diſplay of cold artificial feelings, and that parade of ſenſibility which boys and girls ſhould be taught to deſpiſe as the ſure mark of a little vain mind. Florid appeals are made to heaven, and to the beauteous innocents, the faireſt images of heaven here below, whilſt ſober ſenſe is left far behind.—This is not the language of the heart, nor will it ever reach it, though the ear may be tickled.
I ſhall be told, perhaps, that the public have been pleaſed with theſe volumes.—True—and Hervey's Meditations are ſtill read, though he equally ſinned againſt ſenſe and taſte.
I particularly object to the lover-like phraſes of pumped up paſſion, which are every where interſperſed. If women be ever allowed to walk without leading-ſtrings, why muſt they be cajoled into virtue by artful flattery and ſexual compliments?—Speak to them the language of truth and ſoberneſs, and away with the lullaby ſtrains of condeſcending endearment! Let them be taught to reſpect themſelves as rational creatures, and not led to have a paſſion for their own inſipid perſons. It moves my gall to hear a preacher deſcanting on dreſs and needle-work; and ſtill more, to hear him addreſs the Britiſh fair, the faireſt of the fair, as if they had only feelings.
Even recommending piety he uſes the following argument. 'Never, perhaps, does a fine woman ſtrike more deeply, than when, compoſed into pious recollection, and poſſeſſed with
