In paring modern with a manners, leased to pliment ourselves upon the point of gallantry; a certain obsequiousness, or deferential respect, which we are supposed to pay to females, as females.
I shall believe that this principle actuates our duct, when I fet, that in the eenth tury of the era from which we date our civility, we are but just beginning to leave off the very frequent practice of whipping females in publi on with the coarsest male offenders.
I shall believe it to be iial, when I shut my eyes to the fact, that in England womeill occasionally -- hanged.
I shall believe in it, when actresses are no longer subject to be hissed off a stage by gentlemen.
I shall believe in it, when Dorimant hands a fish-wife across the kennel; or assists the apple-woman to pick up her wandering fruit, whie unlucky dray has just dissipated. I shall believe in it, when the Dorimants in humbler life, who would be thought in their way notable adepts in this refi, shall act upon it in places where they are not known, or think themselves not observed -- when I shall see the traveller for some rich tradesman part with his admired box-coat, to spread it over the defenceless shoulders of the poor woman, who is passing to her parish on the roof of the same stage-coach with him, drenched in the rain -- when I shall no longer see a woman standing up i of a Londore, till she is sid faint with the exertion, with men about her, seated at their ease, and jeering at her distress; till ohat seems to have more manners or sce than the rest, signifitly declares "she should be wele to his seat, if she were a little younger and handsomer." Place this dapper warehouseman, or that rider, in a circle of their own female acquaintance, and you shall fess you have not seen a politer-bred man in Lothbury.
Lastly, I shall begin to believe that there is some such principle influeng our duct, when more than one-half of the drudgery and coarse servitude of the world shall cease to be performed by women.
Until that day es, I shall never believe this boasted point to be any thing more than a ventional fi; a pageant got up between the sexes, in a certain rank, and at a certain time of life, in which both find their at equally.
I shall be even disposed to rank it among the salutary fis of life, when in polite circles I shall see the same attentions paid to age as to youth, to homely features as to handsome, to coarse plexions as to clear -- to the woman, as she is a woman, not as she is a beauty, a fortune, or a title.
I shall believe it to be something more than a name, when a well-dressed gentleman in a well-dressed pany advert to the topic of female old age without exg, and intending to excite, a sneer: -- when the phrases "antiquated virginity," and such a one has "overstood her market," pronounced in good pany, shall raise immediate offen man, or woman, that shall hear them spoken.
Joseph Paice, of Bread-street-hill, mert, and one of the Directors of the South-Sea pany -- the same to whom Edwards, the Shakspeare entator, has addressed a fine so -- was the only pattern of sistent gallantry I have met with. He took me under his shelter at an early age, aowed some pains upon me. I owe to his precepts and example whatever there is of the man of business (and that is not much) in my position. It was not his fault that I did not profit more. Though bred a Presbyterian, and brought up a mert, he was the fi gentleman of his ti