| Citation |
BEP(F.758.048
2 Oct 1758:41 (1205)
From the Idler, No. 5. . . The care of the public are now
fixed upon our soldiers, who are leaving their native
country to wander, none can tell how long, in the pathless
desarts of the Isle of Wight. . . [3d para.]
Of fifty thousand men, now destined to different stations,
if we allow each to be occasionally necessary only to four
women, a short computation will inform us, that two hundred
thousand ladies are left to languish in vexation; two
hundred thousand ladies, who must run to sales and auctions
without an attendant; sit at the play, without a critick to
direct their opinion. . . [5th para.] Since the soldiers
must obey the call of their duty, and go to that side of the
Kingdom which faces France, I know not why the ladies, who
cannot live without them, should not follow them. The
prejudices and pride of man have long presumed the sword and
spindle made for different hands, and denied the other sex,
to partake the grandeur of military glory. This motion may
be consistently enough received in France, where the Salic
law excludes females from the throne; but we, who allow them
to be sovereigns, may surely suppose them capable to be
soldiers. It were to be wished that some man, whose
experience and authority might enforce regard, would propose
that our encampments for the present year, should comprise
an equal number of men and women, who should march and fight
in mingled bodies. If proper colonels were once appointed,
and the drums ordered to beat for female voluntiers, our
regiments would soon be filled without the reproach or
cruelty of an impress. . .
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