| Citation |
SG(C.781.016
27 Mar 1781:31,32 (1/13)
A gentleman at Newbury-Port, writing to his friend in a
neighbouring town, on the last of February, said,
"Sir, if you had been here last Friday se'nnight evening,
you would have been pleased and delighted beyond what you
can well conceive of. Free-Mason's Hall was triply
illuminated; the taper's blaze, however, suffered an
eclipse, from the eyes of a brilliant company of females,
neatly but not whimsically dressed; who, in the presence of
their parents, and an assembly of the first characters in
the place, darted from their lips in composition of their
own, the rays of science, as far surpassing that of their
eyes, as these did the rest of the works of creation. In
the course of last summer, a plan was set on foot; to see
how far a miniature experiment on a sample of the fair sex
might avail to convince the men, of the vulgar and barbarous
error which set down the female mind as not worthy of
cultivation; and a young gentleman from a neighbouring
state, of liberal education, and amiable qualification,
stood forth, and nobly dared to lead the way in an untrodden
path. Having finished one quarter, before beginning a new,
a public examination was held, when 20 young ladies,
answered with great precision to a systematic course of
questions, on English grammar, geography, natural philosophy
and astronomy: Between the parts of which, some pieces of
vocal music of the best kind was inserted-and three
dialogues well supported, . . . [28 more lines] The whole
was closed with an anthem to God, well chosen, and well
performed. . . [20 more lines]
|