The New Hampshire Gazette And General Advertiser

Messrs. Printers.

As your papers have lately contained several addresses to the ladies, designed, it is presumed, for their instruction and improvement, the following extracts from the late Dr. Gregory's valuable legacy to his daughters, it is hoped will be considered at least as well calculated for that purpose, and not less worthy their attention. This little pamphlet is recommended to their perusal, as the most perfect directory for female conduct and manners that perhaps is now extant: As it may not be in the possession of every young lady, it is hoped, it will not be thought impertinent, or unentertaining to them, if a few sentiments extracted from it, take up a small part of this weekly paper.

One of the chief beauties in a female character is that modest reserve, that retiring delicacy, which avoids the public eye, and is disconcerted even at the gaze of admiration. I do not wish you to be insensible to applause: If you were, you must become, if not worse, at least less amiable. But you may be dazzled by that admiration, which rejoices your hearts."

Converse with men, even of the first rank, with that dignified modesty which may prevent the approach of the most distant familiarity, and consequently prevent them from feeling themselves your superiors."

"Beware of detraction, especially where your own sex are concerned. You are generally accused of being particularly addicted to this vice -- I think unjustly. Men are full as guilty when their interests interfere. As your interests more frequently clash, and as your feelings are quicker than ours, your temptations to it are more frequent. For this reason, be particularly tender of the reputation of your own sex, especially when they happen to rival you in our regards. We look on this as the strongest proof of dignity and true greatness of mind."

"Consider every species of indelicacy in conversation as shameful in itself, and as highly disgusting to us. All double entendre is of this sort. -The dissoluteness of mens education allows them to be diverted with a kind of wit, which yet they have delicacy enough to be shocked at, when it comes from your mouths, or even when you hear it without pain and contempt. Virgin purity is of that delicate nature, that it cannot hear certain things without contamination: It is always in your power to avoid these. No man but a brute or a fool, will insult a woman with conversation which he sees gives her pain; nor will he dare to do it, if she resents the injury with becoming spirit. There is a dignity in conscious virtue which is able to awe the most shameless and abandoned of men.

You will be reproached perhaps with prudery. By prudery is usually meant an affectation of delicacy. I do not wish you to affect delicacy; I wish you to possess it: at any rate it is better to run the risk of being thought ridiculous, than disgusting."

There is a native dignity in ingenuous modesty to be expected in your sex, which is your natural protection from the familiarities of the men, and which you should feel previous to the reflection, that it is your interest to keep yourselves sacred from all personal freedoms. The sentiment that a woman may allow all innocent freedoms, provided her virtue is secure, is both grossly indelicate and dangerous, and has proved fatal to many of your sex. I wish you to possess dignity without pride, affability without meanness, and simple eloquence without affectation. Milton had my idea, when he says of love,

Grace was in all her steps, Heaven in her eye,
In every gesture dignity and love.