scarce be perfected without a complete knowledge of the world.

"In society it is the medium that blends all different tempers into the most pleasing harmony, while it imposes silence on the loquacious, and inclines the most reserved to furnish their share of the conversation; it represses the ambition of shining alone, and increases the desire of being mutually agreeable; it takes off the edge of raillery, and gives delicacy to wit; it preserves a proper subordination amongst all ranks of people, and can reconcile a perfect ease with the most exact propriety.

Sincerity is so essential a part of friendship, that no one, so perfect in all its branches, can be wanting in that. But how, you will say, can this be reconciled with politeness? How can that, whose utmost care is never to offend, ever venture upon telling a disagreeable truth? Why, this is one of the wonders, which a good and a right intention, well directed, can perform. The man of acknowledged worth, possessing true politeness, will even oblige people by telling them very plainly of their faults."

Delicacy of feeling is another peculiarity in woman which is always admired by our sex, and affords the possessor the most exquisite pleasure or pain. It is the sign of a highly polished mind, and absolutely necessary to a certain degree of refinement; yet, as it will not frank a person

through the world so well as that which is more plain and rough, it should not be so encouraged as to degenerate into weakness, for then it becomes an evil which not only unfits its possessor for any communication with the world, but it absolutely creates unhappiness in all around them, inasmuch as it compels them to weigh with extraordinary care every word, every look, every act, lest unintentionally they offer some grievous offence to those whose sensations are totally unfitted for the world they live in. Never allow any notions of false delicacy to make you unjust to yourself or to others. Too many young persons hastily express opinions contrary to their internal conviction, merely for the sake of agreeing with their friends. Such expressions have often been afterwards brought against them when least expected. In fact, no delicacy of feeling will sanction a departure from the strict rules of propriety or verity; and those ridiculous and often assumed fears of harmless insects, imaginary dangers, and such like, which some weak females indulge in, and vent by screams and exclamations, are anything but that genuine feeling of a refined mind which gives strength to its expressions, instead of weakness and folly. An habitual indulgence in expression of foolish fears, which the novel, and, to you, apparent scenes of danger, may possibly draw forth, will again subject you to be the theme of conversation; and there is nothing so detri

mental to a young female as that of giving any occasion of having her name frequently mentioned, excepting as one whom all agree is faultless.

If possible, get an half-an-hour's walk before breakfast-you will find the benefit of it in warm latitudes: do not indulge in the baneful practice of giving way to indolence, by using late hours, lying down to read, and refraining from appearing at the cuddy-table, because you find it too troublesome to dress your hair and person as becomes a lady. We are all creatures of habit, and, therefore, evil ones cannot be too early or too resolutely abandoned. It is customary, once a fortnight, to have up all the passengers' boxes from the hold of the vessel, to give them the opportunity of changing their soiled for clean linen; it would be by no means pleasant for you to expose all your different articles of dress to the gazing eyes of the gentlemen-passengers; therefore, I should advise you to pack the different things you may require for each change in separate towels, so that, in taking out what is wanted, you merely take out so many bundles. Every article of dress and millinery, not required for ship-board, should be packed in tin and soldered; silks, particularly, spot and lose their colour from sea-air; nothing is improved by it. Cotton prints are now so cheap in England, that ladies would do well to take on board several pieces, which will employ their time in making up-lessen their dress-maker's bill

and be of real service on board. To those young ladies who have no friends, who, from experience, can speak as to the quantity, quality, and material required for a voyage to, and residence in India, I shall be happy to give them such a list as I have been kindly furnished with by ladies who have often journeyed to that country. In touching at Madeira, the Cape, or any other port, you should be very careful as to whom you give your clothes for washing; on this subject the Captain is the best person to apply to. It not unfrequently happens that parties lose many of their things from giving them to persons, perhaps, slightly known to the cuddy servants; and who, for a trifling consideration, are sometimes induced to recommend them. Linen which has been worn, should never be laid by in the slightest degree damp, and not thrown into the soiled clothes-bag loosely, but folded-up as tightly as possible; this will be more likely to preserve them from mildew, and take up far less room in your trunk. When near your destination, have a letter ready for the first opportunity to send on shore to the parties by whom you are expected, who will either send or come for you. A letter should always be sent by the overland mail to state the ship's name and date of expected departure, previous to your embarking.

There is very great disappointment occasionally experienced by young ladies, on their first landing in this (to them) fairy land of sunshine,-they

have been led to believe that the scarcity of "fair" young faces which mingle among the darker beauties of the East, have but to smile graciously on some one of the admiring "eligibles" to insure at once a handsome provision with the enraptured heart and hand of the object of their choice. But those days have long since fled,—the liberality of the Widow's Fund, the proximity to England, the hope of retiring earlier on a handsome income, are all powerful reasons for a less hasty decision on the gentleman's part, than it was prudent to adopt in ages gone by. Delays in those days, in matrimonial experiments, were dangerous. We have now become more calculating. A pretty foot, a well-turned ancle, a fairy form, or a matchless face, must have adjuncts to insure rivetted attention. There must be mind or money. Some few may barter happiness for the latter, but the possession of the former in woman, be she fair or dark, plain or lovely, fits her for the companionship of man-and is now sought for by those who place a proper value on woman and their own happiness. Therefore, if your object is, as every woman's naturally should be-not to throw away your charms on the desert air, you must not fail to cultivate such a temper and disposition, as necessary in woman as in man. Commencing with the first great duty of every rational being, attention to religious knowledge is even of much greater importance to the married than to the