LXXII. And it seems to me, that not even those, who approaching nearer
to reason, admit, that though the men in general excel the women in
understanding, still own there are women of solid and perspicuous
parts; I say, not even these have, to my satisfaction, established
the inequality in point of understanding between the two sexes. If
they had attended to the circumstances I have before-mentioned, and
which frequently occur, they would have perceived, that, in the cases
specified, women, of much better understandings than the men they
conversed with, would appear greatly inferior to them.
LXXIII. Nor do I conceive, what other foundation this pretended
inequality can be built on, than that I have mentioned, the
equivocation and fallibility of which, I have just pointed out. For if
I am told, the thing has been demonstrated by experience, I am prepared
with a reply, and shall answer, that the experience they alledge is
deceitful, and that I have exposed its fallacy in many instances;
besides this, with regard to the matter of experience, I shall cite two
witnesses of great credit in favour of the women. The first is, the
sagacious and discreet Portugueze Don Francisco Manuel, who wrote a
little treatise, called, A Guide to Married People.
LXXIV. In this Cavalier, all the circumstances that can be desired
concur, to make his vote of singular weight in the question we are
treating of; because, in addition to his being a man of remarkable
knowledge and information, he had travelled through many countries,
where he was generally charged with and negotiated important concerns;
in consequence of which, and by means of his elevated genius and
courteous deportment, he had opportunities of being introduced to, and
conversing with, ladies of rank and fashion in all places, as may be
seen by his writings.
LXXV. It appears by this author, that, not satisfied with considering
the women as equal to the men in their intellectual capacities, he
inclines to allow them some advantage over the other sex in this
particular. In the book before quoted, fol. 73, after reciting, that
the general opinion with respect to the women is otherwise; he says,
_I am of a different sentiment, and am certain, that many women are
exceedingly judicious and sensible, I having seen and conversed with
abundance of such, both in Spain and other countries; and it appears to
me, that, on account of their having the advantage of us in quickness
of perception, and readiness of repartee, it is necessary to use great
caution in talking with them_: and a little lower he speaks thus;
although it would be unjust to dispute the purity of the metal with
which Nature formed their understandings, we may nevertheless take
precaution to save and guard them, in situations where they may be
led into danger, and ourselves may be injured. The testimony of this
author, as I have before said, is of great weight, because to his great
experience and discretion, we may add, that in the treatise we have
quoted, he is not very favourable to the women; and even at the end of
it, he does not scruple, nor is he ashamed to accuse himself of being
too severe upon them.
LXXVI. The second evidence, is that most learned Frenchman, the
Abbé Bellegarde, a man who was also used to courts, and learned his
knowledge of the world in the great theatre of Paris. This author, in
a book he published, intitled, _Curious Observations on Literature
and Morality_, affirms, that the minds of women, for the purpose of
obtaining a knowledge of all sorts of sciences and arts, and also every
kind of business, are in no manner inferior to those of men. I have
not seen this author, but the editors of the Memoirs of Trevoux, in
the month of April, 1702, quote him on the subject. The author of the
Journies in the Coaches of Madrid and Alcala, who, let him be who he
would, was a man of note, maintains the same sentiment (pag. 45); and
father Buffier, a celebrated French writer, in a book intitled, _An
Examination of vulgar Prejudices_, which he wrote expressly for the
purpose of doing it, proves the same thing.