In delivering our sentiments on particular subjects, there is nothing
which is attended with better effect, and makes us appear to more
advantage than offering our opinions with clearness and precision; and
this can only be done by arranging them in proper order, so that they
may appear regularly to arise one from the other: this is stiled method,
and prevents confusion; hinders us from indulging in the luxuriance of
fancy, running into desultory digressions, and makes us appear superior
to our subject.
Where great sprightliness is the natural bent of the temper, girls
should endeavour to habituate themselves to a custom of observing,
thinking, and reasoning. It is not necessary that they should devote
themselves to abstruse speculation, or the study of logic; but she who
is accustomed to give a due arrangement to her thoughts, to reason
justly and pertinently on common affairs, and judiciously to deduce
effects from their causes, will be a better logician than some of those
who claim the name, because they have studied the art. That species of
knowledge, which appears to be the result of reflection rather than of
science, fits peculiarly well on women.
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