CONTAINING NOTICES OF DISTINGUISHED WOMEN, IN DIFFERENT NATIONS AND AGES. BY SAMUEL L. KNAPP, AUTHOR OF LECTURES ON AMERICAN LITERATURE, ADVICE IN THE PURSUITS OF LITERATUKE, "O fairest of creation, last and best Of all God's works, creature in whom excell'd "Lords of the world, as ye are proudly called, A gemless casket-fitted but to claim HERE, learn her worth, and prize her as ye ought; Wisdom may act, determine, or approve, Still the prime mover is, and must be, Love."-Woodworth. STEREOTYPED BY FRANCIS F. RIPLEY. Philadelphia: THOMAS WARDLE, No. 15 MINOR STREET. ....... 1836. ENTERED, according to the Act of Congress, in the year 1833, by SAMUEL L. KNAPP, in the Clerk's office of the District Court of the Southern District of New York. t INTRODUCTION. We have carefully examined the histories and biographies of women, as they are found in the literature of European nations, and have come to the conclusion, that many wrong opinions are generally entertained, in regard to the treatment and influence of women, both in times past, and at the present. Alexander, in his history of women, has stated a great number of facts to show that in oriental countries, women have always been in a degraded state. He draws too many unfavorable inferences, from a few individual cases, in our humble opinion. Cox, in his Female Scripture Biography, has followed in the same track; but more modern researches has done much to correct the erroneous impressions we formerly imbibed. It is unquestionably true, that where men are in thraldom, women share the evil; and that when tyranny is the basis of a government, that it will find its way into domestic life: but there are many checks to ambitious power in the very nature of the minds and dispositions of mankind. Egypt, the cradle of nations, and of the arts and sciences, affords us no instances of extraordinary bondage or servitude among their females. If Pharoah's daughter had not possessed a good share of freedom of thought and action, the infant Moses would have perished in the rushes. If Miriam, the sister of Moses, had been secluded from society, she would not have had an opportunity of witnessing the rescue of her brother. If this same Miriam had not been well educated, would she have been a prophetess in Israel? Or, if the women had been entirely secluded, as some would have us believe women of her nation were, could she have led them to sing the chorus of the song of her brother Moses, for the deliverance of the Israelites from the hands of Pharoah; and if the women in that day had not something to do in the affairs of government, would she have joined her brother Aaron in speaking against Moses, her brother; "and they said, Hath the Lord indeed spoken only by Moses? hath he not spoken by us?" The Jewish history abounds in instances of female distinction. Deborah, who lived under the palm tree, was judge of Israel, and sung with Barack a song of deliver ance from the oppressor's power. And after the race of kings had become extinct, Judith was judge in Israel for many years. In the first days of kingly -power, the women interfered with state matters, and came out after the death of Goliah, and praised David in higher strains than they did their monarch, directly to his face. "Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands," an oriental figure to enforce their opinions of the youthful warrior's superiority. The Athenians borrowed their laws and customs from the East, but they were softened and tamed by a spirit of philosophy, which was early cultivated by that extraordinary people. They undertook to regulate their domestic affairs by the influence of public opinion, rather than by laws; their women were allowed to go abroad, while they were advised to stay at home. At Sparta, the bold doctrine of abolishing all seclusion was avowed, and their physical and mental instruction was similar to that of the males. The latter system was a bad one, for it took away that refinement which makes up no inconsiderable portion of female influence. The Roman women had, from the earliest days of their history, a commanding influence in the affairs of state, as well as in domestic concerns; not arising, as some have supposed, from immunities granted them for the injury done their Sabine mothers, but altogether from their being well educated. The infant schools among the Romans were the best ever known. The vernæ, or nursery maids, a higher class of slaves, were well educated, particularly in the correct pronunciation of the Latin language, and were treated by every family as favorites. The laws protected them from personal insult. It was a proof of low origin to make mistakes in the pronunciation of words, for it indicated that one had not been instructed by a verna. The Romans had many excellent customs and laws, protecting the rights of women, probably as good as any ever framed. The Justinian code contains many plain and just laws, in regard to the persons and property of women in the marriage state; perhaps no code has ever been equal to it, if we except the code of Napoleon, which was based upon it. The next code which protected the rights of women, is to be found in the Koran. This code had a religious as well as a legal authority. The angel Gabriel announced, in a vision, what the favorite wives of Mahomet wished to carry into effect, and to their honor, they made no unreasonable requests. The glorious days of Arabian literature were favorable to the extension and security of the rights of women. The reigns of Haroun Al Raschid and Al Mamoun, were famous for the display of female genius. Princesses, and women of talents partook of the enthusiasm, which was carried to the highest degree, in favor of learning. They made orations and poems, which were delivered in public and received the applauses of all the students of the House of Wisdom. The whole of the literature of the East is adorned by the finest eulogiums in praise of women. The Arabian Nights, as well as the immense number of tales and apologues, found in oriental literature, are full of descriptions of the beauty, the influence, the wit, and the acquirements of women. It may be said that these are creatures of the imagination; grant it in part, still no image will please the world that has not some prototype in nature. If these lovely pictures went beyond nature, they had a strong resemblance to that which was known. The thousand and one tales would not have been ascribed to a woman, unless females had been distinguished in this enchanting branch of literature. If women had not been admired among the Greeks, would all those lovely creations of female divinities have existed? The God of wisdom could not move in single sovereignty, but must be assisted by nine females, through whom his inspirations were to pass. Every grove, every stream, was full of these creations, and nothing was done but by female influence. Modern travellers inform us, that the women of Persia and Turkey are well educated at the present day, not only in tasteful learning, but in the science of domestic economy; and that even the harem is a place of industry and study; and more than one writer of our time contends for their equality with European women. Some, who had ample opportunity to witness the fact, have stated that the remaining fragments of Arabian literature are now to be found among women in their lullabys, and amusements for their children, the great fame of the nation having departed; as the Scandinavian literature, once the mother of European knowledge, is now to be found in the books of the nursery. "Jack the Giant Killer," "Little Red Riding Hood," "Old Nick, and "Seven League Boots," were once the general tales of the north of Europe, their names only being changed in some degree, in the several stages of their degradation. Nor is the influence of women so small in rude and barbarous nations as we imagine. The Winnebagoes, who visited the seat of government a few years since, had one female among them. She could not gain the consent of the nation that she might attend them, but as soon as they were gone, her husband being one of the embassadors, she followed them closely, but did not join them until they had travelled several hundred miles. At this distance she presumed that they would not drive her home; she reasoned correctly. They, admiring the strength of her affection and her fortitude, for she came near starving on the way through the wilderness, permitted her to move on with them. The men were sometimes angry, to see her loaded with presents from the ladies of Washington, and other cities through which they passed; but they dared not treat her rudely. To prove that women have important |