The Female Spectator (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1755 edition. Excerpt: ... * tifying a mere curiosity, as to neglect those rc'searches which might be of real utility. * These things, indeed, are amusements per'sectly innocent, and if of no great service to the 'world, or to ourselves, are far from being of * any prejudice to either. -- It were to be wished 'that others of a more dangerous nature were 'exchanged sor them. 'As I have already taken notice, a mind eager * to enquire into the minutest works of nature, * will be insensibly led to a contemplation on the * greatest; and in all we shall find sufficient sor * our astonishment, and the exciting in us such * ideas of the Great Author of nature, as cannot * fail to fill us with the highest sense of the insinity * of his goodness to all his creatures, and to us ia 'particular, to whom alone, of all sublunary * beings, he has given the power of reason and * reflection. * The meanest creature, theresoie, that the 'air, the earth, or sea, or any part of this great * world affords, is not beneath our consideration i 4 we can no where cast our eyes without behold * ing something to admire; and tho' to dwell too * long on any one, would be an injury to the rest, * yet none should be passed by without some por * tion of our notice. 'What I mean is, that I would have every * gentleman and lady, who have leisure to gratify 4 their curiosity, and at the fame time improve * their understanding, to take, as it were, afuper'ficial view of the whole creation, as far as 4 lies in their power, or they have opportunities 4 sor; and though they are not enabled to give a par* a particular account of the structure of any one 'part, they will, notwithstanding, have very just * notions of the whole; and also be convinced, * by the little they can make familiar to their ob...