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HE Reader is to understand that the Papers, which compofe the following Volumes, came into my Hands upon frequent mention in the Spectator of a Lady's Library. They are fuppofed to be collected out of the feveral Writings of our greatest Divines, and are difpofed under proper Heads, in order to fix in the mind general Rules for Conduct in all the Circumstances of the Life of Woman.

In Matters, where both Sexes are equally concerned, the Words Man and Men are made ufe of, but the Matter does not for that Rea-. fon the lefs relate to Women, or argue that the Work is not principally intended for the Information of the Fair Sex.

They were referred to me as what were at firft intended by the Compiler for a Guide to ber oven Conduct, and if thought worth publifbing, to be of the fame Service to others of ber Sex, who have not the fame Opportunities of fearching into various Authors, and laying before themselves, by that means, all the different Relations in which they are, or may be engaged.

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I put them into the Care of a Reverend Gentleman much better qualified for the Publication of fuch a Work, and whofe Life and Character are not fo fubject to the Exceptions which the Levity of fome of my Writings, as well as other Circumftances may expofe a Work as passing through my Hands only. Tho' he was so good as to perufe the Papers, he would not allow that the Exception I made against my being the Publisher was of Weight; for he would have it, that its coming out with my Name, would give an Expectation that I had affembled the Thoughts of many ingenious Men on pious Subjects, as I had beretofore on Matters of a different Nature: By this means, be believes, the Work may come into the Hands of Perfons who take up no Book that has not Promifes of Entertainment in the first Page of it. For the reft, he was of Opinion it would make its own way, and I easily submitted to fuffer a little Rallery, when I had Hopes of being the means of promoting the Interests of Religion and Virtue.

I wish there was a Word to defcribe thofe Men who can get little farther than bare Difpofitions towards Goodness, and are fo unhappy as to be incapable of becoming themselves great Examples of what they profefs to admire. What I mean is, that I want to find a Word which fhould as modeftly exprefs a virtuous Man, as the Word Philofopher does a wife one. This would introduce the Endeavours of Men who

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think better than they live, without Prejudice from any Imperfection in their own Characters. This is all I fhall think fit to say in Apology for my being the Publisher of this Library.

As to the Work itself, I find it will not be poffible to arraign any Sentiments in it without falling upon fome eminent Divine from whom this Lady has borrowed her Thoughts; and the Variety of the Writers to whom he is beholden, as well as of the Matter which she treats, gives a juft Pretenfion to the Title of The Ladies Library.

I am only her Gentleman-Usher, and if I can be fo happy as to lead the Fair into their Clofets, to the Perufal of this useful as well as delightful Entertainment, I fhall be in as bigh Joy, as ever I obferved any young Man in leading out from a Play or an Opera. Farther Merit I do not pretend to have in a Work, which, if carefully perused, will improve the Readers, as Daughters, Wives, Mothers, and Widows; and I humbly conceive, can do them no Injury in general, as they are Women, or as they are Beauties.

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INTRODUCTION.

EING by nature more inclined to fuch enquiries as by general custom my fex is debarred from, I could not refift a strong propensity to reading; and having flatered myfelf that what I read dwelt with improvement upon my mind, I could not but conclude that a due regard being had to different circumstances of life, it is a great injustice to fhut books of knowledge from the eyes of women.

Mufing one day in this tract of thought, I turned over fome books of French and English, written by the most polite writers of the age, and began to confider what account they gave of our compofure, different from that of the other fex. But indeed, when I dipped into thofe writings, were it poffible to conceive otherwife, I could not have believed, from their general and undiftinguifhed afperfions, that many of thefe men had any fuch relations as mothers, wives, or fifters. One of them makes a lover fay in a tragedy, B

VOL. I.

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