Genre:

Letter

Subjects:

Gender, Societies, Education

    The writer defends the value of 'common easy chit-chat'. Noting that she has 'heard something of a Female Literary and Scientific Institution', she declares: 'heaven forefend us from such things as these, we already know enough, and more than some of you would wish us to know, and unless you would have us sit round your fires with the gravity of owls, and silent as our vis-a-vis companions, your chimney ornaments, do not attempt to philosophize us' (227–28).