FOOTNOTES:
[36] C. Kegan Paul, William Godwin, His Friends and Contemporaries.
[37] See Letter from Mary to Everina, dated from Dublin, March 24th. 1788, with which compare the following severe judgment by Hannah More in her Strictures: "It is worthy of remark that 'Depart from me, I never knew you', is not the malediction denounced on the sceptic or the scoffer, but on the high professor, on the unfruitful worker of "miracles", on the unsanctified utterer of "prophecies", for even acts of piety, wanting the purifying principle, however they may dazzle men, offend God. Cain sacrificed, Balaam prophesied, Rousseau most sublimely panegyrised the son of Mary...." Those who lacked true humility did not fall within the range of Hannah More's compassion.
[38] E. Dowden, The French Revolution and English Literature.
[39] W. Godwin, Memoirs of the Author of a Vindication of the Rights of Women.
[40] "A slavish bondage to parents cramps every faculty of the mind." (A Vindication, Chapter on Duty to Parents).
[41] The creation of congenial surroundings, and the bringing about of circumstances which involuntarily lead the pupil to draw certain illuminating inferences, is recommended also in Emile, where the preceptor relies largely upon them. There seems nothing to be said against them, unless it were that the pupil might sooner or later discover that he was "being sold", which might be attended with awkward consequences!
[42] The position of servants very naturally called for discussion in the great liberty scheme. The treatment of female servants never failed to interest Mary. Many years later, Godwin treated the subject in an essay.
[43] Mr. Falkland, the "high-spirited and highly cultured" gentleman of the dramatis personae, utilises all the advantages of his superior rank to crush his enemy Caleb and finds the law upon his side.
[44] See H. W. Brailsford, Shelley, Godwin and their Circle.
[45] This rule, which also applies to property, and may be traced to the Contrat Social, strikes the keynote of what was the common view of the social reformers. Mary's scheme of enfranchisement advocates the admission of women to the different professions to ensure their social independence.
[46] See Morley's Rousseau.
[47] See Lilly Bascho, Englische Schriftstellerinnen in ihre Beziehungen zur französischen Revolution. (Anglia 41).
[48] Curiously enough, Hannah More,—who refers to the education of the children as "the great object to which those who are, or may be mothers, are especially called"—unwittingly copies Mary Wollstonecraft where she says: "In the great day of general account, may every Christian mother be enabled, through Divine grace, to say, with humble confidence, to her Maker and Redeemer, Behold the children whom thou hast given me!"
[49] C. Kegan Paul, Memoir to the "Letters to Imlay".
[50] "We are soon to meet, to try whether we have mind enough to keep our hearts warm". (Letter to Imlay, August 1793).
[51] When Emile's education is almost completed, he is sent abroad for the final touch. In this way he obtains full command of the principal languages of Europe.