The female instructor, or Young woman's companion : being a guide to all the accomplishments which adorn the female character, either as a useful member of society - a pleasing and instructive companion, or a respectable mother of a family. With many pleasing examples of illustrious females. To which are added, useful medicinal receipts, and a concise system of cookery, with other valuable information in the different branches of domestic economy.

Date:
[1812]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The female instructor, or Young woman's companion : being a guide to all the accomplishments which adorn the female character, either as a useful member of society - a pleasing and instructive companion, or a respectable mother of a family. With many pleasing examples of illustrious females. To which are added, useful medicinal receipts, and a concise system of cookery, with other valuable information in the different branches of domestic economy. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The University of Leeds Library. The original may be consulted at The University of Leeds Library.

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    in a young woman’s education ; and she is sent from the house of her father to govern a family, without that knowledge which is ne- cessary to qualify her for it: this is the source of much inconveni- ence, and may be attended with unpleasant consequences. The husband’s opinion of his wife’s incapacity for domestic affairs, may be fixed too strongly to suffer him ever to think justly of her gra- dual improvements. A woman, whatever other qualifications or accomplishments she may possess, who does not understand do- mestic economy, is a very improper person to make a wife of. Young women should endeavour, in early life, to lay in a store of knowledge on this subject, even before they are called to the prac- tice of it. They should daily observe what passes before them; they should consult prudent and experienced mistresses of families ; and should enter in a book every new piece of intelligence they ac- quire ; they may afterwards compare these with more mature obser- vations, and make additions and corrections as they see occasion. The first and greatest point in domestic economy, is to lay out your general plan of living in a just proportion to your income. If you would enjoy real comfort in the management of your affairs, you should lay your plan considerably within your income, either to prepare for contingencies, or to increase your funds of charity, which are in fact the true funds of pleasure. In order to settle your plan, it will be necessary to make a pretty exact calculation; and if from this time you accustom yourselves to take an account of all the little expences intrusted to you, you will soon grow expert and ready at them, and be able to guess very nearly where certainty cannot be attained. Regularity in payments and accounts is essential to economy. You should also endeavour to acquire skill in purchasing ; and in order to this, attend to the prices of things, and take every proper opportunity of learning the real value of every thing, as well as the marks whereby you are to distinguish the good and the bad. In your table and dress, and in all other things, aim at propriety and neatness, avoiding all extravagances. It is impossible to enter into all the minutia of the table; but good sense, and observation of the best models, must form your taste, and a due regard to your circumstances must restrain it. Needle-work is generally considered as a part of good house- wifery. Many young women make almost every thing they wear; by which they can make a respectable appearance at a small ex- pence. Absolute idleness is inexcusable in a woman, and renders her contemptible. The needle is, or ought to be, always at hand for those intervals in which she cannot be otherwise employed. Early rising, and a proper disposing of time, are essential to eco- nomy. The necessary orders, and an examination into household affairs, should be dispatched early in the day. If any thing that is necessary be deferred, you may afterwards, by company or unforeseen avocations, forget or neglect to do it. There is a strange aversion in 7. Z