and any governess who brings reproach upon her profession, does injury to the whole body to which she belongs. In all callings there are some who are unworthy, and these will be multiplied just in proportion to the temptations and facilities held out to deceit. The medical, the legal, and even the sacred profession, contain individuals who would be disowned by the honourable members of their respective bodies, and so far from thinking that the exposure of their misconduct would disgrace the rest, they would be foremost to desire their expulsion.

A similar feeling should prevail amongst ladies engaged in education, the most sacred calling next to that of the ministry of the Gospel. They should desire that nothing wrong should be hidden, and that no false sympathy should be excited for the unworthy. The errors and sins of teachers have often been concealed under the mistaken notion that the whole class would be injured by the exposure of the sins of some of them. Whereas a deep wound is really inflicted on the deserving, by placing them on the same footing with the worthless.

Nothing can be a stronger illustration of this sentiment, than the proposal to lay a bill before Parliament for the purpose of more easily convicting and bringing to justice those clergy who, by their scandalous lives, have brought discredit on their holy vocation. Hitherto, the expense of convicting such criminals has been enormous, and the difficulties almost insuperable. But the public

voice is now loud in favour of such legal steps being taken, as will facilitate so important an object; and the most devoted ministers of the church are anxious for the power to cast out from amongst themselves these wicked persons. Should not then the same feeling pervade the ladies to whom the education of English females is committed? Should they not desire the detection and exposure of the unworthy? Hitherto many amiable persons have adopted the false notion, that such should be screened from disgrace, however they may merit it; and the same conduct which would have occasioned loss of character, or imprisonment to a servant, has been passed over in a governess, because "it would be hard to take from her her only means of subsistence."

A lady in the higher ranks of life, who has acted immorally, is excluded from society; should it not be so likewise with those to whom so high a trust is committed as the care of immortal souls?

Were this feeling general, would it not tend in the strongest manner to elevate teachers in the public estimation? Would it not be felt that the unworthy would not be passed off as deserving -the guilty as innocent-the incompetent as qualified?

The examinations and certificates which are now given from Queen's College, to ladies seek. ing that advantage, will also tend to the same result; for a mother will not long rest satisfied with the mere profession of knowledge, when she can obtain testimonials from those really able to

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form an opinion. The effect in England will be similar to that produced abroad by legislative enactments, relative to the qualifications of instructors.

It cannot be denied that there is a strong prejudice against governesses, particularly in the minds of men, and the reasons for this dislike we must not shrink from pointing out.

Frightful instances have been discovered in which she, to whom the care of the young has been entrusted, instead of guarding their minds in innocence and purity, has become their corrupter

-she has been the first to lead and to initiate into sin, to suggest and carry on intrigues, and finally to be the instrument of destroying the peace of families. Very many instances, alas! are known in which habits of intemperance have been habitual, and others in which pilfering and theft have been practised to a great extent and we must rank under the same description those who indulge in reckless habits of expenditure, with the certainty of being unable to repay what they purchase. Does this deserve a milder name than swindling?

These are the grosser forms of sin which have been generally concealed from public notice for the reasons before assigned-but none of the cases are imaginary ones, and they are but too well known in the circles amongst which they occurred. In some instances again, the love of admiration has led the governess to try and make herself necessary to the comfort of the father

of the family in which she resided, and by delicate and unnoticed flattery gradually to gain her point, to the disparagement of the mother, and the destruction of mutual happiness. When the latter was homely, or occupied with domestic cares, opportunity was found to bring forward attractive accomplishments, or by sedulous attentions to supply her lack of them; or the sons were in some instances objects of notice and flirtation, or when occasion offered, visitors at the house.

This kind of conduct has led to the inquiry, which is frequently made before engaging an instructress, "Is she handsome or attractive?" If so, it is conclusive against her.

There are other sins of more common occurrence, which may be noticed under separate heads. The most prevalent one is that of selfishness. Various causes produce this condition of mind— frequently it may be traced to the treatment shown to the governess by her employers.

A woman who is slighted, and who is always expecting instances of neglect, lives on the defensive; she is on the look out for manifestations of what she feels to be the habitual plan of conduct towards her, and she thinks that unless she arms herself from the first against it, it will be too late to do so afterwards—she is thrown by her position in a certain degree out of the ordinary intercourse of society-she is obliged to continue the daily routine of study-but woe to her, equally with her pupils, if this degenerates into mere task work -she may be so placed that it is impossible for

her to have either companionship or help from the mother; the latter may be so fully occupied with duties not less imperative, that it is out of her power to pass any time in the school-room. What is too often the effect of this isolation? That all kinds of personal accommodations are absolutely insisted on, frequently to the annoyance and inconvenience of the whole family. But so much temper is displayed when these are denied, that for the sake of peace, concessions are made. Little arrangements as to hours of rest, and vacations, because stipulated for at first, are enforced to the letter, when the comfort of all parties would have been promoted by yielding a little. Sometimes a mother would be thankful to send a younger child for a few hours into the study, but if this was not mentioned in the original agreement, it has been refused. A fixed plan of lessons, though all important as a general rule, is not unfrequently adhered to as a mere manifestation of self importance when a different arrangement might have admitted of some gratification to the pupils, which they must otherwise lose.

Where the occupation in which a person is engaged almost necessarily leads to a particular sin, that sin should be narrowly watched against. There is none so apt to creep into the work of a governess as this of selfishness. She lives in such constant dread of being imposed upon, and feels so strongly the need of maintaining her own position, that she is very apt to mistake the right way of doing so.