Many advantages
would result to those, who were to follow the example. For if women were
allowed to remain, chastity of expression and decorum of behaviour would
be more likely to be insured. There presence also would operate as a
check upon drunkenness. Nor can there be a doubt, that women would
enliven and give a variety to conversation; and, as they have had a
different education from men, that an opportunity of mutual improvement
might be afforded by the continuance of the two in the society of one
another.
It is also usual with the world in such companies, that the men, when
the females have retired, should continue drinking till tea-time. This
custom is unknown to the Quakers, even to those few Quakers, who allow
of a separation of the sexes. It is not unusual with them to propose a
walk before tea, if the weather permit. But even in the case where they
remain at the table, their time is spent rather in conversing than in
drinking. They have no toasts, as I have observed, which should induce
them to put the bottle round in a given time, or which should oblige
them to take a certain number of glasses. The bottle, however, is
usually put round, and each helps himself as he pleases. At length one
of the guests, having had sufficient, declines filling his glass.
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