tion, and to find her best satisfactions in the acknowledged good she dispenses. What is the testimony of the celebrated daughter of Necker on this subject? "In the career of female fame, there are few prizes to be obtained which can vie with the obscure state of a beloved wife or a happy mother." Woman's heart is too delicate and timid, to desire any species of fame for its own sake: to her it is Jupiter in his thunders, too potent for her If celebrity be ever pleasing, it is when she hopes it may be the herald of her worth, to him she loves; sweet then is the voice of praise, and dear the homage of the multitude. But should no ear hear it, no eye see it, that is of consequence to her, the world's adulation is worse than insipid; it mocks her with the shadow of an estimation that she cannot obtain.

senses.

Woman was formed to admire, man to be admirable. His, are the glories of the sun at noon-day; her's, the softened splendour of the midnight moon. Unless man and woman have these relative ideas of each other's natures and reciprocal duties, marriage is no Both sexes

longer a bond of amity. Congenial principles and a discreet adaption of tastes, affections, and humours, to each other's constitution, must be the ground-work of the contract, if happiness is to be the result. should keep their proper places. maintain his station as the guide, protector, and cherisher of his wife; and woman is to hold in her duty of observing, obeying, and comforting her husband.

Man is to

There is no word in language that has occasioned more heart-burnings in female bosoms, than the matrimonial vow of obedience. But why should woman hesitate to promise that which the dispositions of her soul, and the tenderness of her affection prompts? Could her free-will do otherwise than yield submission to a reason superior to her own? Could she refrain from acceding all her wishes to the desires of the owner of that reason, when she loves him? Surely no woman will answer this by saying, "I love a man whose reason is inferior to my own, and therefore it would be shameful to vow to obey him!" The shame is her's for so loving; "not loving first,

but loving wrong is blame!" Hence the fault lies in her choice, and not with the framers of the marriage ceremony; who made no reservations for absurd or sordid matches.

According to the degree towards perfection in the sexual characters of individuals, they are formed to excite reciprocal affection. It has been explained that man's excellence arises from mental sublimity; woman's, in the beauty of her mind. How lovely is the union of these opposite yet blending sources of admiration! The lofty mountain of St. Gothard, standing over the luxuriant vale of Reusse, and sheltering it from the storms, exhibits not a more magnificent and charming scene. When marriage is contracted on these principles, the graceful, endearing, and lasting happiness of Argalus and Parthenia is produced. But when the man is contemptible, or the woman vain, feuds, "never-ending, still beginning," are the consequence. Some philosopher hath said that "men who are inferior to their fellow men, are always most anxious to establish their superiority over women." And by parity of observation, (for

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ignorance is the first cause of presumption,) we may remark, that silly, thoughtless women make the loudest protest against deference to husbands.

If the highest proof of sense be moderation, though a fine mind must know its own value, it will yet maintain it with gentleness. Who, that is a Christian, will deny that "the husband is the head of the wife." And such a head ruling by wisdom, must command the heart (it being a rational one,) that loves it. But when men of superior endowments match themselves with women who cannot discriminate what their merit is, from that of an inferior, they ought not to be surprised when they find a tormentor instead of a comforter. Paradise was a desart to Adam till Eve shared its delights, for "man, the hermit, sigh'd, till woman smiled!" But how can genius enjoy its privileges, if the partner he hath chosen neither understand his talents, nor comprehend his virtues? It is the living chained to the dead. His paradise is no paradise to a creature who, has no taste for the charms of nature, no enjoyment in the heavenly quali

ties which declare him, " the lord pre-eminent of all below!" But this description does not suit with all men: we do not see this stamp of empire on the soul of every man! Far from it, if we must call that a soul, a spark of the divine essence, which propels base appetites, blows up the vilest passions, and actuates cowardice to the most savage crimes? There are knaves and villains who, by some unlucky star, some evil chance, or cruel deception, get themselves united to women of mind and feeling. Politeness they leave at the churchdoor; and for the common laws of humanity and decency, they keep no terms with them. Contumely, oppression, neglect, outrage, comprise their matrimonial discipline. They consider wives as slaves: and horrible are the tales which many a fair creature might relate to an admiring circle, if a delicate conscience would allow her to "unfold the secrets of her prison-house!" Irrational commands, ungrateful taunts, brutal insults, mortifying contempts, and flagrant acts of profligacy, lead the way, till outrage upon outrage succeeds, and, O, shame to man! to nature! he strikes her!