a writer at Bengal. If the climate agrees with his constitution, there is no great fear but he will soon acquire a considerable fortune. For which purpose, I have deposited, in the hands of the supercargo, five hundred pounds, for his use, which you know is more than I had when I first embarked for that part of the world. But still, I should consider myself as acting very partially, if, whilst I am making provision for the son, I should forget his aged parents. The ships for India do not sail till next March, so that your son will have at least three months to remain with you before he embarks. He sets off with the coach tomorrow, and I have intrusted him with something for your immediate use. I intend calling to spend a few days with you next month, and be assured, that nothing in my power shall be wanting to make your life. as agreeable as possible. I have not so far forgot the principles of a virtuous education, as to look with indifference on the various dispensations of Providence. How true is that saying of the wise man, "The race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong!" As human wisdom cannot discern the progress to earthly grandeur, so man's prudence is not always able to guard against calamitous events. I am determined therefore not to place too much confidence in riches, and shall only consider myself as the steward of that all bountiful God, from whom I have received them. This is my fixed resolution, and I hope no allurement whatever will tempt me to deviate from it.

I am, dear sir, your affectionate friend

LETTER 157.

On Marriage, from a Lady in town to her Friend in the country.

DEAR MADAM,

Marriage is despised by some, and by others too much coveted. The first sin against the law of nature, and divine ordination; the last, too often, against their own peace and happiness. For those who are in extraordinary haste for a settlement, do commonly extend their expectations beyond what they have possessed in a single life, and many times the imaginary heaven proves a hell. Though your changing your condition had an extraordinary prospect, yet I hear my last letter, which was to wish you joy, found you in sorrow; but I know you are too well principled not to remember the time will come when the wicked shall cease from troubling, and the weary will be at rest. For if your husband continues so industrious to torment you, as the world represents him, I believe you can have but little rest till that time is come; unless it is by the inward peace of a good conscience, which none can take from you. This is a consolation which clamorous wives always lose, and which can never be recompensed by any point they gain, however apparently for their advantage.

Since the laws of God and nature have given men the supreme authority in marriage, we ought not first to accept them on these terms, and then mutiny upon all occasions. For though some men are so kind as to make our yoke light upon us, yet we take them "for better or worse;" and experience shows us that the odds are on the worse side. All this we should consider before we engage ourselves in those strict ties, which oblige us to

deny our own inclinations, and comply with those of our husbands. Indeed, human policy ought to teach us this lesson; for if we make a man's home less agreeable to him than any other place, we furnish him with a good excuse for going abroad, which can never be to our mu tual advantage. Those men whom business does not call out to get money, are generally on the spend; and he that is driven from home by a wife's ill humor, is always more extravagant abroad, and even thinks he has a better pretence to be so, while he sacrifices his body and soul, as well as his estate, to his revenge.

Some women, indeed, will divert themselves and not seem to mind it; and instead of endeavoring to win their husbands by complaisance, turn as extravagant as they; or, as the old proverb says, "they light the candle at both ends;" though they know it must at last burn their own fingers. However, they seldom fail of suffering by their rashness; and the further they run out, the sooner they find a check upon their expenses; beside, if they should preserve their honesty, they undergo the certain loss of their reputation, which is infinitely more valuable to them than any thing else in the world; and although by such conduct they may think to reclaim the men, yet they "ought not to do evil that good may come."

But, most of all, I wonder at some of our acquaintance who seem to be sober women, and yet recommend it, as the best way to deal with a passionate husband, to be more unreasonable than he. Such conduct may silence some men, and might be pardonable, if God as well as man were to be silenced by it. But our religion tells us "we must not be overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good." An evil tongue never appears so odious as in the mouth of a passionate woman, railing against her

husband. We commonly say that a madman is possessed; and every one that is not in a rage himself, will allow passion to be a temporary madness, which makes men act as irrationally as lunatics, although they have not the same excuse to plead. Such unhappy persons will often tell you that passion is a natural infirmity; a violent distemper which they strive against, and therefore they ought to be excused; but let them remember that their conduct is the more unjustifiable, as they are sensible of their folly. If a husband be unkind and cruel, it is a great affliction, and the scripture tells us that all things of that nature are grievous; but as contrary as they are to flesh and blood, yet they arise not from the dust, and it is not for us to contend with our Maker. He that can, with a word, control the winds and seas, can with as little trouble avert any storm that threatens, when he sees us fit objects of mercy. For if we attempt to shake off the yoke, or think by struggling to make the chain sit looser upon us, we shall soon be convinced of our error, like birds taken in a net, who by beating their feathers off, increase their misery, and at the same time disable themselves from making their escape.

Those amongst us that know we have been so obliging as never to deserve an ill word from our persecutors, should remember, that still we every day deserve God's chastisements, and that wicked and unreasonable men are a sword of his, which wounds us the deeper, the more we love the hand which he employs for our correction. But how sharp soever it is, yet we should not repine, considering it is to humble us, in order to draw us nearer to himself. He has said, that when we have arrived at a proper degree of perfection, we shall be free from all our sufferings; but as long as we continue to offend, we shall

be punished either in this world, or, what is infinitely worse, in the world to come.

I have a few thoughts more to send you on the same subject, which I am not able at present to communicate, being in a poor state of health, but I am still,

Dear madam, your sincere friend.

LETTER 158.

To the same.

DEAR MADAM,

In compliance with your request, I mentioned a few things concerning marriage, and according to my promise, now send you the remainder.

It is certainly a very silly thing for people to quarrel who must be friends again; unless they choose rather to live asunder than submit to many things they cannot approve. I will not pretend to determine what provocation is sufficient to justify such a breach, nor to say that it can not be justified, since even the best of women have parted from their husbands, although they seem sincerely to lament their separation. Nor does their conduct accuse them of having done it lightly, or upon the account of taking their pleasure, which would soon be discovered, as in such circumstances, all eyes are upon them, and they must live more reserved than the rest of the world, or else they would quickly be liable to such a censure as must vindicate the conduct of their husbands.

And though in all quarrels betwixt a man and his wife, if it comes to a hot dispute, there are faults in both parties, yet the weaker vessel is so little considered, merely for being weak, they are very often blamed much more