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. Both sexes should keep their proper places. Man is to 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.

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, çndearing, 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

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 art 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!

Tender, confiding woman is wounded by the hand that ought to have been her defence; is held up to obloquy, by the arm that ought to have been her protection! Such are the men who drive their wives, (wretched in so sad a refuge!) into the seducer's toils: such are the men who exult in guilt, and put the price of innocence with their own dishonour, into their purses. Till the bridal pair consider mind and heart of greater consequence to mutual concord, than their respective fortune and fashion, calamitous cases of matrimonial disunion will continue to stain our annals; and transmit to posterity most disgraceful doubts of their own legitimacy, and the honour of their ancestors.