Minds principles of obedience; because, when you go abroad into the World, you will perceive, that every Community, whether political or focial, is fubject to certain laws for its quiet and fecurity. You will be disappointed, if you expect that your will is to predominate. The harmony of families will foon be destroyed without fubordination. Neither will the Heads of them be long refpected, if they fuffer their lawful commands to be difobeyed. It is, therefore, for the common benefit of Parents and Children, that the laft fhould be trained to habits of obedience.

LECTURE VI

LECTURE VI.

O happy they! the happiest of their Kind! Whom gentle Stars unite, and iu one Fate Their Hearts, their Fortunes, and their Beings blend.

THOMSON,

IN

N my last Lecture, I confidered your relative connexion as daughters; more particularly, at that period of life, when you begin to form focial attachments; and to mix in the company. of young Perfons of both fexes. In felecting your Acquaintances, or in forming your friendfhips, the character and moral conduct of those with whom you should thus affociate, or be united, should be especially attended to. It is at this period also, that you are liable to the attentions and civilities of young men, Love and Marriage are very ferious objects;. and as they, in general, too foon employ the thoughts of your Sex, it may be neceffary to caution you against the ill confequences, of fixing your affections haftily; or of encouraging the vifits or addreffes of any Man, fill you

are

are well acquainted with his temper, principles and habits; becaufe no married ftate can be happy, which is not founded on virtue. The duties, also, of that condition of life are fo important, that it will be useful to point them out; in order to convince you, that it should not be rafhly entered into; and that you should qualify yourselves for the proper 、 discharge of them.-First, then, we will confider their importance, as they respect the character of Wives.

The ftate of Wedlock has been compared to that of Friendship: Therefore, all thofe virtues and difpofitions; all that difinterested affection, and harmony of fouls, if I may so exprefs myself, which are neceffary to the preservation of the one, are equally conducive to the happiness of the other. And, on the contrary, all thofe Jealoufies, Caprices and Contradictions, which contribute to diffolve Friendship, may lend their aid to extinguifh that reciprocal efteem and regard, which are the fupport of the connubial connexion. It is the part of Friends, to be faithful and fincere; and to contribute, as much as poffible, to each other's ease and contentment, as well in profperity as adverfity. Such must be the conduct of the wedded Pair; otherwise it will be a union of · hands, but not of hearts. If the attachment

were

were first formed, from fome agreeable Qualities difcovered in each, they must not be fuffered to lose their influence; and the fame affiduity should be used to preserve an affection, as there was to gain it.

It is the province of the Male Sex, to encounter with the cares and perplexities, which are incident to their respective condi-tions, occupations and profeffions in life. It is the duty of the Female Sex, to footh those anxieties, and render the burden lighter. Troubles are leffened by being divided; and Men are enabled to fupport them better, through the help and afliftance of a kind and friendly Partner, who fympathizes in their diftrefs, and adminifters confolation. The fenfibility of the female mind is well adapted to this tender office. How ingratiating muft be fuch behaviour! And how muft it rivet the affections of him, who is the object of this concern!

When a matrimonial union has been formed, without previous circumfpection, repentance comes too late. It would be impolitic in the fair Complainant, to expofe thofe defees to which fhe had been blind 'before. Her fituation now calls forth all her influence and good fenfe, to render it tolerable. And who can tell, how far the united force of female Virtue and Difcretion may improve it, by gra

dual

dual progreffion, from mediocrity to happinefs? The agreeable accomplishments and amiable manners of a prudent Wife, feldom fail of the defired effect; unless the hufband, whofe reformation is the object in view, fhould, by a stupidity of understanding, be too insenfible to their charms; or, by vicious habits, be too depraved for amendment.

A Woman of this character, if connected with a Man of taste and fenfibility, would doubtless render the conjugal state the most defirable of any. Her company and conver• fation would have attractions fufficient to endear him to his own home; fo that occafional amufements abroad would be confidered, not fo much pleasures in themselves, as contributing, by a kind of contraft, to give a keener relifh to domeftic retirement.

On the other hand, what may be the effects of a contrary behaviour? Real affection may be converted into hatred. Mutual recriminations would render fuch a family a scene of difcord and contention. When happiness cannot be found at home, it will be fought for abroad; though under fuch circumftances the research would be fruitlefs; because the unhappy fufferer carries in his own breaft thofe feelings, which have been deeply wounded by the insensible and imprudent conduct of her,

whom