an involuntary Sacrifice. Inceffant Remorfes muft, like Vultures, prey on those who have practifed fuch Tyranny, and who see their Children languifhing in the Horror infeparable from every difcordant Hymen. Thus, let not the Mind be deluded by the fpecious Name of a Marriage of Reafon; we have now feen, that, in many Cafes, none are more unreasonable. 5. What then is the Marriage the Prin ciples of which lead to a real Happiness, as far as this State is fufceptible of it? All the Motives, hitherto expofed, are big with Inconveniencies. Are there any other, or, if not, the Conclufion is manifeft, there are no happy Marriages: This Conclufion is too general, is contradicted by Experience; and it may be faid, with a famous Satyrift, in another Cafe. Il en eft jufqu'a trois, que je pourrois citer. BOILEAU, Sat. X. There are no less than three, which I can name. But it must be owned, they are rare, and very rare. If there are Principles leading to fuch a Happiness, they are, in my Opinion, the following: A Marriage, in Order to its Happiness, must be preceded by Knowledge, Efteem, and the better, if, by Liking; it should be fuitable to the several received Fitneffes Fitneffes of Age, Condition, and Religion : Laftly, it fhould be accompanied with creditable Means for living according to our Station in the World, and for bringing up a Family, if fuch fhould be the Confequence. But let us be more explicit in this Definition. 1. Knowledge of each other is an ef fential Preamble to Union; and this not a fuperficial Knowledge, but arifing from Study and Obfervance, carried as far as the human Heart is fufceptible. Is there any fuch Thing in those whom large Tracts of Land separate, and who, without knowing fcarce any Thing of each other, ha zardously enter into a perpetual Union? A very prepofterous Method of proceeding. How we fhall fhew Care and Deliberation in any little Purchase; a Toy, which, if it displeases us, may be thrown afide, we turn every Way,, and examine it on all Sides; yet precipitately engage ourselves to an Object which Death alone is to remove from our Sight. No, no; the whole Application of a fenfible Perfon is fcarce fufficient for probable Conjectures on this interesting Point; and an Examination of this Kind Can fcarce be carried too far. 2. If the Knowledge, refulting from this Examination, does not lead to Efteem, stop short; and let every Seducement of the the Heart, in Favour of an Object below Efteem, be looked on as a dangerous Poifon. Let not a fplendid Appearance, perfonal Graces, and Elegancy of Speech, nor Intereft, counterbalance the Want of Efteem. What Delight can we promise ourselves with a Perfon of fordid Sentiments, or who is a Slave to fome capital Defect, or infamous Vice? The more Sympathy, the more favourable Difpofitions you, otherwise, find in yourself for a Perfon of fuch a Caft, the more you are to avoid him, left unhappily your Reafon and your Mind become the Dupes of your Heart. 3. To Knowledge and Efteem I have, added Liking; but with this Restriction, if it be poffible; this I fhall not dwell on, having fhewn, that happy Marriages may be contracted merely on Efteem, and in which Liking, Inclination, and Tenderness have originally no Share. 4. Attention to Fitneffes is a fecond general Article of which I make a Principle of Happiness in conjugal Society. Motley Marriages, as they are called, seldom anfwer: It is not natural that, between two Perfons in whofe Age there is a great Difparity, abftractedly from the Murmurings of the Senfes, there fhould be an affectionate Liking; that they fhall mutually in dulge dulge those warm Effufions of Heart which are the most delicate Part of matrimonial Felicity *. Two Perfons of a very different Rank will likewife have a Tincture of their Lineage; one in Loftinefs, perhaps Contempt; the other in Awe, which is clofely followed by Hatred. Two Perfons of different Ideas on important Matters of Religion will be for making Converts of each other; and thefe Difputes are none of the most gentle: Hence Altercations and a fettled Acrimony. Or, if they are fo discrete as not to harp on this String, they will fecretly look on each other as on ill * Of fuch, I make no Queftion, the following will be thought a beautiful Instance: Oh Marriage! happieft, eafieft, fafeft State! A faithful, beauteous Friend? Blush not, my Fair One, that thy Love applauds thee: Nor be it painful to my wedded Wife, That my full Heart o'erflows in Praise of thee. Terms Terms with God, in the Way to Damnation. There cannot be too abfolute a Conformity, in every Respect, between two Perfons who are but one Flesh. 5. I have brought into Account creditable Means, neceffary Resources for a fuitable Maintenance; here Providence is nei→ ther to be too much mistrusted, nor too blindly relied on. On a minute Inspection it will appear that there are no ftable Settlements, no fecure Fortunes; every Thing hangs by a Thread, which an invifible Hand, when he thinks proper, fnaps in two: So that to carry the Calculation to all poffible Events, is torturing ourselves to no Purpose. I suppose Appearances are propitious. You have at prefent a decent Income; Experience, your Skill and Industry, feveral Channels which you have procured to yourself, all give Room to hope that you will ever be above Want; this warrants the Determination, if every Thing elfe fuits with your Defires. But to throw yourself headlong into a Penury of which you already feel fome Preffures; to unite Hunger and Thirft; to bring into Being Children, whofe Portion probably will be Toil, Wretchedness, and Ignorance; is an unpardonable Folly. Here, as every-where elfe, a juft Medium is the right Way. After |