where they were more folicitous to please; when föme marry because their fervants cheat them,, föme because they fquander their own money, fóme because their houses are pestered with company, fome because they will live like other people, and fome only because they are fick of themselves,. I am not so much inclined to wonder that marriage is fometimes unhappy, as that it appears fo! little loaded with calamity; and cannot but conclude that fociety has something in itself eminently agreeable to human nature, when I find its pleafures fo great that even the ill choice of a companion can hardly overbalance them. By the ancient custom of the Muscovites, the men and women never faw each other till they were joined beyond the power of parting. It may be suspected that by this method many unfuitable matches were produced, and many tempers affociated that were not qualified to give pleasure to each other. Yet, perhaps, among a people fo lit-tle delicate, where the paucity of gratifications, and the uniformity of life gave no opportunity for imagination to interpose its objections, there was not much danger of capricious dislike, and while they felt neither cold nor hunger they might live quietly together, without any thought of the defects of one another. Amongst us, whom knowledge has made nice, and affluence wanton, there are, indeed, more cautions requifite to fecure tranquillity; and yet if we observe the manner in which thofe converfe, who have singled out each other for marriage, we fhall, perhaps, not think that the Ruffians loft much by their restraint. For the whole endeavour of both parties, during the time of courtship, is to hinder: N.6 themselves themselves from being known, and to disguise their natural temper, and real defires, in hypocritical imitation, studied compliance, and continued affectation. From the time that their love is avowed, neither fees the other but in a mark, and the cheat. is managed often on both fides with so much art, and difcovered afterwards with fo much abruptnefs, that each has reason to suspect that fome transformation has happened on the weddingnight, and that by a strange imposture one has been. courted, and another married. I defire you, therefore, Mr. RAMBLER, to question all who shall hereafter come to you with matrimonial complaints, concerning their behaviour in the time of courtship, and inform them that they are neither to wonder nor repine, when contract begun with fraud has ended in disappoint ment. I am, t.. NUMB. 46. SATURDAY, August 25, 1750. -Genus, et proavos, et quæ non fecimus ipfi Vix ea noftra voco. DVIDS Nought from my birth or ancestors I claim SIR, SINC To the RAMBLER.. INCE I find that you have paid so much re gard to my complaints, as to publish them, I am inclined by vanity, or gratitude, to continue our correfpondence; and indeed, without either of 277 of thefe motives, am glad of an opportunity to write, for I am not accustomed to keep in any thing that fwells my heart, and have here none with whom I can freely converfe. While I am thus employed, fome tedious hours will flip away, and when I return to watch the clock, I fhall find that I have difburdened myself of part of the day. You perceive that I do not pretend to write with much confideration of any thing but my own convenience; and, not to conceal from you my real fentiments, the little time which I have spent, I againft my will, in folitary meditation, has not much contributed to my veneration for authors. I have how fufficient reafon to fufpect that, with t all your fplendid profeffions of wildom, and feemzing regard for truth, you have very little fincerity + that you either write what you do not think, and willingly impofe upon mankind, or that you take no care to think right, but while you set up yourfelves as guides, mislead your followers by eredu lity, or negligence; that you produce to the publick whatever notions you can fpeciously maintain, or elegantly exprefs, without enquiring whether they are just; and transcribe hereditary falsehoods. from old authors perhaps as ignorant and carelefs as yourselves. You may perhaps wonder that I express myfelf with so much acrimony on a queftion in which women are supposed to have very little intereft; and you are likely enough, for I have seen many inftances of the faucinels of fcholars, to tell me, that I am more properly employed in playing with I my kittens, than in giving myself airs of criticism, and cenfuring the learned. But you are mistaken, if you imagine that I am to be intimidated by your Nợ 46%. your contempt, or filenced by your reproofs. As. I read, I have a right to judge, as I am injured, I have a right to complain; and these privileges, which I have purchased at fo dear a rate, I fhall. not easily be perfuaded to refign. To read has, indeed, never been my business but as there are hours of leifure in the most active life, I have paffed the fuperfluities of time, which the diverfions of the town left upon my hands, in turning over a large collection of tragedies and romances, where, amongst other fentiments, common to all authors of this class,. I have found almost every page filled with the charms and happinefs of a country life; that life.to which every statesman in the highest elevation of his profperity is contriving to retire; that life to which every tragick heroine. in fome scene or other wishes to have been born, and which is represented as a certain refuge from folly, from anxiety, from paffion, and from guilt.. It was impoffible to read fo many paffionate exclamations, and foothing defcriptions, without. feeling fome defire to enjoy the ftate in which all this felicity was to be, enjoyed; and therefore I' received with raptures the invitation of my good: aunt, and expected that by fome unknown influence I fhould find all hopes and fears, jealoufies and competitions, vanish from my heart upon my first arrival at the feats of innocence and tranquillity; that I should sleep in halcyon bowers, and wander in elyfian gardens, where I should meet with nothing but the softness of benevolence, the candour of fimplicity, and the cheerfulness of content; where. I fhould fee reason exerting her fovereignty over life, without any interruption. 44 from. from envy, avarice, or ambition, and every day paffing in fuch a manner as the feverest wisdom: fhould approve. This, Mr. RAMBLER, I tell you I expected, and this I had by an hundred authors been taught to expect. By this expectation I was led hither, and here I live in perpetual uneafinefs, withoutany other comfort than that of hoping to return to London. Having, fince I wrote my former letter, been driven, by the mere neceffity of escaping from abfolute inactivity, to make myself more acquainted with the affairs and inhabitants of this place, I am now no longer an absolute stranger to rural converfation and employments, but am far from difco-. vering in them more innocence or wisdom, than Oin the fentiments or conduct of those with whom. I have passed more cheerful and more fashionable: - hours.. It is common to reproach the tea-table, and the park, with giving opportunities and encouragement to scandal. I cannot wholly clear them from the charge; but muft, however, obferve, in favour of the modifh prattlers, that, if not by principle,. we are at least by accident, lefs guilty of defama tion than the country ladies. For having greater numbers to observe and cenfure, we are commonly content to charge them only with their own faults or follies, and seldom give way to malevolence, but fuch as arifes from fome injury or affront, real or imaginary, offered to ourselves. But in these diftant provinces, where the fame families inhabit the fame houses from age to age, they transmit and recount the faults of a whole. fucceffion. I have been informed how every eftate in the neighbour hood |