attempt to lessen her trials by exposing the frailties of human nature, will find that she has increased the burden she was anxious to

remove.

In this case, she is making an appeal where complaints may indeed be heard with sympathetic tenderness, but where they cannot be redressed. She must, after all, return to the seat of disquietude and sorrow: she must again contemplate the scene that shall renew grief and perpetuate dejection: and if she cannot remove at once the cause of her distress, all palliatives will be useless. The commiseration of others will afford but a momentary suspension of misery; and she will quickly find that the wound which ceased to pain, was only recruiting its strength to throb with fresh vigour and to awaken keener anguish.

Such a breach of conjugal fidelity is therefore pregnant with mischief. It has a natural tendency to sour the mind, to render the temper irascible, and to produce coldness and neglect. He that has no one to love or trust

has little to hope.' He wants the radical prin

ciple of happiness.

In the marriage life, Confidents are seldom either useful or desirable.

It is perhaps neither safe nor prudent to intrust the dearest friend with what we wish concealed from a husband or a wife. Access to the secret repository of the heart is a privilege peculiar to both, and from which the nearest relative should stand excluded: nor can the breach of it be dispensed with by either, without sacrificing a prerogative of inestimable value in domestic life. The love and friendship of that man cannot be much esteemed, 'who spreads his arms to human kind, and makes every man, without distinction, a denizen of his bosom.' But, if with entire confidence we can unbosom the feelings of the heart, what distress may not be alleviated, what difficulty not lessened, or what enjoyment not heightened by the kind interposition, the seasonable advice, and the tender sympathy of one who delights to share both our sorrows and our joys?

For souls that carry on a bless'd exchange
Of joys they meet with in their heav'nly range,
And with a fearless confidence make known
The sorrows sympathy esteems its own,
Daily derive increasing light and force
From such communion in their pleasant course,

Feel less the journey's roughness and its length,
Meet their opposers with united strength,
And, one in heart, in int'rest, and design,
Gird up each other to the race divine.'

The woman therefore who abuses such a privilege is imprudent and unkind; she exposes her own weakness, gives just occasion of offence, and wounds the honour of her husband by stabbing him in the tenderest part. What, says he, has the wife of my bosom dealt thus treacherously with me! Had it been an enemy that reproached me; then I could have borne it-But it was thou, mine equal, with whom I took sweet counsel-Yea, mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, that has thus requited me.

But, my amiable friend, I am persuaded better things of you, though I thus speak. I believe you will studiously avoid even the appearance of what might be thought likely to displease, and demonstrate by every possible

means both the warmth and the sincerity of your love.

By a little attention to the temper and disposition of your husband, you will easily discern what affects his happiness; and let it never be forgotten, that life consists not of a series of illustrious actions or elegant enjoyments; the greater part of our time passes in compliance with necessities, in the performance of daily duties, in the removal of small inconveniences, in the procurement of petty pleasures; and we are well or ill at ease, as the stream of life glides on smoothly, or is ruffled by small obstacles and frequent interruption.'

Disputes about trivial matters I would wish you always to decline. From things the most unimportant in themselves, frequently, yea, most commonly, arise altercations that are sometimes

continued by the desire of conquest, till vanity kindles into rage, and opposition rankles into enmity;' when, by compliance on the part of either, both might have been easily prevented. Better is a dry morsel, says Solomon,

and quietness therewith, than a house full of sacrifices with strife. In all such cases, unreserved concession, if nothing but concession can assuage the fury of debate, will be more honourable than obstinate resistance. For though you might both hasten to reconciliation, as soon as the tumult had subsided, yet two minds will seldom be found together, which can at once subdue their discontent, or immediately enjoy the sweets of peace, without remembering the wounds of the conflict.'

'Oh! blest with temper, whose unclouded ray
Can make to-morrow cheerful as to-day!
She who ne'er answers till a husband cools,
Or, if she rules him, never shows she rules;
Charms by accepting, by submitting sways,
Yet has her humour most when she obeys.'

Instead, therefore, of contending for mastery where victory would be useless, evince that you glory in condescension rather than in conquest. Such a conduct will cherish your husband's esteem, and be productive of the happiest effects. Time and possession, which too frequently lessen the sense of our enjoyments, will demonstrate that, in such a wife, he possesses all the means of endearment. He will see that,