]864.] 321 [Price. 



obtain more economically the physical means of livelihood, with 

 iDore of literature, science, and social amusement. Yet soch a social 

 coniniunity is an artificial creation ; and not resting on a natural 

 basis, it is formed but for a transient existence, and then to expire. 

 There are always in these too many heterogeneous elements brought 

 together; and these have not the powerful family interests and affec- 

 tions to preserve harmony, or to produce reconciliation. Diversify 

 the employments, instructions, and amusements as yoo may, the 

 machine, if it moves smoothly, will move monotonously; and if it 

 will not move smoothly, the parts will clash; and in either way will 

 run down, without power to wind itself up. 



There are, it is true, religious communities, enjoying celibacy, 

 which have an enduring existence. The deeply absorbing interests 

 of a common faith and worship, and sometimes more potently, per- 

 haps, persecution, holds them together. Their members are the ex- 

 ceptional beings who have renounced the affections and ties of the 

 world, as well as sought refuge from its temptations and trials; have 

 also renounced in part the affections of their own nature; and, ex- 

 cept as they can anticipate the joys of heaven, theirs seem to us to 

 be but as a semi-life, or a serai-death. Yet these institutions have 

 a mission on earth that is touching to the sentiment of humanity. 

 They are places of retreat for those stricken with sorrow ; those for 

 whom this world's flowers of hope are blighted, its fruits been turned 

 to ashes; foot-sore pilgrims, who, without joy in life, dare not antici- 

 pate that transition they so much desire. Here these may tranquilly 

 rest, and waiting, not only find the consolations of devotion, but in 

 their visitations of mercy to the afl^licted, or in the education of 

 youth, may become the best of human benefactors. Yet these must 

 be exceptional, or the world would not be peopled, nor souls be mul- 

 tiplied for earth or heaven. It is the family of parents and children 

 that we must look to as the true source of population, of moral and 

 educational training, and as the natural basis of society and good 

 government. God has instituted it, and it must so abide forever; 

 and we must care for its members as we would save society. 



Have I seemed to place undue importance on the power of woman 

 and the fomily to advance the world's well being ? Listen then to 

 some of the world's eminent theoretical legislators. 



Jeremy Bentham, in his Theory of Legislation says, " Marriage, 

 considered as a contract, has drawn woman from the severest and 

 most humiliating servitude ; it has distributed the mass of the com- 

 munity into distinct families ; it has created a domestic magistracy ; it 



