364 STUDIES OF NATURE. 



fhall be repaired by the bleffings which (he bellows 

 on the miferable. Friendlhips multiply in fami- 

 lies ; of the friend to the brother who introduces 

 him, and of the brother to the fifter. The kindred 

 are mutually attrafted. The young folks form 

 their manners j and the happy perfpeâiives which 

 their union difclofes, cherifli in them the love of 

 their feveral duties, and of virtue. Who knows 

 but thofe unconftrained choices, thofe pure and 

 tender ties, may fix that roving fpirit, which fome 

 have fuppofed natural to women ? They would re- 

 fpefl the bands which they themfelves had formed. 

 If, having become wives, they aim at pleafing 

 every body, it is, perhaps, becaufe when they were 

 fingle, they were not permitted to be in love with 

 one. 



If there is room to hope for a happy revolution 

 in our Country, it is to be effedted only by calling 

 back the women to domeftic manners. What- 

 ever fatire may have been levelled againft: them, 

 they are lefs culpable than the men. They are 

 chargeable with hardly any vices, except thofe 

 which they receive from us ; and we have a great 

 many from which they are free. As to thofe which 

 are peculiar to themfelves, it may be affirmed, that 

 they have retarded our ruin, by balancing the 

 vices of our political conllitmion. It is impoffible 

 to imagine what mull have become of a ftate of 



Society 



