Fidelity of the Married Women. 171 



ensure domestic felicity to the Irish peasant, the 

 cabin would, indeed, be a most deplorable abode! 

 Destitute as it is of every sort of apparent com- 

 fort, an involuntary sigh commiserates their lot, 

 while the domestic affection, harmony, and fe- 

 licity, suppress that emotion, and inspire a hope 

 that their privations, though rigorous, are not 

 felt, or at least not in the degree which our 

 compassion leads us to imagine. 



The fidelity of the married woman in Ireland 

 has never been doubted ; but the same favorable 

 opinion has not been entertained of the chastity 

 of the single. These general imputations, I am 

 assured, have no foundation, and that by them 

 great injustice is done to the sex. 



Instances of indiscretion among single women 

 in the lower orders, are, I am assured, by 

 no means frequent : when the consequences 

 become apparent, their lovers seldom desert 

 them. So far is prostitution from being tolerated 

 in public opinion, or regarded with indifference 

 by parents, such a circumstance is considered as 

 the greatest disgrace and misfortune that can 

 befal a family ; while seduction, even by a per- 

 son infinitely superior in rank to that of the 

 unfortunate female, would be visited by the 

 total loss of character in the estimation of all. 

 5 



