Ch. i. Of moral Restraint. 263 



warm house, and the comfortable fireside, would 

 lose half their interest, if we were to exclude the 

 idea of some object of affection, with whom they 

 were to be shared. 



We have also great reason to believe that the 

 passion between the sexes has the most powerful 

 tendency to soften and meliorate the human cha- 

 racter, and keep it more alive to all the kindlier 

 emotions of benevolence and pity. Observations 

 on savage life have generally tended to prove that 

 nations, in which this passion appeared to be less 

 vivid, were distinguished by a ferocious and ma- 

 lignant spirit, and particularly by tyranny and 

 cruelty to the sex. If, indeed, this bond of con- 

 jugal affection were considerably weakened, it 

 seems probable, either that the man would make 

 use of his superior physical strength, and turn 

 his wife into a slave, as among the generality of 

 savages ; or, at best, that every little inequality of 

 temper, which must necessarily occur between 

 two persons, would produce a total alienation of 

 affection ; and this could hardly take place, with- 

 out a diminution of parental fondness and care, 

 which would have the most fatal effect on the 

 happiness of society. 



It may be further remarked, and observations 

 on the human character in different countries 

 warrant us in the conclusion, that the passion is 

 stronger, and its general effects in producing gen- 

 tleness, kindness, and suavity of manners, much 

 more pov^'erful, where obstacles are thrown in the 

 way of very early and universal gratification. la 



