On Parental Tyranny. 
Welth colt died about a year ago, worn 
out before Iris matter ; and the grey-headed 
ruddy-faced hind chas difcovered that he 
can do without him, I dhall juft obterve, 
that this allotment is too large; it is too 
much for the {pade, and not enough for a 
plough; and the tenant lacks inducement | 
to bring even the halt of it into proper 
cultivation, which is a lofs to the com- 
munity, and no advantage to him. The 
part, however, which he has cultivated, 
and the barrennefs of the hill around, fug- 
geft much better plans for the improve- 
ment of our waftes, than any that the 
board of agriculture, or our virtuous 
houfe of commons is likely to attempt. 
May 19,1798. al 

To the Editor of the Monthly Magazine. 
SIR, 
YDARENTAL tyranny has been the 
theme of every novelift, dramatift, 
and moralift, in every country, and in 
every age; and there rs much reafon to 
fear that the topic is inexhaultible. But 
thefe inftruftors of mankind have too 
long puriued one beaten track; and, in 
‘the pretent itate of refinement, their cen- 
 fures, however juit, are generally mifap- 
plied, Parents are reprefented by them 
assharfh and forbidding, dettitute of feel- 
ing and affection ; and there are fuch to 
be found; but itis not by parents of this 
defcription that children are rendered 
moft wretched. There exifts in the hu- 
man mind a natural elafticity that will 
not permit it to fink under opprefiion ; 
and where one falls a victim to parental 
tyranny, hundreds are immolated at the 
-fhrine of parental love. - This may ap- 
pear paradoxical without being the lefs 
true. Early in life I was impreffed with 
- the fact, and time and obfervation have 
only confirmed me in the opinion. With- 
out entering into any metaphyfical dif- 
quifitions concerning the principle of be- 
nevolence, it muft be admitted, that of 
all the.charities, none bear a clofer affinity 
to-felf-lovethan parental affection. Every 
accomplifhment, every acquirement, every 
thing commendable in the child, reflects 
credit on the parent; and what are com- 
monly denominated the inceffant cares, 
the watchful tendernefs, and the painful 
anxieties of the parent, are atts as purely 
felfifh as that which gave being to the 
child. While there is not a more general 
topic of complaint than the ingratitude 
of cliildren, it may be fairly difputed, 
whether fuch a being as: an ingvate ever 
exifted. For when that is demanded 
which can only be voluntarily given, from 
42% 
thatsmoment every obligation ceafes. It 
is a common obfervation; that, while men 
have made confeffion of every other vice 
and crime, none have ever acknowledged 
that of ingratitude. What is the pre- 
fumption of this? What is it that in- 
{pires gratitude in another? Not that 
certainly in which my pwn gratification 
or intereft is confulted. And is it not 
the moft pleafing interett of the parent to 
mark the opening beauties, and cherifh 
the rifing virtues ; to decorate the perfony 
and adorn the mind of the child? So far 
the pleafures and interefts of both are the 
fame, and fo far all goes well. But the 
time arrives when the choice of a partner 
for life is to be made. In every country 
there is fome criterion by which the 
choice of a partner is determined: what 
that criterion in this country 18, none 
need to be told: the Englifh can {mile at 
the prejudices of other nations :—we are, 
forfooth, philofophers; while, in’ fag, 
we, only purfue the fame phantoms by a 
diftin@ road. It-often happens, that the 
views and inclinations of the parent and 
child-coincide; but, from caufts unne- 
ceflary to expatiate upon, it yet oftener 
happens that they are oppofed. Here, 
then, for the firft time, inclination is to 
be facrificed. -On the one fide, it is a fa- 
crifice of vanity and ambition: on the 
other, of happinefs. How unequal is the 
comparifon! Yet the latter 1s that which 
is generally made: the parent expects it 5 
for the world approves! But to whom is 
it made? Not-to the tyrannical and over- 
bearing parent; fuch are difobeyed, and 
the difobedience and ingratitude of chil- 
dren is rung in our ears. No; it is 
made to the parent of fenfe and fentibility, 
who tenderly loves, and is in return ten- 
derly beloved. The mind of the child 
fhrinks from the idea of oppofing the 
withes-of-fuch a parent; and the face is 
clothed with files while the heart is a 
prey to anguith, till the fecret figh and 
filent tear undermine the health; and 
hope, and joy, and love, and life, are _ 
buried in one commor-ruin. Nor does it 
follow that the parent is haunted by re- 
morfe, even when hanging over the death- 
bed of a murdered child. For the confo- 
lation remains, that no care has been 
wanting, no expence fpared; or, thould 
the dreadful thought intrude, ‘it is quickly 
difcarded by the recollection that they 
have ever been kind and: indulgent,—in 
every thing indulgent,—and fondly ‘re- 
-cognifed as fuch by the expirmg objeét ; 
cron er i siaksladt papas iigee tA 
—only one facrifice was ever required. 
—True, deluded parents, true; but in 
: E Jog ASS DEK SIGE. 
