in the highest degree diftreffing to her daughters as well as offenfive to the other parties; and in many cafes actually prevent attachments, which would otherwife have taken place.

The adjustment of pecuniary transactions antecedent to marriage commonly belongs to the fathers of the young people, rather than to maternal care. But the opinion of the mother will, of course, have its weight. Let that weight ever be employed to counteract the operation of fordid principles; and to promote the arrangement of all fubordinate points on fuch a bafis as may promise permanence to the reciprocal happiness of the two families, which are about to be connected.

When matrimonial alliances introduce a mother to new fons and new daughters; let her study to conduct herself towards them in a manner befitting the ties of affinity, by which fhe is now united to them. If fhe

harbours

harbours prejudices against them, if pride, jealousy, caprice, or any other unwarrantable emotion marks her behaviour towards them; the injustice of her conduct to the individuals themselves has this further acceffion of criminality, that it also wounds in the tendereft point the feelings of her own children.

The peculiar obligations of parent and child are not wholly cancelled but by the ftroke which feparates the bands of mortality. When years have put a period to authority and fubmiffion; parental_folicitude, filial reverence, and mutual affection furvive. Let the mother exert herself during her life to draw clofer and closer the links of benevolence and kindness. Let her counsel, never obtrufely offered or preffed, be at all times ready when it will be beneficial and acceptable. But let her not be diffatisfied, though the proceedings which the recommends fhould not appear the most advisable to her children, who are

now free agents. Let her share in their joy, and sympathise with their afflictions; "rejoice with them that rejoice, and weep " with them that weep (p)." She may then justly hope that their love will never forget what she has done and what she has fuffered for them; and that the hand of filial gratitude will delight to fmooth the path of her latter days.

(p) Romans, xii. 15.

CHAP. XV.

FURTHER REMARKS ON THE DUTIES BELONGING ΤΟ THE MIDDLE PERIOD OF LIFE.

AMONG the duties appertaining to the female fex in the middle period of life, those which are peculiar to the wife and to the mother hold the principal rank, and form the larger proportion. They have already been difcuffed at fufficient length. It may not, however, be unprofitable to fubjoin fome farther remarks, partly referring to the conduct of married women during that period, and partly to the fituation of individuals, who have remained fingle.

So engaging are the attractions, fo impreffive is the force of beauty, that women, distinguished by perfonal charms, are not permitted

permitted long to continue unconscious of being the objects of general attention. Admired and flattered, pursued with affiduities, fingled out from their affociates at every scene of public refort, they perceive themselves univerfally treated with marked and peculiar preference. To thofe in whom harmony of form and brilliancy of complexion are not confpicuous, youth itself, graced with unaffected fimplicity, or at leaft rendered interefting by fprightlinefs and animation, is capable of enfuring no inconfiderable portion of regard. As youth and beauty wear away, the homage which had been paid to them is gradually withdrawn. They who had heretofore been treated as the idols of public and private circles, and had forgotten to anticipate the termination of their empire, are fuddenly awakened from their dream, and conftrained to reft fatisfied with the common notice fhewn to their station, and the respect which they may have acquired by their virtues. To defcend from eminence