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NUMB. 97. TUESDAY, February 19, 1751.

Facunda culpa fecula nuptias

Primum inquinavere, & genus, & domos,
Hoc fonte derivata clades

In patriam populumque fluxit.

Fruitful of crimes, this age first ftain'd
Their hapless offspring, and profan'd
The nuptial bed; from whence the woes,
Which various and unnumber'd rofe
From this polluted fountain head,

HOR.

O'er Rome and o'er the nations spread.

FRANCIS.

THE HE reader is indebted for this day's entertain. ment to an author from whom the age has received greater favours, who has enlarged the knowledge of human nature, and taught the paffions to move at the command of virtue.

SIR,

To the RAMBLER.

WHEN the SPECTATOR was firft published in fingle papers, it gave me fo much pleasure, that it is one of the favourite amusements of my age to recollect it; and when I reflect on the foibles of those times, as described in that useful work, and compare them with the vices now reigning among us, I cannot but wish that you would oftener take cognizance of the manners of the better half of the human fpecies, that if your precepts and obfervations

be

be carried down to pofterity, the SPECTATORS may shew to the rifing generation what were the fashionable follies of their grandmothers, the RAMBLER of their mothers, and that from both they may draw instruction and warning.

When I read thofe SPECTATORS which took notice of the misbehaviour of young women at church, by which they vainly hope to attract admirers, I used to pronounce fuch forward young women SEEKERS, in order to diftinguish them by a mark of infamy from those who had patience and decency to ftay till they were fought.

But I have lived to fee fuch a change in the manners of women, that I would now be willing to compound with them for that name, although I then thought it disgraceful enough, if they would deferve no worse; fince now they are too generally given up to negligence of domestick business, to idle amusements, and to wicked rackets, without any fettled view at all but of fquandering time.

In the time of the SPECTATOR, excepting fometimes in appearance in the ring, fometimes at a good and chofen play, fometimes on a vifit at the house of a grave relation, the young ladies contented themfelves to be found employed in domestick duties; for then routes, drums, balls, affemblies, and fuch like markets for women, were not known.

Modesty and diffidence, gentlenefs and meekness, were looked upon as the appropriate virtues and characteristick graces of the fex. And if a forward fpirit pushed itself into notice, it was expofed in print as it deserved.

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The churches were almost the only places where fingle women were to be seen by ftrangers. Men went thither expecting to see them, and perhaps too much for that only purpose.

But fome good often refulted, however improper might be their motives. Both fexes were in the way of their duty. The man must be abandoned, indeed, who loves not goodness in another; nor were the young fellows of that age fo wholly loft to a fenfe of right, as pride and conceit have fince made them affect to be. When therefore they faw a fair-one whose decent behaviour and cheerful piety fhewed her earnest in her first duties, they had the less doubt, judging politically only, that she would have a confcientious regard to her fecond.

With what ardour have I feen watched for, the rifing of a kneeling beauty; and what additional charms has devotion given to her recommunicated features?

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The men were often the better for what they heard. Even a Saul was once found prophefying among the prophets whom he had fet out to destroy. To a man thus put into good humour by a pleafing object, religion itself looked more amiable, The MEN SEEKERS of the SPECTATOR's time loved the holy place for the object's fake, and loved the object for her suitable be haviour in it.

Reverence mingled with their love, and they thought that a young lady of fuch good principles must be addreffed only by the man who at least made a fhew of good principles, whether his heart was yet quite right or not,

Nor

Nor did the young lady's behaviour, at any time of the fervice, leffen this reverence. Her eyes were her own, her ears the preacher's. Women are always most observed when they feem themfelves leaft to observe, or to lay out for obfervation. The eye of a respectful lover loves rather to receive confidence from the withdrawn eye of the fair-one, than to find itself obliged to retreat.

When a young gentleman's affection was thus laudably engaged, he pursued its natural dictates; keeping then was a rare, at least a fecret and fcandalous vice, and a wife was the fummit of his wishes. Rejection was now dreaded, and pre-engagement apprehended. A woman whom he loved, he was ready to think must be admired by all the world. His fears, his uncertainties, increased his love.

Every inquiry he made into the lady's domeftick excellence, which, when a wife is to be chosen, will furely not be neglected, confirmed him in his choice. He opens his heart to a common friend, and honestly discovers the state of his fortune. His friend applies to thofe of the young lady, whose parents, if they approve his propofals, difclofe them to their daughter.

She perhaps is not an absolute stranger to the paffion of the young gentleman. His eyes, his affiduities, his conftant attendance at a church, whither, till of late, he used feldom to come, and a thousand little obfervances that he paid her, had very probably firft forced her to regard, and then inclined her to favour him.

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That a young lady fhould be in love, and the love of the young gentleman undeclared, is an heterodoxy which prudence, and even policy, muft not allow. But, thus applied to, fhe is all refignation to her parents. Charming refignation, which inclination oppofes not.

Her relations applaud her for her duty; friends meet; points are adjusted; delightful perturbations, and hopes, and a few lover's fears, fill up the tedious space till an interview is granted; for the young lady had not made herfelf cheap at publick places.

The time of interview arrives. She is modeftly referved; he is not confident. He declares his paffion; the consciousness of her own worth, and his application to her parents, take from her any doubt of his fincerity; and the owns herfelf obliged to him for his good opinion. The inquiries of her friends into his character, have taught her that his good opinion deferves to be valued.

She tacitly allows of his future vifits; he renews them; the regard of each for the other is confirmed; and when he preffes for the favour of her hand, he receives a declaration of an entire acquiefcence with her duty, and a modest acknowledgment of esteem for him.

He applies to her parents therefore for a near day; and thinks himself under obligation to them for the cheerful and affectionate manner with which they receive his agreeable application.

With this profpect of future happiness, the marriage is celebrated. Gratulations pour in from every quarter. Parents and relations on both fides,

brought

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