The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1805-04-06

Tor experience has already mitructed her Preceptor
tina, love is altogether involuntary emotion.
We mum teach her to difcriminate between the fri
mprehons & the permanent triunphs of the paiGOn.
| Laura nun be nitruaed like Gi!ful phyiician, to
ditinguh this mental di!order into different faes
& periods and to controul her feelngsfo to brig
its criiis completely within her power. She mutt
learn dtinguiih between the frit in,preions that
are made upon her by interefiing object, and the
force and nutrment which they receive from her
mental ALLEGATIONS The fra may be indeed invo-
| iun,ary. 1t may be the inpreiion of beauty upon
her ienie., which nature and education have made
her exquiiiteiy iuespnble. IL may be perhaps, tina,
lone image Of dining 1ihed excellence iome iperdd
accomplishment certain captivating grace, or high
! intellectual endowments, which The had fuficred
her imagination to nuie with ntenfe and nerealng
delight prelensed her for the fir time in THE hu-
| man form. But iaIit coI.ince Laura that this
iirit impreion is the genuine ienrment of love.
| 1t may have indeed prepared her for the empire of
the little god; but it is fill in her power to break
through his fot and ken letters. This, therefore,
Is the moment for Minerva nterpole her inpene
trab!e cgis, and protect her favourite child Laura
vii. know too late, what difficulties, what vehement
lirugg'.s, how many fo.t Gshs, and how many ago.
nlngstears, 1t will coa her. to eitape from the en-
pre of this deity, hould ihe fubm his insperi
ceptre 1t is like the fabulous labour Of recrof
ling the Styx it like the agony of returning to life
through the avenues of death. We nun therefore
teach Laura, for Laura nut not purchafe this melan
eholy experience by the facrice of her peace how
neceiiary is conder the propriety Of her paon,
before fhe gives herelf up its feduive influence.
Laura will fcareeiy demand the ufe OF thele pre-
cautions. Her experience limited is, and the
knowledge which ihe poiefes Of the phoiophy of the
paiions, will anticipate the explanation of her Untrue
tor. Laura has already collected this truth from the
finail circle OF her matrimonial acquaintance That
the duration OF the life of love is generally proporti-
oned the duration OF its youth She has had oc-
cation to lament the fate of many unfortunate cou-
pie, who captivated with each at firR fight i'm
prudently obey the impue of their pafon, and find
their marriage-couch beisrewed with thorns. The
evil of marriage Qaysa bold and original writer) a,
is praSiled III European countries for thoughtleis
and romantic youth Of each fex together to
fee each other for few times and under crcumlanc-
es full of delukon, and then to eternal attach
nent - Who does not perceive the pernicous confe-
quences of this premature indulgence! The fra I'M
prelions from any objea, 70 many preudices up
minds; they prevent from taking that COM
PREVENTIVE view of an object, which is 70 efentia to
accurate perception of all its qualities Time there
fore is neceary countera9 this prepofelon. Lau-
ra n:uft then exert command over her paIions for
Laura auf have iufcient time and unbiaied iudg-
ment, to hudy the temper and the endowments of
her lover, and to enable each of them to determine,
whether they adapted to each other. Laura does
not know, though her inaruaor does, that fome very
dcerning obfervers have carried this principle much
further; they have not only recommended an nge-
NOUS exhibition of tempers and understandings. but
of the perlons of the lovers. Among the fabu-
lous Utopans of Moore, the bride and bridegroom
were flown naked each other, before the match wa,
concluded. &" If you buy hore (iay they) you al
| ways examine every part of him. All his trappings
taken off, that part may efcape your examina-
ton. How much nicer ought your enquiry to be,
l,,,he cboofe
fairy for you to know completely, nce peronal beau
ty 70 much valued, and hidden defect, an ulcer or
deformed limb, may fierce you hate her forever"
delicate feniibty of this fort, has efcaped the
penetrating obfervaton of Kotzebue, who has made
it the principal plot of one of his dramas
We muft at length teach Laura the great fecret in
chooing her hufband. We muA not fuffer her to for
GET that the Object of her choice is not to be fuch
man, as her mott ardent imagination defire but
man. who is the beit adapted to her own habits itua-
ton and profpeas. would not have Laura to mar
ry man, for his merely having amiabe and virtu-
difPoiition becaule therearema menmay polIei
this excellence inthehgheh degree, whohave not fin
gle qualification befdes, that is fuable to the tafte
condition of my pupil. In word, would place the
happiness of connubia life in a certain equality of en-
dowments between the contracting parties Not that
Imean by endowments, the attainments of the mind
alone, bat fortune age, the graces of peron the po
lifh of manners, and all thofe fpecal qualifications
which each has been accuomed to PRICE and conider
indifpenGble to their happiness. Nor by certain
equality of thele endowments do mean to exprefs
pett equality of intellectual attainment and phyfical
advantages. The advice which fhall engrave upon
the mind of Laura is Form for yourfelf fcale of
the ingredients of your Happiness. Study the temper
and underand the profpecis of your lover and form
for him afimilar fcae of plea1ures Should you then
diicover that there isnot exact equality between all
the qualifications which you respectively poIefs, do
not that account reject your lover. Be contented
if you can come within certain proportion. But re-
collect Whit you afcertainng this aIq,Aa proper
ton, tina. the privileges of the male tex entte them
| TO greater allowances: and recollec, Laura, when
You to apply this itandard particular lover
that you learn balance what he wants in one Ell.
mable qualification, by the greater fhare which he
pohenes Of another
Prudence for inftance, fhoud generally forbid you
from marrying man, whole fortune was very une-
quail your own, for fhoudhe be muchweathier than
yourelf, you would perhaps find in him the pride Of
a tyrant: If he much poorer, your vanity muft
expect from him the obedience Of a fave But ifill
you ought confider whether your mutual character
would not protect you from this mutual propenfty
and whether the other endownments of your hufband
are not fuficient compenate for this inconveni-
| ence."
/ AT length however the choice of Laura is decided
Smplicius becomes the lord of this inemabe trea-
fure We may now contemplate pupil in a new
lcene, occupying relation, and encompalIed by
a new circle of intereiiDg duties. Laura bt Eagi.