Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1841-10-21
From The National Gazette.
MARRIAGES IN FRANCE.


CUSTOMARY ARRANGEMENTS FOR A MAR.
RIAGE IN FRANCE. EVIL coNsEaUEN-
CEs. CONTRAST, BY CHEvALIER, BE.
TWEEN MATRIMONIAL ENGAGEMENTS
IN THAT COUNTRY AND IN THE UNITED
STATES.
A late English journal gives the fol-
lowing passage from Swinburne's Courts
Of Europe, recently published.
"Ths extravaganza Of the French is
scarcely credible, and nothing 1T England
ever equaled it, at least that | ever heard
of. The troussean Of Mademoselle Mar.
tignon, who is going 10 marry the Baron
de Montmorenci, IS to cost u hundred
thousand crowns (f25,0O0.) There are
to be hundred dozen of chemises and so
on, in proportion. The expense of rig
cling out bride is equal TO handsome
portion in England five thousand pounds
worth of linen, lace and gowns, is a com.
mon thing among them"
Lest any of our fair countrywomen, on
reading the above, might be tempted to
repine at their lot, and to imagine it infe.
rior to that Of the women of France, we
propose to give brief sketch Of the pro-
gress of a matrimonial arrangement, in
that country. The father of the young
lady is first applied TO, with view to as
certain what is the portion he will give
with her. 1.-THE sum mentioned is Deem
ed insufficient, and he cannot be prevailed
upon to increase it, and the applicant is
obstinate, the negotiation is at an end.
At length there is found one who is will.
ling to receive her upon the terms propos.
ed. Forthwith commences the prepare
ton of the rousseau, which is made rs
large as possible, with a view 10 secure to
her, for considerable portion OF life, a
supply of clothing independent of her hus-
band. as witness that of Mademolselle
Mar,ignon, above mentioned. On the
morrow of the wedding, the father places
in the hands of the bridegroom, all the
bills for the articles thus purchased, and
a draf. for the balance ofthe dowry agreed
upon, and thus is this " fair business trans
action" closed. The eldest daughter be-
ing thus disposed OF, an application of q
similar kind is now, we will suppose, made
Tor the second. The father replies thai
his means have been so far impaired by
the necessity Of providing for the first
TINT he can do nothing for the next unit
after some years Of prosperous business.
The applicant withdraws, and the young
lady remains unmarried until her fathe
finds himself enabled to give her a portion
suited to her situation in life, withou
which no woman can expect TO obtain 1
husband. The consequence is, that
large proportion Of the sex remains un
married during life. and Of those who de
marry, tho average age is not less, w
think, than 20. Forced celibacy is al
wsvs productive of immortality. The for
mer exists throughout France to grea
extent, and il is not surprising that !
should be accompanied by the latter. II
Paris, the number of illegitima'e children
is so great, that Baron Dupin saysi it woul
be sale, OF meeting three young Paris'ans
TO assert that one of them was OF that de
scription.
: NJ. Chevalier, after charging our coun
trymen with ga passion for money!" says
81 ought also to do the Americans JUS
tice on another point. have said thu
with them every thing was an affair
money, and yet there is one thing whc
; among us, people of lively affections
f prone to love, and generous by nature
d takes the mercantile character very deci
: dedIy; and which among them has nc
thing of this character. mean marriage
We buy a woman with our fortune, or w
: sell ourselves TO her for her dover. TIL