The New Hampshire Gazette And Historical Chronicle

Although some Persons have been so base as to assert, that Matrimony is a necessary state of slavery: If a man is tired of his liberty, or wants an alarum to keep him awake, let him marry. Matrimony is like a pot of aloes covered with honey, which just serves the pretty fond babes to dabble in during the honey month. But when the sweet covering is gone, the remainder is an irretrievable source of bitters which ends but in life; that it is like a bad novel, the closer it is read, the worse it pleases; yet by a sensible man the purest sweets may be extracted from it. However, notwithstanding trifling Excuses,

MATRIMONY is absolutely necessary, for without a regular system of marriages, the civil government of any state or nation could not be supported. It is also necessary to lay a restraint upon our passions, to sweeten the charms of society, by the dearer ties of blood and affinity, and to ascertain patrimonial descents of property; which otherwise could not subsist. There are five things indispensibly necessary to make the married pair happy, viz. a competence; mutual good humour; sincerity; a proper allowance for human frailties; and a mutual confidence in each other. Without these and their Secondary attendant graces, no married couple can be happy; and where these exist, the persons are rarely otherwise. One great misfortune amongst married people is, they generally expect more from each other than nature will allow, or reason authorise; each seeing the errors or defects of the other, are blind to their own; whence mutual bickerings, jealousies, or distaste arise; and the calm union becomes like the jarring elements. When the united constantly seek to please, and make each other happy; when their mutual endearments are founded on virtue, love, and esteem, and when they generally allow for each other's errors of judgment and defects of disposition; they certainly constitute the happiest State human nature can admit of. It is the viciousness of choice, and the imprudence of our behaviour which makes the married state unhappy, and not any thing in itself.