The Virginia Gazette

[From the Universal Spectator.]

Reflections on unhappy Marriages.

Though 'tis confess'd on all Hands, that the Weal or Woe of Life depends on no one Circumstance so critically as Matrimony; yet how few seem to be influenc'd by this universal Acknowledgment, or act with a Caution becoming the Danger.

Those that are undone this Way, are the Young, the Rash and Amorous, whose Hearts are ever glowing with Desire, whose Eyes are ever roaming after Beauty; those doat on the first amiable Image that Chance throws in their Way, and when the Flame is once kindled, would risque Eternity itself to appease it. -- But, till like their Parents, they no sooner taste the tempting Fruit, but their Eyes are open'd; the Folly of their Intemperance becomes visible; Shame succeeds first, and then Repentance; but Sorrow for themselves soon turns to Anger, with the innocent Cause of their Unhappiness: Hence flow bitter Reproaches, and keen Invetives, which end in mutual Hatred and Contempt. Love abhors Clamour and soon flies gone: Thus, for a few Hours of Dalliance, away, and Happiness finds no Entrance when Love is call it Affection, the Repose of all their future Days is sacrificed; and those, who but just before seem'd to live only for each other, now would almost cease to live, that the Separation might be eternal.

But hold, says the Man of Phlegm and Oeconomy, all are not of this hasty Turn.---- I allow it ---. There are Persons in the World who are young without Passions, and in Health without Appetite; these hunt out a Wife as they go to Smithfield for a Horse; and inter-marry Fortunes, not Minds, or even Bodies: In this Case the Bridegroom has no Joy but in taking Possession of the Portion, and the Bride dreams of little besides new Cloaths, Visits and Congratulations. Thus, as their Expectations of Pleasure are not very great, neither is the Disappointment very grievous; they just keep each other in Countenance, live decently, and are exactly as fond the twentieth Year of Matrimony as the first. -.-- But I would not advise any one to call this State of Insipidity Happiness, because it would argue him both ignorant of it's Nature, and incapable of enjoying it. --.- Mere Absence of Pain will undoubtedly constitute Ease; and, without Ease, there can be no Happiness: Ease, however, is but the Medium through which Happiness is tasted, and but passively receives what the last actively bestows; if therefore the Rash, who marry inconsiderately, perish in the Storms rais'd by their own Passions, these slumber away their Days in a sluggish Calm, and rather dream they live, than experience it by a Series of actual, sensible Enjoyments.

As Matrimonial Happiness then is neither the Result of Insipidity or ill grounded Passion, surely those, who make their Court to Age, Ugliness, and all that's detestable both in Mind and Body, cannot hope to find it, tho' qualified with all the Riches that Avarice covets, or Plutus could bestow. Matches of this Kind are, downright Prostitution, however own'd by the Letter of the Law; and he or she who receives the golden Equivalent of Youth and Beauty, so wretchedly bestow'd, can never enjoy what they so dearly purchas'd: The shocking Incumbrance would render the sumptuous Banquet tasteless, and