ced, are in favour of the female; and it becomes a fair question with the unprejudiced, whether, if all the integrity, patience, and benevolence, of the two sexes could be estimated as a sum total, the balance would not incline to the latter.

The following pages are much indebted to the information collected from the labors of enlightened travelers and navigators, as well as pious missionaries, whose arguments, drawn from revelation and the light of nature, have powerfully attacked the demons of Superstition and Terror, Polygamy, infanticide, and conjugal sacrifice, have been wounded by the shafts of reason and religion, and in endeavouring every where to render women more virtuous, they have taken an excellent method to make men more so. By consulting these intrepid adventurers in the cause of Christianity and of Science, a mass of observation has been embodied to which the personal efforts of no individual could ever hope to attain.

The interesting details connected with the age of puberty form a conspicuous feature

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in the elaborate folio volumes of M. Picart, but, as that assidious compiler of the Religions of the Universe" collected his materials in the early part of the last century, they have been rendered less valuable by more recent travelers, and by discoveries at that time little expected. Research has penetrated into kingdoms remotely placed; the African and American interiors have been better explored, and Capt. Cook, like a second Columbus, has added to our charts a considerable portion of the habitable globe.

The fabulous stories of antiquity may have made warriors of women, but a state of warfare in which they destroy each other in not known to exist-their only weapons are their charms and attractions. In the most savage states, the warriors only require them as attendants, nor does it appear that, when captured, they are subject to torture and death. In political wars mercy has been generally extended to them, but in religious massacres they have indiscriminately suffered. Instances have occurred of their martial and ferocious spi

rit, but such are rare, and slighty affect the general rule.

The British courts of law have of late years enforced a strong object of protection to the delicacy and affection of lovers. They will not suffer the ties of courtship to be torn asunder with impunity, rightly estimating that this species of semi-marriage, if long continued, is also for "better or worse." Wherever the case is honestly made out, that truth and constancy have been violated, that gain or libertinism has broken the assurances of marriage, they have awarded ample damages, and confirmed the equitable doctrine, that a breach of promise is a breach of trust-to the female, indeed of the highest importance, since, independently of the pungent feelings of disappointment, her future happiness and prosperity may be blended with it.-A groom, upon this principle, recently obtained damages from a young woman, who had rejected him in consequence of an unexpected acquisition of property.

It has been proved by experience, that savages are the tyrants of the female sex, and

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that the condition of women is usually softened by the refinements of social life. The fit season of marriage has been varied by different legislators. Lycurgus delayed it, in the hope of a robust progeny. Numa fixed it at 12 years, that the husband might train to his will the virgin whom he had purchased of her parents. Considered only as adopted, she ranked as the daughter of her her husband, and sister to her own children. His power was absolute, and she could neither acquire nor possess distinctly from him. The wife was then defined as a thing, and not a person. In the first ages, the father of a family might sell his children, and his wife was reckoned in the number; but, as polygamy was then unknown, he could never admit to his bed a more fair or esteemed partner; and hence the virtue of the Romans, of whom no divorces are recorded during 500 years, was rather imposed than voluntary. The dig-. nity of marriage, the rights of women, the protection of minors, and the just causes of divorce, were restored or well defined by the Christian princes Constantine, Justinian, and others, down the present æra.