There can be no doubt that celibacy entails many disadvantages and evils upon its votaries. It causes the sweet and tender emotions which are implanted in every heart, to wither and pine away, for want of proper objects upon which they can be exercised, and deprives their possessor as entirely of the happiness they are capable of imparting, as though he had them not. It sears and benumbs the purest and best affections of the heart of man, and almost invariably causes its adherents to become exceedingly selfish, testy, and unamiable, and finally to sink into cold, cheerless misanthropy. The history of the poet Cowper furnishes a melancholy instance of the evils of a protracted life in a single state. Whoever has perused his beautiful poems, must be sensible that he possessed a soul richly gifted with the kindest and best emotions of His" Winter Evening" evinces a disposition peculiarly calculated to enjoy all the de lights of domestic life ;* and his poem on "Conversation" shows that his heart was capable of appreciating the happiness of connubial love. But he passed his long life, a stranger to the sympathy and solace which can alone be found in the marriage state. As a natural consequence, to one of his keen susceptibilities, he became gloomy, desponding, hypochondriacal, and was subject to long pe our nature. *If the reader would pass a "Winter evening" delightfully, let him peruse the poem named above, in the midst of the social circle, where "The needle plies its busy task." riods of insanity, in which he frequently attempted to destroy his own existence. Had this individual. at the proper age, judiciously selected a companion for life—had he chosen one who was capable of understanding the peculiarities of his disposition, and of appreciating and modifying his refined sensibilities-had he been blessed with a domestic circle which would have called into activity the deep treasures of his affections-we have every reason to believe that his life would have been passed in the enjoyment of calm tranquillitv and peace. It is not to be denied that, in some instances, matrimony is the source of evil-that it makes some more unhappy than they were before they took upon themselves its obligations. These, however, are but exceptions to a general rule.— And every exception of this character-every instance where marriage has been fruitful of wretchedness can be traced either to great negligence, to a needless want of precaution and discernment in selecting companions, or to the exercise of improper feelings toward each other, by husbands and wives. So far, then, from charging this unhappiness upon the marriage state, it is to be attributed to the wilful blindness or inexcusable ignorance of one or both of the parties who suffer its inflictions. In view of all the momentous and lasting consequences which flow from marriage, it becomes the most important connexion that can be formed in this world. It is the great era in life, the prominent land-mark, to which the young look forward with pleasing expectation, and from which the married date the events of after years. The happiness or wretchedness, the peace or discontentment, the prosperity or adversity, of the remaining portion of earthly existence, depend very much indeed upon our discharging properly the obligations of husbands and wives. We may have every desirable advantage-every necessary qualification in science or art-every possible facility for a vigorous and successful outset upon the great arena of business life-the brightest prospects, the most flattering anticipations, may smile in the future-yet if we are deficient in the matrimonial duties and responsibilities, all these favorable circumstances will be in vain; a cloud will overshadow our domestic happiness, the darkness of which will reach to the most remote sources of enjoyment. When the flame of reciprocal love and reciprocal duty burns low and feeble upon the domestic altar, it is worse than useless to flee to other scenes for pleasure-for when home is darkened, the sun of true happiness is sunk beneath the horizon! Looking at these considerations, how immensely important it becomes that the young who have taken upon themselves the marriage vows, and those who contemplate soon to enter upon the important relationship of husband and wife, should possess a proper knowledge of that untried state ner. -how necessary that they should entertain some just conceptions of the duties and responsibilities as well as of the advantages and enjoyments pertaining to wedded life. Were the mariner to leave the harbor and go out upon the trackless ocean without compass to guide him, or chart to acquaint him with the rocks and shoals which abound in his course, he would be considered as acting in a rash and stupidly inconsistent manBut would he be more open to this censure, than the couple who commence the journey of married life, totally ignorant and blind as to its many obligations and responsibilities, and without any just conceptions in regard to the true nature of the peace and happiness which it is capable of affording? And yet how many exhibit this folly! How many, who not only do not reflect, but who do not seem to have the most distant conception of the necessity of devoting even an hour to reflection, upon a subject which involves their enjoyments through life! It is in this class, that those instances are found in which matrimony puts on the unhappy aspect, which fills the heart of the bachelor with so much horror! It is true, the evils which accrue from a want of reflection on this subject are often remedied by after experience, when the heart and disposition are right in both parties. But experience is a severe and often an expensive teacher. It is much easier, safer, and wiser, to prevent evils, than to remedy hem. To impart information upon this important subject to give food for reflection, and furnish useful hints, suggestions, and admonitions—to lay down a few plain rules and maxims, in regard to the reciprocal duties and obligations of husbands and wives-is the object for which my "Voice" is again raised. I would gently take the reader to some lofty eminence of observation, and as the mental eye scans the broad surface of the vale of life, spread out below, we will, at our leisure trace the highway of matrimony through its various windings, that we may detect and guard against the many dangerous evils which throng along its borders. And, surely, if by this survey we shall be enabled to perceive and avoid even one impending evil, or to escape but one source of matrimonial wretchedness, the effort is worth making. It is with no small degree of hesitancy that I enter upon this task. The subject is one of much delicacy--it is surrounded by many difficulties and impediments and can be accomplished, amid other pressing avocations, only by long and anxious toil. And it is solely by the urgent solicitation of kind friends, that I have consented to lay before the public the fruit of my reflections upon the various topics that will be noticed. Although my sojourn in the marriage state has been comparatively brief, yet an experience of thirteen years, during which time a little family has gathered around us, cannot fail, amid its checkered |