are necessarily on our guard, especially married men.

It is scarcely necessary to offer any observation as to such a situation; more especially as the chamber temptations to which men are subjected practising as midwives, as also their probable conduct under such temptations, are somewhat at large treated of in succeeding pages. But it can hardly fail to occur to the mind of any one, that under such circumstances as are involved in the foregoing possible case, the man-midwife, however he may bear his faculties meekly in resisting the impulse, nevertheless carries with him faculties of physical as well as of mental operation ; and it may be but by a mere vibration of the scale which of them may be called into predominant action. Supposing, even, that the mental power should prevail, the lust of the eye has been gratified, and the neighbour's wife coveted,-adultery hath been committed

in the heart. This is the best possible result under such circumstances; it is all that caution, prudence, wisdom, or even virtue, can effect: but in the absence of virtue, or the worldly motives of conduct, the result might be very different.

Now any person who knows or has ever heard what character of persons

66

young surgeons" who attend to walk the hospitals generally are,—any person who knows or has ever heard of what passes in the Lazarus wards, and when "unfortunate females" are about to leave the hospitals on their recovery,-whoever has heard of the term "mercurial maidenhead," as a familiar and significant expression amongst the dressers and pupils, indicative of the object of their desires, as a quantum meruit for services, will not hold them to be the most immaculate of the queen's subjects; and very likely they would not wish to be thought peculiar in such re

spect. Is it probable, then, that one of this class when in practice, not to say absolutely a man of gallantry, but of mere easy politeness, would pay so ill a compliment to a woman as to seem perfectly indifferent while gazing on the secret beauties of her person?

"Women are pleased with courtship, and the most disdainful cannot but be complaisant to those that tell them of their attraction." ("Connubialities," Lond. and Paris Mag.)

How "gloz'd the Tempter?"

"Wonder not, sov'reign Mistress, if perhaps Thou canst, who art sole wonder; much less arm Thy looks, the heaven of mildness, with disdain, Displeas'd that I approach thee thus, and gaze Insatiate;"

In this inclosure wild, these beasts among,
Beholders rude, and shallow to discern
Half what in thee is fair, one man except,

Who sees thee? (and what is one?) who shouldst

be seen

A Goddess among Gods, ador'd and serv'd

By Angels numberless, thy daily train.”

PARADISE LOST.

In but reasonable candour, it must be admitted that a man cannot help admiring charms which, hidden to the world, are unveiled to him; and so admiring, can he but

"judge it hard and difficult, Conversing, looking, loving, to abstain From Love's due rights?"

Or, under other circumstances, can the lady be offended if, by her tacit permission, he dwell and prolongs his examination where she must be sensibleperhaps feelingly sensible!—in the tangibleness of the scrutiny, there is reciprocally an influencing effect, resulting from "des agitations vives?" How much may a man of gallantry say, and how effectively, even in slight praise of mere intimation, or in impassioned exclamation on such an occasion; and, as women are generally accessories to their own dishonour (for did they not flatter themselves, men could not so easily de

ceive them), what therefore may possibly be the effect of such investigations, if so availed of, however professionally undertaken? what the mischief of an expression of praise or of an impassioned ejaculation?

"Far other operation first display'd
Carnal desire inflaming: he on Eve
Began to cast lascivious eyes; she him
As wantonly repaid; in lust they burn."

And supposing that the sensations which are excited in both, or either of them, are suppressed for the time, what are the recollections afterwards? When the lady is recovered, can the man-midwife look at her without remembering the delicate conformation of her limbs, their luxuriant fulness and proportions, or the texture and complexion of her skin;

"Their shape, their colour, and attractive grace," with other peculiarities of the, perhaps, paphian beauty of her person?