The greatest geniuses may have their minds warped, upon a principle which they have received without examination. Newton was very wrong-headed when he was commenting on the Apocalypse. All that certain tyrants of souls desire, is that the men whom they teach may have their intellects distorted. A fakir brings up a child of great promise; he employs five or six years in driving it into his head, that the god Fo appeared to men in the form of a white elephant; and persuades the child, that if he does not believe in these metamorphoses, he will be flogged after death for five hundred thousand years. He adds, that at the end of the world, the enemy of the god Fo will come and fight against that divinity. whether the principle is true, even when just consequences are drawn from it; and this is very common. 2. To draw false consequences from a principle acknowledged to be true. For instance,-a servant is asked whether his master be at home, by persons whom he suspects of having a design against his master's life. If he were blockhead enough to tell them the truth, on pretence that it is wrong to tell a lie, it is clear that he would draw an absurd consequence from a very true principle. The judge who should condemn a man for killing his assassin, would be alike iniquitous, and a bad reasoner. Cases like these are subdivided into a thousand different shades. The good mind, the judicious mind, is that which The child studies, and becomes a pro-distinguishes them. Hence it is, that digy; he finds that Fo could not change there have been so many iniquitous judghimself into anything but a white elements; not because the judges were phant, because that is the most beautiful wicked in heart, but because they were of animals. The kings of Siam and Pegu, not sufficiently enlightened. say he, went to war with one another for a white elephant: certainly, had not Fo been concealed in that elephant, these two kings would not have been so mad as to fight for the possession of a mere animal. Fo's enemy will come and challenge him at the end of the world: this enemy will certainly be a rhinoceros; for the rhinoceros fights the elephant. Thus does the fakir's learned pupil reason in mature age, and he becomes one of the lights of the Indies: the more subtle his intellect, the more crooked; and he, in his turn, forms other intellects as distorted as his own. WOMEN: PHYSICAL AND MORAL. WOMAN is in general less strong than man, smaller, and less capable of lasting labour. Her blood is more aqueous; her flesh less firm; her hair longer; her limbs more rounded; her arins less muscular; her mouth smaller; her hips more prominent; and her belly larger. These physical points distinguish women all over the earth, and of all races, from Lapland unto the coast of Guinea, and from America to China. Plutarch, in the third book of his SymShow these besotted beings a little geo-posiacs, pretends that wine will not inmetry, and they learn it easily enough; toxicate them so easily as men ; and the but, strange to say, this does not set them following is the reason which he gives for right. They perceive the truths of geo- this falsehood:metry; but it does not teach them to weigh probabilities: they have taken their bent; they will reason against reason all their lives; and I am sorry for them. Unfortunately, there are many ways of being wrong-headed.. 1. Not to examine VOL 11.-114 "The temperament of women is very moist; this, with their courses, renders their flesh so soft, smooth, and clear. When wine encounters so much humidity, it is overcome, and it loses its colour and its strength, becoming discoloured and weak. Something also may be gathered 3 G 1 been able to trace the secret of concep tion. Sanchez has curiously remarked"Mariam et spiritum sanctum emisist from the reasoning of Aristotle, who observes, that they who drink great draughts without drawing their breath, which the ancients call 'amusizein,' are not intoxi-semen in copulatione, et ex semine an cated so soon as others; because the borum natum esse Jesum." This abe wine does not remain within the body, minable impertinence of the most knewbut being forcibly taken down, passes ing Sanchez is not adopted at present by rapidly off. Now we generally perceive any naturalist. that women drink in this manner; and The periodical visitations which weaken it is probable that their bodies, in conse- females, while they endure the maladies quence of the continual attraction of the which arise out of their suppression, the humours, which are carried off in their times of gestation, the necessity of suckperiodical visitations, are filled with many ling children, and of watching conting conduits, and furnished with numerous ally over them, and the delicacy of their pipes and channels, into which the wine organisation, render them unfit for the disperses rapidly and easily, without hav-fatigue of war, and the fury of the coming time to affect the noble and principal bat. It is true, as we have already obparts, by the disorder of which intoxica-served, that in almost all times and countion is produced." These physics are altogether worthy of the ancients. Women live somewhat longer than men; that is to say, in a generation we count more aged women than aged men. This fact has been observed by all who have taken accurate accounts of births and deaths in Europe; and it is thought that it is the same in Asia, and among the negresses, the copper-coloured, and olive-complexioned, as among the whites. "Natura est semper sibi consona." tries women have been found on whom nature has bestowed extraordinary strength and courage, who combat with men, and undergo prodigious labour; but, after all, these examples are rare. On this point we refer to the article AMAZONS. Physics always govern morals. Women being weaker of body than we are, there is more skill in their fingers, which are more supple than ours. Little able to labour at the heavy work of masonry, carpentering, medalling, or the plough, they are necessarily entrusted with the lighter labours of the interior of the house, and, above all, with the care of children. Leading a more sedentary life, they pos men, and are less addicted to the commission of enormous crimes-a fact so undeniable, that in all civilised countries there are always fifty men at least executed to one woman. We have elsewhere adverted to an extract from a Chinese journal, which states, that in the year 1725, the wife of the Emperor Yontchin made a distribu-sess more gentleness of character than tion among the poor women of China who had passed their seventieth year; and that, in the province of Canton alone, there were 98,222 females aged more than seventy, 40,893 beyond eighty, and 3,453 of about the age of a hundred. Those who advocate final causes say, that nature grants them a longer life than men, in order to recompense them for the trouble they take in bringing children into the world, and rearing them. It is scarcely to be imagined that nature bestows recompenses, but it is probable that the blood of women being milder, their fibres harden less quickly. No anatomist or physician has even Montesquieu, in his Spirit of Laws, undertaking to speak of the condition of women under divers governments, observes-that “among the Greeks women were not regarded as worthy of having any share in genuine love; but that with them love assumed a form which is not to be named." He cites Plutarch as his authority. This mistake is pardonable only in a wit like Montesquieu, always led away by the rapidity of his ideas, which are archies purely elective; but they may often very indistinct. reign in almost all the hereditary king Plutarch, in his chapter of love, intro-doms of Europe—in Spain, Naples, and duces many interlocutors; and he him- England, in many states of the north, and self, in the character of Daphneus, re- in many grand fiefs which are called 'fefutes, with great animation, the arguments minines.' of Protagenes in favour of the commerce alluded to. Custom, entitled the Salic law, has excluded them from the crown of France; but it is not, as Mezerai remarks, in consequence of their unfitness for governing, since they are almost always intrusted with the regency. Castile, Elizabeth in England, and Maria Theresa in Hungary, have however proved the falsity of this pretended bon-mot, attributed to Cardinal Mazarine; and at this moment we behold a legislatrix in the north as much respected, as the sovereign of Greece, of Asia Minor, of Syria, and of Egypt, is disesteemed. It is in the same dialogue that he goes so far as to say, that in the love of woman there is something divine; which love he compares to the sun that animates nature. He places the highest happiness It is pretended, that Cardinal Mazain conjugal love, and concludes by an rine confessed, that many women were eloquent eulogium on the virtue of Eppo-worthy of governing a kingdom; but he nina. This memorable adventure passed added, that it was always to be feared before the eyes of Plutarch, who lived they would allow themselves to be subsome time in the house of Vespasian. dued by lovers who were not capable of The above heroine, learning that her hus-governing a dozen pullets. Isabella in band Sabinus, vanquished by the troops of the emperor, was concealed in a deep cavern between Franche Comté and Champagne, shut herself up with him, attended on him for many years, and bore children in that situation. Being at length taken with her husband, and brought before Vespasian, who was astonished at her greatness of soul, she said to him,—“ I It has been for a long time ignorantly have lived more happily under ground assumed, that women are slaves during than thou in the light of the sun, and in life among the Mahometans; and that, the enjoyment of power." Plutarch after their death, they do not enter paratherefore asserts directly the contrary to dise. These are two great errors, of a that which is attributed to him by Montes-kind which popes are continually repeatquieu, and declares in favour of woman ing in regard to Mahometanism. Marwith an enthusiasm which is even affect-ried women are not at all slaves; and ing. the Sura, or fourth chapter of the Koran, assigns them a dowry. A girl is entitled to inherit one half as much as her brother; and if there are girls only, they divide among them two thirds of the inheritance; and the remainder belongs to the relations of the deceased, whose mother also is entitled to a certain share. So little are married women slaves, they are entitled to demand a divorce, which granted when their complaints are deemed lawful. It is not astonishing, that in every country man has rendered himself the master of woman, dominion being founded on strength. He has ordinarily, too, a superiority both in body and mind. Very learned women are to be found, in the same manner as female warriors; but they are seldom or ever inventors. A social and agreeable spirit usually falls to their lot; and, generally speak-is ing, they are adapted to soften the manners of men. In no republic have they ever been allowed to take the least part in government; they have never reigned in mon A Mahometan is not allowed to marry his sister-in-law, his niece, his foster-sister, or his daughter-in-law brought up under the care of his wife. Neither is he per mitted to marry two sisters; in which { It is not, however, a fable that the Emparticular the Mahometan law is more peror Valentinian, calling himself a Chrisrigid than the Christian, as people are tian, married Justinian during the life of every day purchasing from the court of Severa, his first wife, mother of the EmRome the right of contracting such mar-peror Gratian; but he was rich enough riages, which they might as well contract to support many wives. gratis. Polygamy. Among the first race of the kings of the Franks, Gontran, Cherebert, Segebert, and Chilperic, had several wives at a Mahomet has limited the number of time. Gontran had within his palace wives to four; but as a man must be rich Venerande, Mercatrude, and Ostregilda, in order to maintain four wives, accord-acknowledged for legitimate wives; ing to his condition, few except great lords Cherebert had Merflida, Marcovesa, and avail themselves of this privilege. There- Theodogilda. fore, a plurality of wives produces not so much injury to the Mahometan states as we are in the habit of supposing; nor does it produce the depopulation which so many books, written at random, are in the habit of asserting. The Jews, agreeably to an ancient usage, established, according to their books, ever since the age of Lameth, have always been allowed several wives at a time. David had eighteen; and it is from his time that they allow that number to kings; although it is said that Solomon had as many as seven hundred. The Mahometans will not publicly allow the Jews to have more than one wife; they do not deem them worthy of that advantage; but money, which is always more powerful than law, procures to rich Jews, in Asia and Africa, that permission which the law refuses. It is seriously related, that Lelius Cinna, tribune of the people, proclaimed, after the death of Cæsar, that the dictator had intended to promulgate a law, allowing women to take as many husbands as they pleased. What sensible man can doubt, that this was a popular story invented to render Cæsar odious? It resembles another story, which states that a senator in full senate formally professed to give Cæsar permission to cohabit with any woman he pleased. Such silly tales dishonour history, and injure the minds of those who credit them. It is a sad thing, that Montesquieu should give credit to this fable. It is difficult to conceive how the exJesuit Nonotte has been able, in his ig norance, to push his boldness so far as to deny these facts, and to say, that the kings of the first race were not polygnmists, and thereby, in a libel in two volumes, throw discredit on more than a hundred historical truths, with the confidence of a pedant who dictates lessons in a college. Books of this kind still continue to be sold in the provinces, where the Jesuits have yet a party. and seduce and mislead uneducated people. Father Daniel, more learned and judicious, confesses the polygamy of the French kings without difficulty. He denies not the three wives of Dagobert I., and asserts expressly, that Theodoret espoused Deutery, although she had a husband, and himself another wife called Visigalde. He adds, that in this he imitated his uncle Clothaire, who espoused the widow of Cleodomir, his brother, although he had three wives already. All historians admit the same thing; why, therefore, after so many testimonies, allow an ignorant writer to speak like a dictator, and say, while uttering a thousand follies, that it is in defence of religion? as if our sacred and venerable religion had anything to do with an historical point, although made serviceable by miserable calumniators to their stupid impostures. Of the Polygamy allowed by certain Popes and Reformers. The Abbé Fleuri, author of the Ecclesiastical History, pays more respect to truth in all which concerns the laws and usages of the church. He avows, that Boniface, confessor of Lower Germany, having consulted Pope Gregory, in the year 726, in order to know in what cases a husband might be allowed to have two wives, Gregory replied to him, on the 22nd of November, of the same year, in these words:-"If a wife be attacked by a malady which renders her unfit for conjugal intercourse, the husband may marry another; but in that case he must allow his sick wife all necessary support and assistance." This decision appears conformable to reason and policy; and favours population, which is the object of marriage. 605 1539, is well known. I knew a sovereign in Germany, who, after having the pope to marry a Catholic, and remarried a Lutheran, had permission from tained both his wives. Chancellor Cowper married two wives, It is well known in England, that the who lived together in the same house in a state of concord which did honour to all three. Many of the curious still posfavour of polygamy. sess the little book which he composed in that in certain countries women are alWe must distrust authors who relate, lowed several husbands. make laws everywhere are born with too much self-love, are too jealous of their Those who authority, and generally possess a temperament too ardent in comparison with that of women, to have instituted a jurisprudence of this nature. That which is is very rarely true; but it is very comopposed to the general course of nature mon for the more early travellers to mistake an abuse for a law. The author of the Spirit of Laws as But that which appears opposed at once to reason, policy, and nature, is the law which ordains, that a woman, separated from her husband both in person and estate, cannot take another husband,serts, that in the caste of Nairs, on the nor the husband another wife. It is evident, that a race is thereby lost; and if the separated parties are both of a certain temperament, they are necessarily exposed and rendered liable to sins for which the legislators ought to be responsible to God, if.... coast of Malabar, a man can have only one wife, while a woman may have several husbands. He cites doubtful authors, and above all Picard; but it is impossible to speak of strange customs without having long witnessed them; and if they ly; but what lively spirit knows how to are mentioned, it ought to be doubtingdoubt? is so great at Patan, the men are con"The lubricity of women," he observes, strained to adopt certain garniture, in order to be safe against their amorous en{terprises." The decretals of the popes have not always had in view what is suitable to the good of estates, and of individuals. This same decretal of Pope Gregory II., which" permits bigamy in certain cases, denies conjugal rights for ever to the boys and girls, whom their parents have devoted to the church in their infancy. This law} seems, as barbarous as it is unjust; at once annihilating posterity, and forcing the will of men before they even possess a will. It is rendering the children the slaves of a vow which they never made; it is to destroy natural liberty, and to offend God and mankind. The polygamy of Philip, Landgrave of Hesse, in the Lutheran community, in The President Montesquieu was never Linguet judicious, who observes, that this at Patan. Is not the remark of M. story has been told by travellers who were either deceived themselves, or who wished to laugh at their readers? Let us be just, love truth, and judge by facts, not by names. |