that woman should reign. They would not have her deferred to for that she is on a higher level than that of men-far above, out of men's sight, in a region of purity and love and peace; but as a being that, after descending into the same arena with men, after throwing aside her native modesty and delicacy, enters into all the grossness of man's existence; examines, and boasts that she knows, and shrinks not from, the details of his traffic and his science, his folly and his vice; thinks no idea too gross and no sight too shocking for her, and everywhere vanquishes him on his own ground. Perhaps if she could do all this she might subdue man by superior force, energy, and intelligence, as a strong wilful man overmasters a weak and timid one. But we need not speculate on such a result, because an insuperable power has interposed and decided the question. Nature has said emphatically, No. It is not a question of intellect, but one of nerve and muscle. Until woman can cope with man in physical strength, in endurance, and in will, she cannot hope to beat man in his own proper field. Neither can she, without an abdication of all that entitles her to respect, enter upon the contest. The sights, the ideas, the work to which she would thus render herself liable are too revolting for us to contemplate in connection with her, and, we should hope, too shocking for any right-minded woman to think of.* The moment that she abandons the object of raising man to her level, and lowers herself to his level, she throws away the real talisman through which alone she can command. We have said above that her power is in her weakness aud her womanli

ness.

But, suppose she does not absolutely subdue and control man, still, it may be urged, she may hold her own, and get her share of the world and the world's goods without having to thank man, or fortune, or anything but her own energy and industry. Again we say, No. Man can be a very tractable and docile subject in a constitutional government, where every power is kept within its proper sphere, and general accord is necessary to the scheme; but he is likely to prove a rough customer when challenged by women in matters with which he does not desire to see them conversant, and opposed, thwarted, and impeded in his pursuits and interests. The feelings which have grown with him, the traditions of centuries, may keep him for a time patient and tolerant; but remember that woman by her acts and her proclamation is to fling away her sword and shield, her old prescriptive homage and position, and sooner or later man will forget that she ever possessed them. Then where will woman be? She must find herself where evermore the weakest has been, and will be, found. She will be where she was before the enthusiasm of chivalry lifted her out of the mire: not condemned, perhaps, again to bodily drudgery as of old, but to intellectual toil for the benefit of him who will once more be properly her master. The negroes have a proverb to the effect that monkeys will not talk for fear they should be made to work: now, if women prove to be less cautious than monkeys, and talk too much, and exhibit too much ability in a wrong direction, while they altogether leave the province in which they are sure to excel and to have honour, it is very

probable that they will incur the penalty which monkeys hitherto have avoided!

All history goes to prove that woman cannot control, or maintain an equality with, man, except with man's consent and by his co-operation. He has made no demand for woman's participation in his business and duties, and he cannot spare her from her own. He is not likely to-he will not-concur in her degradation; and if she persist in making herself vile in spite of him, he will cease to respect her as a being that has ceased to respect herself.

There are many obvious courses by which the subjection of women might be expected to be reached. One of the most likely is the following:-When the general scramble for wealth and fame and power should begin, the contest might for a time be between women and men. All the women would strive on one side against man as the common enemy and oppressor. But when a fortunate section of them should begin to win lions' shares of the spoil through superior aptitude for the struggle, can we doubt in what direction the disappointed ones would seek for consolation and support? Is it not certain that they would court the alliance of the stronger animal against the winners; would they not allure him by the old devices, and would he not yield as certainly as he did in Eden, albeit he might be proof against philosophy and pantaloons? We would stake our lives upon her success. With reason, logic, law, and physic against his weakness, he would follow his fancy; and amid the shrill tempest of strongminded vituperation, accusation, and scorn, would bleat forth his old apology, "The woman gave me of the tree, and I did eat." We are certain that the leading article of the confederacy would be Stare super vias antiquas, and their warcry, "Down with the hermaphrodites!" Man would thus be master

of the situation, and once more arbiter of female destiny.

Once the relations between the sexes are altered, more than a revolution in society must occur. Our literature up to the period of the revolution will become in great measure unintelligible. Commentators may for a time keep alive an idea of the meanings, but ere long the face of society will be so changed, and the minds, experiences, and affections of the race so entirely unlike what they are at present, that notes and glossaries will be ineffectual. What amount of learned exposition will ever convey what is meant by Our hours of ease;" and how will man ever identify the ministering angel" with the creature who, when affliction clouds the brow, read shim a sharp lecture, or, drawing a pen from its breeches pocket, indites a mystic prescription and hands over the administration to a masculine Gamp? Just conceive the puzzling there would be over the lines

method of admonishing her, and warning the nation, was adopted both these scholiasts being refuted in a withering paper by Professor Xanthippe Cruet, who will affirm that the whole piece is the broadest burlesque, written to amuse children at Christmas by its absurdity; and the learned antiquarian will point triumphantly to an old print appended to her copy, where the character of the performance is at tested by the fantastical costumes, especially those of the women, who are enveloped in full long sweeping garments, so that it is impossible to say whether they possess legs or any other members below the waists. There will be great appreciation, too, of that screaming joke of Shakespeare,

"Her voice was ever soft, Gentle, and low - an excellent thing in

woman.

"

And here let us own how, until these latter days, we thought the character of Petruchio to be an extravagance, forgetting that the Master wrote not for an age, but for all time. The days have come at last when a few active young men of the Petruchio stamp are greatly needed, and might do much good in the world.

Let us now glance at the complaint about marriage. The grievance in this matter has been found out to be so great that many ladies (principally in America) have come to the determination not to be married legally, or according to the forms of the Church, because the terms of the contract, as set forth by the Church and by the statutebook, are so manifestly oppressive toward women. The husband is installed as absolute irresponsible lord-lord of the person and of the substance of the wife, who, on her side, is to enjoy the infinite honour of serving and obeying him! Can this be tolerated? Can any sentient, intelligent female so far forget her dignity as to subscribe such an agreement? Now, we cannot

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say that the bargain, as set forth in the marriage ceremony, has ever appeared to us such a one-sided engagement as the reformers represent it; if the concessions be unequal, that made by the bridegroom is the greater. The little word obey" sticks, it seems, in the ladies' throats; but what say they to "with my body I thee worship, and with all my worldly goods I thee endow," which the husband has to repeat? Is it not a stiffish article? But, say the reformers, it is mere moonshine, and practically inoperative. To which we reply, that the obedience promised by the wife is not always seen in practice. Either party that has no conscience may not adhere to the vows; but that does not show the vows to be unfair; it only proves the faithlessness of individuals. The contract should be viewed according to its whole spirit, which certainly does not intend, and, when rightly understood, cannot be charged with, unfairness to either side. It has been admirably calculated to yield an equality of advantages, to give to each sex freedom for its own proper powers and talents, while securing to it the greatest amount of assistance from the other sex, although, from the difference of the sexes, it cannot promise each party absolute equality in everything. It is to be feared that many, very many, enter this estate without duly considering the real rights and obligations of the contracting parties; and it is to be feared that thousands in the present day are caught by the specious objections of the reformers, from not being fortified by a due appreciation of the meaning and spirit of Christian matrimony. There is an old sermon on the subject, which one who is now in the very van of English literature* has somewhere characterised as "most divine." Its title is 'The Marriage Ring;' its author was Bishop Jeremy Taylor-a writer who, if he did not vault at conclusions with

the rapidity of genius which distinguishes the young ladies in America, has at any rate the merit of having thought profoundly on his subject. He had the advantage of possessing a clear head and a benevolent heart, which may in some sort compensate for his want of glitter and dash. And we would seriously recommend those who may have been electrified by the Transatlantic flash, to pause a while, that the descent to the homely old English style may not be too abrupt, and then to deign to read the sermon on 'The Marriage Ring.' They will find therein expositions and reflections that may not have occurred to them before; and they will perceive that the subject is by no means new, but that it was carefully considered and discussed in the old country before America had begun to lisp. We are much mistaken if they do not rise from the perusal a little shaken in their belief of woman's wrongs.

As to the state of the law on the subject, we cannot see any objection to revising it, now that so many ancient statutes are receiving attention. The enactments, we presume, were to a great extent arbitrary, and framed to suit the times in which they were made. And, as we permit any pair on the eve of wedlock to make, by special settlements, a disposition of property other than that which the general statute would prescribe, and every pair might resort to such settle ments if they were so minded, and thus make the common law of none effect, we presume that in altering the statutes so as to suit the general convenience, we should do nothing repugnant to the spirit of the English code. Let woman's grievances be looked into by all means; or rather let us, by all means, examine and ascertain whether woman is aggrieved by the law or no. For really we have our doubts not only as to the extent of the grievance, but whether there be any grievance. In times past, the very fact of such complaints as these finding a voice

would have proved that at any rate a respectable number believed themselves to be aggrieved; but in these days, when the ear of the public is so readily obtained, a handful of dissentients can raise as much clamour as a million. The appearance of the manifesto is no sort of voucher that it is numerously subscribed; and, as the non-reforming ladies are, from their nature, not likely to disturb the eternal silences by a counter declaration, we can form, after all, but a very vague idea of the movement's strength. In some of the regions of America, it would seem, the males greatly outnumber the females, and the latter are using the opportunity to drive exceedingly hard matrimonial bargains. Well, let them. But they will surely not complain if, when the tables are turned, and man shall get the dominion, he shall break their yoke from off his neck. It is not now, in the Old World, so difficult, man says, to find a help-meet for him; and whenever prophecy is fulfilled, and seven women lay hold of one man, clamouring to be called by his name, and offering very liberal terms, man may take his revenge.

We have implied a doubt as to the real numerical strength of the movement, because the latter lies open to the suspicion of being, after all, only an association of the disappointed females, one or two of whom are to be found in every community. All of us are familiar with the unattractive and sometimes repulsive woman who, feeling that she has not a chance of admiration or attention from the other sex, rates men for their blindness and perversity, rails at beauty and feminine charms, and labours to excite a comparison of intellectual gifts, in which she hopes beauty will be found wanting, and in which she herself may bear away a prize. If it should prove that the movement is but an aggregation of such envious philosophers as these, their system is no more likely to prevail than was the fox who had lost his tail likely to induce other foxes to

cut off theirs. Therefore it is very desirable that it should be ascertained what manner of women the foremost reformers are-whether the movement is an effort of desperation or not. If it be so, the mischief will be comparatively small; yet, even then, womankind are much endangered by it, and would do well to denounce and repudiate the whole affair. They can gain nothing; they may lose a great deal.

Provoked to speak by the many observations which have been submitted to the public since we first addressed ourselves to the subject, we have been led away from our intended track, and find that we have left the middle ages far behind. It was an almost inevitable digression. Yet, linked as they are, what a contrast between the shrouded glories of the past and the restless realities of to-day! Five centuries ago such a future as is now around us could not have been believed in. We to-day find it hard

to realise the world which existed five centuries ago. The difference in external things is, no doubt, marvellous; and so, perhaps, is the difference in the sum of human knowledge and the attainment of human intellect. But human nature has not changed; it is the same to-day as it was yesterday. We trust, therefore, that we have not unprofitably turned aside from the contemplation of what woman was, and how she ruled of old, to a review of what has been said professedly on her behalf in these latter days. She did once achieve the subjugation and subordination of men, but she has forgotten her spells, and her influence is waning. Blind guides incite her to a course the very opposite of that whereby she formerly prevailed. We believe that if she follows this course she will fail; but that if she remain true to herself, her reign may last. May her better nature support her through the trial, and heaven send her a good deliverance !

IT has been said that the quadrennial election of a President of the United States is a subject that is never absent from the minds of American politicians; and that all other elections and party struggles, which are of constant occurrence in the state, the county, or the municipality whether these elections be great or small, important or unimportant are invariably conducted with a view to aid or influence the paramount contest for the chief magistracy. If this be true on ordinary occasions, it may well be believed in Europe, even if the American press did not loudly proclaim the fact, that the preliminary elections which are now taking place, and which are certain to influence the election of a successor to Mr Johnson, and involve issues more irritating, as well as more vital, than any election since the estab

lishment of the Republic, should even at this early period absorb the attention of the professional politicians, and hungry aspirants for place and emolument, and fill the minds of the whole people, and especially the commercial classes, with inquietude and alarm. The situation is novel, unforeseen, unguarded against. The constitution of the Republic-looked upon by Washington, Jefferson, and the early fathers of the nation as a masterpiece of skill and wisdomis in abeyance, and overridden by military authority in that half of the country which was once the proudest and most powerful. Its provisions are not only disregarded by the dominant party, but afford no clue out of the labyrinth of perplexity and danger which the civil war has left behind. The existing Congress, which legally and con