The first is from a gentleman, who, about three months since, fell passionately in love with a lady at a ball; gives an account of his courtship, and of the kind reception of his addresses during that time, till of a sudden, without any reason given, or objection made, the lady sent him a peremptory message to desist any further pursuit. Complains that ’tis ungenerous and unjust to keep people so long in suspence, with no design but to gratify female pride and vanity.
To this the Spectator replies, That the lady gave him fair play, and an opportunity of rendring himself agreeable; which when she found he could not, she very civilly, by a third person, desir’d him to desist. However, he says, ’tis but reasonable that the lady should give him a certificate of his good behaviour during his courtship.
The second letter is from a young lady of 15, who signs herself Carolina, which may be summ’d up and comprized in those two queries.
1. May a Woman entertain several lovers at the same time?
2. After a Woman has once receiv’d a man’s addresses, may she with honour turn him off?
To the first he answers, That such a licence might be granted, if nothing was design’d by it but the chusing of the most deserving for a husband; but considering the inconveniences that would necessarily attend such an indulgence, he durst not allow it.
The second query he grants in the affirmative; that is, if she discovers him false and base, or uncapable of making her happy.
Universal Spectator, January, 16. No. 119.
Contains a letter from a physician, in which he describes the miserable condition of his patients, that apply to him on the venereal account. Of this sort the most unfortunate and pitiful object is a woman of the town, who, if not quite abandon’d, gives a loose to her passion on such occasions. The consideration of her past, present, and future state, fills her with distraction, and involves her in endless evils, from which death only can deliver her.
Proceeds to argue with the infamous authors of the misery of these wretches, who first seduce the poor young creatures from their innocence, and then triumph in their wickedness. He who debauches a maiden, and then exposes her to want and shame, is arrived to such a monstrous height of villany, that no word in our language can reach it. Mentions a further species of cruelty, that is, the necessity some of these poor wretches are under, if with child, of applying to a magistrate to procure some pitiful maintenance for her unfortunate babe.——When all that is to be done by the father, is to make the best bargain he can with the church-wardens to take it off his hands; which is commonly done for a treat, and 10 or 12l. So the child is placed upon the parish, and the woman upon the town.