The chief thing that sticks with you, my dear Pamela, 'is, that you think it unnatural in a mother not to be a

nurse to her own child, if she can; and what is unnatural, you say, is sin. Now, my dear, although your practice 'be so unexceptionable, you seem not to have a right ' notion of the obedience which a wife naturally owes, as ' well as voluntarily vows, to a husband's will.

In all lawful things, you'll say-But suppose, my dear, 'you were to make a solemn vow, either as a single woman or as a wife, to do anything that you had a 'natural power to do. No doubt you would think yourself ' under an obligation to perform it, let the consequence 'be what it would. But to show you, who are so learned ' in the old law, of how little force even the vows of your sex are, and how much you are under the control of ours, read the following verses in Numbers xxx. If a MAN vow a vow unto the Lord, or swear an oath to bind 'his soul with a bond, he shall not break his word; he 'shall do according to all that proceedeth out of his mouth. The reason of this is, he is sole and independent, and master of his own will and actions.-But what 'follows? If a WOMAN also vow a vow unto the Lord, and bind herself by a bond, being in her father's house, in her youth; and her father hear her vow, and her bond, wherewith she hath bound her soul, and her father 'shall hold his peace at her: Then all her vows shall 'stand; and every bond, wherewith she hath bound her 'soul, shall stand. But if her father disallow her in the day that he heareth; not any of her vows, or of her bonds, wherewith she hath bound her soul, shall stand: And the Lord shall forgive her, because her father dis"allowed her.

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The very same thing is, with equal strength, expressed in the verses immediately following, in relation to a 'HUSBAND'S allowing or disallowing his WIFE'S VOWS; nor is it distinguished at all, whether the vow be just or unjust: And it is worthy of observation too, that the 'laws of England, in consideration of the obedience a wife

owes to a husband, will acquit a WOMAN of certain crimes, ' for which they will punish a MAN with death.

'What I have mentioned, therefore, shows how much 'the daughter is under the absolute control of her father, and the wife of her husband: So that, you see, my dear, even in such a strong point as a solemn vow to the Lord, 'the wife may be absolved by the husband from the per'formance of it.

And, by the way, this is no bad piece of information to young ladies, who are urged by their designing lovers to 6 enter into vows and contracts in their favour: Not one ' of which, you see, is of force, unless the father, and, by 'the same rule, those who have authority over her, and 'stand in the father's place, approve and confirm it.

If this, therefore, be the case in so solemn a point, 'surely a husband may take upon himself to dispense with 'such a supposed obligation, as that which you seem so 'loath to give up, even although you had made a vow ( that you would nurse your own child.-And the rather, if the principle a husband acts upon is laudable, a desire 'to continue his affectionate and faithful regards to his wife, to preserve in her, as long as may be preserved, 'those graces, and those delicacies of person, which he 'admires in her, and which it is impossible a thorough nurse should keep up; and as moreover in your case, 'her time may be employed to so much greater improve'ment to her own mind and her husband's morals, while 'he can look upon her in a light above that of an insipid, 'prattling nurse, who must become a fool and a baby herself, before she can be complete in the character into ' which you, my dear, want to dwindle.

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'Some men may be fond of having their wives under'take this province, and very good reasons may be assigned for such their fondness; but it suits not me at all. And ' yet no man would be thought to have a greater affection 'for children than myself, or be more desirous to do them 'justice; for I think every one should look forward to posterity with a preference: But if my Pamela can be

'better employed: if the office can be equally well per'formed: if your direction and superintendence will be 'sufficient; and if I cannot look upon you in that way 'with equal delight, as if it was otherwise; I insist upon 'it, my Pamela, that you acquiesce with my dispensation, ' and don't think to let me lose my beloved wife, and have an indelicate nurse put upon me instead of her.

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As to that hint (the nearest to me of all) of dangers to your constitution; there is as much reason to hope it 'may not be so, as to fear that it may. For children 'sometimes bring health with them as well as infirmity; ' and it is not a little likely that the nurse's office may 'affect the health of one I hold most dear, who has no very robust constitution, and thinks it so much her duty. ' to attend it, that she will abridge herself of half the pleasures of life, and on that account confine herself within doors, or, in the other case, must take with her her infant ' and her nursery-maid wherever she goes; and I shall either 'have very fine company (shall I not?), or be obliged to ' deny myself yours.

Then, as I propose to give you a smattering of the 'French and Italian, I know not but I may take you with me on a little tour into France and Italy; at least to 'Bath, to Tunbridge, to Oxford, to York, and the principal ' places of England. Wherefore, as I love to look upon you as the companion of my pleasures, I advise you, my dearest love, not to weaken, or, to speak in a phrase proper to the present subject, wean me from that love 'to you, and admiration of you, which hitherto has been ' rather increasing than otherwise, as your merit and regard ' for me have increased.'

These, my dear parents, are charming allurements, almost irresistible temptations! And that makes me mistrust myself the more, and be the more diffident. For we are but too apt to be persuaded into anything, when the motives are so tempting as these last.-But do you take it indeed, that a husband has such a vast prerogative? Can it be, now under the gospel, that this setting themselves,

as it were, in God's place, and dispensing with our wills as pleases theirs, is still in force?-Yet it is said, that our Saviour came not to break the law, but to fulfil it.

I take it for granted, that many wives will not choose to dispute this point so earnestly as I have done; for we have had several little debates about it; and it is the only point I have ever yet debated with him: but one would not be altogether implicit neither. It is no compliment to him to be quite passive, and to have no will at all of one's own: Yet would I not dispute one point, but in supposition of a superior obligation: and this, he says, he can dispense with-But, alas! my dear Mr. B was never yet thought so entirely fit to fill up the character of a casuistical divine, as that one may absolutely rely upon his decisions in these serious points: And you know we must all stand or fall by our own judgments.

Upon condition, therefore, that he requires not to see this my letter, nor your answer to it, unless I please, I write for your advice; for you both have always made a conscience of your duties, and taught me to do so too, or perhaps I had not been what I am; and I know, moreover, that nobody is more conversant with the Scriptures than you are and somehow or other, he has got the dean against me; and I care not to be so free with the worthy minister of our parish here, and still less with the younger clergymen I am acquainted with.

But this I see plainly enough, that he will have his own way; and if I cannot get over my scruples, what shall I do? For if I think it a sin to submit to the dispensation he insists upon as in his power to grant, and do submit to it, what will become of my peace of mind? For it is not in our power to believe as one will. Then weak minds will have their doubts, and the law allows a toleration for scrupulous and tender consciences: But my beloved husband, my lawgiver, and my prince, I doubt will allow none to poor me!

As to the liberty he gives me for a month, I should be loath to take it; for one does not know the inconveniencies

that may attend a change of nourishment; or if I did, I should rather-But I know not what I would say; for I am but a young creature to be in this way, and very unequal to it in every respect! So I commit myself to God's direction, and your advice, as becomes

To Mrs. B- - from her Parents.

MY DEAREST CHILD,-Your mother and I have as well considered the case you put as we are able: And we think your own reasons very good; and it is a thousand pities. your honoured husband will not allow them, as you, my dear, make it such a point with you. Very few ladies would give their spouses, we believe, the trouble of this debate; and few gentlemen are so very nice as yours in this respect; for I (but what signifies what such a mean soul as I think, compared to so learned and brave a gentleman; yet I) always thought your dear mother, and she has been a pretty woman too, in her time, never looked so lovely, as when I saw the dear creature, like the pelican in the wilderness, feeding her young ones from her kind breast:-And had I had ever so noble an estate, I am as sure I should have had the same thoughts.

But since the good 'squire cannot take this pleasure; since he so much values your person; since he gives you warning that it may estrange his affections; since he is impatient of denial, and thinks so highly of his prerogative; since he may, if disobliged, resume some bad habits, and so you may have all your prayers and hopes in his perfect reformation frustrated, and find your own power to do good more narrowed, as I may say; we think, besides the obedience you have vowed to him, and is the duty of every