to these overstrained notions, joined to some serious expostulations on that of his friends, who, from the growing infirmities of the old gentleman, could not promise ourselves many years’ enjoyment of his company, and were anxious to bring matters to a conclusion during his life-time, at length prevailed; and on Monday last the daughter of my old friend, Admiral ——­ having attained the womanly age of nineteen, was conducted to the church by her pleasant cousin J——­, who told some few years older.

Before the youthful part of my female readers express their indignation at the abominable loss of time occasioned to the lovers by the preposterous notions of my old friend, they will do well to consider the reluctance which a fond parent naturally feels at parting with his child.  To this unwillingness, I believe, in most cases may be traced the difference of opinion on this point between child and parent, whatever pretences of interest or prudence may be held out to cover it.  The hard-heartedness of fathers is a fine theme for romance writers, a sure and moving topic; but is there not something untender, to say no more of it, in the hurry which a beloved child is sometimes in to tear herself from the parental stock, and commit herself to strange graftings?  The case is heightened where the lady, as in the present instance, happens to be an only child.  I do not understand these matters experimentally, but I can make a shrewd guess at the wounded pride of a parent upon these occasions.  It is no new observation, I believe, that a lover in most cases has no rival so much to be feared as the father.  Certainly there is a jealousy in unparallel subjects, which is little less heart-rending than the passion which we more strictly christen by that name.  Mothers’ scruples are more easily got over; for this reason, I suppose, that the protection transferred to a husband is less a derogation and a loss to their authority than to the paternal.  Mothers, besides, have a trembling foresight, which paints the inconveniences (impossible to be conceived in the same degree by the other parent) of a life of forlorn celibacy, which the refusal of a tolerable match may entail upon their child.  Mothers’ instinct is a surer guide here, than the cold reasonings of a father on such a topic.  To this instinct may be imputed, and by it alone may be excused, the unbeseeming artifices, by which some wives push on the matrimonial projects of their daughters, which the husband, however approving, shall entertain with comparative indifference.  A little shamelessness on this head is pardonable.  With this explanation, forwardness becomes a grace, and maternal importunity receives the name of a virtue.—­But the parson stays, while I preposterously assume his office; I am preaching, while the bride is on the threshold.

Nor let any of my female readers suppose that the sage reflections which have just escaped me have the obliquest tendency of application to the young lady, who, it will be seen, is about to venture upon a change in her condition, at a mature and competent age, and not without the fullest approbation of all parties.  I only deprecate very hasty marriages.