[TO TEE EDITOR 07 THE "SrscrAvOR") SIR,—Mr. Wells's plea for
incontinence is not even new. Mly I recall a passage in The Progress of Man, pub- lished over a hundred years ago in - Canning's Anti-
" Hail ! beauteous Lands that crown the Southern Seas ; Dear Happy Seats of Liberty and Ease !
Learn hence, each Nymph, whose free aspiring mind Europe's cold Laws, and colder Customs bind-
0 ! learn, what Nature's genial Laws decree—
What Otaheite is, let Britain be !
Of Whist or Cribbage mark th' amusing game—
The Partners changing but the sport the same.
TI1Re would the Gamester's anxious ardour cool,
Dull every deal, and stagnant every pooL Yet must one Man, with one unceasing Wife, Play the long rubber of connubial life. Yes* human laws, and laws esteemed divine, The generous passion straighten and confine ; And, as a stream, when Art constrains its course, Pours its fierce torrent with augmented force, So, Passion, narrowed to one channel small, Unlike the former, does not flow at all.
For Love then only flaps his purple wings, When uncontroul'd by Priestcraft or by Rings. Such the strict rules that in these barbarous Climes
Choak Youth's fair flow'rs and Feelings turn to Crimes ;
And people every walk of polish'd life With that two-headed Monster, Man and Wife.
With look sedate, and staid beyond her years, In Matron weeds a Housekeeper appears, The jingling keys her comely girdle deck— Her kerchief colour'd and her apron check. Can that be Adelaide, that Soul of Whim,' Reform'd in practise, and in manner prim On household cares intent, with many a sigh She turns the Pancake and she moulds the Pie;
Melts into Sauces rich the savoury Ham; From the crushed Berry strains the lucid Jam ; Bids brandied cherries, by infusion slow, Imbibe new flavour, and their own forego, Sole cordial of her heart, sole solace of her woe' While still responsive to each mournful moan, The Saucepan simmers in a softer tone."
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