Part 28

See letter of Percy Bysshe Shelley, published in the “Lion,” of December 5, 1828.

Footnote 33:

Every reflecting mind will distinguish between the unreasoning—sometimes even generous, imprudence of youthful passion, and the calculating selfishness of the matured and heartless libertine. It is a melancholy truth, that pseudo-civilization produces thousands of seducers by profession, who, while daily calling the heavens to witness their eternal affections, have no affection for anything on earth but their own precious and profligate selves. It is to characters so utterly worthless as these that my observations apply.

Footnote 34:

Jesus said unto her, “Neither do I condemn thee.” John viii., 11.

Footnote 35:

I should like to hear these gentlemen explain, according to what principle they imagine the chastity of their wives to grow out of a fear of offspring; so that, if released from such fear, prostitution would follow. I can readily comprehend that the unmarried may be supposed carefully to avoid that situation to which no legal cause can be assigned; but a wife must be especially dull, if she cannot assign, in all cases, a legal cause; and a husband must be especially sagacious, if he can tell whether the true cause be assigned or not. This safeguard to married chastity, therefore, to which the gentlemen of the Committee alluded to seem to look with so implicit a confidence, is a mere broken reed; and has been so ever since the days of Bethsheba.

Yet conjugal chastity is that which is especially valued. The inconstancy of a wife commonly cuts much deeper than the dishonour of a sister. In that case, then, which the world usually considers of the highest importance, the fear of offspring imposes no check whatever. It cannot make one iota of difference whether a married woman be knowing in physiology or not; except perhaps, indeed, to the husband’s advantage; in cases where the wife’s conscience induces her at least to guard against the possibility of burthening her legal lord with the care and support of children that are not his. Constancy, where it actually exists, is the offspring of something more efficacious than ignorance. And if in the wife’s case, men must and do trust to something else, why not in all other cases, where restraint may be considered desirable? Shall men trust in the greater, and fear to trust in the less? Whatever any one may choose to assert regarding his relatives’ secret inclinations to profligacy, these arguments may convince him that if he has any safeguard at present, a perusal of these pages will not destroy it.

’Tis strange that men, by way of suborning an argument, should be willing thus to vilify their relatives’ character and motives, without first carefully examining whether anything was gained to their cause, after all, by the vilification.

Footnote 36:

Instances innumerable might be adduced. Not one young person, for example, in twenty, is ever told, that sexual intercourse during the period of a woman’s courses is not unfrequently productive to the woman of a species of fluor albus, and sometimes (as a consequent) to the man of symptoms very similar to those of urethritis or gonorrhœa, but more easily removed. Yet what fact more important to be communicated? And how ridiculous the mischievously prudish refinement that conceals from human beings what it most deeply concerns them to know? The following case is related by Dr. Dewees in his work on Diseases of Females: “We have known a complaint communicated to the male by intercourse with a woman labouring under Pruritis. It was very similar to that which affected the female in its general character. When this occurs with the married man, much disturbance is sometimes created from a supposition that the wife has been unfaithful, and the contrary. Indeed, it has occurred in more instances than one, within our own knowledge, where the woman has thought herself the injured party; and in one case the recrimination was mutual. In this instance, the friends of the parties assembled to determine on the terms of separation, when it was suggested, by one of those who happened to be more rational than the rest, that before they proceeded to such an extremity, their family physician should be consulted. We were accordingly sent for. After an attentive hearing of both parties, and an examination of the parts, we were satisfied that there was not the slightest ground for either to be charged with want of fidelity, and we assured the parties that this was the case, and were fortunate enough to cause all further proceedings to be suspended.”

Footnote 37:

Le premier serment que se firent deux êtres de chair, ce fut au pied d’un rocher, qui tombait en poussiere; ils attestèrent de leur constance un ciel qui n’est pas un instant le même: tout passait en eux, et autour d’eux; et ils croyaient leurs cœurs affranchis de vicissitudes. O enfans! toujours enfans.

DIDEROT; Jacques et son Maitre.

Footnote 38:

Some German poet, whose name has escaped me, says,

“Tapfer ist de Lowensieger, Tapfer is der Weltbezwinger, Tapferer, wer sich selbst bezwang!”

“Brave is the lion-victor, Brave the conqueror of a world, Braver he who controls himself!”

It is a noble sentiment, and very appropriate to the present discussion.

Footnote 39:

The author of these pages having resided many years in France, where this preventive has been used with infallible and invariable success, can vouch for its efficacy, healthiness and certainty. While there, he was importuned to take the agency for its disposal in the United States. But aware of the extreme sensitiveness, verging upon mawkishness, with which the agitation of a question of this nature would be viewed; the misapprehension to which it might give rise, and the difficulty of presenting it to the consideration of the public, it was not without some reluctance that he was induced to take the exclusive agency for its sale in this country. The numerous testimonials, however, of its efficacy, and the warm expressions of gratitude and thankfulness he has received since taking the agency, have convinced him that this invaluable preventive has been appreciated.

Its efficacy is beyond question, as in Europe, among the higher classes especially, it is universally used, and of late among all classes. Thousands of married persons have for years used it with invariable success. Instances are related by the author from whom we have liberally quoted, exactly similar to hundreds which have come to the knowledge of the writer of these pages. The principle upon which it prevents conception, is to neutralize the fecundating properties in semen, and it preserves and conduces to the health of the female, by eradicating all predisposition to sexual weakness, fluor albus, or whites, the falling of the womb, &c., and restores and maintains that elasticity and firmness of the generative functions (appertaining only to a young female) for many years. The French, who are scrupulously observant of themselves in these particulars, and who retain their health, vivacity, and capacity to receive and impart enjoyment, to a remarkable age, would not for worlds abstain from the use of M. Desomeaux’s Preventive to Conception, merely from its effects in preserving their youth to an old age, and would not permit a sexual act to transpire without its use. When used under these circumstances, the directions are somewhat varied. It is well known that the French always have intervals of three, four, or more years, between the birth of children, depending upon either the health of the wife, or inclination or judgment of parents. In cases of malformation, deformity of pelvis, low state of health, its use is indispensable. In obtaining this celebrated preventive, it is advisable in all cases to communicate directly with him, the sole agent of the United States, for the disposal of “M. Desomeaux’s Preventive to Conception.” The packages can be forwarded to all parts of the United States. Letters must be postpaid, and addressed to Dr. A. M. Mauriceau, Box “1224,” N. Y. Office 129 Liberty street, N. Y. Price of packages Ten Dollars.

Footnote 40:

In France, and on the Continent of Europe generally, a covering (used by the male), called a baudruche (known as the French Secret), is used with success, with the view of preventing pregnancy. Its intention, however, and for which, perhaps, it is specially adapted, is to obviate the penalty incurred by prostitution, and thereby guard against the contraction of syphilis. But as the object of the author is not to facilitate, but, on the contrary, effectually to prevent the degrading intercourse the consequences of which are sought to be avoided, in adverting to it therefore, he has only in view its adaptation to prevent conception. If made of proper material and texture, it can, to a certain extent, be relied upon. Deeming this latter consideration of essential importance, and having been applied to in regard to it, he has imported them made of the only material of which they should be composed. Address Dr. A. M. Mauriceau, Box “1224,” N. Y. City, who will send them by mail to any part of the United States. Price $5 a dozen.

Footnote 41:

“This, of course, must be rather a matter of conjecture and approximation, than of accurate calculation.”

Footnote 42:

“Any young man who will carefully note and compare his sensations, will become convinced, that temperance positively forbids such indulgence, at any rate, more than twice a week; and that he trifles with his constitution who neglects the prohibition. How immeasurably important that parents should communicate to their sons, but especially to their daughters, facts like these! It is true that much depends upon habit, as some individuals can indulge even daily without apparently sustaining any physical injury; but such a frequency may not be compatible with the well-being of both parties, and should therefore not be encouraged.”