Letters From Michigan: Number X

"W ornen, says Lord Chesterfield, inhis celebrated "Letters to his Son" - are only children of a larger growth. They serve chiefly to please, to amuse, to entertain the mind in its hoursof relaxation. Intercourse wi.th thera tends torefinethe feelings, and give grace and elegance to the manners and address. They should be treated with great seeming respect, but neither made counsellors or confidants; for they are utterly nnfit to conduct any affairs of moment, with sound discretion. although they have a great desire to be dabbling in business, which they are almost sure tospoil. Amuse yourself with them as you would with tbrward children - make use of their potent and extensive influence over weak and foolish men för the accomplishment of diplomatic or political purposes - Jove them with all the ardor which properly belongs to one of Lhose "eternal attachments" which may, ay possibility, last three months: but as vrou value your dearest interests, neither trust them with your business, depend on their faithfulness, nor grant them your confidence.Süch, in substance, was the advice of Lord Chesterfield to his son, in reference to his intercourse with the sex - advice given from long and extensive acquaintance with the most brilliant females in the courts of London, Paris, Vienna and Rome. For thïs advice, he has been denounced as a most unjust and contemptu pusdespiserand libelier of the whöle sex. But the circumsfancesshould be taken into account. His Lordshipwas far from being a fooi, but on the contrary possessed a most accurate and discriminating knowledge of the worst side of human nature. He described only such women as lic knew, and he knew only those brought up in courts. There were, undoubtedly, in his time, females of the most exalted moral worth, and the most comprehensive and welldisciplinedminds: but they could rarely be found or be appreciated amid the foolish divepsions and licentious manners of heartless and intriguing courtiers. "The woman was first in the transgression" - and it was there fore predicted - I do uot say commanded - that man should rule over her. He has done so from the creation to this time; and he has often ruled with the greatest rigor. - Among heathen savages and baFbarians, women are slaves. They are articles of property - bought and sold, like the beasts withwhom they labor. ButChristianity and civilization have done much for women. In most enlightened naüons. they have been released from personal thraldom, and their persons secured from the inflictionof domestic violence by their husbands. The old English law allowed a man to chastise his wife with moderation. The anecdote of the English judge is well knov.n, who decided that a husband might correct his wife with a rod as large as his thumb: whereupon the ladies of the city addressed a request to the judge to furnish them with the exact dimensions of his Lordships thumb. One principal means of elevating the ex must be to employ them in matters Of moment. Their faculties, like thoseof men,' inórense and expand by exertion. Thoy must do somothing else besides ferforinivg viere menial offices. The vvoraan, however gifted by nature, vhö regai'ds herself, notas an independent being, but as a mere adjunct of her husband - a waiter on his necessities or caprices - a mere instrument of his wishes - will never be ;any thing but a waiter. It is true she may take pride in being this, and in being nolhing more. She may be an acT complished waiter - a kind, benevolcnt waiter - a pious waiter - butwhile sh considers herself, and is considered by all mankind, as an inferior being to herhusband. merely because she is a woman,she will ahvays be inferior. The state of public feeling in this coun.try is highly favorable to the social elevation of the sex. A deference is paid to women in all public and private situations in the United States, which is accorded to them in no other nation on earth. I was amused lately in reading a letter from an American lady travelling in England. When on the deck of a steamboaf, every seat was filled. After she had stood a long time, tho gentleman who accompanied her went to several.o the male passengers, and begged them to give up their seats for the lady. But they utterly refused, telling him distincly that they thought the requestentirely unreasonable. The woman might as well stand as they. The cónsequence was that the American lady had to squat on the deck on such unoccupied portion of terriiory as she could find. This disposition of Americans to pay deference to the convenience of women is noticed by all foreigners, andis a highly favorable circumstance for them. They should make use of it as a means of securing a higher infellectual estimation among men. They should bespeak a share in intellecual discussions and employments. For most kinds of mental exertion, they are as well qualified by nature as men. It is stated, that in Paris, some of the principal bankers have given their daughters seats j in the counting house, where they may be ;found serving their hours as clerks, witjh fidelity and punctuality. The government had in some cases empïoyed female clerks, and found them more faithful and less dissipated than youhg men. But a proper pre-requisite to obtaining an employment, is the acquisition of the knowledge necessary to fulfil its duties. Henee the growing disposition in this country to give girls a liberal education, and a knowledge of collcgiatc studies,may be accounted aninfallible forerunner of the general elevation of thesex, and of the wider extensión of thier moral and ntellectual influence. Just in proportion as they deserve respect and influence, they will obtain it. In refined circles, woraen, like men will be esteemed for just what they are, and each female will attain her proper level. The social condition, then, of American women, is highly favorable to their rapid elevation in commuity. But this is notthe only agency which works for their benefit. The tendency of our legislation has been steadily in their favor. Especially in this true in Michigan. - Our State has been cailed the Paradise of Debtors; and, with equal justice, may hereafter be cailed the Paradise of Women. In the first place, our Legislature has given them quite a liberal chance of getting divorced when the matrimonial yoke pro ves to be heavy or galling. Next, they have besto wed a considerable amount of personal estáte on every widow.amount ing to about one thousand dollars, whether her husband dies insolvent or not: thus giving the property of the creditors to the widow. Next, they have made words spoken against female chastity actionable in themselves, thus securing the highest the law can give to their reputation, and shielding them against the breath of suspicion. Then they have taken the Seducer in hand, meting out to him a degreeand kind of punishment hitherto unknown to the Statute books of our nation. This is just and right. The delibérate, practised Seducer is an enemy ofthe whole sex, andthoyshould make war upon him as such. It is the Libertino who traduces the female character, who sneers at their virtues.who ridicules their weakness, who ensnares them by temptation, who rejoices in their degradation, and glories in their ruin. I think that there is no danger of the repeal of this law, because it just comes up to public sentiment. It will pi'cvent those monstrous legal perversions of justice, by which murders committed in revenge for the destruclion of female virtue,have been pronounced by our jurors to be no murders. and the acquittal of the prisoner, whose crime was undeniable, has been hailed by the popular voice vvith loud plaudits, and by the Press with undisguised approbration. A legal method for the punishmcnt of the Seducer being now thrown open to the injured,the person who prefers private revenge to public justice will hereafter receive from juries and from public opinión, his just deserts. Lastly, the Legislature have recently enacted a law allowing married women to hold real and personal property, and to carry on business separately from their husbands duving ife. As this law is considered unique, and is very important in ils efleets, I subjoin it entire.