I carry my gallantry so far as to say that though a woman ought never to engage herself to a man for any great length of time before consummation of the nuptials, if she can retain her lover without so doing,—yet, if this is necessary, of which she is to be the Judge, & she does so bind herself by her promise to marry, still I go to the length of allowing her to take a better husband, or one more agreeable to her, if she has the opportunity—I give her the liberty of violating her engagement in lieu of her power of choice. Shall women be compelled to take the first creature that offers himself lest they should not find another? Shall they be compelled to love him (on the hand) by denying, when they do not know that they shall ever see another man in their lives, who comes near them, nor have the power of making a selection—this I think is but a fair balance for the great advantage which our sex possess in their opportunities to suit themselves in this important concern—& more, if there is to be an advantage on either side, it certainly ought not to be on ours,—because the contract is so much more important in its consequences to females than to males—for besides leaving everything else to unite themselves to one man they subject themselves to his authority—they depend more upon their husband than he does upon the wife for society & for the happiness & enjoyment of their lives,—he is their all—their only relative—their only hope—but as for him—business leads him out of doors, far from the company of his wife, & it engages his mind & occupies his thoughts so as frequently to engross them almost entirely & then it is upon his employment that he depends almost entirely for the happiness of his life—certainly then, unfortunate, helpless, interesting woman ought to have all the advantage in the matrimonial contract & instead of her present oppression ought to be allowed to make the most of every advantage & opportunity which fortune throws in her way—I will go further & apply the case. I would justify any woman in treating me in that way—provided she did it in a delicate manner—than which nothing is more easy—& which no woman of sense & judgment would fail to do. [Illustration: PL. XXXII.—FROM JOURNAL OF GEORGE Y. CUTLER ] _Sept. 1_ This day opens the autumn I love the tranquillity which attends the falling of the leaf—I expect to pass it alone at W—[54] a great part of it in the old lot which lies on both sides of the brook— * * * * * _Sept. 2._ Finished with Mr. Daggett[55]—so life is running away.