The Gentleman's Magazine, January 1731: Or, Trader's Monthly Intelligencer — John Shaqi
The Gentleman's Magazine, January 1731: Or, Trader's Monthly IntelligencerVarious
History
The Gentleman's Magazine, January 1731: Or, Trader's Monthly Intelligencer
Various
Great Britain -- History -- 1714-1837 -- Periodicals
The first is from a gentleman, who, about three months since, fell
passionately in love with a lady at a ball; gives an account of his
courtship, and of the kind reception of his addresses during that time,
till of a sudden, without any reason given, or objection made, the lady
sent him a peremptory message to desist any further pursuit. Complains
that ’tis ungenerous and unjust to keep people so long in suspence,
with no design but to gratify female pride and vanity.
To this the _Spectator_ replies, That the lady gave him fair play, and
an opportunity of rendring himself agreeable; which when she found he
could not, she very civilly, by a third person, desir’d him to desist.
However, he says, ’tis but reasonable that the lady should give him a
certificate of his good behaviour during his courtship.
The second letter is from a young lady of 15, who signs herself
_Carolina_, which may be summ’d up and comprized in those two queries.
1. _May a Woman entertain several lovers at the same time?_
2. _After a Woman has once receiv’d a man’s addresses, may she with
honour turn him off?_
To the first he answers, _That such a licence might be granted, if
nothing was design’d by it but the chusing of the most deserving for
a husband; but considering the inconveniences that would necessarily
attend such an indulgence, he durst not allow it._
The second query he grants in the affirmative; that is, _if she
discovers him false and base, or uncapable of making her happy_.
Universal Spectator, _January, 16._ No. 119.
Contains a letter from a physician, in which he describes the miserable
condition of his patients, that apply to him on the _venereal_ account.
Of this sort the most unfortunate and pitiful object is a woman of the
town, who, if not quite abandon’d, gives a loose to her passion on such
occasions. The consideration of her past, present, and future state,
fills her with distraction, and involves her in endless evils, from
which death only can deliver her.
Proceeds to argue with the infamous authors of the misery of these
wretches, who first seduce the poor young creatures from their
innocence, and then triumph in their wickedness. He who debauches a
maiden, and then exposes her to want and shame, is arrived to such a
monstrous height of villany, that no word in our language can reach
it. Mentions a further species of cruelty, that is, the necessity
some of these poor wretches are under, if with child, of applying to
a magistrate to procure some pitiful maintenance for her unfortunate
babe.----When all that is to be done by the father, is to make the best
bargain he can with the church-wardens to take it off his hands; which
is commonly done for a treat, and 10 or 12_l._ So the child is placed
upon the parish, and the woman upon the town.
Univers. Spectator, _Jan. 23._ No. 120.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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