Chapter 18

ADVERTISEMENT.

The readers of the editor’s second enlarged edition of the Hon. R. D. Owen’s Moral Physiology, are apprized that since the publication of his first edition of this work, considerable opportunity has been afforded by the sale of theElectro-Galvaniaalluded to in this work, for testing its efficacy as a preventive of conception. Time is required to test the effect and establish the certainty of every new remedial agent. Sufficient opportunity has been afforded in this instance, since this instrument was first introduced to public notice, for proving the certain control which the electrical influence is capable of exercising over the nervous system.

The increased demand for the instrument has demonstrated its perfect adaption to the accomplishment of the important object for which it is designed, and has most fully established its claim to the confidence heretofore reposed in its preventive influence. Communications from abroad, and orders for this work or the article herein alluded to, addressed to Dr. R. Glover, New York, will meet with due attention.

1. The Greeks and Romans considered that by familiarizing the population with the exhibition of the human figure completely naked, libidinous propensities and desires would be less excited. The continence and chastity of the half-clad Germans, Tacitus highly extols, and contrasts with the effeminate and luxurious habits of the more polished nations of his time. The worship of the Phallus, or erect penis, is of the most remote antiquity, and derived its origin not from vulgar or obscene notions, but from a consideration that the generative powers of nature were thus best personified; and to render the type more complete, the Deities were often made Hermaphroditic or of a two-fold sex, to show that either alone would be incomplete without the other, to represent nature engendering and reproducing. The Phallus was also used as an amulet or charm suspended from the neck, and its exhibition over a house in Pompeii is explained by the words “domus felicitatis.” On this interesting subject, Mr. O’Brien’s learned, but too fanciful work, on the Round Towers of Ireland, will throw considerable light.

2. See “Memoires de la Court d’Espagne,” by Madame d’Aunoy.

3. See Tournefort’s Travels in Turkey.

4. See Buckingham’s Travels in Asia.

5. See Bruce’s Travels in Abyssinia.

6. One of the English kings, Edward III., in the year 1344, picked up from the floor of a ball-room, an embroidered garter, belonging to a lady of rank. In returning it to her, he checked the rising smile of his courtiers with the words, “Honi soit qui mal y pense!” or, paraphrased in English, “Shame on him who invidiously interprets it!” The sentiment was so greatly approved, that it has become the motto of the English national arms. It is one which might be not inaptly nor unfrequently applied in rebuking the mawkish, skin-deep, and intolerant morality of this hypocritical and profligate age.

7. See “A brief exposition of the principles of the United Society called Shakers,” published by Calvin Green and Seth Y. Wells, 1830.

8. I call them my friends, because, however little I am disposed to accede to all their principles, I have met, from among their body, a greater proportion of individuals who have taken with them my friendship and sympathy, than perhaps from among any other sect or class of men.

9. Byunrestrained, Malthus and his disciples mean, not restricted or destroyed by any incidental check whatever, moral or immoral, prudential or violent. Thus, poverty, war, libertinism, famine, &c. are all powerful checks to population. In this sense, and not simply as applying to preventative moral restraint, have I employed the word throughout this chapter.

10. Mandeville.

11. Some wag, adverting to the fact, that Mr. Malthus himself has a large family, remarked, “that the reverend gentleman knew better how to preach than to practice.”

12. Lawrence, the ingenious author of the “Empire of the Nairs,” says shrewdly enough, “Wherever the women are prudes, the men will be drunkards.”

13. It may perhaps be argued, that all married persons have this power already, seeing that they are no more obliged to become parents than the unmarried; they may live as the brethern and sisters among the Shakers do. But this Shaker remedy is, in the first place, utterly impracticable, as a general rule; and, secondly, it would chill and embitter domestic life, even if it were practicable.

14. Will our sensitive fine ladies blush at the plain good sense and simplicity of such an observation? Let me tell them, the indelicacy is in their own minds, not in the words of the French mother.

15. For a vice so unnatural as onanism there could be no possible temptation, and therefore no existence, were not men unnaturally and mischievously situated. It first appeared, probably, in monasteries; and has been perpetuated by the more or less anti-social and demoralizing relation in which the sexes stand to each other, in almost all countries. In estimating the consequences of the present false situation of society, we must set down to the black account the wretched, wretched consequences (terminating not unfrequently in incurable insanity) of this vice, the preposterous offspring of modern civilization. Physicians say that onanism at present prevails, to a lamentable extent, both in this country and in England. If the recommendations contained in this little treatise were generally followed, it would probably totally disappear in a single generation.

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

17. 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 any thing on earth but their own precious and profligate selves. It is to characters so utterly worthless as these that my observations apply.

18. Jesus said unto her, “Neither do I condemn thee.”—Johnviii. 11.

19. What is the actual state of society in Great Britain and even in this republic, that pseudo-civilization, in her superlative delicacy, should so fastidiously scruple to speak of or to sanction a simple, moral, effectual check to population? Are her sons all chaste and temperate, and her daughters all passionless and pure? I might disclose, if I would, in this very city of New York—and in our neighbour city of Philadelphia—scenes and practices that have come to light from time to time, and that would furnish no very favourable answer to the question. I might ask, whether all the houses of assignation in these two cities are frequented by the known profligate alone? or whether some of the most outwardly respectable fathers—ay,mothersof families—have not been found in resorts supported and frequented only by “good society” like themselves?As regards Great Britain, I might quote the evidence delivered before a “Committee of the House of Commons, on Labourers’ Wages,” by Henry Drummond, a banker, magistrate, and large land-owner in the county of Surrey, in which the following question and answer occur: Q. “What is the practice you allude to of forcing marriages?” A. “I believe nothing is more erroneous than the assertion, that the poor laws tend to imprudent marriages; I never knew an instance of a girl being married until she was with child, nor ever knew of a marriage taking place through a calculation for future support.” Mr. Drummond’s assertions were confirmed by other equally respectable witnesses; and from what I myself have learnt in conversation with some of the chief manufacturers of England, I am convinced, that the statement, as regards the working population in the chief manufacturing districts, is scarcely exaggerated.I might go on to state, that the spot on which the Foundling Hospital in Dublin now stands, formerly went by the name of “Murderer’s Lane,” from the number of child murders that were perpetrated in the vicinity.I might adduce the testimony of respectable witnesses in proof, that, even among the married, the blighting effects of ergot are not unfrequently incurred; by those very persons, probably, who, in public, would think fit to be terribly shocked at this little book.But why multiply proofs? The records of every court of justice, nay, the tittle tattle of every fashionable drawing-room, sufficiently marks the real character of this prudish and pharisaical world of ours.

As regards Great Britain, I might quote the evidence delivered before a “Committee of the House of Commons, on Labourers’ Wages,” by Henry Drummond, a banker, magistrate, and large land-owner in the county of Surrey, in which the following question and answer occur: Q. “What is the practice you allude to of forcing marriages?” A. “I believe nothing is more erroneous than the assertion, that the poor laws tend to imprudent marriages; I never knew an instance of a girl being married until she was with child, nor ever knew of a marriage taking place through a calculation for future support.” Mr. Drummond’s assertions were confirmed by other equally respectable witnesses; and from what I myself have learnt in conversation with some of the chief manufacturers of England, I am convinced, that the statement, as regards the working population in the chief manufacturing districts, is scarcely exaggerated.

I might go on to state, that the spot on which the Foundling Hospital in Dublin now stands, formerly went by the name of “Murderer’s Lane,” from the number of child murders that were perpetrated in the vicinity.

I might adduce the testimony of respectable witnesses in proof, that, even among the married, the blighting effects of ergot are not unfrequently incurred; by those very persons, probably, who, in public, would think fit to be terribly shocked at this little book.

But why multiply proofs? The records of every court of justice, nay, the tittle tattle of every fashionable drawing-room, sufficiently marks the real character of this prudish and pharisaical world of ours.

20. See letter of the Committee of the Typographical Society to Robert Dale Owen, published in the Commercial Advertiser of the 29th of September, and copied into the Free Enquirer of the 9th of October, 1830.For a statement of the circumstances connected with that letter, and which induced me, at this time, to write and publish the present treatise, see Preface.

For a statement of the circumstances connected with that letter, and which induced me, at this time, to write and publish the present treatise, see Preface.

21. I should like to hear these gentlemen explain, according to what principle they imagine the chastity of theirwivesto 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 careful 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 Typographical Committee seem to look with so implicit a confidence, is a mere broken reed; and has been so, ever since the days of Bethsheba.Yetconjugalchastity is that which is especially valued. The inconstancy of a wife commonly cuts much deeper than the dishonor of a sister. In that case, then, which the world usually considers of the highest importance, the fear of offspringimposes 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 Moral Physiology 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 any thing was gained to their cause, after all, by the vilification.

Yetconjugalchastity is that which is especially valued. The inconstancy of a wife commonly cuts much deeper than the dishonor of a sister. In that case, then, which the world usually considers of the highest importance, the fear of offspringimposes 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 Moral Physiology 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 any thing was gained to their cause, after all, by the vilification.

22. 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 underPruritis. 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.”

23. Le premier serment que se firent deux êtres de chair, ce fut au pied d’un rocher, qui tombait en poussière; 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.

Diderot;Jacques et son maitre.

24. Some German poet, whose name has escaped me says,“Tapfer ist der 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.

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

“Tapfer ist der 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!”

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

“Tapfer ist der 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!”

“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.

25. See “Historie de l’Académie des Sciences,” for the year 1679, page 279.

26. Hippocrates positively asserts this latter hypothesis, and is outrageous against all sceptics in his theory. In his work on diet, he tells us, “Si quis non credat animam animæ misceri, demens est.” Tertullian warmly supports the orthodoxy of this opinion.

27. Bonner, I believe.

28. Velpeau defines conception to be, that change which takes place between the instant of vivification, and the period at which the germ shows evidence of development.

29. My father, Robert Owen’s definition of chastity is also an excellent one: “Prostitution, Sexual intercoursewithoutaffection:Chastity, Sexual intercoursewithaffection.”

30. Proverbs v. 18.

31. It is not uncommon to hear of women deriving no pleasure from the sexual embrace; and however powerful an inducement the expected reward of the highest sensual gratification may be to encourage propagation, such a consummation, although much it may be wished for, is not absolutely necessary for impregnation. I have met with numerous females who, like[35]the mother of one of Napoleon’s Generals, have declared: “Qu’elle n’avoit eu que les douleurs d’enfanter.”

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

33. And I doubt whether shepermitsit, without more or less of injury, to the average of constitutions, oftener than once a week. Certain I am, that 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!

34. For the English reader, I have attempted the following imitation of the above lines:Crown his brows with laurel wreath,Who can tread the field of death—Tread—with armed thousands near—And know not what it is to fear.But greater far his meed of praise,Juster his claim to glory’s bays,Who, true to reason’s voice, to virtue’s call,Conquers himself, the noblest deed of all!

34. For the English reader, I have attempted the following imitation of the above lines:

Crown his brows with laurel wreath,Who can tread the field of death—Tread—with armed thousands near—And know not what it is to fear.But greater far his meed of praise,Juster his claim to glory’s bays,Who, true to reason’s voice, to virtue’s call,Conquers himself, the noblest deed of all!

Crown his brows with laurel wreath,

Who can tread the field of death—

Tread—with armed thousands near—

And know not what it is to fear.

But greater far his meed of praise,

Juster his claim to glory’s bays,

Who, true to reason’s voice, to virtue’s call,

Conquers himself, the noblest deed of all!

35. Elliotson’s notes to Blumenbach’s Physiology.

TRANSCRIBER’S NOTESTable ofContentsadded by transcriber.Silently corrected typographical errors and variations in spelling.Archaic, non-standard, and uncertain spellings retained as printed.

TRANSCRIBER’S NOTES

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