PREFACE.

EARLY impressions are indellible, are a l powerful. And the earlier, the more so. Yet how few carry this principle back to PARENTAGE, its first, and most eventful application-to the influences, on offspring, of the various conditions of parents at the time the former receive being and constitution from the latt r. To develop those laws which govern this department of nature, and analyze its facts-to show what parental conditions, physical and mental, will stamp the most favorable impress on the primitive organization, health, talents, virtue, &c., of yet uncreated immortals, and what must necessarily entail physical diseases, mental maladies, and vicious predispositions, constitute our subject matter. It consequently involves, not their animal life and death merely, but also their mental life and spiritual being; and is therefore among the most momentous subjects which can possibly engross human attention; as well as one which parents must understand in order to confer on offspring the highest physical, intellectual, and moral endowments and capabilities in the power of parentage to bestow.

These exalted considerations dictated this work; and if it enables a few parents only to endow their children, by nature, with a strong and healthy physical, a high mental, and a powerful intellectual constitution, Infinitude alone can measure the good that will result therefrom, not merely to these children themselves, but also to their descendants for many ger.erations

to come.

A tributary object is to show all who have entered, all who may enter, the connubial relations, how to enlist. cement, perpetuate, or re-kindle, as occasion may require, those tender feelings of conjugal affection so incalculably promotive of both parental happiness, and human endowment. This consocia tion of "Love and Parentage," is new grour d, but the only

correct one, because both are twin sisters by nature, and so re ciprocally related, that to promote either, is thereby to aug ment the other.

In treating this subject thorough.y, and yet adapting it to popular reading, the Author encountered the utmost difficulty, partly inherent, but mainly consequent on that prudery which characterizes and disgraces American taste. But to have minced, would have spoiled. No middle ground remained between its scientific exposition, and entire abandonment. He has, however, taken special pains to render his style and manner, propriety in which is even more essential than in subject matter, perfectly unexceptionable to even fastidiousness itself. How far he has succeeded in this most arduous task, he leaves his readers to judge, and any who can accomplish it better, to make trial; but earnestly solicits, at least before being condemned, one special favor-RE-PERUSAL-as aiding its full comprehension, and doubtless pleasurable. Still farther to obviate all possible objection, he has imbodied in a supplement, entitled "Evils and Remedy of excessive and perverted Amativeness, including advice and warning to the married and the young," matter intimately related to this volume, and originally designed to accompany it, which those who wish can order by mail, as per advertisement,

Still depraved minds may perhaps even yet make a corrupt use of the momentous truths herein imbodied, as they can any and every thing else. Yet here pre-eminently,

"Evil is to him who evil THINKS.'

But "to the pure, ALL things are pure." Whatever it is improper, in and of itself, for man to know, God will effectually hide from his restricted vision; whereas, by almost compelling parents to put their own mental and physical states, at this pe riod, side by side with the characters of their children, he lite rally thrusts this whole matter upon their cognizance; thereby virtually commanding them, in the name of parental love, to investigate, in order to apply, the laws and facts of parentage to the cons.mmation of their own happiness, in effecting the

highest possible endowment of their dearly beloved offspring The propriety of so doing, then, what pure or intelligent mind will question, or for a moment doubt its imperious obligation. Is it our solemn duty to fulfil the great command of the Bible and destiny of our nature, to "multiply and replenish the earth," and is it not a constituent part and parcel of this very duty to confer on offspring the highest natural capabilities and prerogatives in the power of parentage to bestow? Is it im proper to investigate these laws, in order thereby to secure results thus glorious, and is it not much more so to marry, and become parents? Nor can that squeamishness which would discard this subject, be justified in any ground, philosophical or moral. Of necessity, believers in the Bible must either admit the propriety of our subject matter, or else condemn hosts of passages as far more improper. Would this book of mo rals so often and so emphatically portray parental influences, unless to enjoin the propriety, and even duty, of their investigation and application ?

While, however, the Author pities those who condemn this subject, he yet accords to them that prerogative of thinking and acting for themselves, which he also claims to himself. "To his own master," each "standeth or falleth."

But WOMAN be the final umpire. Deeply interested in what ever appertains to offspring, mothers especially may and should read these pages. They will, and to their decision we bow, because truly modest, yet not fastidious. Nor need maiden purity blush to read more than to approach the hymeneal altar.

But why detract from its inherent dignity and importance, by continuing its defence? Cavillers deserve no farther notice. Hardly this. Our mission is from God, and this volume is the missionary. Beware how ye hinder it, lest ye be found to fight against truth, against humanity, against God; but bid it God's speed ye who would advance the most glorious cause on earth?

When, but only when, mankind properly LOVE and MARRY and then rightly GENERATE, CARRY, NURSE and EDUCATE thei

children, will they be in deed and in truth the holy and happy sons and daughters of the "Lord Almighty," compared with those miserable and depraved scape-goats of humanity which infest our earth. Oh! the boundless capabilities and perfections of our God-like nature! Alas, its deformities! Behold in these pages the means of developing the former, of obviating the latter !

N. B. So reciprocally is every department of man's domestic relations interwoven with all the others, that, to treat either separately, is imperfectly to present them all. This has compelled the Author either unduly to swell this volume, by copious extracts from his other works on "Matrimony," "Hereditary Descent," and kin dred subjects, or else to make frequent references. He has chosen. the latter, but hopes, ere long, to imbody in a connected form, 1st, SEXUALITY, or the mental and physical characteristics and differences of the sexes: 2d, THE FAMILY, or the power, and right exercise, of the domestic affections, including recipes for rendering the family perfectly happy: 3d, LOVE AND MATRIMONY; their nature, effects, laws, and conditions, and the choice of congenial companions, or what dispositions, temperaments, &c., are adapted to live happily together, and what are not; including Courtship, and the means of promoting conjugal affection: 4th, THE EVILS and REME DY consequent on the pervers on of this element, and how to prevent unfaithfulness and licentiousness: 5th, HEREDITARY DESCENT, its laws and facts, applied to the improvement of mankind, including the effects, on offspring, of different existing conditions in parents: 6th, MATERNITY, or the influences of the various states of the mother's physiology and mentality, on the forming minds and bodics of children before birth, including LABOR, NURSING, and INFANTILE REGIMEN and EDUCATION. It is high time this whole matter of the domestic relations was treated fully and scientifically; and as nothing but Phrenology can develop it, such a work would be incalculably valuable, and should be incorporated into the minds of al who have formed, or may hereafter consummate, the conjugal and parental relations. Of the time of its appearance, due notice will be given; till when, subscriptions will not be received. "M ternity" will be published first probably soon.