PHI LOS 0 P H Y . - Classic Works of Apologetics Online

DUly of PaTenll. 231
.Ali attention, in the first place, to the exigencc~
of the children:s respective conditions in the world;
and a regard in the second place, to their reasonable
expectatations, always postponing the expectations to
the exjgences~ when both cannot be satisfied, ought
to guide parents in the disposal of their fortunes
aft~r their death. And these exigcnces and expectations
must be measured by the standard which
custom has established; for there is a certain appearance,
Cittendance, establishment, and mode of living,
which custom has annexed to the severai ranks Ch~d
orders of civil life (and \\~hich compose what is called
dacncy) together with a cert..;rln society, and particular
p!ecu,ures belonging to each class : and a young
person, who is witheld from sharing in these for
want of- fortune, can sc~cely be &aid to have a fair
chance for happiness; the indignity and mortification
{if such a seclusion being what few tempers can
bear, or bear with contentment.
And as to the second
consideration, of what a ebild may reasonably
expect from his parent, he will expect what he sees
all ()r most others in simi1ar circumstances receive;
and we can hardly call expectations unreasonable;
which it is impossible to suppress.
By virtue of this rule, a parent is justified in making
a difference between his children, according as
!lley statld in greater or less need of the assistance
of his forflIne, in consequence of the difference of
their age or sex, or of the situations m which they are
placed, or the various success which they have- met
with.
On account of the few lucrative employments
which are left to the f~male sex, and by consequence
the little opportunity they have of adding to their
incolne, daughters ought to be the particular objects
of ~. parent's care and foresight; and as an option
of marriage, from which they can reasonably ex ..
pect happiness, is not presented to every woman who
desen·es it, especially in times in which a licentious
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