Considerations on the Causes of the Present Stagnation of Matrimony..

1772. London: T. Spilsbury, for J. Ridley, 1772.. London: T. Spilsbury, for J. Ridley, 1772. Proposals for Addressing "The Present Stagnation of Matrimony" [Marriage]. [Great Britain]. Considerations on the Causes of the Present Stagnation of Matrimony, Under the Following Heads. I. The Unreasonable Degree of Influence and Authority which Most Parents Exercise Over Their Children in the Concern of Marriage. II. The High and Elegant Education that is Given to Young Women Beyond the Compass of Their Fortunes and Stations of Life. III. The Debauchery and Extravagance of Young Men. IV. The General Luxurious and Expensive Taste of the Times. All of Which are Evils, That Seem to Call for the Attention of Parliament. London: Printed by T. Spilsbury, for J. Ridley, 1772. [iii]-vii, [1], 71, [1] pp. Complete. Octavo (8-1/4" x 5-1/4"). Stab-stitched pamphlet in plain wrappers. Front wrapper detached, small tears and chips to fore-edges of wrappers, moderate toning, small holes to a few leaves affecting legibility of one word on p. 47. $450. * Only edition. In addition to the usual female vanity and male debauchery, this pamphlet discusses parents' undue influence over their children's marriages and the tendency to view marriage as a way to gain wealth and social status. The author suggests that the celibacy requirement for fellows at Oxford and Cambridge be lifted and that the age of consent for marriage be lowered in order "to leave young folks open to the influence of their own affections, before the pride of life had corrupted the simplicity of nature" (70). OCLC and the ESTC locate 10 copies, 5 in North America, 1 in a law library (Library of Congress). English Short-Title Catalogue T68641.