266

FOUNDLING HOSPITALS.

the consort of the greatest Russian chief, the eminentCatharine, wife of the Czar Peter, commonly called theGreat, who was herself, if we do not greatly err in recol-lection, a foundlingthe gentleness of whose mannerswas alone qualified to sooth the too often barbarous temperof her spouse. In paroxysms of the most brutal passionwould the great Peter listen to her gentle persuasions ; likethe music of the divine Orpheus, she alone could calm theraging and turbulent temper of his soul. And it is fromhence, perhaps, we may infer the reason of the care thelittle unfortunates experience in that mighty empire.

In European societies boasting of civilization, and in themost civilized states, infanticide is generally the fate of theillegitimate. In such states it but too often happens that ayoung female, who has, perhaps, acquired from education themost delicate sense of honour and shame, finds herself, onthe birth of an illegitimate child, exposed at once to theutmost disgrace and contempt. Her misfortune, thoughviewed with un eye of pity by the compassionate andworthy, excites the hatred of the greater part of herrelations and friends, by whom she has been previouslycherished, loved, and respected; and who exerted theirutmost to endeavour to render her happy. The suddenchange which internal consciousness tells her she may nowexpect in their behaviour, excites such a horror, on herpart, at her past misconduct, that in a moment of themost dreadful agitation,—in a state of mind which bordersupon despair and even madness, she commits the rashaction of terminating the existence of the little helplessbabe, just at the instant it inhaled the pure breath ofheaven. She voluntarily sacrifices her future peace,—herprospective repose, — for what ? why, for what could notbe worth the purchase it will cost her. To preserve herreputation,—-to avoid the deadly breath of slander,—theinsults of the senseless, and the general opprobrium of aworld deeper in iniquity than herself. Oh, could she butsee with the calmer view of reason, it would convince herthat, though she might by the rash action perhaps preserve her

1 In P. J. Von Strahlenbcrg’s History of the North of Europe and Asia ,in his description of the manners of the Russians , c. v. § 7, we find the followingobservation : ** It is weil known that the Russian monarchs seldom marry foreignprincesses, but on the contrary, choose one of their own subjects; and the Hussionprincesses have generally been married to ltussian Knieses; occasioned partly onaccount of their religion, and partly on account of their having no great correspon-dence with other courts.”