tain within my own breast those sentiments of esteem and affection with which you have inspired me. I should have hazarded this discovery much sooner, but was restrained by a dread of meeting censure for my presumption in aspiring to a lady, whom beauty, wit, and fortune, have conspired to raise so high above my reasonable expectations. You have judgment enough both of your own good qualities, and the characters of those with whom you converse, to make a proper estimate of my sincerity on this occasion. I am above deceit, and have not therefore, at any period of our acquaintance, pretended to be a man of greater property than I am, which conduct I hope will tend to convince you of my general sincerity. Believe me, my dearest A- ,were our circumstances reversed, I should hardly take to myself the credit of doing a generous action, in overlooking the consideration of wealth, and making you an unreserved tender of my hand. and fortune. I shall await your answer in a state of unpleasant impatience, and therefore rely on your humanity not to keep me long in suspense. I am, madam, Your most humble servant. LETTER 130. The Answer. SIR, Giving you credit as I do, for an elevation of mind capable of the most generous sentiments, I cannot believe you guilty of the meanness of speculating on the heart of a lady, with a view to her property. Knowing your accomplished manners, and cultivated understanding, I feel the greatest obligation to you for the polite and affectionate declaration contained in your letter. In an affair of so much importance, however, I must refer myself entirely to the discretion of my father. At the same time I must caution you against feeling hurt at minute inquiries, and resolute objections, which perhaps may be made; young people think too little of wealth, old ones, perhaps, too much; but I know my father's prudence and kindness so well, as to pledge myself to abide by his final decision, whatever pain it may cost me. Yet I advise you not to despair of success, as you will find a warm and zealous advocate in Your sincere friend and humble servant. LETTER 131. From a Gentleman of some fortune, who had seen a Lady in public, to her Mother. MADAM, I shall be very happy if you are not altogether unacquainted with the name which is at the bottom of this letter, since that will prevent me the necessity of saying some things concerning myself which had better be heard from others. Hoping that it may be so, I shall not trouble you on that head; but only say, that I have the honor to be of a family not mean, and not wholly without a fortune. I was yesterday, madam, at the rehearsal at St. Paul's, and have been informed, that a lady who commanded my attention there, has the happiness to be your daughter. It is on account of that lady that I now write to you; but I am aware you will say this is a rash and an idle man ner of attempting an acquaintance. I have always been of opinion that nothing deserves censure which is truly honorable and undisguised. I take the freedom to tell you, madam, that I believe she is worthy of a much better offer; but I am assured my happiness will depend upon: her accepting or refusing this. In the first place I request to know whether the lady be engaged, for I am an entire stranger; and if she be not, I beg, that after having informed yourself who it is that wishes to be introduced to her, you will do me the favor of letting me be answered. I am very much an enemy, madam, to the usual nonsense upon these occasions; but it would be injustice to myself to conclude without saying that my mind will be very ill at ease until I know how this address is received. I have the honor to be, madam, with the greatest respect, Your very obedient humble servant. LETTER 132. The Mother's Answer. SIR, The letter which you have done me the honor to write to me, speaks you a gentleman and and a man of sense. I am sorry to acquaint you, that after such a prepossession in your favor, I am for more than one reason desirous to decline the offer you are pleased to make of an alliance in my family. My daughter is very dear to me; and I think she has cast an eye elsewhere: I think there is something indelicate and improper in this wild manner of engaging in an attachment, and in pleading in favor of it. I wish you had known my daughter more be fore you had spoke so much, and had met with me among my acquaintance to have mentioned it. I am convinced, sir, I do not think more of you than I may with justice, when I confess to you that I believe you would be more than an equal match for my daughter; for though she has (and suffer me, sir, although she is my child, to say it) great merit, her fortune, although not quite inconsiderable, is not great. You will see, sir, that I waver in my opinion upon this subject; but you must attribute it to the true cause; and believe that every thing which has, be it ever so remote, a tendency to my daughter's welfare, will make me very cautious of determining. To give you my final sense (at least what is final to me at present) I have not a thought of asking who it is that has thus favored us, nor would advise my daughter to remember it. I thank you, sir, in her name as well as my own, for the honor you intend us, and am, sir, Your most obedient servant. LETTER 133. From a young Tradesman to a gentleman, desiring permission to visit his daughter. SIR, I flatter myself that the integrity of my intention will excuse the freedom of these few lines, whereby I am to acquaint you of the great regard and esteem I have for your daughter. I would not, sir, attempt any indirect address, that should have the least appearance of inconsistency with her duty to you, and my honorable views to her, choosing by your influence if I may approve myself to you worthy of that honor, to commend myself to her approbation. You are not insensible, sir, by the credit I have hitherto preserved in the world, of my ability, by God's blessing, to make her happy. This the rather emboldens me to request the favor of an evening's conversation with you, at your first convenience; when I will more fully explain myself, as I earnestly hope, to your satisfaction, and take my encouragement or discouragement from your own mouth. I am, sir, in the mean time, with great respect, Your humble servant.. LETTER 134. From the same to the Young Lady by permission of the Father. MISS, I hope I shall stand excused in venturing to make known to your honored father, the great desire I have to be thought worthy of a relation to him. As he has not discouraged me in the hopes I have entertained, that I may possibly be not unacceptable to him, and to all your worthy family, I propose to do myself the honor of a visit to you next Monday. Though he has been so good as to promise to introduce me, and I make no doubt has acquainted you with it, I nevertheless give you the trouble of these lines, that I might not appear wanting in any outward demonstration of that inviolable respect with which I am, dear miss, Your devoted humble servants |