effort may be attended with success, and that you will at last listen to the advice of Your indulgent and afflicted father. LETTER 48. From a Daughter to a Father, wherein she dutifully expostulates against a match he had proposed to her, with a Gentleman much older than herself. HONORED SIR, Though your injunctions should prove diametrically opposite to my own secret inclinations, yet I am not insensible that the duty which I owc you binds me to comply with them. Besides, I should be very ungrateful, should I presume, in any point whatever, considering your numberless acts of parental indulgence towards me, to contest your will and pleasure. Though the consequences thereof should prove ever so fatal, I am determined to be all obedience, in case what I have to offer in my own defence should have no influence over you, or be thought an insufficient plea for my aversion to a match, which, unhappily for ure, you seem to approve of. It is very possible, sir, the gentleman you recommend to my choice, may be possessed of that substance, and all those good qualities, that bias you so strongly in his favor; but be not angry, dear sir, when I remind you that there is a vast disproportion in our years. A lady of more experience and of a more advanced age, would, in my humble opinion, be a more fit helpmate for him. To be ingenuous (permit me, good sir, to speak the sentiments of my heart without reserve for once) a man, almost in his grand climacterick, can never be an agreeable companion for me: nor can the natural gaiety of my temper, which has hitherto been indulged by yourself in every innocent amusement, be over agreeable to him. Though his fondness at first may connive at the little freedoms I shall be apt to take, yet as soon as the edge of his appetite shall be abated, he will grow jealous, and forever torment me without a cause. I shall be debarred of every diversion suitable to my years, though ever so harmless and inoffensive; permitted to see no company; hurried down perhaps to some melancholy rural recess; and there, like my lady Grace in the play, sit pensive and alone under a green tree. Your long experienced goodness, and that tender regard which you have always expressed for ny ease and satisfaction, encourage me thus freely to expostulate with you on an affair of so great importance. If, however, after all, you should judge the inequality of our age an insufficient plea in my favor, and that want of affection for a husband is but a trifle, where there is a large fortune and a coach and six to throw into the scale; if, in short you lay your peremptory commands upon me to resign up all my real happiness and peace of mind for the vanity of living in pomp and grandeur, I am ready to submit to your superior judgment. Give me leave, however, to observe, that it is impossible for me ever to love the man into whose arms I am to be thrown, and that my compliance with so detested a proposition is nothing more than the result of the most inviolable duty to a father, who never made the least attempt before to thwart the inclinations of His ever obedient daughter. LETTER 49. Mrs. Rowe* to her Mother, on the approach of her own death. MADAM, I am now taking a final adieu of this world, in certain hope of meeting you in the next. carry to iny grave my affection and gratitude to you. I leave you with the sincerest concern for your own happiness, and the welfare of your family. May my prayers be answered when I am sleeping in the dust. May the angels of God conduct you in the paths of immortal pleasure. I would collect the powers of my soul, and ask blessings for you with the holy violence of prayer. God Almighty, the God of your pious ancestors, who has been your dwelling place for many generations, bless you. It is but a short space I have to measure; my shadows are lengthening, and my sun declining that goodness which has hitherto conducted me, will not fail me in the concluding act of life: that name which I have made my glory and my boast, shall then be my strength and my salvation. : To meet death with becoming fortitude is a part above the powers of nature, and which I can perform by no power or holiness of my own; for, O! in my best state I am altogether vanity-a wretched, helpless sinner; but in the merits and perfect righteousness of God my Saviour, I hope to appear justified, at the supreme tribunal, where I must shortly stand to be judged. [N. B. This letter was not to be sent to her mother till she was dead.] LETTER 50. The Earl of Stafford to his Son, just before his Lordship's execu MY DEAREST WILL, tion. These are the last lines that you are to receive from a father that tenderly loves you. I wish there were greater leisure to impart my mind to you; but our merciful God will supply all things by his grace, and will guide and protect you in all your ways; to whose infinite goodness I bequeath you and therefore be not discouraged, but serve him, and trust in him, and he will preserve you in all things. Be sure you give all respect to my wife, who hath ever had a great love unto you, and therefore it will be well becoming you. Never be wanting in your love and care to your sisters, but let them ever be most dear unto you; for this will give others cause to esteem and respect you for it, and is a duty you owe them in the memory of your excellent mother and myself: therefore your care and affection to them must be the very same that are to have of yourself; and also the like regard must you have to your youngest sister, for indeed you owe it to her also, both for her father's and mother's sake. Sweet Will, be careful to take the advice of those friends, who are, by me, desired to advise you for your education. you *She was a woman of exemplary piety, and authoress of several valuable works. She was born in England, in the year 1674, and died 1737. Serve God diligently, morning and evening, and recommend yourself unto him, and have him before your eyes in all your ways. With patience hear the instruction of those friends I leave with you, and diligently follow their counsel. For, till you come by time to have experience in the world, it will be far more safe to trust to their judgment than your own. Lose not the time of your youth, but gather those seeds of virtue and knowledge which may be of use to yourself, and comfort to your friends for the rest of your life. And that this may be the better effected, attend thereunto with patience, an I be sure to correct an i restrain yourself from anger. Suffer not sorrow to cast you down; but with cheerfulness and good courage go on the race you have to run in all sobriety and truth. Be sure, with an hallowed care, to have respect to all the commandments of God, allowing not yourself to neglect them in the least thing, lest by degrees you come to forget them in the greatest; for the heart of man is deceitful above all things. And in all your duties and devotions towards God, rather perform them joyfully than pensively; for God loves a cheerful giver. For your religion, let it be directed according to that which shall be taught by those who are in God's church, the proper teachers thereof, rather than that you either fancy one to yourself, or be led by men that are singular in their own opinion, and delight to go in ways of their own finding out for you will certainly find soberness and truth in the one, and much vanity and unsteadiness in the other. The king, I trust, will deal graciously with you; restore you those honors and that fortune which a distempered time hath deprived you of, together with the life of your father; which I rather advise might be a new gift and creation from himself than by other means, to the end you may pay the thanks to him, without having obligations to any other. Be sure to avoid, as much as you can, to inquire after those who have been sharp in their judgments towards me, and I charge you never to suffer a thought of revenge to enter your heart, but be careful to be informed who were my friends in this prosecution, and to them apply yourself to make them your friends also, and on such you may rely, and bestow much of your conversation amongst them. And God Almighty, of his infinite goodness, bless you and your chil dren's children, and his same goodness bless your sisters in like manner; perfect you in every good work, and give you a right understanding in all things. Your most loving father. LETTER 51. From one Cousin to another on making and breaking Promises. DEAR COUSIN, I have more than once remarked how very prone you are to make promises; but I seldom or ever knew you to fulfil one. This, I must confess, has very much hurt your character; some people have in consequence called you a liar; others, more mild, a fool; instead of making friends by it you have certainly lost many. As you subject yourself to be frequently teased and insulted, by this foolish custom, I wonder you do not drop it. Were I to repeat my visits every day till you ful filled all the promises you made me since last week, I fear I should soon become troublesome and disagreeable; and assure you, if you do not drop this mode of promising, without any intention of performing, I shall give you up as one on whom civility is thrown away, and not only that, but I shall persuade your other acquaintance to follow my exaimple. A very little reflection and sincerity will enable you to fulfil all that you promise, by taking care to promise no more than you mean to perform. By a strict adherence to which you may yet retrieve your char I remain yours, &c. acter. PART II. LETTERS ON BUSINESS. LETTER 52. From a young Man in the country, to a Merchant in New-York, offering correspondence. SIR, My apprenticeship with Mr. Wilson being expired, during which I had proofs of your integrity in all your dealings with my worthy master; my parents have given me two hundred pounds to begin the world, which you know is not sufficient to carry on trade to any advantage; that I may be able to sell my goods as cheap as possible, I would choose to have them from the first hand, and likewise the usual time of credit. If it is agreeable to you, I hereby offer you my correspondence, not doubting but you will use me as well as you did Mr. Wilson, and you may depend on my punctuality with respect to payments. My late master has no objection to my setting up, as it will not be in the least prejudicial to his business. I shall depend on your sending me the following order as soon and as cheap as possible, and am, sir, Your humble servant. SIR, LETTER 53. The Merchant's Answer. Yours I received, and am extremely glad to hear that your parents have enabled you to open a store for yourself. Your behaviour to your late master was such that it cannot fail of procuring you many customers. I have sent you the goods by the sloop Polly, of Poughkeepsie, in twelve parcels, marked XI: and I doubt not but you will be punctual in your returns, which will always enable me to serve you as low as possible, and with the best goods which I can procure. I heartily wish you success in business, and doubt not but you well know that honesty and assiduity are the most likely means to insure it, and am SIR, LETTER 54. Your obliged servant. From a young Man whose Master had lately died I doubt not but you have heard of my late worthy employer's death. I have served him as an apprentice and journeyman above twelve years, and as the widow does not choose to carry on the business, I have taken the store and stock in trade, and shall be glad to deal with you in the same manner he did. I have sent the inclosed order for the payment of such bills as are due, and you may depend on punctuality with respect to the remainder, for which purpose let them be entered as my debt. Please to send the inclosed order, and let the goods be the best you have, which will oblige Your humble servant. Yours I received, and am extremely sorry to hear of the death of my good friend your late master; but at the same time, pleased to find that his business has fallen into such good hands as yours. You have double advantage over a stranger, as you are well acquainted both with your late master's trade and customers, which by his dealings with me appears to be very extensive. I have sent your order in ten bales, marked O P, by the Jane, of Saggharbor, John Thompson master, and you will find them as good and cheap as any that are to be had in NewYork. I heartily thank you for your offered correspondence, and shall on all occasions use you with honor. I wish you all manner of success, and am Your obliged servant. LETTER 56. To a Correspondent, requesting the payment of a sum of money. SIR, When Although the balance of the account between us has been standing in my favor, yet I would not have applied to you at present, had not a very unexpected demand heen made upon me for a very considerable_sum, which, without your assistance, is not in my power to answer. I have an opportunity of seeing you I shall inform you of the nature of this demand, and the necessity of my discharging it. I hope you will excuse me this freedom, which nothing but a regard to my credit and family could oblige me to take. If it does not suit you to remit the whole, part will be thankfully received by Your humble servant. LETTER 57. SIR, I have just received yours, and am sorry to hear of your affliction That the account between us was not 300ner settled, was owing to th |