Alexandria advertiser and commercial intelligencer. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1800-1803, 1801-11-12
TO THE RESTORATION.

c~retion, l have entertained the mcI hon.
Durable opinion of the marriage Gate, and
have endeavoured, for ten years paA, to
form the mott important connexion in life,
with iome agreeable woman. But | have
hitherto been bafaed in all my attempts,
and my endeavors to pleafe, which have
been Garnet and unceaiing, have ondeferv-
eddy met with ridicule, or fcorr. And
yet, fir, I am not confcious of any frik-
ing detect, which ought reafonably to iub.
Jeet me to this treatment. My perfon is
tolerable, my connexions respectable, my
circumstances eligible, my difpof,ion "a
miable, and my understanding not below
mediocrity.
Whit [ have vainly exhaufed all my
ingenuity to pleafc, Others have fucceeded,
apparently, without taking any pains for
that purpofc. Nor have phefe gentlemen,
III any Telpee, been my f~upsriors. l mui,
therefore, either condemn my felf for defeels
OF which ] am not confcious, or conclude,
that many of the fex are more guided by
caprice than judgment, III their choice OF
a hulband.
l had once conceived frong hopes of fuc-
ceeding with the agreeable Flirtil,a. Her
friends encouraged my attentions, and Che
herieit allowed me to be more particular
than was proper for any woman to allow,
who did not intend 70 receive me as a huC.
band. She was not all that a Reasonable
mar would with in a wife, but (Le was
lively and agreeable, and, l thought thar
time would cure the little imprudencies of
conduit, which I attributed merely 10 the
vivacity of her difpoh,ion. The Ian time
] was at the houfe, .lhe received me with
a coldnefs that chilled me to the foul. and
gravely informed me, that fhe was enoao-
ed to be married, in a few weeks, to
young Marmofet, who had reGded fome
years In France. This young man had
bro't home with him a large ftock of ef.
frontery and much of that willing actiyi
~ OF body, and pert loquacity of tongue, !
which, however proper in a Frer.chman.
aretruly difgufing in one of our own coun-
trymen. Tho my pride was a little hu.t,
1 did not long lament the lois of a woman,
who could give her hand to 70 egregious a
coxcomb.
/ next paid my addrefes to Senpropia,
She was a SentimentaIift, and was forever
deicanting on difnntereaed connexions, and
declaiming againf the AeaIbrf17utiau Of
beltowing the hand without the heart
Though thought her too grave, / was
charmed with the generoGty of her fentj-
nnents' and after the ufaal negative, and
much modeit reluctance, fhe finally con.
-iented to honor me with her hand. The
time was appointed for the ceremony, and
] was Aattering myfrlf that / fhouid. in > |
few weeks, reach the fummit of human
..happinefs, when / received a letter. IN
forming me that ! mutt fee her no more. |
The diiinterefed Sempronia, unable 70 re.
nit the temptation of a fplendid eou;p- |
age, married a rich widower of twice her |
age.
l willnot, fatigue you, Sir, with the
various and f%rnitlefs attempts | have made |
to ingratiate myfelf with the ladies, from
the gay coquette to the grave Zen iments-
iiit. believe, my folicitude TO pieaf-,
has proved Injurious to me for ] have
obierved, that thSfe who pay the TEX the
Ieait attention, are fcldom fefoEcd ,vbcr
'ney otter themielves. I-fapea, my good
natured afiduities have made me too cSear. !
and no woman aOW have Ned Swok,. be-
cauie every woman thinks fhe can have !
him. Could begin life again, r.houJd |
certainly adopt a different line of cond,E, !
But, alas IT Is too late, fncc | am now
on the confines of sortyy and DR.. Young
tells US, ~
"a fool at forty Isl fool indeed"
Twas charmed with the epiale Of Pm.
dentia. doubt not, there are many Of