Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1805-04-27
From tie N. Y. Commercial advertiser.


Proteus Ledger, inclosing one from his
wife to a female companion. You remem.
Der he dropped a hint in his fist, that he
had not been entirely 10 blame in the
change which had taken place in his cir
cumstances. That he was not, plainly ap-
pears from this letter, which purporls TO
have been written when the author was
on the eve ofquittiDg the country, and was
surfeited with anticipated happiness,
Alter my poor friend had removed his
family to your city, this letter was repeat
eddy handed about from one to another,
and recommended as model of fne wri-
ing IN woman of spirit; till, finally, a
malicious and secret enemy put it into his
| hand. Probably you observed that his
| FORMER letter made no mention of the pre-
| sent situation of his family nor of their con-
Duct alter their arrival in town alas be-
| ieviDg man, his chagrin, added to his other
| functions, had sealed his lips upon this sub,
Ject & he has not YET been so communica-
I'VE as could have wished, because think
II one OIL first rate Importance. All the in,
formation tina, you will probably receive up-
onthis head, musttherefore be furnished by
myself; and shall be careful il does nor
tire by its prolixity.
The family and circumstances of Mira.
rlirtDla Ledger were not unknown to me
al the time my friend was first paving his
addresses to her. They were every wav
connected with the most obscure people in
the county; & their expectations, as well as
those OF their daughter, accorded with O.
theirs IN similar circumstances. Mr.. Led
ger, however, happened TO meet her at a
village hop; and, although he was repea-
tedly assured that she had engaged to be-
come the vile OF taylor, he could not be
satisfied till she coudescended to take hin,
IN preference. After he brought her to-
town, ms house was perpstually thronsed
win strange faces, from some of whom
ne received the most engaging stare, and
rom others the most intelligent gvin.---
mere was no occasion Tor his personal at
tendance upon his wife, those gentlemen
s0ere Arrays so o6iging. Matters went ON
In TINS way till his wife's in6delity became
notorious; and he had Just effected a se-
Paration when his other troubles com.
menced. ifmy friend could have had n
glimpse OF the following letter before he
iettthe county, he would have probably.
yet been happy:
DUTcHEss COUNTY, April
have been completely successful. nv
dear Eliza, and you must send me yo,;,,
congratulations immediately.-You tho't
my husband could never be brought to sa.
crihce what you are pleased to term a Ger.
'a,"'y LOT an uncertainty but you are mis-.
'aSeh men are different creatures az
oiherent times. believe, nay, vow
api Almost certain, theymay all bew wrought
upon oy arts less specious than those so
frequently played off upon our sex. If'
women would call into use bot half of
the" sagac'ty, and would scrutinize the
naeura! dispositions and propensities OF
men, their situations in life would more
oHen accord with their own desires. and
FEMININE graees give more general no.
hsn 10 society. But this must be done
WIN care. Men are naturally Jealous of
aulhor'ty' x will not tamely submit, To anv
open encroachments upon it; they cannot.
therefore, blame us, If we follow their own
example, and svheedle them out of II. 40
they SO often strive TO our seq of what !.
oil thousand times more CONSEQUENCE
our virtue. In this, am persuaded ,vs
may always succeed; for, notwilbstand-
ing the charge of vanity, so universally as.
cribed to US. / do positively declare. and
you Will not forget that il is ma.ron who
makes the declaration, that the men have
much greater portion of it thar the SIM.
posed possessors. Do be so cord &C 10
cultivate those and similar sentiments ..
mong your acquaintance / think thew
might prove beneficial; and should re.
ce'Ye additional happiness from the con.
tirmation of my belief.
have moulded my husband INFO Tho
very thing ] wished him. He alreadt
begins TO sec objects through the Same
medium with myself; * although he nrat
cd a good deal at first, about the heart-f-I
pleasures Of the rural life, soon pu, Al
such simple nonsense out Of his Ned b
o:escan'ing upon the eiegancies Of city en-
Joyments, the style in which we shonidt
enabled toive, the choice OF our cornrsn,
ana The facility Of change bat mos,
ais my dear madam, upon the hyo5ovrdd
Jerenee and reflect we should recsiveCo,
persons of every rank.--Tbis did n
'a'i 70 contrast with our present situa,ior
anu S"eit particularly upon the Term Ia
Dl0tSS. tn rVhfrk 4