Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1830-07-17
A DIyINE's LOVE LETTER.

The following letter from the celebrated Dr.
Doddridge to Miss Maris, the lady whom he al
forwards married, is extracted from the third
volume of his Diary and Correspondence just
published, The Doctor seems to have been OF
very uxorious disposition
dearest Mada:n.-My absence from North
ampton at the beginning Of the week prevented
NV indulsing myself in the pleasure of writing
20 YOU sooner yet though have been alb
sent from home, have hardly in thought been
absent from you. You know madam the sinceri-
ty Of my temper and, perhaps among all your
lovers, which young as you are, doubt not have
been MANY, you never had one that treated you
with less ceremony. But what want in form
lmake up IL affection which dictates my words,
and will dictate my letter. In the honesty OF
my heart, | must tell you that am surprised at
the impression ti.at my last visit has made upon
me. Ii was en- verlte, so great, that II every
future visit is to do as much. till see you once
for all, it will be my wisdom to see you as sell
dom as possible. | regarded You before with
respect as an agreeable stranger, and In few
hours YOU made yourself more to me than my
most intimate friends; ant often when sur
rounded with them languish because am not
with vou.-And yet madam, | avn not inscnsible
90 the charms of YOUR sex ; but there is now a
made a greater advance upon my heart in few
many weeks; indeed you have possessed your
hours, than intended to have allowed you in
self of so much init, that unless you consent
to be tenant for life. our parting will be ex-
ceedinglv troublesome, and it will be good
while before shall get into good repair again.
If it were possible for pretty LADY TO be trouble
some. you would certainly be so !; and with all
nv fond preiudices in your favour. must pro-
TESS that have some cause to complain. 1t Is
natural enough that your dear idea should pursue
me to the study and the chamber but why must
/ think Of you in public, and imagine that there
is something tlat resembles YOU in every agree
able woman / see, while am proud to think
that the resemblance is but faint ?
NV prediction. are accomplished sooner than
! expected, and l already find so much of my
happiness centered in your arms, that believe
YOU will find it a very hard matter to keep me
out Of them 1t is impossible for me not to wish
that you. madam, might not feel some answerabe
warmth of passion; but as it is not to be imagined.
SO dare not say that upon the whole 1t is to be
desired. For really think that, in a case of
such Importance. it would be best that one Of
us at least should have some exercise Of reason.
have sometimes nv lucid intervals, especially
this cold morning, and then can hardly persuade
myself that such masterpiece OF nature 80 gal
" adorned without and so richly furnished with
in, was ever intended for my possession, though
believe few would more thankfully receive 1t,
or use it with more tenderness and respect Yet,
IN the midst Of 50 much uncertainty. am sensi-
bic it is dangerous to dote upon 1t too much; and
therefore, madame, have taken up hearty reso-
luton of applying myself to business as closely
as possible, and will try if it be not practicable
thing to live while without thinking about YOU.
And because find a peculiar pleasure in writing
20 YOU, and am soothing my passion while attempt
ing to express it, Az resolved Immediately to
deny myself that qualification; and though Ihave
q whole page before me, which could easily fill
out of the abundance of my heart, | am deter
mined to break of without any further attempt
to deeribs the zeal and respect with which | am
dearest creature, your most faithful, aiectonate,
and humble servant.
PHILIP DODDRIDGE.
'P s. hope, madam. you will not be dis
pleased with what you have read, as not being
doleful enough to express the gloom of broken
heart. The fact is that never despair but in
the last extremity; and persuade myself you
have too much goodness TO delight in human sa-
erifces Let US, entreat you, see whether it
be not possible to spend our lives together with
ont ever giving each other one uneasy thought
From the PHILADELPHIA National Gazette.