Alabama state intelligencer., 1831-10-01
From an English Paper.

| Commercial Courtshih.-A merchant, ori- l ginally from Liverpool, having acquired a ssi'Re fprttIIIS tiIc west India 1sIanuS, concluded that he could not be happy in the etjoyment of it unless he shared it with wo- nan of merit; and knowing of none to his fan dy, he wrote to a worthy correspondent of his in Liverpool to procure a helpmate for him. , | He was not acquainted with any style ex- cept in business; therefore, treating affairs of love as matters of merchandise, after giv- ing his friend several commissions, and reserv- ing this for the last, he went on thus: ''Item --seeing that l have taken resolution to marry, and that l do not find suitable match for me here, do not fail to send by the next ship bound hither, a young woman of form and qualifications following: As to portion demand none; let her be of an honest family, between twenty and twenty-fv years of age, of ia middle statute, and well proportioned; her face agreeable, her temper mild, her charac- ter blameless, her health good, and her con- stitution strong enough to bear the changes of climate, that there may be no occasion to look out for a second, through loss of the first soon after she comes to hand-which must be pro- vided against as much as may, considering the great distance ard danger of the sea. If she arrive here conditioned as above said, with the present letter endorsed by you, or at least a true copy thereof that there may be no mistake or imposition, l hereby engage and oblige myself to satisfy the said letter by mar rying the bearer at fifteen days sight. In wit ness whereof, subscribe, &c."
 The correspondent read over and over this odd article which put the future spouse on the same footing with the bale ofgoods he was to send to his friend, and after admiring the pru- dent exactness of the West Indian (whose in genuousness he well knew,) and his laconic style in enumerating the qualifications he in- sisted on, he endeavored to serve him to his mind, and after many inquiries, he judged he had found a lady fit for his purpose--of repu- table family but slender fortune; of good tenn per and polite education, well shaped, and more than commonly beautiful. He made the proposal to her, and the young woman, whose dependence was chiefly upon cross old aunt, with whom she lived in state of perpetual uneasiness, acceptedit.
 A ship bound for the Indies, was then fitting out at Liverpool: the young woman, together with the bale of goods, was put on board; be- ing well provided with necessaries, and par ticularly with certificate in due form, and endorsed by the correspondent. She was al so included in the invoice, the last article of which run thus-"ltem-A young gentlewo- man of twenty -four years of age, quality, shape, condition, as per order, as appears from the certificates and afhdavits she has produced" The writings hich were thought necessary for so exact man as her future husband, were an extract from the parish re- gister, certificate of her character attested by the clergyman: an attestation of her neigh bors, setting forth that she had patiently lived three years with an old aunt, who was intole- rably peevish, and had not during all that time, given the said aunt, the least occasion for complaint; and lastly, goodness of consti- tuition, was attested by four physicians - Before the gentewoman's departure, the correspondent sent letters of advice by other ships to his friend informing him thatb by such ship he should send woman of such an age, character, condition, Stc.-In word, such as he himself had requested to be sent.
 The letters of advice, the bales, and the young woman, got safe to port, and the West Indian, who was one of the foremost the pier at the lady's landing, was charmed to see so handsome and interesting female, more es- pecally when she, approaching him in the most graceful and modest manner, said, ''Sir have bill of exchange upon you, beg you will be pleased to honor it." At the same time she delivered his correspondents letter, on reading which he exclaimed, "Ah! ma dam, never yc- suffered my bills to be pro- tested, and assure you that this shall not be the frst.''
 This interview was in few days followed by the nuptials, which were very magnificent, and the new married couple were we'll satis- fled with the happy union, negotiated by a bill of exchange.