Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1836-04-28
NJ 7 s G Z L L A N Y.
LA MARRIAGE PAR LETTRE DE
CHANCE


the French, was found, and is sent for
publication.
A merchant, originally of Paris, es-
tablished in one ofthe French Islands
Of America, was willing to share with
a person of merit, and not knowing
who was to his mind, he bethought him
self of writing to correspondent of
probity whom he had at Paris. He
knew but little ofany other style than
that he had made use ofin his business
and treating of an affair of love with
the same manner as his other business
after having charged his friend with q
certain number of commissions, reser.
wing this for the last, here he set down
-"Also seeing that have taken the
resolution to be married, and that |
cannot find here match that suits me,
you will not fail to send me also, by
the first ship, young lady of quality,
such as follows i: Portion ask not, but
of an honest family of25 years of age,
ola middle size and well proportioned,
of agreeable looks, mild temper, man.
ners without reproach, healthy and ola
pretty strong constitution for to resist
change of climate, that there may
not be occasion to seek for second if
the first should happen to fail, (Which
may prevent as much as in us lies)
considering the distance and the risk
ofpassage. Arriving here in good
condition as above, and bringing back
the present letter, endorsed on your
part, or at least copy Of it, we'll and
duly made authentic, sothat there may
be neither mistake nor surprise, shall
oblige myselfand engage to acquit N.Y.
self of the said bills, in marrying fifty
days after sight the lady that shall be
charged with it. By virtue of which
| have signed this present"
The Partisan Correspondent read &
read again this article, which classed,
in some sort, the woman amongst the
number of bales which he had to send,
and after having admired the prudent
exactness Of the American, and the
laconIc style in the account ofthequal-
tiles which he required, he thought to
serve him according to his taste; and
after many addresses, he thought he
found the affair ofhis friend, in young
person of good family, without riches,
of a mild temper, of polished and
cultivated understanding, well made,
tolerably beautiful; she was twenty
five years ofage and seemed of good
complexion. He made the proposal
with which lie was charged, and the
lady, who only subsisted, by the means
of an old peevish aunt, and by whom
she had suffered much, accepted of it.
They were loading then at Rochelle,
a ship for the Islands. The lady set
out with the goods, and embarked, be-
ing fitted out and furnished especially
with copy Of the letter from the Anne.
rican made authentic in due form, and
endorsed by the hand Of the correspon-
dent. Without prejudice of the invoice
of goods which he sent, the last arti-
Gle was in these terms "Also a young
lady oftwenty-five years, of quality,
figure and condition, specified in the
bill received, as appears by these at
testations and certificates, which she
carries with her."
To these writings, which were a
precaution which they thought ought
to be taken to man so exact as the
future spouse, there was also copy of
the register of her birth, a certificate
Of good behaviour signed by the curate
an attestation ofthe neighborhood, who
by an express act, bore testimony for
the lady that during the three years
which she lived with an aunt who was
infrm and orinsupportable temper, she
never gave her the least cause of dis
content; also, the goodness Of her
constitution was certified, by the result
of a consultation, signed by four ply
sicians ofthe faculty. Before the de-
parture ofthe young lady, the Paris.
ian correspondent sent, by way Of
Spain, several letters of advice to his
friend, by which he informed him that
he had sent him by such ship, a lady
of the age, character and condition,
&C., in word, such one as he re-
quired to make his wife. The letters
Of advice, the goods, and the young
lady, arrived safe, and our American
who found her at the first ofthe landing
was charmed to see so fine person.
She, hearing him named, said to
him, 81 have sir bill of exchange on
you; you know people do not carry
much money in a voyage such as have
just made: will you discharge it, At
the same time she presented to him the
correspondents letter, on the back Of
which was, that the person who pre-
scented it to him was the spouse whom