| Description | "Advice upon matrimony, and offer of his assistance to promote my views in regard to the lady whom he has been informed is the object of my choice. At Cheltenham for the recovery of his health." (Directed c/o R. Southern & Co. Redirected c/o Mr. Gott, merchant, Leeds.)
My dear Son,
I am happy to learn from your sister than rosey health is return'd to your cheek, with new vigour to your constitution; and more so, if possible, that you have found a smith who has the power of tempering your heart and makeing it suceptable of the most tender impression.
Pray do not blush to own that you are a man, nor disavow or suppress those virtuous passions which are so honorable to human nature and so conducive to the happiness of it, nor suffer your self to be turn'd from your purpose by the satirical laughs of envyous batchelors; for such who have neither affection, love, or musick in their souls are fit for treasons, stratagems, and spoils.
The purport of this is to express my hopes that you are disposed to marry; and, marry whom you please, you shall never feel that I disaprove you[r] choice, because I am perswaded your own good sense and proper pride will prevent you from makeing choice of any one whom you will not be proud of introduceing to your friends. I never knew an old batchelor that did not ultimately repent of being so, and I have long been decided in the opineon (from aged observation) that marriages contracted late in life are never so happy in all their consequences as those that are form'd in the early part of it.
I therefore hope you will soon afford me an opportunity of paying my respects to the object of your affections, and of convincing her, and you, that I neither live or build for my self.
If I can promote the attainment of your wishes (which I think is not improbable), you need only intimate the means.
I am come to this place by Dr. Withering's advice, to drink the water for ten days, which will expire next Monday, and then I shall return home the better for the morning oblations I have offer'd to the goddess Hygeia.
Wishing you perminent health and happiness, I remain your affectionate father,
Mattw. Boulton
[Edited transcript.] |