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Untitled Article
' July 3 , 1729 . 1 Honoured Sir , * Though I was glad on any terms , of the favour of a line from you , yet I was concerned at your displeasure on account of the
unfortunate paragraph , which you are pleased to say was meant for the Jlower of my letter , but which was , in reality , the only thing I disliked in it before it went . I wish it had not gone , since I perceive it gave you some uneasiness . * But since what I said occasioned some queries , which I should be
glad to speak freely about , were I sure that the least I could say would not grieve or offend you , or were I so happy as to think like you in every thing ; I earnestly beg that tlie little I shall say may not be offensive to you , since I promise to be as little witty as possible , though I cannot help saying , you only accuse me of being too much so ; especially these late years past , I have been pretty free from that scandal . 4 You ask me , ' * What hurt matrimony has done me ? and whether I had ^ always so frightful an idea of it as I have now ? " Home questions indeed ! And I once more beg of you not to be offended at the least I can say to them , if I say any thing . * I had not always such notions of wedlock as now ; but thought where there was a mutual affection and desire of pleasing , somethingnear an ' equality of mind and person , either earthly or heavenly wisdom , and anything to keep love warm between a young couple , there was a possibility of happiness in a married state ; but where all , or most of these , are wanting , I ever thought people could not marry without sinning against God and themselves . I could say much more ; but would rather eternally stifle my sentiments than have the torment of thinking they agree not with yours . You are so good to my spouse and me , as to say , 44 you shall always think yourself obliged to him for his civilities to me / ' I hope he will always continue to use me
better than I merit from him in one respect . ' I think exactly the same of my marriage as I did before it happened ; but though I would have give ? i at least one of my eyes for the liberty of throwing myself at your feet before J was married at all ; yet , since it is past , and matrimonial grievances are usually irreparable ,
I hope you will condescend to be so far of my opinion , as to own , that since , upon some accounts , I am happier than I deserve , it is best to say little of things quite past remedy ; I endeavour , as I really do , to make myself more and more contented , though things may not be to mv wish . 4
You say you will answer this if you like it ! Now , though I am sorry to occasion your writing in the pain I am sensible you do , yet I must desire you to answer it , whether you like it or not , since , it ' you are displeased , 1 would willingly know it ; and the only thing that could make me patient to endure your displeasure is , your thinking I deserve it . 4 Though I cannot justify my late indiscreet letter , which makes me say so much in thia , yet 1 need not remind you that I am not more than human ; and if the calamities of life ( of which , perhaps , I have , my share ) sometimes wring a complaint from me , I need tell no one that , though
Untitled Article
A Victim * 173
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), March 2, 1833, page 173, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2610/page/29/
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