On Writing Letters
A friend and dance-mistress just sent me the text of the following Dear John exemplar letter:
From a Young Lady to a Gentleman that courted her whom she could not esteem, but was forced by her Parents to receive his visits, and think on none else for her Husband.
Sir--It is an exceedingly ill return that I make the respect you have for me, when I acknowledge to you, though the day for our marriage is appointed, I am incapable of loving you. You may have observed, in the long conversations we have had at those times that we were left together, that some secret hung upon my mind. I was obliged to an ambiguous behaviour, and durst not reveal myself further, because my mother, from a closet near the place where we sat, could both hear and see our conversation. I have strict commands from both my parents to receive you, and am undone for ever, except you will be so kind and generous as to refuse me. Consider, Sir, the misery of bestowing yourself upon one who can have no prospect of happiness but from your death. This is a confession made perhaps with an offensive sincerity; but that conduct is much to be preferred to a covered dislike, which could not but pall all the sweets of life, by imposing on you a companion that dotes and languishes for another. I will not go so far as to say, my passion for the gentleman whose wife I am by promise, would lead me to any thing criminal against your honour. I know it is dreadful enough to a man of your sense to expect nothing but forced civilities in return for tender endearments, and cold esteem for undeserved love. If you will on this occasion, let reason take place of passion, I doubt not but fate has in store for you some worthier object of your affection, in recompense of your goodness to the only woman that could be insensible of your merit. I am, Sir,
your humble servant.
The text is from The Fashionable American letter writer, or, The art of polite correspondence : containing a variety of plain and elegant letters on business, love, courtship, marriage, relationship, friendship, &c : with forms of complimentary cards : to the whole is prefixed directions for letter writing, and rules for composition., author unknown, Originally Published: Brookfield : E. Merriam & Co., 1832. (text and reference available here at the 19th Century Schoolbooks.)
Further exemplars to come.
From a Young Lady to a Gentleman that courted her whom she could not esteem, but was forced by her Parents to receive his visits, and think on none else for her Husband.
Sir--It is an exceedingly ill return that I make the respect you have for me, when I acknowledge to you, though the day for our marriage is appointed, I am incapable of loving you. You may have observed, in the long conversations we have had at those times that we were left together, that some secret hung upon my mind. I was obliged to an ambiguous behaviour, and durst not reveal myself further, because my mother, from a closet near the place where we sat, could both hear and see our conversation. I have strict commands from both my parents to receive you, and am undone for ever, except you will be so kind and generous as to refuse me. Consider, Sir, the misery of bestowing yourself upon one who can have no prospect of happiness but from your death. This is a confession made perhaps with an offensive sincerity; but that conduct is much to be preferred to a covered dislike, which could not but pall all the sweets of life, by imposing on you a companion that dotes and languishes for another. I will not go so far as to say, my passion for the gentleman whose wife I am by promise, would lead me to any thing criminal against your honour. I know it is dreadful enough to a man of your sense to expect nothing but forced civilities in return for tender endearments, and cold esteem for undeserved love. If you will on this occasion, let reason take place of passion, I doubt not but fate has in store for you some worthier object of your affection, in recompense of your goodness to the only woman that could be insensible of your merit. I am, Sir,
your humble servant.
The text is from The Fashionable American letter writer, or, The art of polite correspondence : containing a variety of plain and elegant letters on business, love, courtship, marriage, relationship, friendship, &c : with forms of complimentary cards : to the whole is prefixed directions for letter writing, and rules for composition., author unknown, Originally Published: Brookfield : E. Merriam & Co., 1832. (text and reference available here at the 19th Century Schoolbooks.)
Further exemplars to come.