To a rich Widow Lady with Children, dissuading her from marrying a Widower of meaner Degree, who has Children also.

Dear Madam,

It is with some Reluctance, and great Respect, that I prevail on myself to give you this Trouble. The frequent Visits Mr. Clarkson makes you, and the Airs that Gentleman gives himself, have given Birth to a Report, that a Treaty of Marriage between you is on foot; and that, in all Probability, it will be soon brought to Effect.

To be sure, Mr. Clarkson is not to be blam’d, to endeavour to procure for his Wife a Lady of your Prudence, good Character, and Fortune; but whether you will be able to avoid the Censure of the World, if you chuse him for a Husband, is another Point, which greatly concerns you to consider of, and affects me, and all who wish you well.

His Fortune, Madam, is not equal to yours, supposing it to be better than the World reports it: He has Children: So have you. What Inconveniencies may not arise from hence? Especially, as he is not thought to be one of the best and smoothest-temper’d Men in the World.—His Character is not equal in any respect, to say the least, (for I would not detract from any Man’s Merit) to that of your late good Spouse, my dear Friend; who would have been much grieved, if he had had but the least Apprehension, that the Man he would not have accompany’d with, should succeed him in his Bed.

Far be it from me, dear Madam, if you are so disposed, as to wish to hinder you from a Change of Condition with a suitable Person! But as your late Spouse left his and your Children so much in your Power, methinks you should take especial Care, how and to whom you communicate any Part of that Power, and thereby give a Right to controul not only them, but yourself. Must he not be partial to his own Children? And will he not expect, that your Complaisance to him should make you so too; or, at least, be his Childrens Behaviour what it will, that it shall induce you to put them upon a Par with your own?