The Virginia Gazette

SIR,

To JUVENIS.

When, through the press, I addressed the dissembler, whose perfidy, it seems, you have the uncommon effrontery to defend, I did it, not from resentment, not that I thought myself injured (for who but an idiot indeed would deem it an injury to escape the designs of a seducer) but with the sole view of preserving, as far as I could, unthinking, unwary young Gentlemen, from falling, as others had done, into the snares of an insidious female, long hackneyed (from experience I speak it) in all the low arts of dissimulation and cunning, which a wise woman cannot want, and which a worthy woman scorns to practise.

Was this, Sir, "an ungenerous attack upon the character of a Lady?" Was my candidly telling the world, that where I had sought a companion capable of sweetening the cares, alleviating the distresses, and heightening the joys of Social life, I had only, as a shocking instance of female depravity, found an insipid, fantastic, vain coquette, totally devoid of those amiable qualities which add a new softness to the sex, and even beautify their beauty; was this to "pester the public with nonsensical love tales?" Blush, Sir, at your gross disingenuity; acknowledge, as an atonement for your heinous offence, that nothing but the hurry of nonsense could have drove you to such base misrepresentations. But, unhappily for your cause, while I was thus holding up to contempt a vain whiffler, I was paying, at the same time, the highest compliment to the rest of her sex, who had not yet degenerated from the glorious paths of honesty, sincerity, and that amiable simplicity of manners, which, in the eyes of wisdom, is their distinguishing excellency, their truest beauty!

I have no inclination, Sir, to drag you forth from your lurking place. Darkness suits best some kinds of animals. Their feeble optics cannot bear sun-shine. Neither shall I follow your wild excursions, which would be equally irksome and useless. Time, with me, is too valuable to lavish it away in combating a phantom. But, without guessing at you, or wearying myself or others with idle surmises, I shall, once for all, take it for granted, from your copious eloquence, and flowing diction, that you are some

Pert blockhead, who has purchased by the school Just sense enough to make a noted fool, and, in consequence, the fitter to become a Lady's utensil. However, as it is natural for me to wish well to my own sex, I cannot persuade myself to dismiss you before I have given you a piece of salutary advice. You will have, no doubt, in the course of your commerce with the fair, observed, that, in spite of our boasted superiority, woman, frail woman! is still our master-piece in intrigue,--still vanquishes, paradox as it may seem, by pretending to be conquered.

Now, Sir, on this point rests the whole weight of the counsel I give you. The betrayer, under whose standard you have so lately enlisted, and for whose sake you have apparently sacrificed all that a man of honour would account dear, will, the moment she fancies herself secure of your affections, and that you are no longer your own, by seeming to yield, rank you in the number of her victims, and treat you as lawful spoil; while your folly, from being warned, will be without excuse, and your destruction without alleviation. Then, instead of acting the advocate for female impertinence, or pestering the public with amorous pleadings our ears, perhaps, will be annoyed with a note to this purpose: Be pleased to accompany the corpse of an unfortunate Lover, who died of an aching chops and broken heart.

() JOHN WRIGHT,

HERTFORD, Aug. 17, 1776.