The New Hampshire Gazette And General Advertiser

A FAMILIAR EPISTLE.

To Mrs. Virginia, alias the Ancient Dominion.

DEAR SISTER,

We have lately seen some letters, which two of your confidential servants have sent you, calculated entirely to make mischief in the family. We have always allowed your claim of rank, as our eldest Sister; and when your children and servants have pretended that your power was the greatest, your purse the heaviest, your farm the largest, and yourself a woman of more sense than any of your Sisters, we have never contradicted them, because we did not wish to quarrel about the matter-- though we were sensible that a great part of your farm was untenanted and going out of repair, that you were constantly running in debt for your annual expenses, and whenever the robbers have broke into your house, you were very poorly able to defend yourself, and could only alarm the neighbours, by dismal outcries, of "Help, Murder and Rape." But you ought to remember that we established our Copartnership on terms of perfect equality, and that we have advanced at least our equal shares in public stock. You cannot therefore pretend any right to govern us in the business. As to your boy, Dicky, we have known him many years. He is a good natured fellow when he can have his own way, but as factious as Satan when he is contradicted. Besides, you are sensible that he never could endure it, that we formerly appointed your Son, George, Steward of the household, and have lately given him a full Power of Attorney to manage the concerns of the company-- when Dick, in the simplicity of his heart, always believed himself the fittest man of the two--Whereas you and all the world know, that George is worth as many of him, as Omnipotence could create to all eternity, if it had no other business to attend to. And now Dick and Bill are finding fault with the Contract of Copartnership, because it does not give you a controuling power over the whole transactions; and they are out of all patience and temper, because we are not willing to alter it. In the same manner some of your servants lately threatened that you would break your contract, and set up for yourself, unless we would send all our head-servants and agents to reside in your dominion under your immediate eye and inspection. We have always wished to proceed in business in perfect union and equality; and notwithstanding these foolish speeches sometimes thrown out by your people, we have no idea, that you are in the least inclined to follow the example of our profligate Sister, who has run away from the family, and keeps a house of evil fame, at the Sign of C******n's Head in Rhode-Island. We are still willing, as a matter of etiquette, to allow your superiority in point of age, rank and precedence, but shall not submit to the insults of your domesticks. We wish you to take these matters into your serious consideration, and teach some of your servants a little better manners.

We have the honor to be,

With the most cordial esteem,

Your affectionate Sisters,

MASSACHUSETTS.
NEW-HAMPSHIRE.
CONNECTICUT,
NEW-YORK,
NEW-JERSEY,
DELAWARE,
PENNSYLVANIA,
MARYLAND, &c. &c.