The New Hampshire Gazette

Reflections of a Batchelor, retired into the Country.

I am a Man turn'd of fifty Years of Age, and have all this While liv'd what they call a single Life.--I do not pretend to make an Apology for it, but in Justice to myself would let you know, that my remaining so long a Batchelor is not owing to any Prejudice, I have taken against the married State, nor to a Want of Respect to the fair Sex :-I have been from fourteen Years old, steadily employed in Business ; and a constant Run of Success in my Affairs, has so deeply fix'd my whole Attention to them, that to speak the Truth, I have never allow'd myself Time to think of altering my Condition. Being at this Time entirely contented with my Share of Fortune. I have laid aside all Business, and am retired into the Country : I have now Leisure to recollect my past Conduct, and must own, I see Cause to regret my not entering into Wedlock at the proper Season of Life ;for allowing that the Expences of a Family, might have prevented my being so rich as I am at present, yet the Pleasures of Social Life which I conceive are enjoy'd in the highest Perfection in that State far exceed the Satisfaction which I am now arriv'd to, of knowing myself to be worth Eight Thousand Pounds Sterling. - I am not willing however, to represent myself in the View of a Miser : For I have always contributed freely and largely to the public Expence--I have set many poor Men to work, and thereby given Bread to them and their Families.---I have never refus'd my full Quota, on all Occasions, for the Relief or Comfort of such as needed-this Reflection affords me solid Happiness.--Moreover I have not lived altogether insensible to the Pleasure of Society ; for amidst all the Hurries of Business, I have generally allow'd myself, part of one Evening at least in a Week, for the Enjoyment of my Friend.-But when I consider how constitute percent share of social Pleasure I might have had in a well chosen Partner-( for what Warmth of Friendship subsists between the happy Pair beyond what others feel! What mutual Confidence! What generous Sympathy in Joys and Sorrows of this mutable State! ) I am persuaded, that tho' the Ballance of my Trade is so largely in my Favour, that of Happiness is much against me..

I have had the Satisfaction of introducing several young Men, who were my Apprentices, into the World.~As they serv'd me faithfully, I did well for them, and gave them Business ; and as they are now in flourishing Circumstances, my Connection with them is in a great Measure broken, and my Concern for them abated.--I might by this Time have introduced a Son of my own into the busy World, for whose Welfare, the Powers of my Mind would have been vigorously active, even in feeble Age--How great Happiness Should I have enjoy'd, in seeing his Prosperity ! or how much greater, in feeling his Misfortunes and relieving them.

I spent last Evening, with a Neighbour of mine, who is a Man of good Understanding, and Possesses a great deal of the social Temper--He discover'd the fondest Affection for his little Daughter, of about five Years old : and entertain'd us part of the Evening with what an artful Manner he address'd her Prattle : I could not help taking Notice little Urchin, and what an happy Method he took, to impress upon the Mind even of an Infant, while at Play, the Principles of Virtue and Benevolence.--At length, with an Air of good Breeding, he turned, and ask'd my Pardon, for detaining my Attention so long upon one who never felt the paternal Affection : what he imagin'd might not be agreeable, to and added, that he took an unutterable Pleasure in cultivating the Mind of his Daughter,
in Hopes hereafter of making some Man happy, like himself,in one of the most amiable Women in the World.-e This same Neighbour of mine. ( who tho' employ'd in Country Life, is really a Man of a fine Taste,) in the Course of Conversation, mention'd the greater Variety of Relations, in which the married Man is connected with the human Species, than the Batchelor, and consequently how much oftner the Springs of social Affection must be mov'd in the one than the other : After observing several very pertinent Instances, he took Notice of one which sensibly touch'd my Mind-- There lives, said he, in a neighbouring Town, a worthy old Man--He was a Stranger to me a few Years ago, but is now the Object of my Veneration and Esteem--I value him highly, for the Sake of my Wife, for he is her Father: I feel besides, the warmest Sentiments of Gratitude to him, being myself under Obligation to him very little, if any Thing, less than to my natural Parent- Since the one was Instrumental of giving me Being --the other Happines. If the Design of the Parent of the Universe in giving Being to his Creatures, was to communicate Happiness ; they who marry from Principle and with Judgment, in a good Measure imitate Him : For tho'I do not deny, that it is in the Power of us who are unmarried, to be eminently useful, which would be to deny known Facts ; yet I cannot think we are capable of producing any more than enjoying so great a Quantity of Happiness in the Creation: And therefore I will conclude my Letter. with advising those of our Fraternity, who are young, to enter into that most useful and happy State, as early as their Circumstances in Life will admit of it. -