The Virginia Gazette

SIR;

Though the following is the Product of a Barren Soil, in a barren Season, yet if you'll be pleas'd to give it a Place in your next Paper, it will be a Gratification to many of your Readers, and, in a very particular Manner, to

Sir,

Your very humble Servant,

ANONYMOUS.

Among the various Methods which infinite Wisdom has contriv'd for the Benefit and Happiness of Mankind, I have thought that none deserves our Love and Admiration more than Marriage; and I am surpriz'd to see Persons, who set themselves up for Men of Sense and Judgment, to treat it in so ludicrous a Manner; especially, when I consider that one of the greatest Pleasures of a married Life, consists in agreeable Conversation. Man is a sociable Creature; he loves and delights in Society, and chuses Friendship, because he knows that it is a Field wherein Virtue may reap many Advantages. But it is beyond all Question, that Friendship is the noblest Bond with the surest Ligaments, and penetrates more the Recesses of the Heart that is commenced in Marriage, than any embraced upon any other Score whatever: I know that some are pleas'd to cry down the Fair Sex, as foolish and unfit for the Conversation of Men; but they seem in that, to over value themselves, and to put too high a Price on their own Worth; and at the Same Time forget that Marriage laid the first Foundation of the Principles of Society; and that it is a Yoke, for which the Neck of Innocence was not too soft and delicate. For my own Part, I have no Kindness for such conceited Persons who would confine all Politeness to their own Sex; and by that Means,
fully the Glory of the richest Jewels in the Cabinet of Nature. — I must confess I ever had a noble Affection for that excellent Sex, and always look'd upon them as great Instruments of Good, and the Prettinesses of Society. And the Reason why there are so many unhappy Matches, is not because Marriage is a miserable State in itself, or that the other Sex is less pleasant and agreeable than our own; but because the Money is often married instead of the Person; that is, in other Words, Persons marry where they do not love; and (when this is the Case of any) they will certainly love where they do not marry; and love without Ends, has no End. Happiness is not to be found in any State; if proper Methods are not pursued to obtain it. In a Word, there was never any Gold or great Friends, any Beauty or outward Bravery, which tied truly fast and comfortably any Marriage Knot: No! it is only the Golden Link, and noble Tie of Christianity and Grace, with mutual and inviolable Love to each other, that can make so dear a Bond lovely and desirable. And I am persuaded, where these are to be found, it is the most happy and delightful Life on this side Heaven.