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SAMUEL CAMPBELL, BOOKSELLER,
No. 124, Pearl Street, NEW-YORK.

THE NEW YORK, PUBLICLIBRARY 158348

ASTOR, LENOX AND TILDEN FOUNDATIONS. 1899

ESSAY S,

HUMOUROUS, MORAL, AND

LITERARY, &c.

*—*****=*

ON EARLY MARRIAGES.

TO JOHN ALLEYNE, ESQ.

DEAR JACK,

You

OU defire, you fay, my impartial thoughts on the fubject of an early marriage, by way of anfwer to the numberlefs objections that have been made by numerous perfons to your own. You may remember when you confulted me on the occafion, that I thought youth on both fides to be no objection. Indeed, from the marriages that have fallen under my observation, I am rather inclined to think, that early ones ftand the beft chance of happiness. The temper and habits of the young are not yet become fo ftiff and uncomplying, as when more advanced in life; they form more eafily to each other, and hence many occafions of disgust are removed. And if youth has lefs of that prudence which is neceffary to manage a family, yet the parents and elder friends of young married perfons are generally at hand to afford their advice, which amply fupplies that defect; and by early marriage, youth is fooner formed to regular and.

ufeful life; and poffibly fome of those accidents or connections, that might have injured the contitution or reputation, or both, are thereby happily prevented. Particular circumstances of particular perfons, may poffibly fometimes make it prudent to delay entering into that ftate; but in general, when nature has rendered our bodies fit for it, the prefumption is in nature's favour, that he has not judged amifs in making us defire it. Late mariages are often attended, too, with this further inconvenience, that there is not the fame chance that the parent fhall live to fee their offspring educated. “Late children," fays the Spanish proverb," are early orphans." A melancholy reflection to thofe whofe cafe it may be! With us in America, marriages are generally in the morn ing of life; our children are therefore educated and fettled in the world by noon; and thus, our bufinefs being done, we have an afternoon and e vening of cheerful leifure to ourfelves, fuch as our friend at prefent enjoys. By thefe early marriages we are bleffed with more children; and from the mode among us, founded by nature, of every mo ther fuckling and nurfing her own child, more of them are raifed. Thence the fwift progrefs of po pulation among us, unparalleled in Europe. In fine, I am glad you are married, and congratulate you moft cordiaily upon it. You are now in the way of becoming a uteful citizen; and you have efcape the unnatural ftate of celibacy for lifethe fate of many here, who never intended it, but who having too long poftponed the change of their condition, find, at length, that it is too re to think of it, and fo live all the lives in a fiuntion that greatly leffens a man's value. An odd vo

lume of a fet of books bears not the value of its proportion to the fet: what think you of the odd half of a pair of fciffors? it can't well do any thing; it may poffibly ferve to fcrape a trencher.

Pray make my compliments and beft wishes acceptible to your bride. I am old and heavy, or I fhould ere this have prefented them in perfon. I fhall make but fmall use of the old man's previlege, that of giving advice to younger friends. Treat your wife always with refpect; it will procure refpect to you, not only from her, but from all that obferve it. Never ufe a flighting expreffion to her, even in jeft; for flights in jeft, after frequent bandyings, are apt to end in angry earnest. Be ftudious in your profeffion, and you will be learned. Be induftrious and frugal, and you will be rich. Be fober and temperate, and you will be healthy. Be in general virtuous, and you will be happy. At leaft, you will, by fuch conduct, ftand the beft chance for fuch confequences. I pray God to bless you both! being ever your affectionate friend,

B. FRANKLIN.

*****

ON THE DEATH OF HIS BROTHER, Mr. JOHN FRANKLIN.

I

TO MISS HUBBARD.

CONDOLE with you. We have loft a most dear and valuable relation. But it is the will of God and nature, that thefe mortal bodies be laid

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