From a Father to a Daughter, in Dislike of her Intentions to marry at too early an Age.

Dear Sally,

I was greatly surprised at the Letter you sent me last Week. I was willing to believe I saw in you, for your Years, so much of your late dear Mother's Temper, Prudence, and virtuous Disposition, that I refused several advantageous Offers of changing my own Condition, purely for your sake: And will you now convince me so early, that I have no Return to expect from you, but that the Moment a young Fellow throws himself in your way, you have nothing else to do, but to give me Notice to provide a Fortune for you? for that you intend to be of no further Use and Service to me. This, in plain English, is the Meaning of your Notification. For I suppose your young Man does not intend to marry you, without a Fortune. And can you then think, that a Father has nothing to do, but to confer Benefits on his Children, without being intitled to expect any Return from them?

To be sure, I had proposed, at a proper Time, to find a Husband for you; but I thought I had yet three or four Years to come. For, consider, Sally, you are not fully Sixteen Years of Age: And a Wife, believe me, ought to have some better Qualifications, than an agreeable Person to preserve a Husband's Esteem, tho’ it often is enough to attract a Lover's Notice.

Have you Experience enough, think you, discreetly to conduct the Affairs of a Family? I thought you as yet not quite capable to manage my House; and I am sure, my Judgment always took a Bias in your Favour.

Besides, let me tell you, I have great Exceptions to the Person, and think him by no means the Man I would chuse for your Husband. For which, if it be not too late, I will give good Reasons.

On the whole, you must expect, if you marry without my Consent, to live without my Assistance. Think it not hard: Your Disappointment cannot be greater than mine, if you will proceed.