TO MR. SELBY.
New-Haven.

You a&longs;k me, my friend, whether
I am in pur&longs;uit of truth, or a lady? I
an&longs;wer, both. I hope and tru&longs;t they are
united; and really expect to find truth and the
virtues and graces be&longs;ides in a fair form. If
you mean by the fir&longs;t part of your que&longs;tion,
whether I am &longs;earching into the &longs;ublimer doctrines
of religion? To the&longs;e I would by no
means be inattentive; but to be hone&longs;t, my
&longs;tudies of that kind have been very much interrupted
of late. The re&longs;pectable circle of acquaintances
with which I am honored here, has
rendered my vi&longs;its very frequent and numerous.
In one of the&longs;e I was introduced to Mi&longs;s
Eliza Wharton; a young lady who&longs;e elegant
per&longs;on, accompli&longs;hed mind, and poli&longs;hed manners
have been much celebrated. Her fame has
often reached me; but, as the queen of Sheba
&longs;aid to Solomon, the half was not told me.
You will think, that I talk in the &longs;tyle of a lover.
I confe&longs;s it, nor am I a&longs;hamed to rank myself
among the profe&longs;&longs;ed admirers of this lovely
fair one. I am in no danger, however, of

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becoming an enthu&longs;ia&longs;tic devotee. No, I mean to
act upon ju&longs;t and rational principles. Expecting
&longs;oon to &longs;ettle in an eligible &longs;ituation, if &longs;uch
a companion as I am per&longs;uaded &longs;he will make
me, may fall to my lot, I &longs;hall deem my&longs;elf as happy
as this &longs;tate of imperfection will admit. She
is now re&longs;ident at Gen. Richman's. The general
and his lady are her particular friends.
They are warm in her prai&longs;es. They tell me,
however, that &longs;he is naturally of a gay disposition.
No matter for that; it is an agreeable
quality, where there is di&longs;cretion &longs;ufficient for
its regulation. A cheerful friend, much more
a cheerful wife is peculiarly nece&longs;&longs;ary to a person
of a &longs;tudious and &longs;edentary life. They dispel
the gloom of retirement, and exhilerate
the &longs;pirits depre&longs;&longs;ed by inten&longs;e application.
She was formerly addre&longs;&longs;ed by the late Mr.
Haly of Bo&longs;ton. He was not, it &longs;eems, the man
of her choice; but her parents were extremely
partial to him, and wi&longs;hed the connection to
take place. She, like a dutiful child, &longs;acrificed
her own inclination to their plea&longs;ure, &longs;o far as
to acquie&longs;ce in his vi&longs;its. This &longs;he more ea&longs;ily
accompli&longs;hed, as his health, which declined
from their fir&longs;t acquaintance, led her to &longs;uppo&longs;e,
as the event has proved, that he would not live
to enter into any la&longs;ting engagements. Her
father, who died &longs;ome months before him, invited
him to re&longs;ide at his hou&longs;e, for the benefit
of a change of air, agreeably to the advice of
his phy&longs;icians. She attended him during his

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la&longs;t illne&longs;s, with all the care and a&longs;&longs;iduity of a
nur&longs;e; and with all the &longs;ympathi&longs;ing tenderness
of a &longs;i&longs;ter.

I have had &longs;everal opportunities of conversing
with her. She di&longs;covers an elevated mind,
a ready apprehen&longs;ion, and an accurate knowledge
of the various &longs;ubjects which have been
brought into view. I have not yet introduced the
favorite &longs;ubject of my heart. Indeed &longs;he &longs;eems
&longs;tudiou&longs;ly to avoid noticing any expre&longs;&longs;ion which
leads towards it. But &longs;he mu&longs;t hear it &longs;oon. I
am &longs;ure of the favor and intere&longs;t of the friends
with whom &longs;he re&longs;ides. They have promi&longs;ed to
&longs;peak previou&longs;ly in my behalf. I am to call as
if accidentally this afternoon, ju&longs;t as they are
to ride abroad. They are to refer me to Mi&longs;s
Wharton for entertainment, till their return.
What a delightful opportunity for my purpo&longs;e!
I am counting the hours, nay, the very moments.
Adieu. You &longs;hall &longs;oon hear again from your
mo&longs;t obedient,

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