TO MR. CHARLES DEIGHTON.
Hartford.
DEAR CHARLES,

My hopes begin to revive. I am again
permitted to a&longs;&longs;ociate with my Eliza; invited
to the &longs;ame entertainment! She does not
re&longs;u&longs;e to join with me in the mazy dance, and
partake the &longs;cenes of fe&longs;tive mirth. Nay, more;
&longs;he allows me to pre&longs;s her hand to my lips; and
li&longs;tens to the &longs;ighing accents of love. Love her,
I certainly do. Would to heaven I could marry
her! Would to heaven I had pre&longs;erved my
fortune; or &longs;he had one to &longs;upply its place! I
am di&longs;tracted at the idea of lo&longs;ing her forever.
I am &longs;ometimes tempted to &longs;olicit her hand in
&longs;erious earne&longs;t; but if I &longs;hould, poverty and
want mu&longs;t be the con&longs;equence. Her disappointment
in the expectation of affluence and splendor,
which I believe her ruling pa&longs;&longs;ion, would
afford a perpetual &longs;ource of di&longs;content and mutual
wretchedne&longs;s.

She is going to Bo&longs;ton with her friend, Mrs.
Sumner. I mu&longs;t follow her. I mu&longs;t break the
connection, which is rapidly forming, between

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her and Mr. Boyer; and enjoy her &longs;ociety a
while longer, if no more.

I have had a little intimation from New-Haven,
that Mi&longs;s Laurence is partial to me, and
might ea&longs;ily be obtained, with a hand&longs;ome property
into the bargain. I am neither plea&longs;ed with,
nor aver&longs;e to the girl. But &longs;he has money, and
that may &longs;upply the place of love, by enabling
me to pur&longs;ue independent plea&longs;ures. This &longs;he
mu&longs;t expect, if &longs;he marries a man of my ca&longs;t.
She doubtle&longs;s knows my character; and if &longs;he
is &longs;o vain of her charms or influence, as to
think of reforming or confining me, &longs;he mu&longs;t
bear the con&longs;equences.

However, I can keep my head up, at pre&longs;ent,
without recour&longs;e to the noo&longs;e of matrimony;
and &longs;hall, therefore, defer any particular attention
to her, till nece&longs;&longs;ity requires it.

I am, &c.

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