I Received your Letter , with your Printed Case inclos'd : I am heartily sorry you should have so sad a Case to impart , were it only to your Friends ; but to be necessitated to make the World your Judges , and thereby furnish matter for the Insults of your Enemies , is the Excess of Vnhappiness : Tho' I dare avouch , upon a fair Examination of your Case , for your gaining to your side the greatest Party , as rashly as the World is apt to Judge . They must needs condemn such a Senseless Obstinacy as your Wife shews . All her deep Policy in adhering to her Mother against her Husband , is but the heighth of Extravagance . She values Riches , and fears Poverty so much , that she Embraces the readiest way to procure what she Fears , and never to enjoy what she Prizes ; she builds her Fortune upon her Husbands Ruin , and sees not how heavy it falls upon her self . This she may be sensible of , when 't is past Remedy ; which will be the more Deplorable , as it might have been so easily prevented . But no Woman that had Lov'd her Husband at half the rate she pretends , would have ever slipt such an opportunity of kindly obliging a Man of so Grateful a Temper , that he Studies to requite the least Courtesie from meer Strangers , but would make it the business of his whole Life to requite a Kindness that came kindly from his Wife .

Your Proposals were so open , fair , and candid , after the Charitable Arts you us'd to change her Carriage , hoping to have caught her with Guile , [ 2 Cor. 12. 16. ] that 't is the greatest Wonder to see a Design so well laid , so perversly lost ; nor had it been possible , had you been to deal with People of Common Sense : But what Treatment must an Honest Sober Man expect at the hands of a meer Woman , that has not Wit enough to distinguish a Husband's Necessities from his Extravagance ; and thinks it Wisdom to tie the hands of a Husband , tho' t is to the Ruin of his Credit , and her own ? The Methods us'd by you , were so Wise and Cautious , there 's nothing left for Excuse on their parts . Mr. Larkin Acted like a Friend-between you both ; and gave 'em a fair Occasion to see and consider the Mischiefs they were like to be involv'd in , and must inevitably fall upon themselves ; for the sinking of a Husband's Credit , seldom brings much Honour to a Wife . But be she as indifferent as she Pleases to that Point , a little thinking might awaken her Fears , least these ways of proceeding may prove the means of forcing you to such Measures for Paying your Debts , which in the end may prove of no great Advantage to her , with respect to meer Interest , seting aside those of preserving Peace and Charity ; nay , the Shame of the World , and Speech of People , which perhaps she better understands , unless with the help of her Mother , she thinks to bring the World to her side by those Objections with which they satisfie themselves ; but 't is plain there 's nothing in 'em ; t is only a pretence to save their Bags : For if there 's no possibility of proving you a Vicious Man , what cause is there of saying there will be no end of paying your Debts ? But if they will not Trust Providence , but will have you give over your Trade , for for fear of losing by it , you offer 'em fair ; let 'em put you in a way of Living without it , and use you like a Friend , and you 'll soon take off all Objections they shall bring against you .

And as you have not spared your self , but made the World acquainted with what they pretended to object against you , so you do very well to justifie your fair dealing , as in your Reflections you make it appear , that you gave 'em full satisfaction of the whole Circumstance of your Fortune ; which obliges them to a Performance of what ever was Promis'd on the other part , both in Honour and Conscience , if they have either : But some Passages in their Conduct , make 'em both a little doubtful . As to your Wife , what Honour is in prefering her Mothers Bags before the Credit , and Quiet of her Husband ? And as little Conscience , in Swearing before her Marriage , she would never suffer her Husband to take up a Peny upon her Jointure in case of the greatest Necessity , quiet opposite to a Vow she was going so Solemnly to make , in the presence of God ; and this by her Mothers Command ; which shews they are both of a Stamp . She might as well have made her Swear to hate her Husband , and do him all the Mischief she could ; it would have been as Lawful , and as consistent with her Matrimonial Vow . But that which gives the Sanction to this Oath , ( and inspires her with a Zeal to Burn , rather than Violate her Vow ) is , that her Mother will not give her a Farthing if she does . Thus you see Money is the God they love and honour , and deny themselves Credit and Reputation , Peace and Quietness , and all Earthly Comforts , for the sake of this Idol . It had been but just and fair to have told you what Religion she was of , that you might have chose whether you would have Married an Idolater ; with which , I am certain , ( had you known it ) you would never have ventured to contaminate your self and Posterity ; there 's little Honour in deceiving a Husband . Therefore both in Conscience and Honour she was bound to have acquainted you with what her Mother made her Swear , that so you might have secured your self of some means to be Just , & pay your Debts : But that 's the least of her Care ; for if she owns that you and she are all one , and yet denies her assistance to pay your Debts , it plainly shews she would not pay 'em , if they were soley hers , and none of yours .

I cann't blame you for not desiring Increase from such a Stock , unless you can mend it ; there 's small Comfort in having Children Nursed up in Rebelion & Wickedness ; were that all . But you have another Reason , more prevalent with you , very much becoming a Just and Honest Man , which makes you content to leave neither Heir nor Estate behind you , and suffer any thing , rather then do the least Injustice ; or that any one should suffer upon your account : This is a Vertue so out of their way , they cann't in the least comprehend it , nor truly Act any thing else that is at all allyed to Vertue ; and this is sufficiently seen in their unanimously rejecting such Condescending Proposals as those you made 'em ; and shews the strength of all Combinations of Wickedness that can prevail to the making a sacrifice of their True Interest and Happyness , to their Senseless and Obstinate Passions ; otherwise the Letter you sent her by Mr. Larkin , would have made some impression upon a Wife that had the least Spark of Love to her Husband , or Sense of her Duty . But she had so far imbib'd her Mother's Principles , of holding the Conclusion , as spar'd the trouble of a further Answer , than that her Mother had made her take a Wicked Oath , and she held her self bound to keep it . You might well Divine what a Reception you was like to meet with , yet 't was Generously done to go your self , and own to their Faces your real sense of their Behaviour , and what it had forc'd you to resolve upon , since they had neither by Words nor Actions given you the least Temptation to Trespass upon your Friends for their sakes ; and as you were treated with Passion on their side , what need of Apology ? Sure , if ever there 's occasion for it , 't is when all the Laws of Conjugal Affection are broke , and by the Instigation of a Mother that had hier'd her Daughter with deceitful Promises to ahandon her Husband's Interest : And who it is that governs the Mother , may be guest at by her Actions . To have made a plausible Excuse for denying a Kindness of that Necessity , to one so nearly related , had been inhumane enough ; but such a Violent Asseveration , of being Torn Limb from Limb , rather then to assist you , that had Marry'd her Danghter , and to whom she was indebted , by Promise at her Death , a far greater sum ; this Uncharitable Mind , to say the least of it , plainly shews whose she is , and whom she serves , and who has blinded her to all that was capable of moving her to any thing that would be thought humane . And however they may represent your Passion , the Christian and Charitable Leave you took of 'em , speaks you free from all Rancour and Malice ; and whatever Passion you shew'd , it must proceed from a Violent Transport to reform their Errours , which they were so tenacious of , notwithstanding they look'd so Monstrous in your Eyes : Especially your Wife's Crime was much greater than her Mothers ; whose Influence and Authority can no way excuse her ; for had her Design in Marrying you , been only for a Ioynture , ( which is plain enough ) yet who would reject the Opportunity of Living happy till her Ioynture falls , which you offer her upon such easie terms ? And how ridiculous she makes her self in the Condition she chuses , and prefers before a Cohabitation with her Husband , and all for the sake of a Ioynture that would not be much hurt by what you Propose . and perhaps may never fall to her ? But you have done the part of a good and true Christian , by studying all you could to live Peaceably , even with those that were Enemies to Peace ; and couragiously resoved to run through all Difficulties with a steady Mind . And could you have dispenced with the Paying of your Debts , your Proposals had never come to raise such a Storm : But 't is a most Stupendious Wickedness ( as your Wife and Mother thinks ) honestly to seek the means of Paying ones Debts : Their carriage in this occasion might incline one to think , could you have brought 'em such a Sum by never so Unjust or Unlawful Means , it would not have disturb'd their Quiet : For 't is the same thing to keep ones Money Vnjustly , as to get it so . And truly , Sir , as I desire to maintain an inviolable Friendship with you to the end of my Life , I am in no danger of losing it upon the account of blaming you for Publishing your Case . You say well you have tried all other ways : This may do some good , when well apply'd to 'em by that Reverend Divine to whom you have sent it , he being a Person they respect ; and if it succeed , you promise to suppress the further Publishing of it : If not , the World must know a great deal more of their Life and Actions ; for why should you be felo-de-se upon your own Reputation , to save a Phantom ? For I believe they have None to lose ; nor have not had a great while .

And now I cann't for bear remembering you what a high Esteem you ever had of Wedlock ; that I cou'd never sway you to my Opinion of it , which you look'd upon as a kind of Cowardise in me , but I assure you the World is now aware of Widows that love Money , tho' perhaps it is not come to the knowledge of such honest well meaning Men as your self ; that suspects no more deceit in others , than you find in your own Breast : But now you see what work they make with such a one , when in their Power . But there are but few of those , and they may set their Snares long enough , ere they get any other ; and it won't be long before the World will be over-stock'd with Rich Widows .

Sir , I heartily wish a speedy end of your Trouble ; and as of all Men you deserve a good Wife , because you know how to Value her , so since it is your Fortune , I hope you will find the way of making the best use of a Bad One.

But , as you well observe , had you the best cause in the World , you must expect that Men of a narrow Soul will be raising of Lyes , and saying that , which , when you appear , they 'll be asham'd to own : All Men adore the Rising Sun , but few have any great respect for his Setting , except in your Case , which is so Just and Honourable , that there 's good Reason to doubt the Honesty of that Man that does not become your Friend ( whatever he might be before ) upon reading your Case . If any are your Enemies , 't will be only those whom you have obliged beyond any possibility of Requital As to those you have been so often bound for , ( or for their Relations , which is the same thing ) the very stones in the Streets wou'd cry Shame on 'em , shou'd they speak against you . But 't is well known they are Persons of a more Noble Temper then to act such a mean part ; neither is there any possibility they shou'd . For that part of your Case relating to Mr. John White , ( tho' but briefly hinted in your Letter to Mr. Larkin ) is largely proved in the Letter you afterwards sent to his Widow ; which Letter I have seen , and were it Printed , it wou'd convince the World ( as it did me ) that you have said too little , and been very kind upon that Head .

Thus have I sent you my Thoughts on your Printed Case . But this Solemn time of Devotion , took up so much of it , I had very little to spare for these Reflections : But because I look'd upon it as a Work of Charity , I did make bold to borrow more then I wou'd have done on any ordinary occasion ; and I think I have said something to every Point , at least the most Considerable . How Serviceable it may prove , I know not ; nor what to wish for you , I pity you which way soever it happens : I see no pleasant Prospect on either side , unless they can muster up some good Qualities for which you can find in your heart to dote upon 'em ; for I am sure they have Bad Ones enough to vex your Patience . And were it Lawful to part from a Wife for any cause except Adultery , or fear of ones Life , ( and in such a Covetous Woman that loves only her Ioynture , there is some cause for that suspicion ) otherwise I know not how lawful it is ; but cou'd I satsifie my Conscience of that Obligation , I shou'd far prefer any shift I cou'd make of paying my Debts , before living with her . — Pray God Grant you Patience , if that must be your Lot , and direct you for the best .

Be so kind to let me know your success , for I Impatiently wait the Issue . I cann't be Unconcern'd in what so nearly relates to your Repose , who am ,