Susanna here, sharing one of the myriad little random odd bits I stumble across while looking for something else altogether, and end up filing away because they're just too delightful not to keep.
These two advertisements appeared in the London Morning Post and Daily Advertiser of Friday, December 30, 1791, and like the paper's editor, I rather suspect they were tongue-in-cheek, but then again, one never knows.
"TO THE LADIES.
A Gentleman, who has lost a considerable fortune by drinking, wenching, and gambling, by which means he has been disinherited by an uncle on whom his last reliance was placed; whose constitution is not destroyed, though his morals are thoroughly corrupted; would be glad to meet with a foolish young girl or liquorish old dowager with an independent fortune to recruit his shattered finances. He can swear, drink, and game to perfection—is a perfect adept in the attendance of the tea-table—has been flattered with the praise of beauty—is five feet 10 inches in height—entitled to wear a red coat and cockade; and would promise to make any woman happy—for a month—and miserable all her life after. Letters with real names, and places of abode, containing an accurate account of the lady's fortune and the rental of her estate, shall be immediately attended to on directing a line to, &c. &c."
And the second, beneath it, reads:
"TO BACHELORS;
—Not to widowers, they are too knowing.—A lady, who has by the faithlessness of a favoured lover, been reduced to distress, but not yet to open infamy, would be happy to join her fate to that of any credulous easy young man, who has more money than wit, and will make no needless enquiries. The lady has at present no child—but she hints that heirs to estates are sometimes valuable to those to whom town pleasures may have made the shackles of matrimony unpleasant on more accounts than one—if any gentleman should be inclined to answer this, either on matrimonial terms, or on those of becoming the lady's protector, he will find her personal accomplishments by no means deficient; and the settlement she requires will not be immoderate. A line directed to Lucy, at, &c., will be attended to."
Whether either Advertisement Matrimonial received any replies, I don't yet know. But it is entertaining to let my imagination play with the idea of the men and women who might have been reading that newspaper on another Friday, all those years ago, and maybe taken those words seriously.
I wonder...