THE

ESSAYS,

HUMOUROUS, MORAL AND LITERARY,

OF THE LATE

DR. BENJAMIN FRANKLIN.

NEW YORK
PUBLK

BOSTON:

PUBLISHED BY JOHN WEST AND CO.

No. 75, CORNHILL.

ESSAYS,

HUMOUROUS, MORAL AND LITERARY.

ON EARLY MARRIAGES.

TO JOHN ALLEYNE, ESQ.

DEAR JACK,

You desire, you say, my impartial thoughts on the subject of an early marriage, by way of answer to the numberless objections that have been made by numerous persons to your own. You may remember, when you consulted me on the occasion, that I thought youth on both sides to be no objection. Indeed, from the marriages that have fallen under my observation, I am rather inclined to think, that early ones stand the best chance of happiness. The temper and habits of the young are not yet be come so stiff and uncomplying, as when more advanced in life; they form more easily to each other, and hence many occasions of disgust are removed. And if youth has less of that prudence which is necessary to manage a family, yet the parents and elder friends of young married persons are generally at hand to offer their advice, which amply supplies that defect; and by early marriage, youth is sooner formed to