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Actual Letter Writing Forms

Image taken from Old British Letters

Dear Patrons,

Do be sure to visit Samuel Richardson's rich archive on Familiar Letters for Important Occasions. Below I offer you some actual letter writing tips from the Amorous Gallant, and the Golden Tipped Tongue, which has proven very popular among most my readers.

Honoured Sir Peabody,
I certainly hope you can provide some much desired and needed guidance in the delicate manner of bringing up the matter of marriage to my gruesomely spirited father, whom I despair harbors a much different future for myself than I myself would like to see.
A handsome and gentle young man from Dovershire, passing through town on business for his father’s linen business, has of late made some overtures to me, hinting that he should seek my hand in courtship. However, my father is by nature a vile-tempered man, and I think it would anger him endlessly to hear of me considering betrothal at age sixteen. I do believe he doth believe that my proper course in life is not to become a lady, as many other parents hope for their brethen, but to rather shamefully remain a horridly rustic country girl for-ever!

Signed, A Believer in Love

On the Occasion of Young Lady Writing to her Father, Acquainting Him with a Proposal of Marriage Made to Her (Familiar Letters on Important Occasions-)
Nottingham, April 4
Honoured Sir,

Dear Madam,
I am extremely sorry you are angry-- and much more, that you should be angry with me, and most of all, that I don’t know for what, unless it be because I love you, and that I must do until I die, for Death would be far more eligible than Life, without the Liberty of loving you. You may indeed, refuse to make me happy in my Love, but you cannot hinder me from loving you, for it that’s a Thing implanted in my Nature. But why, dear Madam, should this provoke your anger? It is your Charms that are in the fault, not me: You should have been less beautiful, If you’d have no Adorers, or else have cloistered yourself up from mortal eyes; and to what purpose then had Nature been so prodigal upon you? Think you that Nature cast you in that curious and admirable Mould, with a Design you should be seen by no body? And seeing you, who can forbear to love you? But you will say, perhaps, I can pretend to nothing but what’s so much below your Notice, that ‘tis in vain for me to make Pretences to you. I do confess, indeed, you may condemn my Rashness, but not be angry at my love, and yet ‘tis love’s the cause of my presumption. But seeing Heaven is never offended with miserable mortals, that daily send up thier Addresses thither, I know not why your self, the Abstract of all Goodness here below, should not incline a favorable ear to my Addresses: Therefore, thou lovely Goddess of my Heart, convert your Frowns to Smiles, and make me happy, that I may celebrate the Praises of your Goodness and Compassion, as well sa your Beauty, if otherwise, I resolve to perish the Victim of Your Anger, and die
The Martyr of your Beauty.