To Miss Rivers, Clarges Street.
Silleri, Sept. 24.
I declare off at once; I will not be a squaw; I admire their talking
of the liberty of savages; in the most essential point, they are
slaves: the mothers marry their children without ever consulting their
inclinations, and they are obliged to submit to this foolish tyranny.
Dear England! where liberty appears, not as here among these odious
savages, wild and ferocious like themselves, but lovely, smiling, led
by the hand of the Graces. There is no true freedom any where else.
They may talk of the privilege of chusing a chief; but what is that to
the dear English privilege of chusing a husband?
I have been at an Indian wedding, and have no patience. Never did I
see so vile an assortment.
Adieu! I shall not be in good humor this month.
Yours,
A. Fermor.