…This day two years ago was the day on which it pleased Almighty God to take from me my dear wife, and in the loss of her I sustained a very great one. During which interval of time the world has many times discovered I have been on the point of marriage. But I am clear in this that I have never yet made any offers of love to any one woman. No, not anything like courting. Notwithstanding the voice of the world has been so much of the contrary opinion. Not that I have made any resolution to live single. No, I have not, for I really think could I meet with a woman whom I really loved, it would be much more conducive to my interest to marry than live single–and I am certain a great deal more to my internal peace and satisfaction of mind and I should hope [it would be also] a means to forward me in a state of piety and religion.
The reason, if I know my own mind, of not seeing a proper object proceeds from that true (and I will boldly say) sincere love I had for my dear Peggy, who has almost continually been in my mind since her death. Such an effect has the remembrance of her had upon my mind that I have thought it next to impossible I could ever like a woman well enough to make her my wife. For methinks when I compare the virtues and graces of my late wife with any of the female sex I have had the opportunity to be conversant with, they far exceed any I have found that they quite obliterate the thoughts of marriage that might otherwise run in my mind [several words obliterated in MS.].
But if I do marry ever again, I am sure of this, that I shall never have a more virtuous and prudent wife than I have already been possessed of. May it be the will of Providence for me to have a good a one– I ask no better. For a more virtuous and deserving woman I never did, or do I think ever shall be, so happy as to be acquainted with.