Long-winded advice to a young woman about social standing, beauty, pride, etc.

“I do not consider myself competent to correct the manners of the age, count on the focus of polite arts of which I am totally unacquainted, but war I master of all the fine arts, and possess a knowledge of the graces equal to that of Lord Chesterfield, it would not suit the simplicity of county peasantry, every society constitute principals dictated by prudence adequate to their several situations, there is a regular gradation from the noblest of kings to the meanest of peasants, every person ought to move in their own sphere and copy the manners of that society in which their situation in life place them, to attempt to soar above our equals, this [?]envy to demean ourselves and associate with inferiors  no one will attempt to raise us, a man is known by the company he keeps and it is infinitely important that we select with caution our friends and companions. I do not wish to be understood that I consider the rich or the well-born the only fit subject of society but all those who by a long course of good conduct support a reputable character… There is not any thing that commands so much attention and admiration as beauty, this however cannot be called an accomplishment nor a virtue, as it is as often possest by the vulgar and licentious as by the wise and virtuous…”, etc.

     Assuming that this was written in Massachusetts (and not Bolton, England) it appears that the writer intended to produce a series of advice letters similar to British Lord Chesterfield’s classic “Letters to his Son on the Art of Becoming a Man of the World and a Gentleman” published in 1774, though, in this case, addressed to a young woman and possibly intended to present an American point of view, as evidenced by this somewhat confusing opening paragraph.

It's unfortunate that the letter is unsigned and that there is no evidence of the writer’s identity, although from the rambling prose in this letter, it’s doubtful that, if his words were ever published, he might have posed any American challenge to Lord Chesterfield.