Dear Sir,
I am privileged to offer my felicitations on the forthcoming union of your daughter Elizabeth to the illustrious Mr Darcy. No doubt the feminine wiles of my cousin were artfully employed in order to attract Mr Darcy's attentions; to these ends I am sure that effort will not be without reward. My dear Charlotte joins me in congratulating you on your family's good fortune and assures me that she will write personally, although she is presently much occupied by her preparations for the new arrival.
I thank you for your kind advice. While another man might, in my position, choose to, "stand by the nephew," I fear that such blatant disloyalty might have a truly unfortunate impact upon both my reputation and my excellent standing with Lady Catherine de Bourgh. I do not consider myself unwisely optimistic in hoping that the alliance of Mr Darcy with our family might lead to a greater understanding between Mr Darcy and myself. I fondly hope that, should a living fall vacant in the neighbourhood of Pemberly, Mr Darcy might remember me. Should any regrettable estrangement occur between Lady Catherine and Mr Darcy, I hope I do not flatter myself that, as Lady Catherine's confidant and Elizabeth's cousin, I might reasonably be able to encourage the flourishing of an olive branch.
However, I fear I should caution you once again that such estrangement is not unlikely. Certainly, Lady Catherine is blameless in believing that, in a family as noble as hers, matches must be chosen carefully. I deduce from the tone of your last letter that my cousin and Mr Darcy are both prepared to pay no heed to the opinions of my patroness. In this case, I implore them to consider the implications of sacrificing the regard of family for worldly advantages.
As to your exceedingly thoughtful point on "consoling" Lady Catherine, I shall certainly endeavour to support my patroness as befits both a Christian soul and a man of the cloth. However, I would not think of intruding upon Lady Catherine to the extent of personally informing her of the marriage's confirmation. Mr Darcy is eminently suited to the bearing of such tidings himself.
Finally, I wish to repeat my sincere congratulations. I have discovered that Mr Darcy receives no less than £10300 a year; certainly your prosperity is assured. The end of your family's reliance on the Longbourn estate must be a great relief to you. The matter of the entailment has weighed heavily upon me, and the knowledge that your family shall not be impoverished after your death greatly assuages my conscience.
I remain your humble servant:
William Collins.