What Does "With a view to matrimony" Mean in Personal Ads?

A slightly softer way of saying object matrimony: the writer hopes the acquaintance will lead to marriage.

Type	Historical language
Category	Formula
Earliest example in the archive	March 26, 1888, Express and Telegraph (Adelaide)
Most common	1850s to the 1920s

History

Where object matrimony was blunt, with a view to matrimony suggested that marriage was the hope rather than the condition. It appears in the archive alongside wishes the acquaintance of and similar phrases, and a related phrase, matrimonially inclined, turns up in an 1898 Seattle ad describing the kind of woman the writer hoped to find.

In the archive

Express and Telegraph, Adelaide · March 26, 1888A young English gentleman, tired of the misery of single life
YOUNG ENGLISH GENTLEMAN (30), tired of the misery of single life, wishes to end same, and with that view desires to correspond with a loving, fond, good-tempered,…
Express and Telegraph, Adelaide · December 7, 1889A widow lady at Port Adelaide would like a gentleman of about 48
RESPECTABLE WIDOW LADY wishes to correspond with GENTLEMAN, age about 48, with view to MATRIMONY. Strictly confidential. Address “Nellie,” P.O., Port Adelaide.
Arizona Weekly Enterprise, Florence · January 4, 1890An industrious Scotchman seeks a frugal wife
An industrious Scotchman, aged 30 years, wants to correspond with a frugal and industrious lady of 25 or 30 years, with a view to matrimony. Must exchange photographs.…
Seattle Post-Intelligencer · December 11, 1898A New York man, young, good-looking, clever
AM A NEW YORK MAN, young, good-looking, clever; returned this week from Atlin solely for purpose meeting young maiden or widow matrimonially inclined with some capital…
Omaha Daily Bee · January 26, 1902A middle-aged widow, with some means
MIDDLE-AGED widow, with some means, is desirous of meeting gentleman, with view to matrimony. Address S 8, Bee.
Arizona Republican · January 17, 1906A sober, industrious gentleman of 33
WANTED—A sober, industrious gentleman age 33, would like to meet lady with ranch or some means with view to matrimony. Address "Matrimony," care Republican.
Great Falls Daily Tribune · December 4, 1919A widower of 45 wishes the acquaintance of a lady
WIDOWER of 45 wishes acquaintance of lady with view to matrimony. Box 210 Tribune.
The Telegraph, Brisbane · July 8, 1938A farmer, 34, wants a young lady to take on a dairy farm
FARMER, 34, desires correspond young lady take on dairy farm, view mat., genuine; Box B120, “Telegraph.”
The Telegraph, Brisbane · July 8, 1938A tall young man, fond of the pictures, asks for a snap
GOOD looking, tall, young man, fond pictures, desires friendship of nice, pretty girl, with a view to mat., send snap if possible; Z129, “Telegraph.”
The Telegraph, Brisbane · July 8, 1938Three smart young ladies, three smart city gentlemen
THREE smart young Ladies wish to meet three smart city gentlemen at Holts, view marriage.
The Telegraph, Brisbane · July 8, 1938A widow of 43 would like to hear from a genuine working gent
WIDOW, 43, would like to hear from genuine working gent, view friendship mat.; Box B91, “Telegraph.”
Kalgoorlie Miner · June 10, 1952A respectable lonely widower, 40, would like to meet a lady of 35 to 40
RESPECTABLE lonely gent, widower, 40, like meet lady 35 to 40 view above. Apply H4 this office.
Sydney Morning Herald · September 27, 1954Gent, 39, wishes to meet young lady, view matrimony
GENT., 39, Prot., wishes meet Yng. Lady view Mat. 7870, Herald.