ter as to the receiver. For example: "Mr. A. presents his compliments to his friend, Mr. B., and has the satisfaction of informing him, that he has just been appointed, by government, to the lucrative office of [naming the office] in his native town." How could the receiver of this note learn from it whether he or Mr. A. had been favored with the above appointment?

14. Every letter that is not insulting, merits a reply, if it le required or necessary. If the letter contain a request, accede to it gracefully and without ostentation, or refuse with out harshness. An answer to a letter of condolence or congratulation should be grateful. The subjects should succeed each other in proper order; and the questions put be consecutively answered. In all replies, it is usual to ac knowledge the receipt, and to mention the date, of the last etter received: this should be an invariable rule; by neg. lecting it, your correspondent may be left in doubt, or deem you guilty of offensive inattention.

15. In answers to letters of business, to avoid misunder. standing, the substance of the communication to which the writer is about to reply is generally stated. This should be done, also, in other kinds of letters. The manner of doing this is usually as follows: "In reply to your letter, dated, &c., in which you state that, &c. [briefly setting forth the principal points which you are about to answer], I beg to state," &c.

SECTION II.

ON LETTER-WRITING (continued).

I. It is a bad practice to suffer letters to remain long unan swered. It shows disrespect to a correspondent. There is in some a strange aversion to regularity; a desire to delay what ought to be done immediately, in order to do something else, which might as well be done afterward. Valuable correspondence is thus often sacrificed.

II. In letter-writing, as in other compositions, the rules of grammar should be strictly observed. So, also, of spelling. To spell correctly is no honor, but to spell incorrectly is a great disgrace.

A parenthesis is objectionable, if it break the sense and dis tort the sentence. It is rare that the subject of a parenthesis may not be better contained in a previous or following paragraph, cr an elongation of the sentence, than thrown abruptly into the body of it.

The usual contractions in the English language are permitted in letters between friends, relatives, and equals-also in letters of business. Such only should be used, however, as polite custom has established.

III. The Date-Address-Title-Signature-Postscript

Superscription-Folding-Postage.

It is very improper to omit dating a letter.

The address, as well as the signature of the writer, and the address and name of the correspondent, should be written in a very legible hand. Instances have occurred of letters remaining unanswered, or of never reaching their place of destination, from a neglect in these particulars.

Postscripts are, for the most part, needless, and in bad taste. They may be avoided by pausing a few moments before closing a letter, to reflect whether you have any thing more to say. Above all things, you must not defer your civilities, or kind inquiries for any friend or acquaintance, to this part of a letter. To do so is a proof of thoughtlessness or disrespect.

To all fantastic signatures there is a strong objection; so, also, to all fantastic modes of folding letters or notes. It is no proof of talent or education, to fold them in such a manner as to require much time and labor in opening them. The common modes are the best. In these, pupils should be instructed and practiced by their teachers, provided the latter understand them; which, unhappily, is not always the case.

In sealing a letter, be careful not to cover any important word with the wafer. It is best, in writing, to mark off a space beforehand for the wafer.

In writing to any person upon a matter of business which concerns yourself more than your correspondent—also is opening a correspondence-forget not to pay the postage

In Mr. Pierce's English Grammar may be found ample directions and illustrations in regard to the proper arrange ment of the date, address, folding, &c.

The terms of respect, and clauses connected with them at the close of the letter, should receive special attention. It may be useful and gratifying to some to subjoin a few forms of ex pressions that have been adopted by writers of literary repu tation.

Ever

your affectionate son,

I have the honor to be, Rev. sir, &c.,

R. C.

B. F

The tenderest regard evermore awaits you from your mos affectionate.

A. A.

Adieu, dear E.; continue to write to me and believe none of your goodness is lost upon your, &c.,

therefore, good-night!

M. W. M.

H. W.

May God bless and direct you, my dear friend.

Yours affectionately,

H. M.

Yours ever,

Pray, my friend, let it not be long before you write to your ever affectionate,

Believe me, my dear nephew, with true affection,

Ever yours,

A. S.

C

Go on, my dear brother, in the admirable dispositions you have toward all that is right and good. I have neither paper no words to tell you how tenderly I am yours,

C.

Believe me to be, with the utmost sincerity, as I really am, madam, your faithful, humble servant,

J. S.

If there be any thing with regard to the choice or matter of your studies in which I can assist you, let me know, as you can have no doubt of my being, in all things,

Most affectionately yours,

G. H

I shall only add, that I am, with sincere respect, madam,
Your faithful friend and obedient servant,

C. M.

With our wishes of all happiness to Mr. M. and yourself, 1 beg leave to subscribe myself, madam,

Your affectionate friend,

C. M.

My love to brother and sister M. and their children, and to all my relatives in general.

I am your dutiful son,

B. F.

Once more I beg to hear speedily from you. Jane and Dick are truly yours, so is my dear uncle your affectionate kinsman and humble servant, E B.

Adieu, my dear G., and believe me, to you and to all with you at B. and D., a most sincere and affectionate friend and kinsmar

E. R

I need not desire you to bid any one remember me; but te hem I remember them. Say how Eliza does. Tell Amelia and Sarah I do not forget them. God bless you all.

J. P. C.

B. F. The best wishes that can be formed for your health, honor, and happiness, ever attend you, from yours, &c.,

In the superscription of a letter, be careful not to give the double title of Mr. before the name, and Esq. One of them is sufficient. It is proper also after it. give the professional title of a minister of the Gos pel, a doctor, or lawyer, which are, respectively, Rev., M.D., and Esq. The latter title is often given to other gentlemen. These directions might be multiplied, but we now furnish a few specimens of letter-writing, worthy of being imitated.

SECTION III.

SPECIMENS OF LETTER-WRITING.

Dr. Beattie to the Duchess of Gordon, informing her of the death of

his son.

Aberdeen, Dec. 1, 1790. Knowing with what kindness and condescension your grace is interested in every thing that concerns me and my family, I take the liberty to inform you that my son James is dead; that the last duties to him are now paid; and that I am endeavoring to return, with the little ability that is left me, and with entire submission to the will of Providence, to the ordinary business of life. I have lost one who was always a pleasing companion; but who, for the last five or six years, was one of the most entertaining and instructive companions that ever man was blessed with: for his mind comprehended almost every science; he was a most attentive observer of life and manners; a master of classical learning; and he possessed an exuberance of wit and humor, a force of understanding, and a correctness and delicacy of taste, beyond any other person of his age whom I have ever known.

*

*

*

*

*

He lived twenty-two years and thirteen days. Many weeks before death came, he saw it approaching; and he et it with such composure and pious resignation as may, no doubt, be equalled, but can not be surpassed.

He has left many things in writing, serious and humorous scientific and miscellaneous, prose and verse, Latin and English; out it will be a long time before I shall be able to harden my heart so far as to revise them.

I have the satisfaction to know that every thing has been done

for him that could be done. * * * * But my chief comfort arises from reflecting on the particulars of his life, which was one uninterrupted exercise of piety, benevolence, filial affection, and, indeed, of every virtue which it was in his power to practice. I shall not, with respect to him, adopt a mode of speech which has become too common, and call him my poor son; for I must believe that he is infinitely happy, and that he will be so forever.

May God grant every blessing to your grace, your family, and all your friends.

The Duke of Gordon has done me the honor, according to his wonted and very great humanity, to write me a most friendly and sympathetic letter on this occasion.

The Duchess of Gordon.

I have the honor to be, &c.,

JAMES BEATTIE.

The Hon. Horace Walpole to R. West, Esq.

Naples, June 14th, 1740, N. S

DEAR WEST: One hates writing descriptions that are to be found in every book of travels, but we have seen something to-day that I am sure you never read of, and, perhaps, never heard of. Have you ever heard of the subterraneous town? a whole Roman town, with all its edifices, remaining under ground. Don't fancy the inhabitants buried it there to save it from the Goths: they were buried with it themselves. ***** This under-ground city is perhaps, one of the noblest curiosities that ever has been discov. ered. It was found out by chance a century and a half ago. They began digging; they found statues: they dug farther; they found more. Since that they have made a very considerable progress, and find continually. * * * * * I forgot to tell you that in several places the beams of the houses remain, but burned to charcoal; so little damaged that they retain visibly the grain of the wood; but, upon touching, crumble to ashes. What is remarkable, there are no other marks or appearances of fire but what are visible on these beams. ***

Adieu, my dear West, and believe me yours ever,
H. WALFOLE.

To Miss Baillie, by Sir Walter Scott.

Abbotsford,

Your kind letter, my dear friend, heaps coals of fire on my aead, for I should have written to you, in common gratitude, long since; but I waited till I should read through the Miscellany with some attention, which, as I have not done, I can scarce say much to the purpose, so far as that is concerned. My own production sat in the porch like an evil thing, and scared me from proceed ing farther than to hurry through your compositions, with which I was delighted, and two or three others. In my own case, I have almost a nervous reluctance to look back on any recent po