abound in phrases of courtesy. Their style should be firm and dignified. IV. Letters of friendship. In these, a tendency to diffuseness, arising in young writers from a fear that they may not have enough matter to fill the sheet, must be avoided. "There is hardly any species of composition, in my opinion, says Kirke White, “easier than the epistolary." There is an off-hand ease about the letter which renders its production a work of but little time or difficulty; and, by reason of this very facility of composition, the writer is apt to express himself carelessly and without proper thought. Time and labor should be bestowed on this, as well as every other, department of composition. Flippancy, also, should be carefully avoided. It must be remembered that what is committed to paper does not, like conversation, pass into forgetfulness; it is preserved, and may, at any time, be made public. We should therefore never write, even to the most intimate friend, any thing which we would be ashamed that the world should see. The commonest fault, perhaps, of letters of friendship, is egotism. This cannot but be distasteful to the person addressed, no matter how great his interest in the writer. A friend, of course, expects from his correspondent some personal intelligence, but he looks for other matter along with it; and will inevitably be struck with the bad taste of one who confines his letter to an enumeration of his own exploits or those of the limited circle to which he belongs. In like manner, we should avoid filling a letter with details relating to parties with whom the person addressed is unacquainted. V. Letters of condolence, written to persons in affliction for the purpose of expressing sympathy with their misfortunes. In these, great tact is necessary; for ill-judged consolation, instead of healing the wound, opens it afresh. In this, as well as the two classes which follow, the writer should confine himself to the leading subject of his communication. VI. Letters of congratulation, or those in which the writer of friendship, to what is there a tendency? What does Kirke White say of epistolary correspondence? To what is this facility of composition apt to lead? What else must be carefully avoided? Why? What should we never write, even to the most intimate friend? What is the commonest fault of letters of friendship? What is the effect of egotism on the person addressed? With what, in like manner, should we avold filling a letter? What are letters of condolence? Why should they be written with great tact? To what should the writer confine himself? What are letters of con professes his joy at the success or happiness of another, or at some event deemed fortunate for both parties or for the community at large. They should be brief, sincere, and to the point. VII. Letters of introduction, in which the writer commends a friend to the kind offices of some third party. It is customary to leave such letters unsealed, and to put on the back, besides the superscription, the name of the party introduced. In giving letters of introduction, it is of primary importance to adhere strictly to the truth. It is false kindness to exaggerate the merits of the bearer, or to recommend in high terms a person but partially known. Such a course often places all parties concerned in an unpleasant position. § 430. Style. The style of letters (with the exception of official communications, which require a studied and formal elegance) should be simple, easy, and natural. All appearance of effort, far-fetched ornaments, and attempts at display, are fatal to their effect. Puerilities and affected simplicity, on the other hand, are equally objectionable. A good letter bears the same relation to other kinds of writing, that friendly conversation does to the more dignified varieties of spoken language. "I love talking letters dearly," said the poet Cowper, and the majority of correspondents will agree with him. A letter of friendship should be a mirror of the writer's mind, and nothing is so likely to ensure this as a conversational style. We should write as we would speak were the friend we addressed suddenly to make his appearance,yet, of course, with more deliberation and care. If his stay were to be brief, we would naturally touch only on the more interesting topics; and so, in a letter, where we are necessarily limited, we should give preference to those subjects that are most important. § 431. Answers.-Every letter, not insulting, merits a prompt reply; and such a reply is called an Answer. In gratulation? What should be their character? What is meant by letters of introduction? What is customary with respect to such letters? What caution is given? $430. What style is most effective for letters? What exception is made? What must be avoided? To what is the relation which a good letter bears to other kinds of writing compared? What kind of letters did Cowper like? How should we write to a friend? What subjects snould we select? 481. What is meant by an answer? What letters merit answers? In answering answering, it is proper always, at the outset, to acknowledge the receipt of your correspondent's communication, in some such words, for instance, as the following: "Yours of the 15th inst. came safely to hand yesterday; and I am glad to learn from it," &c.; or, "Your welcome letter of the 10th ult. was received in due course of mail, and would have been answered sooner had it not been," &c. Besides this, it is customary for a person answering a business or official letter to embody in his opening sentence a statement of what he understands it to contain; as in the following, which also illustrates the profuse use of form and titles in official communications: DEPARTMENT OF STATE, The undersigned, Secretary of State of the United States, has had the honor to receive the note of Mr. her Britannic Majesty's Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary, of the 21st instant, accompanied by the declaration of her Majesty the Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, in regard to the rule which will for the present be observed towards those Powers with which she is at peace, in the existing war with Russia. § 432. Manual Execution.-By complying with the fol lowing suggestions, the student will ensure neatness in making copies of his letters and other compositions: Draw two light pencil lines parallel with the left edge of the page, the first about half an inch, the second an inch and a half, distant from it. Commence your composition, and every successive paragraph, on the inner marginal line; but let the body of your writing rest on the outer one. When you have completed a page, erase the marginal lines neatly with india-rubber. When a letter is not long enough to fill a page, it should not be commenced on the first line, but at such a distance from it as will leave an equal space above and below. § 433. Date. The date of a letter, which should always be distinctly stated, must stand at the right of the first line. It consists of the name of the place where it is written, the what is always proper at the outset? Give examples. Besides this, what is it customary for a person answering a business or official letter to embody in the opening sentence Give an example. § 432. What suggestions are made, for the purpose of ensuring neatness? $483. Describe the date of a letter. Where does it stand? month, day of the month, and year; as, Mobile, August 26, 1854. § 434. Address.-The address of a letter is found on the next line below the date, at the left side. It contains, in the first line, the name and title of the party written to; and, on the second, the words, "Sir," "Dear Sir," "My dear Sir," for a gentleman, or, "Madam," "Dear Madam," "My dear Madam," for a married lady,—according to the degree of intimacy. An unmarried lady is best addressed in a single line: "Miss -;" "Dear Miss ;" or, "My dear Miss In addressing a business firm, place on the first line its proper style and title; and, on the second, the word "Gentlemen" or "Ladies," according to the sex of the parties composing it. A relative is properly addressed by the name that indicates the relationship; as, "My dear Father," "My dear Grandson," ""My dear Sister; or, a relative of the same age, or a friend, may be addressed by the Christian name, if intimacy will allow it; as, "My dear William," "My dear Julia." Some prefer placing the first line, containing the name and title of the party addressed, at the bottom of the letter instead of the top, as above suggested. Examples of proper forms of date and address follow; the pupil will do well to observe their punctuation:— Messrs. Davis & Clapp: 173 Greenwich St., New York, } Hon. E. S. Norton, Canal Com. of the State of N. Y.: Jackson, N. C., § 434. Where is the address of a letter found? Describe it. How is an unmarried lady best addressed? Describe the address of a business firm? How is a relative properly addressed? Where do some prefer placing the first line containing the name and title of the party addressed? Give some examples of proper forms of date and address. § 435. Subscription.-By the subscription of a letter is meant that clause or sentence at the end which contains the terms of affection or respect, and the signature. Different forms are appropriate, according to the relative position of the writer and the person addressed. A few of the most common are subjoined. It will be seen at once in what case rach is appropriate. Observe the punctuation, as before. With my best wishes for your welfare, I remain Reuben H. S. Wells. Hoping to hear from you without delay, I remain Yours &c., S. Wellman Brown. 435. What is meant by the subscription of a letter? To what must the subscrip Mon be appropriate? Give examples. |