Caroline, Mary becomes Miss Temple; and, on that of both Caroline and Mary, Cornelia assumes the title in question.

A few forms, with their appropriate replies, may be of service.

I. Write a letter to a friend in the city from some country retreat which you may have lately visited, remembering to draw up a preliminary analysis, and to follow the models in the last lesson, as regards date, address, &c. II. Write a note requesting the loan of a volume from a friend.

III. Write a note accepting a friend's invitation to tea.

§ 440. A NARRATIVE is a composition which consists, for the most part, of an account of real facts or events; but into

Give an example. On the death or marriage of the oldest daughter, how is the second Jaughter addressed? Give the form of a note of invitation, and the reply.

which, description, argument, exposition, or speculation, may also be introduced.

§ 441. Narratives are divided into Histories, Biographies Obituaries, Voyages, Travels, and Anecdotes.

§ 442. A History is an account of facts or events pertain ing to distinguished places or objects, to communities, nations. or states. A detached portion of history, confined to any par ticular era or event, is known as an Historical Sketch.

The difference between a history and annals is, that the latter merely enumerate events in chronological order, without admitting any observations on the part of the writer; whereas history has less regard to the order of time, and allows the writer to investigate causes and effects, and to introduce other matter connected with the subject.

§ 443. A history, to be good, must be true and interesting The first essential is truth. The writer must present a faithful account of what has taken place, or his work is valueless. All prejudice must be laid aside. Nothing must be concealed, nothing exaggerated. All available sources of information must be explored, and whatever bears on the subject in hand must be brought to light. In cases of doubtful or conflicting testimony, the rules of evidence must be carefully weighed, and truth ensured at the expense of every other con sideration.

In the second place, a good history must be interesting. Much depends on the manner of the historian. Whatever the nature of the events he records, however great his research or accurate his statements, if his style is dry, dull, or lifeless, he can not hope to gain the favor of his readers. He should aim at simplicity, clearness, and strength; but, when he is dwelling on those splendid achievements which at intervals have spread a glorious refulgence over the page of history, with his subject he naturally rises to sublimity.

The English language has produced many historians of the first rank; among whom, Robertson, Hume, and Gibbon, are worthy of spe

§ 440. What is a narrative?

§ 441. Into what are narratives divided?

§ 442. What is a history? What is an historical sketch? Define the difference be tween a history and annals.

§ 443. What two things are essential to a good history? To ensure truth, what must the writer do? What is the second essential of a good history? On what does much depend? At what should the historian aim? When does he naturally rise to sublimity? Mention some of the prominent English historians. Mention those dis

cial mention. American literature can boast of three names equally great,-Bancroft, Hildreth, and Prescott. The style of the latter is justly regarded as a model of historical writing, as well from its purity and beauty as from the absorbing interest with which it invests what ever he treats.

The North American Review makes the following remarks on Pres cott's style, which are worthy of being added, as likely to convey a just idea of what a good historical style should be:

"Mr. Prescott is not a mannerist in style, and does not deal in elaborate, antithetical, nicely-balanced periods. His sentences are not cast in the same artificial mould, nor is there a perpetual recurrence of the same forms of expression, as in the writings of John son or Gibbon; nor have they that satin-like smoothness and gloss for which Robertson is so remarkable. The dignified simplicity of his style is still farther removed from any thing like pertness, smartness, or affectation; from tawdry gum-flowers of rhetoric, and brass-gilt ornaments; from those fantastic tricks with language which bear the same relation to good writing that vaulting and tumbling do to walking. It is perspicuous, flexible, and natural, sometimes betraying a want of high finish, but always manly, always correct,-never feeble, and never inflated. He does not darkly Insinuate states ments, or leave his reader to infer facts. Indeed, it may be said of his style, that it has no marked character at all. Without ever offending the mind or the car, it has nothing that attracts observation to it, simply as a style. It is a transparent medium, through which we see the form and movement of the writer's mind. In this respect, we may compare it with the manners of a well-bred gentleman, which have nothing so peculiar as to awaken attention, and which, from their very ease and simplicity, enable the ess sential qualities of the understanding and character to be more clearly discerned."

§ 444. A Biography is an account of the life of an individual. When the chief incidents only are touched upon, it is called a Biographical Sketch. The style recommended in the last paragraph for history is also appropriate to biography. The writer should avoid a tendency to minuteness of uninteresting detail, and exaggerated praise of the person of whose life he is treating.

§ 445. The third variety of narrative is the Obituary, which is a notice of a person's death, accompanied with a brief sketch of his life and character. Obituaries are gener ally written by friends of the deceased, in whom, as in the

tinguished in American literature. What is said of Prescott's style? In what terms does the North American Review speak of it?

§ 444. What is a biography? What is a biographical sketch? What style is ap propriate to biography? Against what tendency should the biographer be on his guard?

§ 445. What is the third variety of narrative? What is an obituary? By whom are obituaries generally written? What, therefore, is the natural tendency in the

biographer, there is a natural tendency to exaggerate the abilities and virtues of those whose memory they would preserve. Such exaggeration fails of its object, being readily detected, and in that case not only losing its effect, but actually offending the reader. In this, as in every other species of narrative, truth should be the primary object.

§ 446. Travels constitute the fourth kind of narrative They may be defined as an account of incidents that have happened, and observations that have been made, during a journey; and form one of the most entertaining and popular departments of literature.

Narration constitutes the greater part of a book of travels; but description and the other elements of composition may also be introduced, in a greater or less degree. Keen powers of observation are essential to the writer in this department of composition. His style should be varied to suit the different objects and incidents he is called on successively to describe; ornamented or simple, sublime or sparkling with humor, as occasion may require. To awaken interest in his readers, he should select new and important subjects only, and exhibit them in their most striking light.

§ 447. The fifth class comprises Voyages; which resemble travels in every respect, except that the incidents they relate are such as have happened to one passing by water be tween countries remote from each other. As regards style, the same principles apply as in the case of travels.

§ 448. The last variety of narrative we shall here mention, is the Anecdote. This term is derived from two Greek words (a privative and ěkdoros, given out, made public); and was originally applied to an historical fact not generally known,

writers of obituaries? What is said of such exaggeration? In all the varieties of narrative, what should be the primary object?

§ 446. What constitute the fourth kind of narrative? What is meant by travels ?" What constitutes the greater part of a book of travels? What else may be introduced? What is essential to success in the writing of travels? What style is most effective for them? What subjects should be selected by the writers of travels?

§ 447. What is the fifth division of narratives? In what do voyages differ from travels? What style is recommended for voyages ?

§ 448. What is the last variety of narrative mentioned? From what is the word

when promulgated for the first time. As now used, however, this term signifies an account of an interesting detached inci dent, particularly one connected with the career of some distinguished person. The point of an anecdote should not be obscured by too many words.

449. The only example it is thought necessary to present, is one of the anecdote. The other varieties form so considerable a portion of the current literature of the day that the student can hardly go amiss for suitable models.

ANECDOTE OF DR. FRANKLIN.

Long after the victories of Washington over the French and English had made his name familiar to all Europe, Dr. Franklin chanced to dire with the English and French ambassadors; when, as nearly as the precise words can be recollected, the following toasts were drunk:

"ENGLAND-The Sun whose bright beams enlighten and fructify the remotest corners of the earth."

The French ambassador, filled with national pride, but too polite to dispute the previous toast, drank the following:

"FRANCE-The Moon whose mild, steady, and cheering rays, are the delight of all nations, consoling them in darkness, and making their dreariness beautiful."

Dr. Franklin then arose, and, with his usual dignified simplicity, said :"GEORGE WASHINGTON-The Joshua who commanded the Sun and Moon to stand still; and they obeyed him."

EXERCISE.

I. Write, in your own language, an Anecdote of Richard the Lion-hearted.

II. Write, in your own language, an Anecdote of Philip of Macedon, from the following heads :—

A Macedonian soldier had so distinguished himself by extraordinary acts of valor as to gain the favor of King Philip and many marks of royal approbation.

This soldier was once shipwrecked; and, being cast ashore with scarcely a sign of life, was revived only by the care and tenderness of a Macedonian, whose lands were contiguous to the sea, and who hastened to his relief. Placed in this good man's bed, carefully nursed, and freely supplied with the necessaries of life, the shipwrecked soldier found himself, at the expiration of forty days, sufficiently recovered to be able to resume his journey. He left with loud protestations of gratitude to his kind host; and, informing the latter of his influence with the king, promised that his first care should be to secure from the royal bounty a munificent reward for one who had so generously befriended him in time of need.

anecdote derived? To what was this term originally applied? As now used, what does it signify? What is the effect of too many words in an anecdote?