PREFACE

TO THE

STEREOTYPE EDITION

OF THE

UNIVERSAL LETTER-WRITER.

THE Successive editions of this work which have been called for by the public, is a decisive proof of general approbation. It is not known that any other similar work has been so well received in the United States. In making the selection at first, the editor was not only desirous of furnishing youth with correct models of the epistolary style; but was particularly anxious, at the same time, of combining with these solid and useful instruction. The pains he took to attain this object, he now finds amply remunerated.

The work has been several times revised, and more especially the present edition; to which also some additions have been made: and it may be saf y said, that throughout the whole series of the letters the l guage is in general correct, -the sentiments strictly moral,-the principles inculcated for the government of life excellent,-and the lessons of domestic management and economy, are drawn from the most solid experience and observation. In fact, this book, though guised under the trite name of Letter-Writer, can be no disgrace to the Counting-house, ought not to be rejected from the Gentleman's private Library,—and deserves to take precedence on the Young Lady's Toilette, of most of the Novels and light reading with which it is too often cumbered.

Men of all ranks and of every profession, are now so fully convinced of the great importance and utility of epistolary correspondence to almost every occasion of life, that little need be said by way of preface to such a volume as this. The directions laid down in various parts of the work, for acquiring a proper degree of elegance and facility in writing letters, might be deemed sufficient, did not experience show, that to these rules, or indeed to any rules that can be given, must be added reading and practice.-Without these, theoretical grammarians will often find themselves at a loss on he plainest subjects; while, with their aid, persons unac quainted with grammar, and only directed by their natura.

abilities, will be able to address their correspondents with ease and correctness, and even upon occasions with elegance. It is, therefore, with a view to assist the student in his Practice, that this select collection of LETTERS has been made; and in which the most important, interesting, and instructive subjects have been introduced, and numerous examples given on each.

This volume is particularly recommended to the youth of both sexes. They would find great advantage arising from occasionally exercising themselves in transcribing or composing letters upon familiar subjects, and addressing them to their young friends. By this means they would gradually acquire an early taste for epistolary correspondence: than which there is scarcely a more useful or ornamental accomplishment. Those who have the care of youth, should turn their attention to this necessary branch of education, the neg lect of which is often severely felt, when it is too late to apply an adequate remedy. Business, love, friendship, &c. all demand a ready pen; and severally become a heavy task to those who are unaccustomed to writing.

"Letters are the life of trade, the fuel of love, the pleasure of friendship, the food of the politician, and the entertainment of the curious." To those who have not acquired early habits of correspondence, the present collection will be a use ful assistant; and if not entirely destitute of abilities to make a proper application of the examples given, will direct them on almost every occasion. The letters are all carefully dapted to the circumstances of our own country, and a con siderable number are taken from approved American writers, nd were never before published in any work of this kind. PHILADELPHIA.

INTRODUCTION.

ESSAY ON LETTER-WRITING.

IMPORTANCE OF EPISTOLARY WRITING.

VARIOUS are the occasions on which people are called upon to exercise their skill in the art of epistolary composition. this, generally speaking, is the only style of writing of which they will find it inconvenient to be ignorant. Few persons are ever obliged to produce a treatise, or a poem; but there is scarcely any one who is not occasionally compelled, by the circumstances of life, to write a letter. It is the remark of a very celebrated author, that the epistolary style deserves to be cultivated almost more than any other, since none is of more various or frequent use through the whole subordinatior of human life. Another writer on this subject, very justly observes, that among the various parts of learning, in which young persons are initiated, there are some, which, though they amuse the imagination, and furnish the mind with employment in solitude and leisure, yet are found to be of little actual utility in the common intercourse of life; but the ability of writing letters clearly, and to the purpose, finds an opportunity of frequent exertion and display in every department of business, in every profession and employment, and in all the endearing offices of social relation. Most authors, who have occupied themselves with this subject, admit the difficulty, or, rather, the impossibility,-of reducing it to any fixed rules; as letters are written on all subjects, and in almost every situation in which "the tide of events" can carry individuals. The general rules which govern other styles of composition, are, for the most part, applicable to letter-writing: ease and simplicity, an even flow of unlabored diction, and an artless arrangement of obvious sentiments, have been pronounced to be the qualities most frequently required; but it has also been stated, that a letter having no peculiarity but its form, nothing is to be refused admission to it which would be proper in any other mode of treating the same subject. This observation requires to be qualified; at least, as to the manner of using what is admitted. Brevity is often an object of the greatest importance in the epistolary style; and that which it may be proper to elaborate in other nodes of treating a subject, it is necessary to condense in a

letter: the same arguments and expressions, also, which would be proper in a statement, or an appeal to the public, might be indecorous if addressed to an individual.

Although it may not be in his power to offer a complete series of rules for epistolary correspondence, the writer of this article ventures to hope, that he may be enabled, in the course of the following pages, to make some observations which will be found of considerable benefit; at least to the younger and more inexperienced portion of his readers.

NATURE OF LETTER-WRITING.

A correspondence between two persons, is simply a conversation reduced to writing; in which one party says all that he has to communicate, replies to preceding inquiries, and, in his turn, proposes questions, without interruption by the other; who takes precisely the same course in his answer. We should write to an absent person, as we would speak to the same party if present. To a superior, we ought to be respectful; to a parent, dutiful and affectionate; to a friend, frank and easy; and clear and definite in our expressions to all. Ambiguity, in epistolary correspondence, is a fault which ought, most scrupulously, to be avoided; a word placed in an improper part of a sentence,- -a phrase that has a double signification,-a passage so blotted, or ill-written, as to be unintelligible, a careless mode of sealing, by which a portion of the manuscript is broken, or concealed, will often render it necessary for the party receiving the letter to write, and he who is guilty of the fault, to reply to another epistle requiring the necessary explanation. The delay thus occasioned is often of serious importance: besides, the person addressed may conceive that he has caught the import of the doubtful passage, when the contrary may be the fact; and thus the writer, much to his own detriment, may be misunderstood on a most critical point: in fact, to be ambiguous, or unintelligible, is to be wanting in duty to ourselves, and in respect to those whom we address.

CONCISENESS OR PROLIXITY OF STYLE.

Conciseness is one of the charms of letter-writing: we dc not mean to say that a letter should not contain sufficient facts, ideas, and feelings; but they ought to be as briefly expressed as perspicuity and elegance will permit. If we encumber an idea with verbiage, it loses its power. There are some persons who, when they express a feeling, or a thought, of which Simplicity should be the charm, clothe it with all the verba

treasures they possess: this is like wearing one's whole ward robe at once; the figure is lost in a mass of drapery. Length encd periods are as much out of place in a letter as they would be in conversation, of which letters may be called the prototype; for they tire the reader even more than they would the hearer: when written, their faults are also perceived with much less difficulty than when spoken. Our style, of course, may rise with our subject: but all parade of words should be dropped in a familiar epistle. The death of a frienɑ or relation, a calamity, or any circumstance of grave importance, should not be communicated in the same manner as a trifling occurrence, or even a happy event: brevity, in these cases, is beauty; in those it would be deemed unfeeling and abrupt. "You ask me to send you news of your favorite school-fellow, Harriet:-she is married." This mode of communicating such an event is unexceptionable: but it would be most improper to state the death of a person in the same manner; that is, by merely substituting "dead" for "married." In announcing the death of a friend, we should communicate the fact in a way comporting with the gravity of the subject as thus,-"It is with melancholy feelings I reply to your inquiries respecting our old school-fellow, Charles Grosvenor. A few weeks ago he was the animated and intelligent companion of all around him, but he was seized with a typhus fever, the violence of which baffled the skill of his physicians, and terminated his life last week, at the house of his father."

But in aiming at the acquirement of an elegant and easy brevity, it is incumbent on us at once to avoid falling into a rugged or an enigmatical style, and becoming so concise as to be unintelligible. Boileau, echoing Horace, says, "J'évite d'être long, et je deviens obscur.”* This is a fault which must be avoided; it is even better to be prolix and intelligible, than brief and obscure.

To an absent friend, an elaborate letter will be most wel. come: a stranger, a superior, or a person of whom the writer seeks something, will recoil from a "folio of four pages," and, perhaps, throw it aside unread, or, at best, but slightly skim med over. When the party, to whom a letter is addressed, is uninterested in the subject on which it is written, the writer of it should display a brevity, which will attract attention, and insure a perusal : no unnecessary ornament should be used, nor, in fact, anything introduced but what is important and bears strongly on the case stated, or the inquiry made.

* "In shunning tediousness, I become obscure."

B