..

·., ,;,( . ~ ·· ,:); , ,. / .

// , , / , ·I .•

/

,

,' ,'I ,

f I /

...

/ ' '·JI
I,

•

1f 1 I

/

!111111

/ , ' : •'

"1

/, I ' - / ' -1/
· ' .i.,, / ·
'

( '' '

' I I '/ / I

I

1.,, / • //11 '

, ,
1 1//,//l / 1

t: , . .

/ .' ' t l / /· 1
/, . 1

///1/111 ·

1111/.

-

I

A

.1
NE'\V CLASS lCAL
":c~ S~LECTION OF LE'fTERS ;
\

.

ISTk:RSPE~SED

Jt

\VITII SOME ORIGINAL l'RODUCTION8
o:-:

R r. :s1.,\ .E SS,
DVTJ".

I
I

('RJJ:..,\"DSllJP,

f

LOYE,
.'ff.I/ II Rl..'1GF.J

~o. ~·

Wll'H

't·t~~f ~

MISCltLLANEOUS PIECBS,

~id:f:?.
"

l:"t 11 ROSE AHD \"ERSE;
t'l::r{TiO:SS ON YAHIOl'S StiBJEL"fS

7

COMPLDf ESTA HY C AIU:S, FOH f\IS IN LAW

A~ u

1

THE DEC I.AR A TIOS OF [ r;nErF.ND!::l\(;£ or 1 tt).:
l' ~ 11: E D ST A. l' 1-.iS o F A M B It t C A .

'J'l/IRD J-:J>J1'10A".

nosToN:
181 <),

..... ··:l

I·;··~ • ,'

DIS1'1UCT OF ~fASSACHUSETTS-·;o w;T.
L S Be it rm1rm! ered, ll111t on l'ht 1•wentietlz J,71 'f Afril, in
· · the tlzi1t.vjrJI e11r of. tire lndeP..endrnte :f tf.e l'11itrd
Stair'! ~f Amtric·{1, JoHN M DUNHAM, aji lht• Joi.:/ D.;rfrict,
/pr d1J>?1itcd in thi1 iffice the title of a hcok, the-:ig,~t 'U'htrr'f
'11~ cl.1 ims as Prcpritt:jr, 111 tfie ·w~dr foll(/f.u;ng, to •wit: "A
new classical ·selection of Letters, inter!ipersed with
some original pro<.!U:<'t!ons, on business, duty, friend~h ip, lm·c, marriage, &c. &c with miscellaneous pieces,
i:1 p!·o~c and \'crsc, pctrt;ons on v:trious 11uhjcct~, C<'mplimcntary cards, forms in law,.and the declaration of
i!1d:pcnJcncc oi the United States of America." In
1

...

'~ ' lf,n 1 1;1,l' / ·:.1 t/;e

4

'/.-1

e./ Co"&''css o,f tl1c

lh~it~·d Stntes, i~11;1/,·d,

A d }~ >' t ht1 <'lft()fit", ' f!t mt 11f cf ltM'>ll11,~, l~ sr. ·ur• 1~<: t.~c
.-.~pil·J· ~f m•. p!, rk: )·,•s, Md beds, I 1 the f.'tt!lv,,·_r t7nd J'rvprif/1~·,.
•-( .•u1h <"C,';!rr. during f ·~e ti:-ne tlrertin mcnt.=~ned ;'' tmd ol.•r>
1:.'I Ad, i11t:tlrd, "fill Ad 111/plrmmt.11y llJ an J1rl. int/tlfd,
H .·h

,,,, ~ /.-! .f.·r ll:e

01N,;o·,1gonrnt

of lr ..rning. by

lc'CUl'i11...~

the upir.r

./ 111;•/•.:, r!t, , rf.r, ,,n,.' f. :,?los, to t!t1.• 1111/l/l, l'J trnd trcprirlr;r.r ':(

·:1.·1 t':/• :,..r du l'i·:;.; //,-,• f .:m r r tlrrrin 1/~(11fi'.11t'd: ond c·.\·tmdil~.~
. :·~· bri:ji'rr tl.•1•1·c;f I? the~ nrls ~( d1•J:g>ti11,~, m:; r,1·vi11g and tldt1
. t f, "
:11;; r1 ;.•. -;nc. ·l ull' I ~ 1r/r
r t 1·111
1
\ '. ILLI:\M S. SlI.:\ \V, Clal of t'1f.
JJ;.;trid of l'i!m. · r~·:~r•f .'r •
•

,.

I

•

.. ,
! : , •; •;1,•

l• •

/I I • .' :

•

CONTENTS.
W

I~ .

\ 8

.,

..

LETTERS.

"Q"'" yo~11~ min in bueinen to a

,'he o.nsw e t'

,

,

wholc!rnle dcakl' 1 l

•

,

ib,

,

rom a r~tail dealer to a wholesale mcrchar.t
·.'he answer
.
•

12

ib.

.:o a corrcsponclent, requesting p:iyment

13

l'he answer

14
,
ib.
:.;orom a tradesman to a customer
ilr.
fhc answer
.
•
;:'rom a tradesman who is unaulc to pay his clt.:lJtf, 15
16
f he answer .
.
•
.
•
•
•
t"v•a,• u. t\t.,da&W..•h i.mkb\.a

f.J)

J1~t\flf-IJJl M~ ItPliFJ'~~fl!l(J

From a tenaHt to his lan<llonl

.

.

.

The answer
•
From a young man to n rtlation
The onswer, when complied with
The answer, when not convenient or ~greeablc
To a ptrson neglecting to perform hb promis~
Reproaching a fricn~ for neglecting to repay i &i:-.
Thunks for favours rccei\'ccl
.
.
.
From n young mu.n setting up in busines~;
The nnswer

.

;

.

.

.

.

From a servant, who had r.ommitted a fault
l·'1·om il routh ot schoul to his father

r he an ~:'w rr

.

.

.

.

F'ro1-:1 ~young latly at schoCJl to !:!:r p~rc.:nts
The father's answer
.
.
.
.
From a father to hi~ son at school
•
The answer
}'rom a mother to hr:r <laughter at boarcling school

Th8 answer
From an apprentice to his par<:nt
The answer
.

}f

ih.

is

ib,
19

ib.
20

ib.
21

22
23
2.i.
25'
26

ib,
27

ib •

28
29
:lO

ib.
:3 1
....

.,

From a fathe1· to his son

,) v

Fr0m an of1'cntlin~ npprl'llticc to J1i:; mastci·

.._.. ~'

.-. "

n.

C:

~ ~.

1 E :"-: 1 :t.

....

~·\11,,.W<:r to tlu: for"·gui11~

,. ..
,
+

, ::--·· '

.;
/

._~

~·' ~ ·

Frnm an ,,pprcntirt.: tu his r-,1,thc-i·
The 1ui~wc.:r
t:' rum a father to his ~on

,, J

From a sul<licr to his \\ ifc
The a11s\\'c.;r
From a youn;; ·;:oman in !>t.:rvicc, lo her rnothtr
Frc:m ;\~1 :1Et·d L1dy to hc.:r niece
f h; young la\!(s unswer

~7

l-':-0:11 .1

~·

-.

....
,J.'

.3 6

i"ricnd to another

Tilt: ati")\\'t.:
•
•
•
•
•
•
To a friend, by way of rl·~ommcn<lation of ano~i1cr
T!it: :i.ns" tr
•
.
.
•
•
•
Tu a frie:1tl, who hat1 ju-.t lost a near rtlation

i fl.
33
ii:.

40
41
ib.
4~

43

ib.

:From a fric..:nc\ to •mother, who ha<l negkcted writing

4·~

The an:;wcr

•

.

•

.

.

•

ib.

On sickness

.

.

.

.

•

.

45

.

.

48

.From a \\<.ly, on female e<\ucation

~:,:om ::i yuuni~ nH:rd1ant \o an n~ucl i::entlttmnn

i ht

c.1

n s " t· r

~

1

!

•

!

On p~· ucl~nce
.
.
.
.
.
On t!1t co10mtnrtrne11t anc1 pursuit of trade
en ll pl'np1:r :ipplic11tiun of lit7't! •
•
Fro?11 a 1-;cnth:m:1t1 to liis frit~ ml on ,·irtuc
1,.rc-.m a ~cntkmu11 tel a fril"tHI on h;\ppiness
l•r(;m his fri~ncl in a11swt.:1·, Oc.c.
.
•
Frn:n a youa~ m~n dtrlarin~ !iii; pas~k>n
An~wtr tu ttn: fure~oirq.~, \\ hl'n appro\'cd
l'he nnswt>r when dit;:.ipp1·ovl'd
•
.
To the parer1t of a youn~ woman, ~c.
Tht: a115\\ er~ wht·n appl">vt:cl
.
The an~wtr~ when r•.jcctt:d .
.
i:rom the lo\'1.!r to his mistt·ess
The :..ir;~w<.:r

•

•

•

•

!1 .)

•

~6

58
•

63

•
•
.
.
•
•

65

.
,

.
.

.
.
•

•
.
•
•
.

}'rom a young woman to her father, &:c.
'fhc nnswer, with c.:o~~ent
.
.
.

The answt!r, wht:n disappro\'ct1
•
•
,
From a friend to R young man, &<~.
.
•
1· rom a young mart icd wnm~111 ti) ht.:r r.ou~iii, &r.
To a yollnr, marric<l wom :H1 f1·rim hc1· p;1r1 ~ nN
i,.rom <\merchant i:1 N . \'ad;, h a wiclow bdy
l ·r........J , ,,-., , ,, l·\rl•· lo h··" \)! 'l")'h"i'
•It

to ...

\

Y

t

t

• .

•

1

ft!

•

•

69

7'.:!
71
ib.
78

ib,
79
80
ib,
8\

i!J,

s2

ib.
1'~

S.'l
RG
tl'r

e8
""'

t

l' In.: l>l ut\1 er ' s anS'wer

~~
J

l·

~3

56

U cch\r~tion

40
41

. i f, .
4~

)

t

illlSCRLLA.h.EOUS PIRCES .
/ \. fotlH·r's advice to his claui;htcl' .
011 tl1c impo rtan•_·c (if marriage
Hcflcctiu11s on matrin1011y
T!ie dang1:r of fc:tn~ih: ucauty from flatterers
The source of love
•
In ~ trnctio!1s for la<lil.'s, &c.
•
Aclvk~ to a fritn d en the choice of n wife
'Vi\ "S 5;; 0•1!:1 :.;tmly ch·L·ss to please their husu&mc1s
Tin: woman bl·~t filt~<l for " wife
On pd itencs s
C o11ti:n1atiun of the s<1m<:
•
0n the \'icissitudcs of human life.
Pt:titions on various subj..:cls
C omplitrn.: nt <\ry carcls
•
lJs:: r111 form s in Jaw
.

.~.

JS
if .

..

9.1.

"

,; (,
.~ 7
(

Frum the hi<ly to i\'Ir. l\lurcton

89

43
ib .
4 ·~ -· ~ ·~'"""'"
ib.
4 :l

48
.'d

5~

6:.1
t'I~

(i 9
- 0

I~

i1

ib.
78
ih.
79
~o

ib.
H\

!>'
82
ib.
l

f; ~

fi ,,.

HG
ti 1
c SJI
~

of lndepcnd•.!nte

92
99
1o l

10 3

ib.
104
105

107
i!J.
J08
11 ·1J lB
J20
J;, 1
137
i4 r.

INTRODUCTION.

somcwh3t presump'ma1s t~ ofT . . :
:my thing NE.,.,.. , muler the hutkncyt:d title uf a LET·
T EH \V RlTEH ; but we rest our hopes of ~ucc~ss on
1
lu: i<lta that thost: lo whom such an assistant is IH:Ct>S·
s ·i ry, m11~t of course wish to mt-et l>rc\'il r and t: .:011e;tT.y. \Ve han: tht'l't:fore, t;1kc11 <·ar~ to a\01<.I all extraneous mattt:r, and c.:onfint:d tiurst·h cs to tlao.,c s11b-

iT m:iy

:lpp~lt'

1

,tt.:cts which gt:m·rally conc~rn every pt:rsna <luriri~
S(JlllC r~tt

of lift", viz. L'.!vc, Dutv, Fri1·11c/1//:/., Ut J, ,
.n.~~inn.<:; and we prcM1mc to t'"'ll4;:rt, "hhrn1.t. Hllll h
,;, . l.!~tl of contrJc!ictiun, tlrnt with regard to t1t1!1ty a11<l

<: :a::1pness, ou1· litth: work cannot be lXcdh:d by u11y
other c.·xtat1t.
Co11form~1bly to OtJ:" plan of
:.D rr~or'..: s;>acc or time · with

~;hall nrrupy
oli:Jcrv:i~ic ·,ns <111

l11·cvity, we

forthc:r
011r plan, b11t procc.:cd to gi\'c some gcm.:rul rults, c.:s·
:-,~ mi.Jh· m:cc~sarr to be o 1 i~t:rn:t1.
Epi~t<Jlary \\ dting· ;1ppt:nrs, at first 'il·w, to stretrh
i.ito u .,,·,:ry willt: tidd. For tlit:re i:; no s111>j1·ct ''hat·
evt:I', on ,., hkh ant! may not convt•)' hi!~ tl1on~~hts to
tlit: public, in t:1c form of a lclltr. Lord Shaftt'!->hury,
fol' i11st~ince, :\fr. Hanis, a11d scnr.11 otht'.r writ.t:t'!',
have chosen to ~i"t this fol'm to philosophicnl tn·atin·s.
flut this is not S\1fficicnt to class S\ICh trrntist·S Ufldt!r
the hc.::.:c\ of t·pir.,tolary composition.
Epistolury writing bccomt:S a <hstinct ~perie~ or
compositio1:, subjt:ct to the co~~nizanrc of cd?ic:ism,
011\y 01' chitf}y, \\hen it is Of tht: easy aml fomj)j;11• kitHl:
wbc.:n it is corwcrsutiQtl carried on upon papl'r, ht-tween
f\vo friem]~ at a <listanc.e. Such an int1·rcourst·. when
w-ell conducted, may be rt'ndcrt:cl \'cry <'grctflbk to
:-~'='~

of bstc.

H the subject of the letters be im·

~o rt.mt, t11ey ,.,·ill he the more \·aluahlc. E\'ert tliougu
· · ~ 1u:rc should b ~ nothing \'cry considc:rablc in the suu ..
.\~ct, yet if the spil'it and turn of the eorrcsponclcnce
!n: a~r1.·t."ahlc ; if lht:y be written in a sprightly man·
ocr, a11<l with native g:·:lct: and ease, they may still be
cntc:rtainirt~ ; more t:~pecially if there be any thing to
itltt!l't:~t us, in the characters of those who write them.
Hence the curiosity which the pu\Jlick has alwa)'i; dis·

covcrctl, concerning the letters of eminent persons.
\Ve expect in them to cli~cov~:r somewhat of their real
character. It is chil<lish irnkc<l to expect, thttt in let•
rers w1.: arc to find the whole hc:art of the author un·
veiled. Conceal mcnt and disguise take plilcc, m~rc
. 111· less, in all huma11 intercourse.
But still, as letters
from one friend to anoti1c1· m:ikc tlw nearest approach
!o con\'trsation, we 111ay l'Xpcct to se~ more of a cha:--act~r clisplii)'ed in the~c than in othe1· productions,
which arc stucliu! for puhli :: k vh:w. \Ve! please nur·
·'. t!ln:s with hcholdin~ t!it \\ ritcr in a situi.ltion which
:t!lfi\\'-; him to ht· ~'t his l'etse, and to !;iVt: Vt.!llt occasion·
'.Ill}' tO tilt.: '.IV'. rfi<>win~S

of his flt.'al't.
l\111. h, t la·rcfort', of the merit, and the a~rccablcncss
'Jf l'p;•,' 1Jbr~ ~nitin~~' will depcnc.1 ot1 its intr\Jducin~ us
into srmu: a1 qn 1intanr.:c with ll1t! wl'itt:r. There if any
wh~·n· , \\'L' lo'>k for the m.in, not for the author. Its
:irst a11d f~\l1d ~1mcn\al t'\,?<l'1&~it1.: hi, tn ho tl ~ t.urul and
':li mplt: ; fo1· a stitf ancl laboured manm·1· is ns had in a
let~r. "s it j5 in convers:.ation.
This dot:s nnt h;misl\
spri~:ht1i:1;.;<;s ~ ,ncl wit .
Thc-;c arc :.; rnccful in kttcr~,
jitst ;,s they~~:-~ in ronn~ rsation ; wht:n tht·y flow l'asi·
f1;, an1l without hcing- stn :!iecl ; wh<'n t•mp?oyc.:d bO as
t~ s i::.ison, nnt T<l rli1y. 011c who, dth1:1· in convers·:1. inn or ir1 letters. :1:l'..:t!s to shine i1flcl to "p:.irldc always,
will not plc.1c;e 10111~. The style o.f letters shpuld not
he too hig-hly polic;hrcl
It ou~ht to he neat and co1·:-crt, hut nu mon·. All nicety <thout words, hl'tr.lys
~t 1.1rly

; ancl hcnr.e musical pt~rioc1s, an<l app1•:1r:lnces
or a •111mbt:r and harmony in ari·ang1:me111, should be
<:arc:iullv a,·nick<l in kttcrs. The best ktters are tommonly ~·ir.h al.\ rh1· ;·•.1t !l0rs have writtt-n with mo'it fo.

cility.

\Vlrnt the iit.:art or t'1e imagination clictatt:~,

a1way e flow~ readily ; but where there is no

subj~ct

\

\
\

...
"'

,,..-.,~""'- 'r-".rl-"'"''""P-

·

. .~

to warm or . intel't:3t t!u.:s,~, constraint :\ppt:Jl'!, ; ~u .. ;
hence, tnos.c i lctt(:l's of mi..:rc complinu:11t, congr'1tul~l·
tio11, or ~Jfci: tcd condoh.:1h:c, which have cost the au,- _ ~L91:;\J~i9,~~t 1a:>0ur '•' comp~sing, and .which for th~t
~::~a~o!1,J!~~ y pcrhJj_>.s as th.:ar ffi'1Stc:·1>.1c~cs 1 llc\·cr fail
~t~ffH~~~thc most <11sagrc:ca1Jlc: and 111~1p1tl to the

rea-

- ·....

<:;~-

·

-

,.

•

1

, •

·,i~:;; d

t ought at the same time to be rc.:mrmbcrcd, that
-.'" - - :>;~ the ease and simplicity which I have rc.:comml'.IHlcc1 in
epbwlary co1Tcsvondcncc, is not to he und..:rstood as
importiug c11tirc cardcssnc:ss. 111 \Hitino· to the most
int imatc fricncl, a ccrt,,in degree of ~tl<-11~ ioi1, hoth to

of

lit:
( iP4.

l }·

~

\

c; ..

i

of

I

01',

the subj..:ct ancJ the sl) lt:, is rcc1ui1,it4.: und b~somitHt•
It is no more, than what we owe both l 'l our ., «!lvc"~ tm<l
to the friend "ith whom we corr'!spond. A slu,enlr
aml nt·gLctetl manner of writing, is a <lisol>li~ing mark
.· of want of 1·csptn. The libtrty, bcsidt:s, of writing
.:;· lc:ttcrs wit I\ too r.arckss a hand, is ap~ to bl'truy persons ir1to imprm1encc in what tht:y write. The first
1

· ~:

.requisite hot!a jn con\'crsation und col'rcspondtncc, is
..to attencl to ,,11 the propl'r dt:corums which our own
ch~1racttr, anJ that of others, demand.
An imprudent c:xpt•t:ssion in con~ersation may b·.= fotgottcn oncl
pa<i~ a\\ ay ; but when we take the pen into our han<l,
we must rcmcrub::r, that •' Litt:ru scriptn m•mct."
\V hen c.orrc.:i;:oll(ting with l'dations or friends, the
feclin~c; of the heart

wrn

dictate the bc~t salutation ;
but in adclt·csiing superiors, great attention should l>c
pai<l to ra11k anc.l title ; for which purpose, we insert
th~ follo"' int;
·

-·-

OFFICIAL TITLES.

is
!K>mctimc~ :ludrc~~~·d by that appc11<1tion only : The
m r•'lt cu•;tom,1ry ~tyh: of adclrt·ssi11t~ hi1:1, is, His R.1 •

..

"

G<l
•

rrc
~,,

pri
are

1
\V
('h .

or,

PRESIDl.?llT OP THE. u~lTED STATF.S,

ctllt:ncy thr PRt:SlDY.NT of the
Exrtlfrntu tht Pa&!SIJ>r?4T.

)

(

The iuual •tilt ~f.Adclrc11.for the firinriflal fluhlick OflL.•
Ct'Tr, in the U·iitrd State.~, i1 aa follou•a, lJi=.

Tnr.

me

U,"iitd Stater; or, I/is

B-

Pa ~
J

D.

P r<
~

l

\\'ill
~' ''
y t

l~

V0 1l r

goodness, to enu.hle ine to get n1y fu! urr

will

bread. I ~un sensible ho'v little I deser\'( ~
a11y fa vo ur from yo u, Pntl ho~~ »Oli ~H )it.H i
are justly · offended ; but I hu1nbly hopP,
that \vhen you consider how I arn situated,
\Vithout a character, and the distress I arn
tht>reby likl~ly to be driven to, your human-

Hl

1P ble!' J~ rad e

if not
.\ktrity,_

·ifi

th~

f{~' · l'~gt
1i

) ' I

. ~ ,_.

•\.l.~l '-.,.

· <.

~

1 \~

with
l).i ta nee

age.
the bult\d that
see the
.n1es of
ed with
.tion in
~u t

, migh t
es, and

fessions.
1cerning
, canno t

i.; her,
co mmit~

rcss, re-

r 1ny3elf

.; 1u .,vour
ur 113ual

ity ""will induce you to put it in my power
once more to obtain a livelihood ; and I

solen1nly assure you, that a grateful rcmem~1
brance shaU be proved by the future good
cond n~t of
Your very huml>lc
And penitent servant,

ON DUTY.

LETTER/rom a youtlz at sclzool to his father.
HONOURED SIR,

I

the first opportunity of inforn1ing you how happily I feel n1yself situated
EMBRACE

...vith Mr.
That g(~ntleman and his
fan1ily do every thin~ t o rende l" th(;) r 1,"l'it w
cornfortable; and my master 8pares no pa.ins
lo instruct us in everv useful brar;ch. I
hase a just sense, de;r father, of your indulgence in allowing n1e the pork~t n1oncy
"'hich Mr.
regularly pays 1ne; an1 I

promise to be as frugal as possible. J\ t present, I a1n in \Vant of a. few book s ; \Vhich,
I have no doubt, your goodness "'ill enaLle
nle to purchase, and that I shall hl':4 r fron1
you soon. J>ra.y inake n1y duty to '1ny
1nother, and love to n1y si8ters. l :un, dear
sir,
Your affectionate and' dutiful son,
3

lof.i ll

DUR--,

. You a letter gave ine nH1c:h ulea~ure~
.... lh•-'l f.hM.t. ""'.,...._.

ru ,..a

j,; ..,.111•·~aa.&.vo 6ol'411!~111'hud 1'.YU1h.

your situ~tiun. . I an1 cer~ain l'vlr.
, is a.
\vorthy aud in<lu1gent nntn, fully con1petent
to the business he professcs

~

and it \vill be

Hi ~

(1

your own fault if he ·docs not treat you as

his child, and n1ake you a .good scholar.
'rhe en~ ! osed ordE;r will convince you ho·.v
'villing I am tu supply you \\'ith bool\s, or
any thing l·lse you 1nay stand i 1 need of;
und I only require on your pnrt. u, continuance of that good co11duct, and attention
to your studies, ,,·hich in the end, \Vill not
fail to n1ake . you happy, and in the mean
tin1e add to the happiness of your loving
pareuts.
I arn, dear--, your affectionate father.
1

sc1LOol
l\IY DEAit

1rJ

11l'r

(!

lJ
.·

up

'

<l e a
t l 1t•1.

the:

.

~

~·

foy<
con

pro I
ti on
O\VJ

t ion
lllCI

-- ·~ :· ---

:UETrER lrom a yo.ung Lady

tJ

al

voardiug '

mrc1lt$.

PARE~TS,

I TAKE the first opportunity, since 1
have Leen lei;trnt to juin 111y letter~, 3f v.-ritjng to you, for the purpose of sJying ho\Y
truly se11siblc I an1 uf all the can:i autl alt cntion you h:.t \'e besto\ved upon n1e, aucl
that I shall endeavour to n1erit a continuance of t hcrn. \' ou cannot itnagiue ho\V
go c. . 1 :\lrs. - - is to ine, and ho\v happy I
an1 in lJcing placed undt:r her ·~ar . .'. ~he
h:l:l i11st giYenr.l\11%
und Jne, each a

for

plea
con·
hle s ~

deli!

cont
LE1
Dl

at tl

_,

Q,...

::;J.mpler to "·ork, and ha.s promised, tQ lgt 1ne

..pl e~ « ....:· '.) ~' ,,
at i ~ t~.t (' \vi th

take it for your inspection.
I hope shortly
to have the pleasure of. seeing you ; and

i ch

' ~"

..

is a,
,.. . ed t~l )e te11t
.
11d it \V ill be
t te.A.r you as
uod scholar.
ICC ,, ..vou ho·~v

1r.

'~,>

I,

(i

believe me I lose no opportunity of offering
up rr;y pr.Lyers to heaven, to _preserve n1y

dear parents, and that I may hve to make
them so1ne recon1pence ·for the inclulgci•c~
they besto\V on their
Dutiful and affectionate daughter,
-©-

:

h ·uooks, or

. Thl' Fatlzer's ..1lnswi·r.

J;~ . ne ed of ;

MV D EAR

r:' a contin-

YouR 1nother and I have been over-

·i-1". a t tclltion

·d"

vill not

~ l i t.He

inean

\.o ur 1o vi n 0rr

-

~ 11a.te

fathrr.

~11y,

since l
:r::- , of \\Tit:<1ying ho\V
1 re~ and at111 n1e, aucl
it a contin1agine how

ow happy I
car\..·.

~-;he

lJH..', (.'a Cli

,

a.

foved at the receipt of your letter. Wo
c~ngrntuhtto you, rny dear chilcJ, on tho
proficiency you have n1a.d o in your edu~U.·
tion ; ·which is a proof not only of your
o\vn genius but of the great care and alt.en·
tion your governess pays to your in11woyc ..
inent. l haYc \Yritten to her, t.o thank her
for her goodness ; and that she 'vill also be
pleased to permit you to visit us as soon as
convenient. That God n1ay continue hi..:
blessing to you, in addition to that of your
delighted parents, is, my dear child, the
continual prayer of
Your loving f a.thcr and inother,

LETTER from a fathur lo his son at school.
rl.)cowmcnd i11g d ili'gt•ncc, f.!f c.
DEAR

,

to ha Ye paid you a visit
at the school, but a bad state of health preI

THouc;nT

~~~

vent.; n1y going so far.

A~; ~t

will probabl:<
lJe some time, therefore, bE:fore I sl1all see
yon, I hnxe thought it necess~.ry to \vrite to
you. Let me entreat, n1y dear child? that
? ~) :-

th~

! . ·. ~ ,. e

rc1n~i!1der of the ~hort t itne yt)\\
tu sta.y at :-;chool, you will pay the

~·~reatest

a ttention to your t; ~udies. Youth
is the proper time for acquiring knowledges
.d1ich if properly improved and r~duced to
practice, '''ill be of the utmost ~ervice hereafter. i\s you are nea1 ly at an age proper
to be placed out as an apprentice, I request
you \Viil thirak of some busine.;s to \vhicb
you "·ould pre(er b~ing brought up, that
you may hPreafter iJe alJ~e lO procure a dl~1.,;ent 3Ubsi.:-rence. I"' ish i.o leave the choice,
in thi:; ca~e, to your6elf; but if you have
i10 part!ality to any p~rticula.r trade, I "·ill
<::1dt~aYour to fix en 011e for you; ancl nothing on n1y }Jart shall L>e \\'antinLJ; to rPnder
your life comfortal>le. I ~hall expect a leti(;r fron1 you 5hortly. In th<~ mean time I
r~rna1n
\"'our aflectionate father,

l
i
I

i

'
i,.

-@-

'11/zc

"1" swt: r.

HO~OrRED ~J~.,

I 11EI.:T the mo&t unfeigned sorrow on
hearing of your ill state of health, and fer,·ently pray to God that he "·ill IJe plca.3ed
speedily to restore it. I am confident, my
clear father,· your advice is such, that, if
::;t.rictly f ollo\ved, must be attended with the
hf'st consequences to n1yself; and it Ehall be

'

!

._c

l

'

J,

· b ~1l.;! 'f'

ll see
rite to
, th a t
•

, . <H l

_,,• r

· }•e
l,

•

~r outh

ledge,
ced to
· here-

,.;

i

'

'

•

'

I

iny care to obey the precepts of 1ny kind
fa t her. With rega rd to the choice of a trade,
I have had son1e thoughts, if agreeable to
you, of being- apprenticed to a
, but I
shall be guided wholly by your approbation.
P ray, let me hear from you as soon as possible, as I shall !abour under the greatest uneasiness till I learn that your health is restored. I atn, dear father,
Your affectionate and dutiful son,
- - -$ -

~r op e 1:.

eques t
whi ch
,, tha t

a de:ho ic~,

havq
I \Vill
t

no th ~ ..

n.·ncler -.

LE TTER from a mofht::r to her d !-,·,,g .llltJI" tt l
a boarding scliool, recomnu:nd iNg I flt-" prnct icl' of 7}irtue, ~ c.
DP.AR CHILD,

As nly thoughts arc c'&ntinually bent
on your future welfare, I cannot otnit any
opportunity of pointing out to you the
paths \Vhereby you may gain everlasting

·ith the

happiness. Religion and virtue, my dear,
m u st be the foundation of your hopes ; let
nle the refore request that you \Viii devote
one hour in the da.y at least to thn perusal of
your bible : and you \Viii not find religion to
be of that gloomy nature \\'hich soine enthusiasts haYe represented it. Avoid the fashiona ble follies of a gay, unthinking \Vorld ;
but I \Vould not by any tneans prohibit yon
from that plca~ing ~aiety which it is necessary to observe in cotnru.uy, nor from any
rational a111uscment, su far n.s is consi:;tent
with prndencc ancl 1nornlity. I fiud it Jess

~ ha11

necessa ry to thvell on those topics, froin the

a l e t~
time I
her,

t

·o,v on
ntl fer-

)leu.:3ed
!Ilt, 1ny
·ha t, if

be

3~

'

.

fi

..

'

.

•

.

Jt

~

•

..

•

••

.

'

~~

:;o
! he ~

'~unsideration

that you have the friendly\:are a nd advice of your governes~, for
whose knowlPdgc and inerit I have the
l1ighe.;., respect. I have no doubt, 1ny dei.lr,
you vdll consider attentiYely \vhat I have
\Vritten ; which, at the same time that it
cannot fail to insure your own happiness,
wlll add to that of
\'....our c·ver nflecti-Onate mother,
-©-

I

el

t.o li

· 1ne t
rt JlC <::

nevE
~:tan
YOU !

c· nti •

y ou

'l'ln· ./l11su•e r.
HONOt:RED MAUAM,

l)rTv to the best of parents cbli~es
ine to assure you, that I shall pay the 1no~t
·un plicit obe<li~nce to your ~dvice. I assure
yo H, my dear Wlad ~ rn , t}:{\t I love religion
and vh·tne ; an(\ l

I

husi1
tnv 1

~lncerely

hope that no
le\ld nH~ to deviate

consiLleration ,,·ill ever
from then1. l\ !.,v G:J,·erness !s not re1niss in
her precepts and e xa1n ples ; and I ftatte1·
:nyself th~t 1ny gcner:d conduct \Vill convincc h2r ar!d iny de:-ar parent that I an1
\Yhat they vdsh n1e to be, and

of r
a8h :J ·
par t .

that
of J
t hrtl

1

' "' ···'· ~ ~;

\'-our eyer dutiful daughter,

ent<.:

-@-

L}.~'[Tl:i:R from all .d.pprc11tice Iv

nhly

liis Pare·,·;(.

!!0.SOlilU.:D - - - ,

I take this opportun'ity of \Vrlting, to
~·. ·;e an acc"nnt of in.r situation since you
ti:n1nd n1e to !\Ir.
. , lie a~ \Veil n s n1 v
rni stress, treats ine with everv
., reasonable
indulgence ; u.nd I as~;u re yoa that, o u 1ny
1·art., l do c~.rcry thin~ in 1ny power to prove

kno
you

I n1
the
(~l\t
per~

el

Sl!C l'

in t l
c:i.n

