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t:KIYIU\S.\L

LETTER-\VRIT-ER;
OR, 'vnOLE ART OF

POLITE COHRESPONDENCE:
.

•\. CRI:A'l' VARIETY OF PL.A.I:-:', EASY, :E.NT.l.RT.A.JYINe ,
A :S D F

A. ~n

L I.\ R.

- ORIG,J,J..VAL LETTEitS,
ADAP1:ED . . . . ERY AGE .AND SITUATION
I~ LIFE,
IlUT MOR£ PAitTlCl"T..\RLY ON

BUSINESS, EDUCATION, AND LOVE:
To!!ethcr with
VARIOUS FOR~lS AND PETITIONS,
SuitRblc to the different 'Vants and E'dgcncic~ of Li fe~
·~

IPUOPER METHODS 011 AD.:>nES:>I~G liUP2RtOR5 AN'tl;' PEnS ONI
OS .A Lr, UA~K.S, BOTH I'S wnITISG A""D DISCOU~9E i
,.\!fD VALL'ABI.& HINTS FOR GRA:.IMATIC.AL
CORRE:CTXESS ON AJ,L OCCASIO!'S.

· To which 1' nducd,

A l\IODEHN COLLECTION ·OP

GENTEEL COMPLll\rIEN1..i\RY Ci\RDS.
J .ike,•:i.'ie,

/

t.'S~FVL FOR~1S

IN LA \V, SUCH AS WILLS,
BONDS, Sec.
,
TO \YHICH IS SUJlJOTh'"'ED AM' INDEX,
-w

T~

cnaLle the reaclC'r immccliatdy to find out any
Letter or .Article w:mted.

-

'

/

p:lrtic11I~

·

'

A NF.W F.DITiO~ COUR?;CTED A'S'D E~I ••\~GEn.

'

HUDSON:

fRINl''ED DY \VILLIAl\I E. NORMAN",
.."~o
, .._,
,. , 1VARR~N-S'l'REE'l"•

.

1811~

'
.'•

PREFACE.
· .·-·...
~

/
/

'·

'·.

THE several editions which have recently been
printed of, the following pages are the best eulogiuiu
upon the selection here presented to.tac Public. To
render it as complete .as possible, consi&tently with its
brevity in size and price, the Edit()r ha• •ndcnvo•~d.
to jntroduce the gr~:3.!e~t variety of useful :ind applicahk rr; ::<,t~~r.
Elaborate letters :upon general or natural
history, learned criticisms, or long extracts, are reject•
ed; as they tend rather to swell the size. of the book,
than promote the improvement of the practical corres·
pondent, whose ain1 is to compress his subject, and who
. seeks the easiest model of placing his though~s_in the
most simple and intelligible dress.
In persuing the
<liffcrent styles of authors, the young student will form
a judgment upon their comparati\'e merits, and be led
readily to adopt that which is 1nost !-;Uitable to the o~­
casion, whether it be the clet::il of facts or of fancy, of
pleasure or business, of gnit;- or solcmni ty. · For the
express purpose of ir.str!.lcting the youthful :ind unin"
form eel 1uintl in the art cf easy antl fonil! ur corrc:spon•

lV

.-

<len~e, we li~n-c

av<lcd the following brief and indispenRable rulc3, which, if att~ndc<l to, will pla~e the cpisto·
lary writer in a· respectable view; an important consi·
deration when it is rdl1.:cteu, that words pass the ear,
an cl are quickly forgotten, 01· e:-:: 1~ J&ed in the hurry of
business or argument, .while on the contrary, our writ·
tc.;n thoughts arc pr~!.iervctl for yiars, mark the inattention or ability of the writer, and frequently are the
foundations of his good or bad fortune.

TO gi
prouuctio

viz. O nl1
A corr
i~porlnu,

§Ul~f~fj ~

1-ij~)4it¥:

f?# ces sar~

the et\·r1
\\•l}ic!1 is
autho rs.
fcrcn tly I

there is
mis-~pe ll

now usu:
word s e

condudi1
gick, com
campietc,
to the ol<
cCJrrt·ct, :

form to

"'

1

Gramr.
e\·ery w<
nt·arh· si
. i
of snch
th·dy, ~
ing ; fal
tlnoiws

~

faulter, :

silion u1

..

. ·~
'·

nc.1

ii~t1ispen ..

~ th~

epistonant consi·
ass the t;ar,

1c hurry of
• our writ• rnatten•
toe

tlv are the
"

---fTO g1ve weight and respectability to our epistolary
p1r0Juction, four things are indispensably necessary 9
viz. Orthogniphy, Gramm1r, Style ancl Pronunciation.
A correct Orthography is absolutely of the highest
importance ; ignorance in this particular is always con•
si<lerecl a mark of ill.breeding, vulgar education, and·
stupiditr.
To obtain this perfection, it is absolutdy
nt~cessary to depend on memory, and a knowltclge of
the etymology of \v,·or<ls;. but chiefly the . former ;
which is to be acquired in· ren<ling elegant and ·classical
authors~
Sometimes, in<lcccl, worcls are sptlled clif..
frrer1tly by these, but suth instances are rare, ancl where
there is hut. one way of spdling a word, shr;ulc.\ it be.
rn is.spelled, ridicule would deserved I\' fo[ow.
It is
now usual to dismiss the u fron\ tlle fi:1~,1 s\ \l.1\-;li.! cf
worch en..l1ng in our, as honour, lavo.m·, &c: an cl the
concluding k from words t'nding ck, ac; aimanack, tra·
gick, comid:; comp/cat, i's now mort! prorcrly wrim.:n
Cf.m1/Jiete, &c.
In such cases, it is n~ error to adhtrf!
to rhc olc.l orthography, though it is n~ ~: n: p:-!1it1~, more
correct, and has lt:ss appearanc<= of 5iq)uLr!ty, to conform to the new.
Grammar fa deduced from certain rules which give
e\·e1·y word its due force ~met form : th cs... ruks are
41

nearly similar in all countries, sul~1·~ct to the t:xception
fJf such idiomatic phrases ~.ts can be t:1kcn only collecti\·dy, and which, when st·parated. rml\'ey no meanjng; falfle gnu11mar, ei:ht:r in writing or speaking,
throws a. strong Stlrc?.sm on the eclur~. tion of the defaulter, nnd in many instances mii;ht make his compo•

silion unintclligilJle, or

~t

le«ht dubious •
•i\. 2

lNTJtODUCT'IO~ •

\ l

·'"li"•tS hll JtH

1

'x (;k~ ~V~h ~· ~t; 1 it.'f ~'~~·;;:~~~s1rt~::
;;~ --,-~~t~n~rv~IJ!
t .lln m ma ny
1)1t.:6i.; s, we sha 1 enc.Ieavor to

,., a~s

.P oint out some ot tho~c errors which the unfoarnedbut
too fn:q::ently foll into.
~ 1 comes, f g(lr:.r, &c. for I come, I go, &c.
Learn i1
fn·qut-ntiy usl'd for teach, set for sit, laid for Jay, mis·
tal1~ i1 for mist1:kin;:, &c. 1Vas is used for we,.e, and the
powtr of cunjt:nrtions is litth! attended to, viz. if he
·was in~tead of if he lt'erP..
Adjectives are commonly
ltse<l for ach·erb:.; ; he wrote agreeable to your order,

:sl~ould be he wrote agreeably.
i

phrases, spri g
tion or happy

is an eleganc<
tion of them i
our letter litt
It is of the
all expletives

lntlccd~ it were to be

rcnthcsis; t (

w1:,-;.hc;d, that the numl'rous instances of false grammar,
tu b~ m_et with in the most esteemt><l authors, and point..
eel ont m the works of writl~rs on Cnnnmar, were col..
ie<:'ted, nntl e::;hihikd in 3 cheitp shape, as they more

nvoid as muc
no unin1port:

Tautology
much care c

p:.ilp~~lly"inir · ·.se fal<4c syntnx. !:::l~. to ~h~ un\e::ll'nt!d, thaa

\vhule pages

o ~,· ah:.;truse

~hara:tcristic of bad com pan~,

3 hacl education, or be.
mg little rend in gt.iod authora. P1 o\'l:rbial expressions
::mcl trite s3yin[;s are the fl<'wers of the rhttoric of a

or

i\"ef.'eJ.·s1ty

rate and jucl1
is termc:d a
proper to s~•:

has no hrw; such '\'lllg~tr a•

cmincnc~

plwd 5ms ought to be rr;j t' ctc:-c.l which are common nn'l

to acquire a
to f(l//~w nm

best.turnad
pedantry, at

common us
and \·ulgnri:

mny rcncfor himsrlf unintc.Uigible to ont! accu~toJJ!ed
{)nly to the infe rior, phra~{'ology; the reason is, that

..
.•

or grammati
Jlunctur.ti

per <lh·isior
to pcr!picui1

nt the posi1
;ood trc"tis(

..
•

:
•

" •
•

•

'

;
•

....

·, • '
•• ••

•

'

•.#':.

~

I

•

•

•

<I

1•

-

•

.'

•

•

,

•

"

·~

1n 1

JJe wlzo wot1

An attt:nti\·e writer would not say, It
ic:as n!l-tllt"oilgh y;;u it lwppr.nPd, hut It happened/rem
v-:ur inut/cntion. An aif<::ct~tion of learning is also QDO
cf the gr~ates~ blemh;hrs of style ; thc::rc are two dist1n~t moues of spenking the English language, so dif.
:ferent from each other, that a pct son using the suptrior,

in fo:r.ilL1r use:.

lnany worrls and phrasl'S are to l>c expressed ~y S~xon
as wdl ns Homan dcrh·atives ; the former are in com•
mun usr-, the latter ere more peculiarly in the pos~es­
~ion flf ~he lc~rnecl.
The medium, he>wevcr, OUi:_ht
consttlntly to be ktpt in view.

-I

·'The use o

· low..~rcc1 man ; insk~Hl of s~ying, My friend -;va~ com.
pc!lc-d b!/ ncct:.Tsity , he won1d ~ar '9 lVt·1:d<; must Trllcn tile
1!t: ~· i! dr/tics~

~

CSKILCS\\,.

. tautology, c~
sentences w1
letter. It gl;
taste, as the

clt·cl11ctions.

Style. Vulgarism in langu:o!gi · or writing is a certain

Ii.

oute u

loti of the Sf'
duce into"the'

0; ~ 1.~ uc nt

•

•

..
"Jl

l~TRODU'CTIOS I

,t :t inccl in ~
'U?'! lt t: ly (!X.,

ndcavcr to
Larned -but

L rar}z it
lt1y, 'nis·
·u·e, and the
l, \·iz. if /u~
1"> r

~

commonly

'/~ ll1"

orckr,
were to be

~grammar,

>, ~Hid i)Oi n t ..
r, \ve rc col-

tht'.y more
.: arrn.:<l,

th~m.

is n cen:-iin
~ 1ti1in,

or be;: ..
cxpre!:isions

httoric of a
J;r/ i. i'f.'-~ CC. lil•
?/st rr!tcn t/ic
h \Ulg;tr :-1•
r .p1 nion

<m<l

l uot sav, It
:/•/J("!11·d ji·cm,

g is also on~
~t re two dis ..
::!ri:e, so dif.
·'
flt'. snperior,
1

I

'

j

accustom (:<l
isr m

i3,

th:~t

t:d hv Saxon
· ~re 111 com.
1 the ros--es-

rev u ·,

ou;;h~

i~ a vice in style whi<;h is al ...
'\~•fiys ~u1· y t '..1 durn, cm thu pctrscm n~~nt:r it th u i mpum ..

Teo frr qn r; nt qnotntions

Lactit;s :we apt to int 1•o·
duce into their lctte;rs the prevailing Fren{:h ~nd Italian
phrust::s, sprigs of poetry, and scraps of 1)bys. A quotation or happy phra!i>e, judiciously intt•odut""Ud, ce1·tainly
is an elegance in style ; but the too frl·quent introdtic•
tion of them is an unpar<lonable ~fftctadon, and renders
vur letter little more than a copy of another authoro
It is of the greatest conseqm:ncc in writing, to avoid'
all expletives; to refrain from the insertion of Ion~ pa·
renthcsis ; to use perivds of moderate length ; and t:o
avoid ft'> much as possible terminating a sentence with
an unimportant word, or an indcclinal>le part of speech.
Tautology is so great a fault in composition, that too
Inuch care cannot be taken to avoid the use of words
exactly synonimous. '"l here is also a species c1f literal
tri.utology, called ~literation, \rhich con~ists in forming
sentences with many words beginning with the same
letter. It should be used very sparingly, ancl with great

tron ot the gro:sest pedantry.

tnste, as the abuse of it is very frequt:nt.

·

·The use of figures of rhetoric must alwar:; be moderate and judicious.
No blt:mish in style exceeds what
is term<::d :;i uroken 1nctap!zor; for exatnple, it j5 \'t-'ry
proper to say, " He "'ho would ciimb to the highe~t
cn~incnce must step with cau.lion ;" but it' it were sairl
He who would soar~ &c. it would Ot:: nonst:nse. ln shor~
to acquire a genteel style., little more is Dt!Ct:S!.arv than
to fullow nature anc.l em·c, to ust: th\" most polish~d ~md
btst .. tunrnd sentiments the subjer:t admit!" cf, to mmid
}lerlantry, afTtctation, ancl the adoption of phrases in
common use with the bi:au mQnde, on tht.· one hand,
an<l vulgari~y, cant words, ~nd want of orth0graphical
or grammati1:al accuracy, on the other.

]Junctuation, inasmuch as it is necessary to the pro.
per di\·j5ion of sentences, is of "f'ry great importance
to pcr~picu_it~~.
It n:iay e~!jily be ac<1uir~c.1 by looking
at the pos1t10n of pomts m books, :~~~ti t•y consulting
iaoocl tre~tises. ln gt:ncral, points arc th'c pauses '\vhich

correct or:itor woul<l l~ c in ~pealdng, :\n<l as a know·
of their p1;w ... rs is to be :~cquin:d with Vl'T}' Jittle
care. the m:glccl of thc:m is unounhmnhlri
Among fbc St>c:ond;uy :tttaiumtntS to finishing our
epistnlar~, r:~mmuuit.atio11s h~ntl:;umdy, 1s the art of
writing ·, n-lt
.An i1.ka \hat j, i" not grrdct..f to wdte a good hand il
very prl'val.:nt, ;rnd incluM:-1ou~lyrircu1a~c<l by tht: indo·
lent ; but we may ·q,iutc, in con~ 1 :Hl: :'ti on lo their judg4
tnt'.1~, t!u.! opinion of the ac:com1.1ti!'•!t,;c! Lord (.;h'-=stcr•
fielrl.
D •• iiy txpcrience also pro\·1.;s, ~h.,t nuny ~re
soh·l;: indebted to th~ perspicuity and clc-g;tncc ol thcir .
hand-writing f,)r thdr cl~vation in \he: woi id.
V :ui >us t>pinions prt:vail r~specting the use of caj1it~!l
letters; but all writt-rs agree that evt:ry tsrntcncc should
lwgin with one, ancl th;;t proper names, and the t:mpha·
3

1~dgt.:

•

u:

1

I

tied wCJrds in a sentence, should only be tlistiuguished
b\· tht:me
.

\. · Scvt'ral other little m ~·.ters ought t~ be atten<lul to,
; to make a lt!tt~r appear like the production (Jf a \~di.
bred person ; !;Urh as the leavjng a mm-gin on the lt'ft
h~md, th~ distance from ilze t?jl of the ,yflee~ where she
lt:Her ought tr> begin, nnd tho;; place fr;r the datt:; hut
these being rt-gulatt-cl entirdy h}" fashion, written rules
would onl~ pl:zzle the rt:adt=r.
Regard to the ~:raigltl11ess of your lines ought to be
str:• tl~; attcndtd to; and, if~ ou r:1lc: lint:& \\ith a kad
pencil, take care to dface tht:m bdor~ your lt:tttr is stnt
~Wa\·.

In mrr~ing u,b a lelfrr folct it so as to leave room to
conr.l~al th·: w1tfer, or cli~pla; the- seal inten<lc::d for it,
the fnl<ls , u~ht to bt: t>trongh· pre!'isc:d with an ivory
folclt:r, or the: hanrf, ~o as to lit· flat, and make the cor•
nt'rs sh~rp; tha!, wh~n th~~ art· st:.\le<l, they may not
show au.unev\:n sue face, or uuh~lnJoomc sh,tpe.

E;?
c!,ildr1
enc .t'it

tainta
rd sty
tion OJ
their.)

lion.
·writir.
the tj

from

1

C:07n7'!ll

.ts a kr:ow~
:1 \'t:n !iu.'r
~

11:J1in?, our
t!h.: ~H t

of

-~ n d

kmcl i::;
·,· :,.\...· t ht· i n c.l o ..
i ~'. ~:. i ~~- jt !.':!g·

rd ' t rfe~\?rt hi:m
;.tre
.J"~

r:c~

.

THE

UNIVERSAL LETTER.. \VRITER;

. •· - •

on,

«

G( Liit:ir

COMPLETE ART OP

POLITE CORRESPONDENCE:
Cont:iining

A r.REAT YAUlETY OF LETTERS,

•

•"-: THE :.IOST 1-·A::-.ULl.\U, 'USEFUL, INSTRt:CTIVE, ANJt
"

J:YfER1'.AINIXG OCCURRE~C:ES IN LUZ.

\••"n (1.1 1, ;1. 1 . o ,
1 (,r j r,; d t.
1 on tlh.: k ft:
.r~

t.

w htn: the

IXFANTILE LETTERS

datt:; but
Hilt1.:n ruks

' l'

o~

F I L I AL D U T I E S, Sec.
ought to he
'" ith a kad
letter is stnt
1ve room to

nde<l for it~
.th ~n ivory
:;ke the

C<) r•

wv
. nu\", not

EXCEPT the correspondence that mtfy jJa!a !Ji:twetn
cltildrcn, these must, generally, consi~it of requests ou tht;
(inc side, and /Jermission on tire other.
The matter co1ztai12ed in them, should be of the most simple a"11d wzd~rn•
rd style.
Great care 11lould be taken that tlze composi·

ol' cfliirl-re-tt

b not too fornm or ::tigf nor .'>lroufJ
tilelr faults be corrr.ctea w;tJioul a satiifactory explanation. Parents and Friends s!u;u/d ·p1·event them from.
•tvriting in a loose and !lngrammatical manne/!, much of

tion

tlzt· epi.•tolatory it1<tcc1tra1·y of younger years arising

from our ·want o.,f time!t1 r."tplanatio11, and the ignorant

co1m. zimi"ationi of uurs(~· and inferi~l'
1

serv~·ants.

10

Letter T.foin a y_~ung L~:d.!:f. to Iler Far ~ m's ..

I HOPE that my dear papa and mamn1•\. '"·'' c:t:cuse the baclness of the writing of this Ltttcr, when
:.they shall be pleased to recollec~, that this is my first at.
temrt since I have ltarneu to join my letters together.
1 have long bet'n anxious to 'have the pleasure of being
~ble to write to you, and beg yuu will be pleased to acct !l~ this my first humble offering.
As n1y constant
.~.::: ;.: ~~ / ~ V ~' r has been, so shall it continue to be, to con.
· ·>:·c·:. you how much I am, my clc~regt parents,
Your most affectionate and dutiful daughter.

rofn tile sam" to her parents

011

another occasion;

MY - dear papa and mamma will be plco.• 4'4 t9 Ms
cept of my most r t> spectful compliments, on the cld st!
of the old and commencement of the new ,,vcar. As it

has pleased God to give you good health during the
course of the last year, I beseech him to grant you the
same to the e::nd of the pre~ent, ~n<l many mrire. Thia
is :l happiness your family have most earntstly to wish

for, and in parfl:ular,

.
..

.

)/"'

...-:· --~

.,,.

.'

'f H

.

TH:C UNIVERSAL l F.TTE:R·WRITER •

YO'rir most humble and dutiful daughter.

·----

;, .

'l.ctter j rom the same lo lier 11/amma•
GIVE me leave, my cle3r mam"°'n, to tell you, as
well as m~,.r p ·~n wi\l permit me, or rather as well ~s my
unexperie:nccd h~n<l is c~pahle of directing it, h()w truly
sensible I ~m of aH \·our favours, ancl :hat I will endeavour bv
,, mv
. conduct. to merit the continmmcc CJf them.
l\1 y prayers are, morning aml night~ offen~cl up to hea ...
ven for your prese~·v:-tti~n, nor are you ever in the chy,
absent from my though:s. l\lay (;ocl p;-eservc you, anc.l
grant you every thing you can \Vi~h for, from the good

behaviour of
Your duti.ful an<l ~ff1.:ctionate daughter~

Letter fr om _.

IT

gi\' t~

n1y clear H(
Had you <li1
blt: loss : bu
I will tak e t

tell you how

YOUR

o

proof of you
God I am n1

doul:i~f- f' 1 h~ ..i

pU
Goodmti.n's c

j.C ·U.. j \i~t

his hedgeC3.
s.uch comnI"1.i
.

. Letter from
I CAl'-: N
feel the loss ·
:mcl indulgt:n;
know how h~
fcdinr;i:y you
-you to-m0rro
alw~ys nrntua
separated in <
but sit in glnr;
somewhere r,
passage for t~
gh·e you pati
n1ost forvcn t I

l TI'.lh

' jarcnts.
~ mma

will ex-

' Lttt<:r, when

my first at.

1 is

ters togctht:r.
~1sure of bcinl;Y'
fJ
plea!Je<l to ac ..
s my constant
to be, to co1.,..
~·u·cnt s ,

~·: cihter.

ll c!

.;

~

.

leased to ac ..
, on the clnse
vear. As it
· ~~ <luring the
nmt you the
inr-.re. This
. : : ~:t y to wish

Letter from a young Gt·ntlcmmi to his C~m1panion, recovered from a Fit of Sickness.
IT gives rne the nwst sincere pleasure to hear that
my dear Henry is rccovtring Ris health so rapidly.H ad ,·on d h:d. it would have bee:n \J ) me 3 most terrihlt loss: but it has plt:ase<l God to nr:esea·ve my friend.
! will take the first opportunity that offers, to call and
tell you how valu:1ble your life is to
J

•

.

Your sincere friend and play fellow.

the preceding Letter.
YOUR obliging letter~ my dear llilly, is a fresh
proof of your fricn<lship and tsteem for me. I ~ hank
God I am nc;v pofar:tly recovered.
I am in some
<loubt, whether I ought not to consider my late illriess
as a just punishment for n1y crime of robbing Mr~
Goodman's orchard, breaking his boughs, and spoiling
his hedges. I-Iowever, I am fully determined tnat no
f\UCh compldlint shall ever more come ·against
Your sincere friend.and playfellow.
Answer

tr;

Let tar from a young Gentleman to hisi:..ictcd Fr_iend• •

I CA?--~ NOT fail,, my dear Harry:
feel the loss you have sustaincc.1 in t~&

·:m a.
) tc.:ll you, as
;ls well ~s my
: it, 1lflW truly
I will encleam cc c;f thcm.
t el up to hea~r in the t!:.ly,
ervc you, and
'·om the good

dau uf!bter.

st sensibly to

eath of a good·

:mcl inck11gcnt father. It pierces me to the heart : for I .
know ho~:v g~eat was your affection for him, and how
fceiingly you m'1st bemoan his loss.
I will call upon
you to-rnorro\Y, ~nd \Ve will cry together; for, as we
always tnu.tuall~ cn~o~:ecl ()Ur srorts, why should we 0e
sepa1:at;d rn cur g~1efs: tbcy tell me you do not cry,
but sit rn gloomy silence. I do not like that; for I h·.\\"eJ
somewhere read, tha~ tcan c:ase the heart, and open a',
p:1~. sagc for t!~c nngmsh of the sonl..
1'hat God mny
give you patience un~lcr this terr1ulc calamity, is tho
most forvent pr:1yer of
Your cliscouso!Mti: frit.::lqr ·

-

Ansr.n :r to tlzt' preccdinrr Letter.
I K.}:;0'.V

or nothing in

l:n;- (L:nr Dilly,

:h~.t

.'

. >A,,

· ·

this w~rl<l bn.t a letter from
could hare so suon awakened. me

T!l E UNI\' £RS AL

1forni~­

he pro.·
.~J I

I.I ): I ,I.

Ii.I

Cl UfO.(!

>\\l1'ctJ'g1~

yoar
.ctttc rm g : . . y ;·
.l
. '. '
: ons1l L'.r . ; . •·
aid ,;·;
()f

LETT!R·WR1'!:£lte

!3

tar sentiments from you, and roay e\'ery wish of your
heart be ~s co 1 npletely gratified as l trust this will be,
the ~1st beinrr fix1.:d for .the d~w of our t!oint! hot1~.~ ,...
"""' ""'*ti a ru~' '1h*1iS' ~_,. ri'ii!lt' uUlt 11"- ~.,tf !'~'il&-'~j;glL,..,. • .
sp~ct.rur 'lf~fhe'moir-nhcesto ·myrdauons and friends, and
bc:l ie ve me,
D ear m::imma,
·
Your n1ost dutiful and affc:ction ate <la ughter•

F rom a Precept.?r to lzis Scholar during_ Vacation Time.
J;E:\R CIL\ ::1LE:;,

I .A~J un·.villing to omit the first opportunity that of..
fered, cf commencing a correspondence with my young
frien~, for fear, during thiq lt!isure time, the advice I
have given and the rules I hnve s~t down, in respect to
writing letters may be either forgotten or neglected. I
thiiik it my <luty, thcr<1fore, to remind you of the·:;e observations, and by insisting en regular an!1wers oblige
you to practise, as \Veil a5 to observe.
You may re-n1emher th:lt my first advice was to be _&areful of yout"
Gpelling, aud not to make use o:- pompom~ language in
,aJJrcssing your friends; a simplicity of styl~ always
rcccmmt:rnh itself, and uisrbys far more le~r11ir1g than
rhap5o<lical bombast: be nlso as brief :lS possible, for a
prc.lix writer .exhausts the patience of its reader. Avoid
n-.;ietitions, for lhey offend the ear; except they are art·
Ju~'l·1 ir•troduced, to mark some artful point.
I clisap·

c son.
;·""' -·~

·}~Ilda :J.~ e
r

01

g

•

l'C\'l•
SC Cih..'S

schoul.
ple ~sin·t;

, l oha u\cl

s aro.L~nJ

·:ll eri ;1:1l
to t:1x
tht.. i r TC' 'i-

111

1 present
ends, z.nc.l
·ul sir,

pro\·e cf parenthesis (except they he absclutely ncc1.·ssary) for thcv generally creat.'.! confusion : some mas-

i'ul son.

the sa me

c ~-:k:lsure
Christmas
st 5mc cre
:is faction [

.

,

:otr1m1tt1..·1 ..

. . .

1:1_· :·it 5:n11·

tcrs ate \·cry .fond of r\!rommen<ling lon)j s' s, aftd appropr ~:ting the round one to the final letter of a word.
]\;ever sc·n<l a letter to any one with an intcrl:nc:nion:
it is an affrc!1t, f0r it bet(;kcns both laziness and carelessness ; there i5 no e~::use for an intetlineation, except it b a piece which you wish to pro\·e an original,
and of which there should be no duplicate. Avoicl c:a•
pital leaers, v;hich should on1.? be appropriated to pro ..
J1(~r names or pa1 t:cuLtr nour.s.
'\Vhen you introduce
p, wor~l ,,. ~1ich rccin\rcs morl! than common notice, or oq

~4

'fU! UNIVERSAL L ETTER·WRITE!t.

which ~he reader should lay a great accent, put a dash.
under n with your pen : s uch words, wh•:n pr!~tecl, nre
put in italics,· but do not be too fond of this, for ! have
known many puzzlt:<l by thtse dashes, which have fref'iUtntly intimate<l wit ,., here th~re was none. N c:\'er
let me see you write you was, or l shall <lcny you u:ere
ever a pupil of mine. Be: atttnti\'e to the time, and do
not jumble the present, past, and future, as many writers do. U se the conditional mood. pr(.l)vid~d the: sentence be conditional: this, I conf~ss, is not a general
observation, but if a man prl'tcnd to write, he ought to
be correct.
Do not crowd us with mcnosvllablt:s, for
they are vary significant crta tu res, nor use· n1any long
words, for fear you may excc~<l comprehension. I hate
particles when they arc avoidable ; . be, therefore, sparing in your Jors, your uuls, and yonr ands. Quotations,
jvhcn not made too common, display, both a variety,
and some knowledG'e of authors; but beware of misap-.
plying tht:m, for you not only insult the author you bor.
row from, but expose yo:.irself to ridicule. Do not arrogate the power of making words, for we hr.ve sufficient
in our own langu~gc to exprtss our meanin~, a.ncl there
are very few who posses:> competent abilities for the
task.
Avoid cant and obsolete phrases ; nor insert a
.. word that you do not perfectly comprehend.
1·hcse
hints, I hope, will be sufficient; let me, therefore, s~
they are ohserv~d, while I remain, with compliments to

• \'O
T!-JJS imp
1/u~ pt1r,,nt, Jo
~1'Juth, ~ r hi.'·)
;.r to l'~r.mc II.
t ·o1uz , .\':'Jns, a1
Letter.,. an I h1
stratit•e : n11d

of o . /1eri

Ef1jlt:

Letttr to a 1
tH~AH.

YOU

!J R .

Vt:r\•

,-our S(Jn, :in cl
\'Our h.
For
f·or the profcs:

your father,

Your sincere fricJJ.

him;

f(1r

I m1

Ja\~·~ or c n .· r '
. t'
t
Jn< 1spt:t1~a'H \"
th~ bar.
In. a
hal,h· succeed '
T\i :y.
I tnUSI
c.·~c the freer ·

.

~·, , ..t r ~nn's s ~r:

merch~nt.
·:
\our !:lOn, sh <J:
to his SUC l l( (~

. !lur h, That

INDEX .

,·1 i. d inst :1n Le

l)d
•

j',,,r hi1:1~'' i('"~U·,

~ ·' I h

\In
to •a c c rt :nn
I
(l \..' .1f l : ~ g

t:\ ' t ' ll

hu11<.lre<l dot.
t wo hundreJ
:c . nex t t: n " n ~ _
~ r w i :}1 h\\~ ful .
1!Jlig :Hi () n ;tJJci
t1 l U fia , J, 01<~}'
id I. ·1. L;s
do, <1n c,,r
un <l truly pay

· tH.l

~-~~J}.~~~·

hi S
-~l},:51£~ ;~15s• gn ~,
I

l"tlril'ia rs, w ich
·:tJ· ublig;1tion:
n e, ~m d at :-i 11
, d eft-nd, ketp
. he ir5, t·xecu-

. \:· go{7)c\s am\

''-1·
U1 t: ~ aitl obi .
.1,.r!-:; payment~,
:~:Jt5ij .

th t:n:of.

'~:~?;Ji:::"·:·;~;;"·· .

•.r;,. ~:;:;.; - ·

'"="' 9~.

On Filial Duties, &c.
LETTER from a young Lady to her Parents
From. the same to her P.uents, on another Occasion

•

•

From the same to her m:lmm~
..
f'rom a young Gentleman to hi i Comp.iraio1,, re.
covered from a Fit of Sic~aess
•
•
Answtr to the preceding

From a young Gt!Dtlcman to his ~ffiicte<l Friend

Answer to the preceding
•
..
•
From a young Lady to her Brother ir• the Country
Answer tc the prect<ling
..
..
•
Juvenile und Parental L,·ttt1rs.
Fr6tn:'a Fctther to his Son at School
•
FP,btn a Youth at School to his Father

··:·.. From a Brother at Home to his Sister at S::huol
Answer to the:: prectding

•

10

.'·

Iv .

ib
1l

ib
l!J
ih
12

ill

13
J4,

ih

J5

From an d<lc:r Brother to a younger one at School ib
:From a young Gentl~man at School, tu hi., Broth·
ther at a distant Acadt:my
•
16
From a young Gentleman to his Father requesting
leave to leam French
•
•
•
•
17
His Father)s Answer
ib
From a young Lady to her l\Inmma, desiring leave
to learn .Ari th m~tic
J8
l'rom Dr. Johnsl!n to Mi~s Thralc, recommtn<ling
the Study of .Arithmetic
•
.. jj
.

"": -!

.

1

I

• .J

LJ
I •~ T'"\

'.J

.J

r•'•

. 1. . . .... ,. "... .) .•.'.:7:, s . , .

J, .

•

.

J ( , .) :

.J

'

~

.J . ~:.J:i ...i

...\.. •

• •

·9'·
' ..
i '., .' .. ~•-,

Dr . J -,, ·,.:-,-•. :• ·-, :'-l : .. ... J .. - 1~ L ,-.;_; · ,,,,
· ,.,J 1,.,· >;,
,,.'•· .. !. · •· <> !....·' "'-* '• ••.. •. . •...1:..• r ,
l ·'rr·' ·n
· «.

.• •, •. ,
oa _;. . .•.-..-_.

From
\\'It

· ' ' • . ·,.,.,
r :... 1 ·1 .~. 1 .,":I

!,: a·.-e t'> l : ..:r~1 !'' din···:
ib
l ' i'Jlln a ~;r, ;r::; I.., i v ~() ner :'.Iam:na, thankin;; ~'='
frjr th e P1:r1r1 i->, ,' )'J
21

Frrj'.11

'.i

:•'> iP-~

(j 1.: n:>·ma~ t 0

hii

Fath!r~ claim~ng

r,:rii ·'!'1 !ncre:i':e of etilrJY,«sn~e
•
Fr r1rn 1 yo ~ ng Gcmlc:rnaa on the Ap~ro:ach <.Jf the
:l r; ;

£b

Fr<Hn a

I

.!·~ -~
I :

y'· u lg

O ::ca~!r;r.

I

• .

.

.
: :

. :

i-~ ~

·) : : •• •

Lady to her Mamma on the r.amc
•

me1

ib

Frorn 1 Prt:cerw>r to hiJ Sc.holar during \'acation
Tune
•
•
•
23
L-:tt.•l'ft Jr~r:i nutk II) /tluturity.
To a

F~tht:r

c·inct.rni:ig the Choice of a proper
l'rfJft:!.,ion for hi" S0n
•
•
25
.P rr.m a t'athP:r to i.is Son containing general Rule1
for agr~t:-ablt: Com t:r~-~ti()n
•
•
27
1:r<1m ~~ lJndc. to hi; N•.: pbt:w, an im,rudc:nt Apprt:nt1ce

29

L•·tt•·r ,,f A<h ice from a FaLhcr lo his Son .vho is
j.1st hq~in ;·.in~ Busin~1s

Fr<>m a father :.o hi'4 sr,n. on lnt:briety
•
Frnm an Apprc'.ntic~ to hiis l\ta!,tt:r, begging Pardon for a great fault he hiitd committed
•
A nswtr to the pr~ceding
•
•
l4'rorw an indulgi!nt tathc:r to a prc.fligatc son
A n~wer lO the fort-going
•
I .l'ltr·r of <trh ice t•> a \'(Jung Lar'y
..

From
tan1

From
1\lr,
'fhe J
From
pay
From
Answ
..l'fO

A,polc.t
3:1

34

1'.·o a
An A

Toa .
36

}"rom

ib

From
The J

37

as
39

Dr. Jr1hn-.on t•1 :\Ir. Boswell, on his Rc:conciliation
\\' ith hii; father

Answ
1'he 1

14"rom
31

F1orJt a mo:h•'. r to her nr>n, in answer to hi" Comp\ :,inr" ,,f H.1rchhip» in his Apprrndcc.•hip

rtsl
l~rom

fl , ,ii ,j · ~,,. ,
i

F rom
in l
From
lzncs
From

•
•
•
•
40
From th·~ late cc I. Su:dman to hi1 aon, to be dclivtrcd after his death
•
.•
41

Lcttc1
Lt·tte1
Lttte1

'fo a
To a

From
From

., '

1,

.

...._,.,
............
.

Ty'~ :"'

..._,,;

139

• . .J.

1J
. ·. . l : 1';!_, '
I

!o'! ~

111

..
lQ
..

.-. •
-1

I

•

•

1airr. ; rig

.,

....
: h ,_J the

nn

From a }'Oung T' a·~"·4, 1nan to whuh:s;All! D ea1crs
with all Ordl.'.r
From a Trlld~s11l ;111
· in l.oqd11n
J.••rc.tf" o
t c;

·hr:- Cduutry to a Dealer
~ .,... '""i!f '*"'""''•""'' .. " 1n •h• ..... "'~"-°"" .. ..,,,. .. ,.

'a cation
.;.~

.. .

,..

. -~I... · .· ~. .
~

From a ·1 ·rarl1·sman tu a Customt:r <lcmancli1~g pay·
--- °' ..... J\!f oltl'" ,, ..
. 45
,,,
Answt·r to the pr~c~djng
The Tr.ult>sm;m's Rt'ply
ib
From a T radt:sman, unablt! to honor his Acceptan<;e
46
From a ~lerchant to a Tr'ldesman, dt:m:mding
,.

ii

.....

l\1nney

.. . :-·r~i

25

Rules

t~;<.<.,r;,~~ .,_, .,,,., 'w• , 2 7

~J.~ n t A p·

2g

ib

44
12\ !\l iii r,. . ( .' c i n: "' l. tr l ··tf t: r )
•
From th~ ·f, u'rn·s of a Tra,h::~m;ua'~ at·.,irs to the
ib
rest of tht· C : editors
•
..i

ib

43

i11

· f'he Answer
Fr<>m a Tenant

to

•
•
a Landlord in Excuse for not

,.

ib

paying his H.cnt
From a country Tenant on a 3imilar Occa\ion
Answer to the preceding

-

•

l"rom n fri~ad to anut.h'2r 9 on Jlllt receiving MoYley
50
promised
•
•
•
ib
•
Apology to a Per~on wanting l\loney
ih
'l'o a friend on Breach of Promise
•

ib

An Answer
To a Nephew going abroad
From the Nephew in an,wer
•
From one frie::nd to another in Distress

37

The An"wer

36

on

as

~9

·nciliation
40

be <lcliv41

•

•

Letter uf Acknowledgment
Lt>tter of Refusal to lc:nd money
•
Lttter of Compli:ince
•
To a person who wants to borrow money
To a frit·nd
•
•
From a Traclesman to hi!\ <laughter
•
From a Quaker to hia friend

51

•

-

-

ib
il1
•

52

ib
ill

-

53

•

ib

•

ib
54
SG

..
•

iO

I

INDE~{.

14.0

~J,,~1~J}P~'i1fif1 ori1~ t"
"f l1e nnswer

u r-;;

.•

1nto1

~

Debtor'.:; \Virt'':::. :rn111wc r
•
An anonymous Lnttr
•
l•'rom a Ckrgyman
The Answer
A i\l\;n:hant tc, anuth..:r
·rhe Anc;•ver
I•.. rorn a Ser\':tn~'s late Mlster to a G~ntleman
On the sam•:! occasion
•
..
•

..
~1r··~

-::-: ~ - ~ ~..... -:....

l•'r~fittlhf t~

;~

F rQt\llaof ~

61

a<.:<J11a10: m

ib
6~

ma rr,i:irg"~ '
Answer t11 ti

ib

Another an s

ib

J.' 1•om l\'1 r. ·

63

'Prom

ib
ib
i'b
64

th~

C

)'Oung L \
1:1om (he fa
~

'I'o a Lady for a Se&·vant'~ Character
Answer to the above
•
From a grntleman to another relative to a bad servant
•
•
ih ,
Th~ Answer
•
•
ib
}i'rom a Nephew to his Uncle, wanting a commission 65 ·
The Answt·r
•
•
•
66
Letter.'/ on C~urtshijJ and Jlarring~.
From l\:Ir. Bullock to i\lrs. l\Iargart!t Chrk
67

P rom 1\lr.

From a Gentleman to a Lady, disclosing his passion 6Q
The An!5wer
•
69
}'rom a Gentleman to a young La<ly of superior

From a l\·J

Fortune

70

The Anl'U7er

..

..

•

ib

:From a Widow to a young Gentleman, rejecting

his Suit

•

•

From a young Lady to a Gentleman declining his
addn~5se~
•

71

!\loth~r

thei1 l\'larriage
From a humorous Lover t0 hi~ Fair One
From an dder to a younzer ilfother~ cautioning
him in the choice of a \Vife
•
•
From "' voqng l'radesman to~ Gentleman, desiring P~rmis~ion to \'bit his Daughter

74
75

ih

ir

From her p
I..ttter of ad
g:un-,t rec
li'z om a Ger
forms of
m:trri\!cl

<

l,.rom a D.1
impruclc:r
lll'Ol1\

thf;2

fl

(\t·

rous trca
l'ro1~1

72

73

\

J.,rom the V<
From a l\Iai

From a

From Sir H.ichnr<l Sttele to his Wife
Frcm ::. \.Vit to his Mistrt·ss
•
From Sir Richard Stedc to his Wife previous to

.

turn hom1

a
.
nage

fa~ J

l~ro~n the '
14,ron-. a ,.~ ,

The Gt:1ltl\

ib

Dr. Johnsc
lo1~r, c st;·

76

of fricntl

Mr. l..11:-k('

I
.,
a.,

.j

i!.•
Gt

ih

marn:.g~

'- G ~

.

6:;

ib

young Lady

ill
-ib
64
l

bad ser-

ib.,

llJ

>mmission GS

66

?.g-t.
irk
67
ht s passion 68

69
70
ifJ

.,

;.

rcj ecting

71
72
73

ib
to

74
75

utioning

ib

degir76

•

77

.

Ans\ver t" the prect'ding
.t\nother answt:r on the same Occasion
:From l\Ir. Smith to the ~·oung Lady's Fathtr
Jt"'rom the Cousin to the Father and Mothtr CJf the

ib
ib

man

141

From the same to the young Lady, by Permi&•
sion of her father
Frmn a voung Lady in the Country to her Father
ac<J11~in~ing him with an offer 1nade to ht;r of

1 tJ

.,.,,,

INDEX.

•

80

} . . 1om the father, in ans•ver to l\tlr. Smith

,

81

:From l\Ir. Smith to the young Latly, after her return homt!
•
•
.
a2
:From tht! voutJg La<ly in Answer to 1\.1 r. Smith
ib
From a l\lai<l St:rvant in tuwn, to htir Fa~hor "bd
1\1other in th~ Country
•
..
14'
ib
From h~r part.>nts in an!lwer to the preceding
I..tttcr of ach·ice to a daughter in the C<;umry " ag:1in·'t receiving tht: A<ldrt!~st:~ of a !:)ubctltt:rn
84
Fz om a Genth~man to a L:\ll)' ag ti ~st ~hi! ttclious
formi of Courtship.
85
From a l\'I other to a Daught~r respecting her
marri\!d conduct
•
From a D:rnglli~r to her fath~r, in the behalf of an

impruclcrit Sister

•

f'rom tht! fatlt\!l' in Ar.swt:'r
Prom a Nq,hew to ~i:; A•1·1t, cot.r.t"rning ludicn>us treatnH•nt ia C 1 lur~l-.'1 i :>
l'n~1-:.1 a fath1..:r to a da·.1g·ha::·
tht: sui~•;;t:tt;f ~larnagc
l~rn:n the nwn~ Li<ly, in A"~"·t·r
.Fron-a a ~·,.;:1:1g L<Hh ·to .• {.;1.·u:L man
Th1.:: Genth.:m ;,n's A nswcr

ib
80
89

t:n

.Letters 'if Frir:1rl<th).
Dr. Johns0n to 1\lrs. Thr:1l,·. en the \' ...!u.: of
101~~ cstah\i•Jwd f• i( ti1Lr.i p
•
..
Mr. l~w~kc to :'\fr. ~Iulyn..::.ll!X 0n the aJ~·autages

of

fri~n<l:ihip

•

91

93
g4

ib

95 I~
I

142

INDEX.

._..«•••1.-

~ --~···-*
I•'rom ~Ir. \V cot

l\11 "''

P •~jii

;,i

to l\lr. Gray soliciling corref>pon-

•

Dr. Johnson to Dr-. Dodd, the evcnin~ previous
to his f"'.:s.ecution
Dr. Johnson to ~lr:J. Thrale, upon the death of

her husband
Lord Baltimore to Lord

of his \Vife

v.·

10~

103

The Countess of Hertfon.1, afterwards Duchess
of Somerset, to Dr. Burnett
•
Mrs. Howe to her mother on the approath of death
Dr. Dodd to the King, (written by Dr. Johnson)
Dr. JG>hnson to the .Earl of Liverpool
•
Dr. Dodd to Dr Johnson
•

10-t.
l OJ

lOG

1 Jl

us

1

ill

•
•
109
cntworth on the death
11 o

Old .Age, Sickness and Death.
Mn. W h\teway to L ord Orrery
•
Dr. Johnson to the Hon. l\Ir. Windham
Mrs. Howe to the Countess of 1-Iertford

.1Uisce/laneous Letltrs.
An Ironical letter to a Slanclertr
A Ch11lengc
•
The Answtr
From a Cou~in to another
•
From a f ricncl to another on Peevishne!llS

-

~

9M

<lence
100
From .James Howell to l\fr. H. S. on his neglecting to Answer his letters
•
101
Ji'rom a Gentleman who had long nr.glectecl a cor·
respondence to his friend
•
ib

Dr. Jl)hn~on to l\ir. Haswell
l\I r. Gray to his l\1othcr .

."

Thc_,.A~

•

11 2
11~

114
115
11 (j

ib
Jl 7

ih

ll~
A humorous lt"tter
ib
A humorou~ Answer
•
A La<ly tu ht:r fritnd, raising a subscription for a
dhtn· s~1:d person
•
1 19
Recommending a Htbtion to a Gcatleman of rank ib

C a rd ~,; c

Directi<

t

f

,
I\

~.
.!!,bf

99
~

100

10!

ib
10:2
lOJ

l

10-l.
1()j

!OG
j

.

_,'I-.

i 08

t'b

109
110

112
1 1~

114
1 15
1 1()
ii;
Jt 7

ih
) 1 ,9

ib
1 I!}

ib

..

·' ..

"
;.

t·

INDEX

143

The An1wy1...__ :JOit'
. fO•
.. an 111thuatc
l'o
•
tt~
'"'" a
..Reel!Jmu1cft'O'ITl8"a>
·~nu..
The Answer
Cards of compliment

.. "

~-

· · "•' ·

J.. 2- O
a.'"

. ;/,.
l 21

Directions for :iddr~ssing persons of all ranks
ib
Varir;us forms in l<rcv.
l 22 to 129
130tol39

