upon to perform it. Under the head of Letter Writing, it 18 intended in this exercise to include all the forms of epistolary correspondence, whether in the shape of billets, notes, formal letters, or ceremonious cards, &c. It is proper to premise, that, whenever a letter is to be written, regard should be had to the usual forms of complimentary address, to the date, the superscription, and the closing. The folding, also, of the letter should not be disregarded. If it be true, that "trifles form the principal distinction between the refined and the unrefined," surely those trifles deserve some sort of consideration.

And, first, it is to be observed, that, whenever a written communication is made by one individual to another, the usages of society require that the reply should also be written; and that the same style of address should be preserved in both the communication and the reply. A different style, or form, seems to express a want of respect, or an arrogance of superior knowledge, faults equally to be avoided in the intercourse of polished society.

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If the letter is written in the first person, the reply should also be in the first person. Thus, when the letter begins. "Dear Sir,

"I write to inform you," &c.,

the answer should be in the first person also; thus:

"Dear Sir,

"I have received your letter," &c., or "Your letter informing me, &c., has been received, and I hasten to say," &c.

If the letter is written in the third person, thus:

“Mr. Parker has the honor of informing the Hon. Mr Brimmer," &c.,

the answer should also be in the third person; thus:

"Mr. Brimmer has received the letter of Mr. Parker," &c.

the attention of the student. He has deemed it expedient to reserve the subject for this part of the volume, and for the practice of the student who has been previously exercised in other attempts. At this stage of his progress, he may be profitably exercised in the writing of letters. The teacher may now require him to write notes, billets, and letters addressed to a real or fictitious person, announcing some event, or on some formal subject The teacher cannot be too particular in his directions with regard to fold ing, sealing, &c., for early habits of negligence, or want of eatness. are with difficulty eradicated."

The name of the writer should always be subscribed to the letter when it is written in the first person, but never when it is written in the third. The date of the letter should also be written at the beginning, when the letter is written in the first person, and at the end, when it is written in the third. The address of the letter should be written under the signature, and towards the left side of the letter, when it is written in the first person, but not when it is written in the third.

A neat and well-written letter is a much more rare production than it ought to be. Few directions can be given with regard to the composition of a letter; but it is intended in this exercise to give some general directions with regard to the mechanical execution of letters, notes, and billets. And, first, with regard to Letters.

A letter should embrace the following particulars, namely. 1st. The date. 2d. The complimentary address. 3d. The body of the letter. 4th. The style, or complimentary closing. 5th. The signature; and, 6th. The address, with the title, if any.

The date should be written near the right hand upper corner of the sheet. The complimentary address follows, a little lower down, near the left hand side of the sheet. The body of the letter should be commenced very nearly under the last letter of the complimentary address. The style, or complimentary closing, should stand very nearly under the last letter of the body; the signature very nearly under the last letter of the style; and the address should be placed a little below the signature, and towards the left hand side of the sheet.

16*

Example 2d.

A LETTER, WITH ITS PARTS.

(complimentary address.)

Dear Sir,

(date.)

Boston, May 2d, 1843.

(body of the letter.)

I have endeavored to pre= sent a few plain directions for letter-writing, which, I hope, will be sufficiently intelligible, without much labored explanation. If, how

ever,

I have unfortunately neglected any "ma= torial point, I shall very gladly supply the deficiency, if you will have the kindness mention it, either personally, or by note.

(style, or complimentary closing.)

Yours respectfully,

(the address, or superscription.)

(signature.)

to

George C. S. Parker.

Hon. James Harper. (title.)
Mayor of New York.

In very formal letters, the address should precede the letter and the signature, so that the individual addressed may, at first sight, perceive that the communication is intended for him, before he has taken the trouble to read it through. In this case, also, the date should be written below, in the place of the address.

Example 3d.

A FORMAL LETTER.

To the Hon. Mr. Brimmer,
Mayor of Boston.
Sir,

for

your

The public schools of this commonwealth are under great obligations to you late munificent benefaction. That you may long live to witness, and to rejoice in the widely extended influences of that benefac tion is the ardent wish of,

Sir,

Yours very respectfully,
Rich'd. G. Parker.

Boston, Aug. 3d, 1843.

J

The folding of a letter, though in itself a thing of appa rently trivial importance, is still deserving of attention. The following will be more intelligible than written directions.

*Official documents and very formal letters have, sometimes, but two folds; and these are made by doubling over the top and bottom parts of the whole sheet, or open letter, in the manner in which papers are generally kept on file. The whole is then enclosed in an envelope.