Signed him by Dryden among the critics. Letters," fays he, "are intended as "refemblances of conversation, and the "chief excellencies of converfation are "good-humour and good-breeding." This remark, equally valuable for its novelty and propriety, he dilates and enforces with an appearance of complete acquiefcence in his own discovery. No man was ever in doubt about the moral qualities of a letter. It has been always known that he who endeavours to pleafe muft appear pleased, and he who would not provoke rudeness muft not practife it. But the question among thofe who establish rules for an epiftolary performance is, how gaiety or civility may be properly expreffed; as among the critics in history it is not contested whether truth ought to be preferved, but by what mode of diction it is belt adorned. As letters are written on all fubjects, in all states of mind, they cannot be properly reduced to fettled rules, or de[cribed by any fingle characteristic; and we may fafely difentangle our minds from critical embarrafiments, by determining that a letter has no peculiarity but its form, and that nothing is to be refused admission, which would be proper in any other method of treating the fame fubject. The qualities of the epiftolary tyle moft frequently required are eafe and fimplicity, an even flow of unlaboured diction, and an artlefs arrangement of obvious fentiments. But thefe directions are no fooner applied to ule, than their cantinefs and imperfection become evident. Letters are written to the great and to the mean, to the learned and the gnorant, at reit and in diftrefs, in sport and in pation. Nothing can be more improper than eafe and laxity of expreffion, when the importance of the fabject impreffes folicitude, or the dignity of the perfon exacts reverence. fome figurative diflortions of phrafe. Wherever we are ftudious to please, we are afraid of trufling our first thoughts, and endeavour to recommend our opinion by ftudied ornaments, accuracy of method, and elegance of style. That letters fhould be written with trict conformity to nature is true, because nothing but conformity to nature can make any compofition Leautiful or juf. But it is natural to depart trom familiarity of language upon occafions not familiar Whatever elevates the fentiments will confequently raile the expreffion; whatever fills us with hope or terror, will produce fome perturbation of images, and If the perfonages of the comic fcene be allowed by Horace to raise their language in the tranfports of anger to the turgid vehemence of tragedy, the epiftolary writer may likewife without cenfure comply with the varieties of his matter. If great events are to be related, he may, with all the folemnity of an hiftorian, deduce them from their caufes, connect them with their concomitants, and trace them to their confequences. If a difputed pofition is to be established, or a remote principle to be investigated, he may detail his reafonings with all the nicety of fyllogiftic method. If a menace is to be averted, or a benefit implored, he may, without any violation of the edicts of criticifm, call every power of rhetoric to his affiftance, and try every inlet at which love or pity enters the heart. Letters that have no other end than the entertainment of the correspondents are more properly regulated by critical precepts, because the matter and style are equally arbitrary, and rules are more neceffary, as there is a larger power of choice. In letters of this kind, fome conceive art graceful, and others think negligence amiable; fome model them by the fonnet, and will allow them no means of delighting but the foft lapfe of calm mellifluence; others adjust them by the epigram, and expect pointed fentences and forcible periods. The one party confiders exemption from faults as the height of excellence, the other looks upon neglect of excellence as the most difguftirg fault; one avoids cenfure, the other afpires to praife; one is always in dar ger of infipidity, the other continually on the brink of affectation. When the fubject has no intrinfc dignity, it mouft neceffarily owe its attractions to artificial embellimenti, and may catch at all advantages which the art of writing can fupply. He sat, Lce Pliny, ferds his friend a portion for n daughter, will, without Pliny's dig. or addrefs, find means of exciting tude and fecuring acceptance; bl that has no prefent to make but a garland, a ribbon, or fome petty curiofity, must endeavour to recommend it by his manner of giving it. The purpose for which letters are written when no intelligence is communicated, or bufinefs tranfacted, is to preferve in the minds of the abfent either love or esteem; to excite love we must impart pleasure, and to raise esteem we muft difcover abilities. Pleafure will ge nerally be given, as abilities are dif played by fcenes of imagery, points of conceit, unexpected fallies, and artial compliments. Trifles always require exuberance of ornament; the building which has no ftrength can be valed only for the grace of its decorations. The pebble must be polished with care, which hopes to be valued as a diamond; and words ought furely to be laboared, wien they are intended to ftand for things. THE EN D. I. BOOKS printed for C. DILLY. 1. ELEGANT EXTRACTS; or, Ufeful and Entertaining Pallages in Profe; selected for the Improvement of Scholars at Claffical and other Schools in the Art of Speaking, in Reading, Thinking, Compofing; and in the Conduct of Life, Royal 8vo. 1os. 6d. 2. 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