THE great utility of Epistolary Writing is so well known, that the necessity of being acquainted with an art replete with such advantages is needless to insist upon. Those who are accomplished in it are too happy in their knowledge to need farther information concerning its excellence; and such as are unqualified to convey their sentiments to a friend, without the assistance of a third person, feel their deficiency so severely, that nothing need be said to convince them, that it is their interest to become acquainted with what is so necessary and agreeable.

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 speak to those we love or esteem, is the greatest satisfaction we are capable of knowing, and the next is, being able to converse with them by letter.

FOR WRITING LETTERS.

IT was a just observation of the honest Quaker, that, If a man think twice before he speak, he'll speak twice the better for it. With great propriety the above may be applied to all sorts of writing, particularly the epistolary.

In letters from one relation to another,. the different characters of the persons must be first considered. Thus a father writing to a son, will use a gentle authority; a son to a father will express a filial duty. And again, in friendship, the heart will dilate itself with an honest freedom; it will applaud with sincerity, and censure with modest reluctance.

In letters concerning trade, the subject matter will be constantly kept in view,and the greatest perspicuity and brevity observed by the different correspondents; and in like manner, these rules may be арplied to all other subjects, and conditions of life, viz. a comprehensive idea of the subject, and an unaffected simplicity,though modesty, in expression. Nothing more

need be added, only, that a constant attention to the above for a few months, will soon convince the learner, that his time has not been spent in vain.

L

Indeed, an assiduous attention to the study of any art, even the most difficult, will enable the learner to surmount every difficulty; and writing letters to his corres pondents becomes equally easy as speak ing in company; and, if he carefully avoids affectation, will enable him to write in the language of the present times; his thoughts will be clear, his sentiments judicious, and his language plain, easy, sensible, elegant, and suited to the nature of the subject. As letters are the copies of conversation, just consider what you would say to to your friend if he was present, and write down the very words you would speak, which will render your epistle unaffected and intelligible.

Universal Letter Writer.

PART I.

LETTERS TO AND FROM DIFFERENT RELATIONS.

LETTER I.

On the respect and obedience due to parents.

DEAR BROTHER,

BESIDE the inclination that I have to write to you concerning every thing that happens to me here, I find it is a duty.My mother tells me, that having now no father, I am to look upon you as one: I do not know whether it will be to my advantage or not; but of this I am sure, that I shall find in you all the indulgence, and none of the severity.

My mother gave me her commands, when she parted from me, that I should consider you in this double light; she bade me not lose that respect which was due to your years, and more due to the care which she had desired you to take of me, in that familiarity we used to live