letter, the grammatical syntax, orthography, good penmanship, neatness, and freedom from cancellations, and corrections, are other qualities strictly demanded. Nothing will tarnish more the reputation of a person, as a good scholar, than errors in grammar, or orthography, in a letter; which are so much the more to be avoided, as they remain like mementoes of the writer's ignorance, in the hands of others. ARTICLE II. PARTICULAR PRECEPTS CONCERNING THE BODY OF THE LETTER. As these precepts vary in the different kinds. of letters; which relate, according to the writer's object, to Information, Persuasion, Petition, Consolation, Recreation, Reprimand, Correction, and Advice; therefore, we shall expound the respective precepts, of each kind, in six distinct paragraphs. T I. OF LETTERS OF INFORMATION. THEIR DEFINITION, SUBJECT, AND QUALTIES. 1. Letters of information "are those which inform a correspondent concerning a fact, person, or object." (1.) What are letters of information ? 2. The subjects of information are numberless. The principal, however, to which letters ordinarily relate, are two, familiar or domestic, and civil or political subjects. Hence all facts and daily events of any kind, form the proper subject of letters of information. 3. A letter of information about a fact, person, or object, must be based on truth, and must not represent as certain, what is uncertain, or vice versa. 4. In these letters, the order of a narrative, may either follow the time, or the place, or the principal adjuncts of the fact; observing the rules of historical narrations. 5. All adjuncts, which may greatly interest the correspondent, should be mentioned; yet all superfluous descriptions should be omitted. 6. In letters of information, the style is generally simple, though, like historical narrations, they may sometimes admit of the adorned style; (2.) What are the principal subjects to which letters of information ordinarily relate? (3.) What qualities must a letter of information concerning a fact have? (4.) What order must a narration follow in these letters? (5.) What should be mentioned, and what should be omitted, in letters of information? (6.) What is the style required by letters of information? especially when the object of the writer is to afford pleasure, as well as information to the reader. 7. These letters are common to all classes and individuals of society, and form the most . general subject, as well as the most common object, of letter-writing. 8. As a model of imitation, concerning letters of information, we will produce the following letter from 66 Cicero to Titus Pomponius Atticus. (A. U, 697.) Every thing is as we could wish at your house. Your mother and sister are held in the greatest esteem by me and my brother Quintus. I have had some conversation with Actilius. He denies that anything had been written to him by his agent, and is surprised that any dispute should have arisen. The security which he demanded is no longer required from you. I have understood that Tadius is very thankful, and highly pleased with what you mention; of having compromised the affair of his family. That friend of mine, who is indeed a good man, and very friendly to me, is seriously angry with you. When I know how much you regard this, I may be able to judge what (7.) Among what class of persons are letters of this kind in use? (8.) Give an example of a letter of information. pains I should take in it. I have provided for L. Cincius 20,400 sestertii, (£170) for the Megaric statues. The Mercuries of your pentelic, marble with bronze heads, about which you wrote to me, already delight me exceedingly; and I should be glad if you would send them, and the other statues, and whatever else you may judge suitable to the place, and to my studies, and to your taste, as many, and as soon as possible; especially what you think proper for my gymnasium and portico; for I am transported with such a fondness for this sort of things, that while I request you to assist me, I must expect others to blame me. If Lentulus' ship is not ready, let the things be embarked in any other you please. My darling Tulliola is anxious for your present, and calls upon me as a surety; but it is safer for me to swear off than to pay." T II. OF LETTERS OF PERSUASION. THEIR DEFINITION AND QUALITIES. 1. Letters of persuasion are those which have for their object, to persuade a person. 2. That which is to form the subject of persuasion, must be reasonable and useful, if not necessary. 3. The point must be clearly set forth; the (1.) What are letters of persuasion ? (2.) What requisites must the thing to be persuaded have? (3.) How must it be set forth? reasons or proofs must be laid down in order, proceeding from the weakest to the strongest. 4. The style may be either simple, or adorned, or sublime; as when a pathetic appeal, or a touching description, is to be made. 5. All arrogance, self-reliance, and obstinacy of purpose, whereby the mind of the reader may be prejudiced against the writer, is to be carefully avoided in persuasive letters. 6. Letters of this kind are more frequent among business men, and superiors toward inferiors, than among any other class of persons. 7. The following letter is an example of a letter of persuasion : Cicero to Toranius. (A. U. 707.) "As I wrote to you three days ago by some domestics of Plancius, I shall be so much the shorter at present; and as my former was a letter of consolation, this shall be one of persuasion. I think nothing can be more for your advantage, than to remain in your present situation, till you shall be able to learn in what manner you are to act. For, (4.) What must the style of persuasive letters be? |