NUMB. 152. SATURDAY, August 31, 1751. Triftia maftum Vultum verba decent, iratum plena minarum. Difaftrous words can best disaster show; Γ HOR. ELPHINSTON. T was the wisdom," fays Seneca, "of ancient times, to confider what is most useful as most "illuftrious." If this rule be applied to works of genius, fcarcely any fpecies of compofition deferves more to be cultivated than the epiftolary style, fince none is of more various or frequent ufe, through the whole fubordination of human life. It has yet happened that among the numerous writers which our nation has produced, equal perhaps always in force and genius, and of late in elegance and accuracy, to thofe of any other country, very few have endeavoured to diftinguish themselves by the publication of letters, except fuch as were written in the discharge of publick trufts, and during the tranfaction of great affairs; which, though they afford precedents to the minifter, and memorials to the hiftorian, are of no ufe as examples of the familiar ftyle or models of private correfpondence. If it be enquired by foreigners, how this deficiency has happened in the literature of a country, where all indulge themselves with fo little danger in speaking and writing, may we not without either bigotry or arrogance inform them, that it must be imputed F 3 imputed to our contempt of trifles, and our due fenfe of the dignity of the publick? We do not think it reasonable to fill the world with volumes from which nothing can be learned, nor expect that the employments of the bufy, or the amufements of the gay, fhould give way to narratives of our private affairs, complaints of abfence, expreffions of fondnefs, or declarations of fidelity. A flight perufal of the innumerable letters by which the wits of France have fignalized their names, will prove that other nations need not be difcouraged from the like attempts by the confcioufnefs of inability; for furely it is not very difficult to aggravate trifling misfortunes, to magnify familiar incidents, repeat adulatory profeffions, accumulate fervile hyperboles, and produce all that can be found in the defpicable remains of Voiture and Scarron. Yet as much of life must be paffed in affairs confiderable only by their frequent occurrence, and much of the pleafure which our condition allows, must be produced by giving elegance to trifles, it is neceffary to learn how to become little without becoming mean, to maintain the neceffary intercourfe of civility, and fill up the vacuities of actions by agreeable appearances. It had therefore been of advantage, if fuch of our writers as have excelled in the art of decorating infignificance, had supplied us with a few fallies of innocent gaiety, effufions of hone tenderness, or exclamations of unimportant hurry. Precept has generally been pofterior to performThe art of compofing works of genius has never been taught but by the example of those who performed performed it by natural vigour of imagination, and rectitude of judgment. As we have few letters, we have likewise few criticisms upon the epiftolary style. The observation with which Walb has introduced his pages of inanity, are fuch as give him little claim to the rank affigned him by Dryden among the criticks. Letters, fays he, are intended as refemblances of converfation, and the chief excellencies of conversation are good-humour and good-breeding. This remark, equally valuable for its novelty and propriety, he dilates and enforces with an appearance of complete acquiescence 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 pleafed, and he who would not provoke rudeness muft not practife it. But the question among those who establish rules for an epiftolary performance is how gaiety or civility may be properly expreffed; as among the criticks in history it is not contefted whether truth ought to be preferved, but by what mode of diction it is best adorned. As letters are written on all fubjects, in all states of mind, they cannot be properly reduced to fettled rules, or described by any fingle characteristick; and we may fafely difentangle our minds from critical embarraffments, by determining that a letter has no peculiarity but its form, and that nothing is to be refufed admiffion, which would be proper in any other method of treating the fame fubject. The qualities of the epistolary style most frequently required are ease and fimplicity, an even flow of unlaboured diction, and an artless arrange ment of obvious fentiments. But thefe directions are no fooner applied to ufe, than their fcantinefs and imperfection become evident. Letters are written to the great and to the mean, to the learned and the ignorant, at reft and in diftrefs, in fport and in paffion. Nothing can be more improper than ease and laxity of expreffion, when the importance of the fubject impreffes folicitude, or the dignity of the perfon exacts reverence. That letters fhould be written with ftrict conformity to nature is true, becaufe nothing but conformity to nature can make any compofition beautiful or juft. But it is natural to depart from familiarity of language upon occafions not familiar. Whatever elevates the fentiments will confequently raise the expreffion; whatever fills us with hope or terror, will produce fome perturbation of images, and fome figurative diftortions of phrafe. Wherever we are ftudious to pleafe, we are afraid of trufting our first thoughts, and endeavour to recommend our opinion by ftudied ornaments, accuracy of method, and elegance of ftyle. If the perfonages of the comick scene be allowed by Horace to raise their language in the transports 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 eftablished, or a remote principle to be investigated, he may detail his reafonings with all the nicety of fyllo fyllogiftick method. If a menace is to be averted, or a benefit implored, he may, without any violation of the edicts of criticifi, call every power of rhetorick 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 correfpondents 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 soft 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 disgusting fault; one avoids cenfure, the other aspires to praife; one is always in danger of infipidity, the other continually on the brink of affectation. When the subject has no intrinfick dignity, it must neceffarily owe its attractions to artificial embellishments, and may catch at all advantages which the art of writing can fupply. He that, like Pliny, fends his friend a portion for his daughter, will, without Pliny's eloquence or address, find means of exciting gratitude, and fecuring acceptance; but he 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 |