will express its sentiments with an honest and confident freedom; it will bestow its applause with pleasing sincerity, and censure with modest reluctance.

In letter-writing, however, the grand aim should be, to write exactly in the same manner in which we should converse with persons to whom we are writing, were they present; if we do so, we shall seldom fail to write well.

A strict attention to the preceding directions will soon convince the learner that he has not wasted his time in a fruitless pursuit. Indeed, by devoting ourselves seriously to the study of any art, we may ultimately surmount every difficulty. Every writer should cautiously avoid affectation, his style should be clear, his sentiments judicious, and his language plain, yet sensible and elegant; by these means, his letters will always give pleasure, and be intelligible to every capacity.

In words, as fashions, the same rule will hold,
Alike fantastic, if too new, or old;

Be not the first by whom the new are tried,
Nor yet the last to lay the old aside.

POPE.

Consideration in all matters of business is absolutely necessary; and before any letter of importance is written and dispatched, some time should be devoted to this requisite point, by attending to which, much serious trouble and mischief may be avoided, and the end proposed more easily attained.

DIRECTIONS

FOR

ADDRESSING PERSONS OF ALL RANKS.

TO THE ROYAL FAMILY.

THE QUEEN.

To the Queen's Most Excellent Majesty. Madam. please your Majesty.

PRINCES AND PRINCESSES OF THE BLOOD ROYAL.

To His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales. Sir.

To Her Royal Highness the Princess of Wales. Madam.

To His Royal Highness the Prince Arthur. Sir.

May it

Madam.

In the same manner to the other Princes of the Blood Royal.
To Her Royal Highness the Princess Louise of Lorne.
In the same manner to the other Princesses of the Blood Royal.
To Her Royal Highness the Princess Mary of Teck. Madam.
In the same manner to the other Princesses of the Blood.

TO THE NOBILITY AND GENTRY.

DUKE.

To His Grace the Duke of W. My Lord Duke.

MARQUIS.

To the Most Noble the Marquis of C. My Lord Marquis.

EARL.

To the Right Honourable the Earl of K. My Lord.

VISCOUNT.

To the Right Honourable the Lord Viscount B. My Lord.

BARON.

To the Right Honourable the Lord T. My Lord.

BARONET.

To Sir Frederick Gossett, Bart. Sir.

KNIGHT.

To Sir William Murus, Knt. Sir.

ESQUIRE.

To John Talbot, Esq. Sir.

The ladies are addressed according to the rank of their husbands.

Widows of noblemen are addressed in the same style, the word Dowager being added. To the Most Noble the Dowager Marchioness of, &c.

The eldest sons of Dukes, Marquises, and Earls, bear, by courtesy, the second title in their respective families. Their wives are addressed accordingly.

The younger sons of Dukes and Marquises have the title of Lord, and are addressed as Right Honourable Lords-to which is added the Christian name. Their wives have the title of Lady, and are addressed as Right Honourable Ladies; and, except when originally superior in rank, take their husbands' Christian names, not their own.

The title Lady, and the address of Right Honourable Lady, also belong to all the daughters of Dukes, Marquises, and Earls; to which is also added the Christian name.

TO THE PARLIAMENT.

To the Right Honourable the Lords Spiritual and Temporal of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland in Parliament assembled. My Lords. May it please your Lordships.

To the Right Honourable the Knights, Citizens, and Burgesses of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland in Parliament assembled. Gentlemen. May it please your Honours.

To the Right Honourable C. W. C., Speaker of the House of Commons, who is generally one of Her Majesty's Most Honourable Privy Council. Sir.

TO THE CLERGY.

To the Most Reverend the Archbishop of Canterbury. My Lord Archbishop.

To the Right Reverend the Lord Bishop of M. My Lord Bishop.

To the Very Reverend the Dean of C. Mr. Dean. Reverend Sir.

'To the Venerable the Archdeacon Y. Mr. Archdeacon. Reverend Sir.

To the Reverend John Hill, D.D. Reverend Sir.

All Rectors, Vicars, Curates, and Clergymen of other inferior orders, are addressed as Reverend.

When a clergyman bears the title of Honourable or Right Honourable, it is put before the ecclesiastical one; when he happens to possess the title of Baronet or Knight, it is put after the ecclesiastical one.

The title of Lord is not given to Bishops of the Protestant Episcopal Church in Scotland: they are addressed simply by name; thus, To the Right Reverend Bishop T.

TO PRIVY COUNCILLORS.

The Members of Her Majesty's Most Honourable Privy Council have the words Right Honourable prefixed to their names. So have the Lord Mayors of London, York, and Dublin, and the Lord Provost of Edinburgh, while they are in office.

TO THE OFFICERS OF HER MAJESTY'S
HOUSEHOLD.

They are, for the most part, addressed according to their rank, though sometimes agreeably to the nature of their office; as, My Lord Steward, My Lord Chamberlain, Mr. Vice-Chamberlain, &c. In all superscriptions of letters, which relate to gentlemen in office, their style of office should never be omitted, and if they have more offices than one, you need mention only the highest.

TO THE OFFICERS OF THE ARMY AND NAVY. In addressing Officers in the Army above the subaltern,t heir military rank should precede their names and civil positions.