PREFA CE. A Sa great Part of the Intercourfe of Mankind has ever been tranfated by Letter, it is a juft Reflection upon any Man, especially in this more refined Age, not to be able to acquit himfelf handsomely in this Refpect. The Occafions to do this are fo very numerous, and the Shame of doing it ill, fo great, in low as well as in high Life, that every Endeavour to render them more perfect in this Accomplishment, is at leaft intitled to a candid Reception. There have been many Attempts towards a Work of this Sort; and though it were unkind to detract from the Merit of fuch Labours, yet this we must observe, that those which have hitherto reached our Notice, fall very fhort of the End propofed. It would be a difagreeable Talk, to fingle out the Imperfections in other Performances of this Kind; therefore we shall only ob ferve, that fome of them, however, are here. fupplied. In the firft Place, the Perfons for whose Use this Collection is intended, are presented with A very plain and compendious Gramm r of the English Language: To which are added, Directions how to addrefs Perfons of all Ranks either in Writing or Difcourfe. This we prefume, is laying the Foundation of our Design well and A 2 as as it ought to be. The Rudiments of a Tongue once obtained, we proceed eafy to raise our Superftructure; without this we do nothing.. Next is an Introduction, containing Directions for inditing proper Letters on moft Occafions, and the Sentiments of feveral eminent Authors, on Epiftolary Writing. But the chief Branch of this Defign, and which indeed compofes the main Body of the Work, is a proper Collection of Letters, (with fome Originals) by eminent Authors, upon Subjects very various in their Nature, and therefore not eafily thrown under regular Claffes. Bufiuefs, Duty, Amusement, Affection, Courtship, FriendShip, and a Multiplicity of other Affairs that may require a Letter, are here made the Subject of ours; fo that on moft Occafions no Perfon. can be at a lofs for a Pattern to direct him. And it is from this great Variety of Examples for Stile and Manner, a Grammar for writing true English, and other neceffary Directions, that we prefume to call this Performance by the Name of The Complete Letter-writer; fuch a Number of Letters being inferted as to answer the Purpose almost of every Individual, from the Boy at School to the Secretary of State. Nor let it offend the Delicacy of any Reader, that he will here meet with many Epiftles of the lower Clafs: Thefe could not be omitted without deviating from the grand Point in View, namely, General Utility. CON Plain and compendious GRAMMAR of the English The INTRODUCTION, containing fome general Directi- ons for writing Letters, and how to addrefs Perfons of Distinction, in Writing or Difcourfe, &c. III. A young Gentleman's Letter to his Papa, written by a School-Fellow VIII. From a young Lady, in Answer to a Letter the had received from her Mamma, advifing her to X. From a young Gentleman to his Papa, defiring that XI. From a young Lady to her Papa, who lately em-- barked for the Eaft Indies, in the Company's Service, but detained at Portsmouth by contrary Winds 58 XII. From a young Woman juft gone to Service, to XIV. The Daughter to her Mother LETTER 65 XVI. A Son's Letter at School to his Father XVII. A Letter of Excufe to a Father or Mother ib. XVIII. To Mr.rib. XIX. From a young Apprentice to his Father, to let him know how he likes his Place and goes on 67 XX. From a Daughter to her Mother, by way of Excufe for having neglected to write to her 68 XXI. From Robin Redbreaft in the Garden, to Mafter XXII. From one Sifter to another ib. 70 71 XXIV. From Lady Goodford to her Daughter, a Girl of fourteen Years old, then under the Care of her Grandmother in the Country 72 XXV. To a young Lady cautioning her against keeping Company with a Gentleman of a bad Character 74 XXVI. A Letter of Thanks, &c. 75 76 ib. XXVII. From an Apprentice to his Friends XXX. Letter from a Niece to her Aunt 77 ib XXXI. Letter from a Youth at School to his Parents 78 XXXII. Letter from an Apprentice in Town, to his Friends in the Country ib. XXXIII. From an elder Brother in the Country, to bis younger Brother, put an Apprentice in London 79 XXXIV. A Letter of Excufe for Silence, and Affurance that 'twas not out of Difrefpect XXXV. A Letter from a Servant in London, to his Mafter in the Country 80 hib.. XXXVI. From a Father to his Son just beginning the World 8r 83 XXXVII. To an intimate Acquaintance to borrow XXXIX. An Anfwer to the foregoing ib. ib. XL. Mifs J, in anfwer to Mrs., making an Apology for not answering her Letter fooner 84 XLI. Mifs XLI. Mif's J to Mifs Lovelace, on the prefent Letter-Writers, and her Opinion of a well-wrote XLIII. Mifs J. to Mifs L. from an Inn on the Road, giving an Account of her Journey XLIV. To Mifs L. on the Expreffions and Compli- XLVIII. To a Lady, inviting her into the Country for XLIX. From a young Perfon in Trade to a Wholefale Dealer, who had fuddenly made a Demand on him 92 L. The Wholefale Dealer's Anfwer LI. From a young Perfon juft out of his Apprentice- II. From a young Lady to her Father, acquainting him with a Propofal of Marriage made to her III. From a Daughter to a Mother upon the fame ib. IV. The Mother's Anfwer to the foregoing V. A young Lady's Anfwer to a Gentleman's Letter, |