his correfpondent in London into a fit of laughter; who, inftead of fending him directly the goods he wrote for, fent down into the country to inquire his character.

The fame tradefman in London, by the next poft, received the following letter from another young shopkeeper in the country, on his beginning business for himfelf.

SIR, Being obliged, by my late master's decease, to enter immediately upon business, and confequently open my Shop without going to town to furnish myself with fuch goods as at prefent I want, I have fent you a fmall order, as underwritten. I hope you will ufe me well, and let the goods be good of the forts, though I cannot be in London to look them out myself. I have inclofed a bill of exchange of 751. on Meff. A and B, and Company, payable to you, or to your order, at one and twenty days fight. Be pleafed to get it accepted; and if the goods amount to more than that fum, -I fhall, when I have your bill of parcels, fend you the remainder. Irepeat my defire, that you will fend me the goods well forted, and well chofen, and as cheap as poffible, that I may be encouraged to a farther correfpondence: I am your humble fervant, C. K.

This was writing like a man that understood what he was doing, and fuch a letter could not want its proper effect upon fuch a correfpondent in London.

In short, a tradefman's letter fhould be plain and concife, and to the purpose ; no quaint expreffions, no bookphrafes, no flourishes; and yet they must be full and fufficient to express what he means, fo as not to be doubtful, much lefs unintelligible. I can by no means ap

prove of ftudied abbreviations, and leaving out the needful copulatives of speech in trading letters; they are affected to the last degree: for, in a word, it is affecting to be thought a man of more than ordinary fenfe, by writing extraordinary nonfenfe; affecting to be a man of bufinefs, by giving orders, and expreffing your meaning in terms which a man of bufinefs may not think himself bound by..

D 3

When

When a tradefman takes an apprentice, the first thing he does for him, after he lets him into the counting-house and his books, and after trufting him with his more private bufinefs, is to let him write letters to his dealers, and correfpond with his friends; and this he does in his mafter's name, fubfcribing his letter thus:

I am,

For my mafler, A. B. and Company,

Your humble fervant,

And beginning thus:

'C. D.

SIR, I am ordered by my Mafter, A. B.: to advise you, that

Or thus:

SIR, Thefe are, by my Mafier's order, to give you notice

Orders for goods ought to be very explicit and parti cular, that the dealer may not mistake; efpecially if it be orders from a tradefman to a manufacturer, to make or buy goods, either of fuch a quality or pattern; in which cafe, if the goods are made to the colours, and of a marketable goodness, and within the time limited, the perfon ordering them cannot refuse to receive them, and to make himfelf debtor to the maker. On the contrary, if the goods are not of a marketable goodness, or not to the patterns, or not fent within the time, the maker ought not to expect they should be received,

In regard to the form and fuperfcription of letters, efpecially of the politer fort, it may be neceffary to obferve, That when you write to a person of diftinction, or gentleman, let it be on gilt paper; and without fealing the letter itself, inclofe it in a cover, which you are to feal over it, and write the fuperfcription thereon.

Begin your letter about two inches below the top of your paper, and leave about an inch margin on the left hand; and what compliments, or fervices, you send in the letter, infert them rather in the body or conclufion of it than by way of poftfcript, as is too often done; but it is neither so affectionate or polite; for it not only fa vours of levity to your friends, but has the appearance of your having almost forgot them.

It is ufual among the polite, to fign their names at a confiderable distance below the conclufion of the letter, and thereby leave a large vacant space over their names; which, though customary, I would by all means advise you to avoid; because it is putting it in the power of any one who has your letter, to write what he pleases over your name, and make you in all appearance to have figned a writing that you would by no means have fet your hand to.

In directing your letters to perfons who are well known, it is best not to be too particular; because it is leffening the perfon you direct to, by fuppofing him to be obfcure, and not easily found.

Whenever you direct to perfons who are honourable, either by family or office, it is more proper, as well as polite, to direct without the title of Efq. than with it; for inftance,

To the Honourable Mr Arundel; not to the Honourable Peter Arundel, Efq; which would be ridiculous.

1.

SOME FARTHER

DIRECTIONS AND OBSERVATIONS

ON

EPISTOLARY CORRESPONDENCE.

WHE WHEN you are writing to your fuperior, be not prolix, but let your letter be as fhort as the fubject, or occafion you write on, will permit; efpecially fuch

wherein

wherein favours are requested: and be particularly careful in not omitting any letter belonging to the words you write, as I've, can't, don't shou'd wou'd, bc, instead of I have, cannot, do not, fhould, would, &c. for fuch contractions not only appear difrefpectful, and too familiar, but difcover (thofe almoft infeparable companions) ignorance and impudence. Neither be over pompous in your ftyle, but convey your thoughts with ease and perfpicuity, that they may appear as from nature, rather than a vain conceit to fhew your learning; the former thews your humility, the latter your pride.

2. When you write to your fuperiors, never make a poftfcript, and (if poffible) avoid it in letters to your equals; efpecially complimentary poftfcripts to any of the perfon's family or relations to whom you write; as it thews difrespect in your neglecting fuch perfons in the body of your letter wherefore it is beft to keep up to form, if you write to the ancient, the grave, or the proud; fuch perfons being moft commonly jealous of dif refpect, and expect to be treated with deference.

:

3. When you write to your inferiors, you are at liber. ty to act as you think proper as to the laft caution; and take care that you are not too familiar or free in your ftyle, left it should make you contemptible; always having the proverb in your mind, viz. Too much familiarity commonly breeds contempt.

4. If your letter confifts of feveral paragraphs, begin. every fresh, or new one, at the fame distance from the left-hand margin of the paper, as when you began the fubject of your letter; always remembering, as you write on, to make your proper ftops, otherwise no perfon will be able to come at the sense or meaning of your letter; which neglect very often caufes mistakes and mifunderfandings and be careful to put a period or full stop at the end of every paragraph, thus .

5. When the fubject of your letter is finished, conclude it with the fame addrefs as at first, as, Sir; Madam; or, May it pleafe your Grace; Lordship; Ladyship, &c. &c. and always fubfcribe your name in a larger hand than the body part of your letter.

6. Letters

6. Letters fhould be wrote on Quarto, fine gilt poft paper to fuperiors; if to your equals or inferiors, you are at your own option to use what fort or fize you please, but take care never to feal your letter with a wafer, unlefs to the latter.

7. When your letter is fealed, you must write the fuperfcription (if it be to your fuperior, or equal) in the following manner, viz. Write the word To by itself, as nigh the left hand upper angle, or corner of your letter, as is convenient: then begin the title, or name of the perfon, about an inch lower, and almost in the middle or centre of it, according to the length of the perfon's name, or title; and write the place of his abode in a line by itself at the bottom, thus:

PROPER DIRECTIONS,

For addreffing Perfons of every rank or
denomination, at the beginnings of
Letters, and the Superfcriptions.

Beginnings of Letters.

To the KING. Sire; or, Sir; or, Moft gracious Sovereign; or, May it pleafe your MAJESTY.

To the QUEEN. Madam; or, Moft, &c.

To the PRINCE of WALES. Sir; or, May it pleafe your Royal Highness.

T