others, with whom they were in a state of hoftility; and that not unfrequently in modern times. It may also serve individual purposes, where fecrecy is required. There are principally three ways of writing, fo as not to be read by any, but those who can difcover the manner in which it is written. First, writing in cipher, which requires great ingenuity, and of which, my limits will not permit me to fpeak. Secondly, fubftituting other arbitrary marks or characters, for words or letters, than the words or letters themfelves. And, thirdly, writing with fome ink or liquid which will not appear legible, till rendered fo by some mechanical operation. The second method, of fubftituting one character for another, is easily performed; as any perfon might make an alphabet of his own, confifting of twenty-fix characters, each of which might ftand for fome one letter of the English alphabet; and thus the writing would be unintelligible to any but those who have the key or index. Or, the numerical figures may be used to the fame purpose: as for example a may be represented by 1; b, by 2; c, by 3; &c. as follows 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 a,b,c,d,e,f,g,h,i, j, k, l, m, n, o, p, q, r, s, t, v, u, w, x, y, z. According to this index, the following fentence, riches gain friends, will be written thus: 18, 9, 3, 8, 5, 19. 7, 1, 9, 14. 6, 18, 9, 5, 14, 4, 19. Or the figures, to correspond to the letters, may be placed in any other order. Or the letters in the alphabet may be tranfpofed. Certain confonants may be fubftituted inftead of the vowels, and the vowel, instead of the confonants: as, inftead of the vowels, a, e, i, o, u, y, ufe l, m, n, p, q, r, and vice verfà, respectively; then the foregoing fentence will ftand thus: ynchms glni fynmids. And an infinite number of other ways might be invented, by this mode of fubftitutional writing, which the ingenious reader will difcover; fuch as, dividing the alphabet into two parts, and tranfpofing the letters which ftand in the firft or fecond K 2 fecond place, in one part, with those in the first or fecond place, in the other part; or, dividing it into three columns, and applying this rule alternately; first, to the first column, and then to the second: and a number of other ways there are, too numerous to mention. The third way of writing fecretly, is, Firft, by writing with the juice of a lemon, the juice of an onion, urine, or the fpirits of vitriol, which will not appear legible till it be holden to the fire. Secondly, by tracing the letters on the back of the paper, after it is written, with a pen dipped in milk; these letters, fo traced, will not appear legible, till the paper be holden to the fire; then they will appear of a bluish colour. But, in this manner of writing, the paper should be very thin. The laft method I fhall mention, is, by ufing fympathetic inks, as they are generally called: there are various preparations under this name. I fhall mention only two, aud which may fafely be depended upon. 1. If a little green vitriol be diffolved in water, with a little nitrous acid, the characters written with it will be invifible, till they are wetted with the following mixture: Put two ounces of fmall Aleppo galls in half a pint of water; when it has flood three or four days, pour it off. A pencil, dipped in this mixture, and drawn over the letters, written with the former ink, will render them of a beautiful black. Or letters written with the latter ink, will be invifible, till they are wetted with a folution of Pruffian blue in water; and letters written with this folution, will alfo be invifible, till wetted with the above ink of galls, and water. 2. Incorporate one ounce of litharge of lead with two ounces of diftilled vinegar; let it ftand twenty-four hours, then strain it off, and let it fettle. Put one ounce of orpiment, in powder, and two ounces of quick lime, in a quart bottle, with water fufficient to cover them about an inch above the ingredients. Place the bottle in a moderate heat, for twenty-four hours:, then pour it off, and cork it clofe. The letters written with the former of these inks, will not appear till they be expofed to the vapours of this latter ink; when they will appear perfectly plain. OF SECT. IIL EPISTOLARY WRITING, AND SUPERSCRIPTION: Or every species of compofition, there is none that, in its nature, approaches nearer to familiar converfation. (except plain dialogue) then epiftolary writing. A letter is a direct addrefs from one perfon to another, and should, therefore, contain all the eafe, elegance, and familiarity of conversation; paying the fame regard to the nature of the fubject, and the perfon addreffed, as in a perfonal application. The principal characteristics of a letter are, nature, fimpli city, sprightlinefs, and wit. The style of a letter fhould be natural; and appear to exprefs the genuine feelings of the mind. It should not indicate the least mark of study. There fhould be no formal divifion of the parts, no laboured introduction, nor pathetic conclufion; but all fhould appear the fpontaneous product of the writer's own emotions. It fhould likewife be wholly devoid of any complexity or ambiguity of expreffion: for this purpose, the fentences fhould be fhort, and the ftyle perfpicuous. It fhould contain all the vivacity of converfation. And, if the writer be mafter of any wit, a letter (if the fubject permit) affords as proper a place for the difp'ay display of it, as any compofition whatever. A gentle satire, a repartee, or a burlefque, may fometimes be introduced with fuccefs; nay, it is often expected, in letters on domestic subjects, between familiar friends. It is needlefs to give copies of letters on different occafions, in such a number as is usually done; the subjects of letters being as various as those of converfation: any attempt, therefore, to give fpecimens of letters, to ferve for every purpose for which the writer may have occasion, must be abfurd. A learner who copies his letter from any prece dent, will not be able to exprefs his own thoughts with ease and freedom. By being confined to a copy, from which he will find it difficult to depart, his letters will carry an awkward stiffness and formality; and he will be a long time be fore he acquires that freedom, and unadorned elegance, always expected in extemporary writing. To form an epiftolary writer no more is requifite than an intimate acquaintance with English grammar; whereby he will be able to deliver his fentiments with propriety in converfation. If he poffefs this qualification, it will fuperfede the neceffity of any artificial helps; but if this be wanting, other affiftances will be of little ufe, except to ferve to publifh his deficiency to his correfpondents. Nevertheless, in conformity to general cuftom, I have added a few examples. It need hardly be mentioned, that the name, by which the perfon is addreffed, be placed on the left hand fide of the page, at the top of the letter; and the letter begun juft under it: the name of the writer at the bottom of the letter, on the right hand; the date of the letter, either on the right hand, at the top of the letter, or on the left, and at the bottom: and the letter fhould conclude with the name by which the receiver of it is addressed at the beginning. From From a Mafter to his Scholar, during the Holidays. Dear George, I take the first opportunity that has offered, to inquire after your health, and that of your friends. And I expect, that you will regularly anfwer each of my letters, that, during this time of leifure, I may have an opportunity of obferving, whether you remember, or have forgotten, the rules I formerly gave you, concerning writing letters. I now, therefore, call upon you to put those rules into practice. But, willing to grant you every indulgence at this time of feftivity, and left your recollection fhould not be fo clear, as when in conftant exercise, I shall briefly repeat those rules, to which, I hope, you will pay a strict attention. You remember, no doubt, my first direction was, to be very correct and circumfpect in your spelling: this is the first, and moft effential requifite in all kinds of writing: and make use of no word, of which you do not perfectly understand the fenfe. The vulgar part of the world, in general, are very much addicted to this abfurdity. You will, now, often hear people condemn a work, as ungrammatical, and deficient in the ornaments of style, though themselves be unacquainted with the first form of grammar, and know not the meaning of a flower in rhetoric.-Avoid repetitions: they always offend the judicious ear, and are feldom proper, except when they enforce any particular meaning, or explain it more fully. Parentheses are always inelegant, and fhould never be used (but when abfolutely neceffary), as they render the fentence too complex. Never use the long in a word, except when two meet, in which cafe it is neceffary for diftinction. A letter interlined has a very ungraceful appearance; it is also an affront: for it indicates either laziness or indifference, or both. Ufe no capital letters, but at the beginning of a sentence, to proper names, and to the first word of every line in poetry, When you wish to lay a ftrong emphasis on any word, or in tend |