XXXVII.

or interest these, constraint appears; and hence, LECT thofe Letters of mere compliment, congratulation, or affected condolence, which have coft the Authors most labour in compofing, and which, for that reason, they perhaps confider as their master-pieces, never fail of being the most disagreeable and infipid to the Readers.

Ir ought, at the fame time, to be remembered, that the eafe and fimplicity which I have recommended in Epiftolary Correfpondence, are not to be understood as importing entire carelessness. In writing to the most intimate friend, a certain degree of attention, both to the subject and the style, is requifite and becoming. It is no more than what we owe both to ourselves, and to the friend with whom we correfpond. A flovenly and negligent manner of Writing, is a disobliging mark of want of refpect. The liberty, befides, of writing Letters with too careless a hand, is apt to betray persons into imprudence in what they write. The first requifite, both in converfation and correfpondence, is to attend to all the proper decorums which our own character, and that of others, demand. An imprudent expreffion in converfation may be forgotten and pafs away; but when we take the pen into our hand, we must remember, that, "Litera fcripta manet."

PLINY'S Letters are one of the most celebrated collections which the Antients have given us, in the epiftolary way. They are elegant and polite;

VOL. III.

F

and

LECT. and exhibit a very pleafing and amiable view of the XXXVII. author. But, according to the vulgar phrafe, they

fmell too much of the lamp. They are too elegant

and fine; and it is not eafy to avoid thinking, that the Author is cafting an eye towards the Public, when he is appearing to write only for his friends. Nothing indeed is more difficult, than for an Author, who publishes his own Letters, to diveft himfelf altogether of attention to the opinion of the world in what he fays; by which means, he becomes much lefs agreeable than a man of parts would be, if, without any constraint of this fort, he were writing to his intimate friend.

CICERO'S Epiftles, though not fo fhowy as those of Pliny, are, on feveral accounts, a far more valuable collection; indeed, the most valuable collection of Letters extant in any language. They are Letters of real bufinefs, written to the greatest men of the age, compofed with purity and elegance, but without the least affectation; and, what adds greatly to their merit, written without any intention of being publifhed to the world. For it appears, that Cicero never kept copies of his own Letters; and we are wholly indebted to the care of his freed-man Tyro, for the large collection that was made, after his death, of those which are now extant, amounting to near a thoufand*.

See his Letter to Atticus, which was written a year or two before his death, in which he tells him, in anfwer to fome enquiries concerning his Epiftles, that he had no collection of them, and that Tyro had only about feventy of them. Ad Arr. 16. 5. They

1

XXXVII.

They contain the most authentic materials of the LECT
hiftory of that age; and are the laft monuments
which remain of Rome in its free ftate; the greatest
part of them being written during that important
crifis, when the Republic was on the point of ruin;
the most interesting fituation, perhaps, which is to
be found in the affairs of mankind. To his inti-
mate friends, especially to Atticus, Cicero lays open
himself and his heart, with entire freedom. In the
course of his correfpondence with others, we are in-
troduced into acquaintance with several of the prin-
cipal perfonages of Rome; and it is remarkable, that
moft of Cicero's correfpondents, as well as himself,
are elegant and polite Writers; which ferves to
heighten our idea of the taste and manners of that
age.

THE most diftinguifhed Collection of Letters in the English Language, is that of Mr. Pope, Dean Swift, and their friends; partly published in Mr. Pope's Works, and partly in thofe of Dean Swift. This collection is, on the whole, an entertaining and agreeable one; and contains much wit and refinement. It is not, however, altogether free from the fault which I imputed to Pliny's Epiftles, of too much study and refinement. In the variety of Letters from different perfons, contained in that Collection, we find many that are written with ease, and a beautiful fimplicity. Those of Dr. Arbuthnot, in particular, always deferve that praife. Dean Swift's alfo are unaffected; and as a proof of their

XXXVII.

LECT being fo, they exhibit his character fully, with all its defects; though it were to be wifhed, for the honour of his memory, that his Epiftolary Correfpondence, had not been drained to the dregs, by fo many fucceffive publications, as have been given to the world. Several of Lord Bolingbroke's, and of Bifhop Atterbury's Letters, are masterly. The cenfure of writing Letters in too artificial a manner falls heaviest on Mr. Pope himself. There is visibly more study, and lefs of nature and the heart in his Letters, than in those of fome of his correfpondents. He had formed himself on the manner of Voiture, and is too fond of writing like a wit. His Letters to Ladies are full of affectation. Even in writing to his friends, how forced an Introduction is the following, of a letter to Mr. Addison: "I am more joyed at your return, than I fhould be at that of "the Sun, as much as I wifh for him in this melan"choly wet feafon; but it is his fate too, like your's, "to be difpleafing to owls and obfcene animals, "who cannot bear his luftre." How ftiff a com

66

pliment it is, which he pays to Bishop Atterbury! Though the noise and daily bustle for the Public "be now over, I dare fay, you are still tendering "its welfare; as the Sun in winter, when feeming

66

to retire from the world, is preparing warmth " and benedictions for a better feafon." This fentence might be tolerated in a harangue; but is very unfuitable to the Style of one friend correfponding with another.

THE

XXXVII.

THE gaiety and vivacity of the French genius LECT appear to much advantage in their Letters, and have given birth to several agreeable publications. In the laft age, Balzac and Voiture were the two moft celebrated Epistolary Writers. Balzac's reputation indeed foon declined, on account of his fwelling periods and pompous Style. But Voiture continued long a favourite Author. His Compofition is extremely sparkling; he fhows a great deal of wit, and can trifle in the moft entertaining manner. His only fault is, that he is too open and profeffed a wit, to be thoroughly agreeable as a Letter Writer. The Letters of Madam de Sevignè, are now esteemed the most accomplished model of a familiar correfpondence. They turn indeed very much upon trifles, the incidents of the day, and the news of the town; and they are overloaded with extravagant compliments, and expreffions of fondnefs, to her favourite daughter; but withal, they fhow fuch perpetual fprightlinefs, they contain fuch easy and varied narration, and fo many ftrokes of the most lively and beautiful painting, perfectly free from any affectation, that they are justly entitled to high praise. The letters of Lady Mary Wortley Montague are not unworthy of being named after those of Mad. de Sevignè. They have much of the French eafe and vivacity; and retain more the character of agreeable Epiftolary Style, than perhaps any Letters which have appeared in the English language.