latter species of composition has been practised first; and that composition in prose has seldom been attempted, till men have attained considerable refinement. The different kinds of composition in prose, on each of which it is intended to make a few observations, are the following: Narrative, Letters, Memoirs, History, Biography, Essays, Arts or Philosophy, Sermons, Novels.

Of Narrative.

NARRATIVE is, of all the species of composition, that which admits of ornament in the least degree. It is chiefly employed when a writer gives an account of a series of facts, of occurrences, or of things which he has seen, without any observations or embellishments, that might tend to withdraw the attention of the reader from those things about which he is desirous of giving information. In compositions of this kind, though moral observations may be, and sometimes are, with propriety introduced, it is better, in general, that the connection should not be interrupted. The excellence of narrative consists in simplicity of language, clearness of arrangement, and one thing's following another in the statement, in such a manner, that the mind of the reader may at once per

ceive the relation of the successive parts to each other.

"A tale should be judicious, clear, succinct:
The language plain, and incidents well linked;
Tell not as new, what every body knows,
And, new or old, still hasten to a close;
There centering in a focus round and neat,
Let all your rays of information meet.”

Of Letters.

No kind of composition is so common as that of letters. Every person in every rank of life, if he is capable of writing at all, must necessarily write letters of business, of friendship, or of amusement. As letters may be written on every subject, they admit of every kind of style, from the most simple to the. most ornamented. There is, therefore, no propriety in speaking of the epistolary style, as if this kind of composition had a style peculiar to itself; it must indeed be admitted that there is something in the composition of letters in general, that distinguishes them from every other kind of writing; but this peculiarity, where it occurs, is more the effect of the sentiment, than of the language.

In judging of any thing that is done, or of the way in which it should be done, our attention must

be directed to its nature; for our opinion concerning the propriety of the means, must depend on a consideration of what is the aim or object of the performer. What is suitable for the accomplishment of one purpose, may be very unsuitable for the accomplishment of another. Accordingly, the style of letters must be as diversified as their subjects, or the intentions of the writers. If a man would merely communicate information, his language should be simple and perspicuous; if he would persuade, his style must be argumentative and energetic; if he would condole, he must employ sentiments and language that are soothing and comforting. But, indeed, it is almost unnecessary to give any directions on this subject; for in letters, more, perhaps, than in any other species of composition, writers are influenced by their feelings : these will, at all times, be sufficient to point out what should be the nature of their sentiments; and their knowledge of the general principles of language and style, must perform the rest.

History, politics, or philosophy, are sometimes treated of in a series of letters; and in such cases we are to judge of the works, not as letters, but as regular discussions on these subjects, and to appreciate their excellence accordingly. The only advantage of adopting the epistolary form is, that it admits of greater ease.

To those who are beginning to write letters, in the common acceptation of the term, it is commonly recommended to think what they would say to the address, if he were preWith certain limitations,

person whom they intend to sent, and to write the same.

To

this advice may be followed; but it is obvious that in speaking, most people are not sufficiently careful in the choice and arrangement of their words, and hence, were they to write in the same manner, their compositions would abound in redundancies and improper expressions, which pass without notice, or at least without criticism, in conversation. write a good letter, a person ought to consider before he commences, what he intends to introduce. By this means he will avoid unnecessary repetitions, and save himself from the necessity of apologizing, as a French author once did to his friend, by telling him, after having written a very long letter, that he had not time to write a shorter one; thus intimating, that more thinking and longer time are necessary to express much in few words.

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Of Memoirs.

MEMOIRS are understood to be accounts of actions amiliarly written, without that care and regularity which are generally found in history. The term is applied either in reference to an individual or to a nation, and seems originally to have meant hints intended to furnish materials for a historical composition. This kind of writing is not necessarily distinguished by any peculiarity of style. Ornament of

every kind is inconsistent with that plain statement of facts which it ought to exhibit.

Of History.

HISTORY is a species of composition that differs but little in some respects from plain narrative. The most important parts of it are those which give a relation of facts, events, or occurrences, in the order in which they happened; and, indeed, the original design of history seems to have extended no farther: but as men became more refined, and were more accustomed to the exercise of reason, they were not satisfied with a bare statement of what was done, but began to exercise their minds in tracing events to their causes, in discovering the motives that led to particular actions, and in pointing out the wisdom