PREFACE.

THE substance of the following pages was originally embraced in two Lectures which the author had the honour of delivering before the members of the Philosophical Institution, Edinburgh, in February 1867.

In the hope that his lucubrations may be considered not unworthy of publication, he has ventured to put them into their present shape, along with a large amount of additional

matter.

ST. BENNET'S, EDINBURGH,
Christmas Day, 1869.

CONTENTS.

Scriptural and Roman Letters,

Characteristics of Male and Female Letter-writers,

Crossing and Postscripts,

Altered Character of Correspondence, .

Old English Letters,

Scottish Correspondence of Seventeenth and Eighteenth

Centuries, .

-

Published Correspondence of Eminent Individuals :-

I. France,

PAGE

I

5

7

IO

12

19

28

No. I. Madame de Sévigné à M. de Coulanges,

223

VI. 'Hout awa! it's the 11th February,'

VII. Do you Burn your Letters yet?

239

240

243