Stay for me there; I will not fail
To meet thee in that hallowed vale;
And think not much of my delay,
I am already on the way,

And follow thee with all the speed
Desire can make, or sorrow breed.
Each minute is a short degree,
And every hour a step toward thee.
At night, when I betake to rest;
Next morn I rise nearer my West

Of life, almost by eight hours' sail,

Than when sleep breathed his drowsy gale.

SUBJECTS OF COMPOSITION.

1. ACCORDING to matter, or subjects, writings are divided into the Epistolary, Historical, Philosophical, Fictitious, Dramatic, and Oratorical.

2. Epistolary Correspondence, or Letter-writing is needed by all persons, either for business, for friendship, or for instruction. It involves the following Rules.

I. "We should write to an absent person, as we would speak to the same person if present.' If at a loss for something to write, imagine the person just entering your presence, and then what you would say.

II. Be as concise as possible without being obscure.

III. Avoid display. Naturalness, or ease is the grace of letter-writing. IV. Avoid ambiguities. Not only may an epistle be ambiguous from the causes mentioned under perspicuity, but it may become ambiguous from being badly written, or blotted; or being torn in opening, from having been sealed in the wrong place.

V. Preserve your own personality, and also that of the person addressed throughout the letter.

From Mr. Brown to Miss Green.

Mr. Brown's compliments to Miss Green, and begs that I may be permitted to accompany you to the opera this evening.

This note begins in the third person; hence, I should be he; and you should be her. In notes, the third person is generally used.

VI. Answer a letter at the proper time, if at all. Many neglect the reply to a letter far beyond the proper time, and then are obliged to indite a long, and, to the reader, a tiresome apology.

VII. In answering a letter, mention first the date of the letter, to which you send an answer; as, In answer to yours of June 10th, etc., or, Yours of June 10th was duly received; in answer, I beg leave to say, etc. Mention, second, the particular proposition, to which your reply is made; as, "In regard to the terms for the dictionaries," etc.

NOTE. Such contractions, as are generally known, may be used.

3. Letters may be considered as Letters of Business, Intelligence, Compliment, or of Condolence, Friendship, Excuse, and of Introductions. Small letters are called Notes, or Billets.

a. Business letters should be begun as directed in Rule VII. Say all that is necessary in connection with the business, so that the party addressed may fully understand you in regard to it.

b. Letters of Intelligence, or News-letters, are used to inform others of certain events or facts. In this, state nothing but what you know to be true, unless you state it as dubious.

"Tell not as news, what every body knows,

And, new or old, still hasten to a close."-Cowper.

If you write for any newspaper, or periodical, observe the following rules and advice, quoted from the New York Tribune.

"When you have written what you have to say, run it over and see if there be not some sentences that could be spared without serious injury. If there be, out with them! We are often compelled to decline good articles because we can not make room for them. A half column has ten chances, where two columns have one, and three columns none. 'Try to disparage as little as possible, and where you must condemn, let your facts be stronger than your words.

"When you assail any cause, or person, always give us your real name, which we shall give up to whomsoever has a right to demand it. He is a sneak and a coward who could ask us to bear the responsibility of his attacks on others.

"Do not write on both sides of a sheet.

"If you send us word that you have written in great haste, and have no time to correct,' we shall put your manuscript quietly into the fire. Why should you throw on us the task of correcting your scrawl, when we are obliged to slight our own work daily for want of time?

"Give us facts, incidents, occurrences, at the earliest moment, and we shall be grateful, though you wrote with a pudding-stick; but if you attempt logic or sentiment, do it up right, instead of leaning on us."

c. Letters of Compliment, or of Condolence, should be so worded as to show our joy at the success, or, our sympathy with the misfortunes, and griefs of those addressed. They should be restricted to the subject of the letter, and seldom or never, may business be mentioned in them.

d. Letters of Friendship should be familiar, and easy, containing only such intelligence of ourselves, as is sure to interest the party addressed. At the same time, they should show that we feel an interest in whatever concerns the other party.

e. Letters of Excuse are intended to explain, or to palliate some transaction. They should not be delayed a moment after we are aware that they are needed.

f. Letters of Introduction are either to recommend one of our friends to another, or to recommend a person, whom we know, in the way of business, to others. These letters should be truthful, definite, and clear. First, state what you know personally to be truc of the person's capacity, qualifications, etc.; and then, in what respects you know by hearsay only, or do not know at all.

4. In writing letters, we must observe the Date, Address, Signature, Postscript, Folding, Superscription, and Postage.

a. Date a letter near the right-hand upper corner. dated under the writing near the left-hand side.

A note may be

b. The Address consists of the name, the title, if there be one, and the style. The name and title may be placed at the left on the next line under the date, or they may be under the written part at the left. In the former case, the style should be under them; in the latter, the style takes the place of the name.

According to the degree of familiarity, or equality, a gentleman may be styled Sir, Dear Sir, or My dear Sir; a married lady, Madam, Dear Madam, or My dear Madam; an unmarried lady, Miss, Dear Miss, or My dear Miss, or the name may follow the style, as Miss A. In addressing relatives, the name of the relationship may follow My dear style of a business firm is Gentlemen, or Ladies; of a clergyman, Reverend, or Rev.; of a physician, Doctor, or Dr.; of a lawyer, or gentleman, Esquire, or Esq., etc.

The

The oldest unmarried daughter is styled Miss Jones; the younger daughters, Miss Caroline Jones, Miss Sarah Jones, etc. An unmarried son, Master Jones, or Master William Jones.

Alexander J. Thompson, Esq.;

Dear Sir,

Box 217, New York,

March 1, 1860.

c. The signature or subscription consists of the final paragraph and the name of the writer.

Sometimes the writer's official title is to be

placed under his name.

Your obedient servant,

John Jones.

Adieu, my dear West, and believe me, yours ever,

Believe me ever, dear Miss Edgworth,

H. Walpole.

Yours with the greatest truth and respect,

Walter Scott.

I pray God to bless you both, being ever your affectionate friend,

From your dutiful son,

B. Franklin.

Trueman Wiseman.

I have the honor to remain,
Your obedient servant,

William Cremarue, Deputy Com'r of Supplies

d. Postscripts should not be used, if it be possible to avoid them. Before signing the letter, pause, and consider if all has been written, which you wish to write. By no means defer inquiries for health, congratulations, or compliments to a postscript. It appears too much like forgetting them.

e. Folding. If the sheet is to be sent in an envelope, first double it so that its width may be equal to the length of the envelope, then fold it crosswise with the fewest folds possible to suit the width. Sealingwax is generally to be preferred to wafers, or the self-sealing envelope may be used. Letters of Introduction should not be sealed, if given to the party introduced.

f. The Superscription, or Direction on the outside of the letter, consists of the name, the place of residence or town, county, and state. It should be neatly and distinctly written. In general, double titles should be avoided. That is, we may write Mr. Seth Sears, or Seth Sears, Esq. Mr. or Dr. Asa Jones, or Asa Jones, M. D. The Rev. Dr. John Adams, but not The Rev. John Adams, D. D. On the lefthand lower corner of Letters of Introduction, place the words, To introduce Mr. Introducing Mr. ———.

g. The Postage should be pre-paid on all letters pertaining to the writer's own business. When this is required by law on all letters, tho writer should inclose a stamp, or stamps sufficient to pay the postage of the answer. If the letter be sent by a friend or acquaintance, as a matter of convenience, place in the left-hand lower corner the words, Politeness of Mr. — or Favored by Mr. or Care of Miss The last is also used, when we wish to ask the attention of a third party to the delivery of a letter.

EXAMPLES OF NOTES AND LETTERS.

Mrs. Jones requests the pleasure of the Rev. Mr. Brown and Lady's company to dinner on Tuesday next, at 5 o'clock.

75 Lexington Avenue.

May 11.

Mr. and Mrs. Brown accept with pleasure Mrs. Jones' polite invitation for Tuesday next.

5 London Terrace.

May 12.

Mr. and Mrs. Brown's compliments to Mrs. Jones, and regret that a previous engagement prevents them from accepting her kind invitation for Tuesday next.

5 London Terrace.

May 12.