of temperance. No two-legged thing can eat much, if he eat alone. My health is good, never better; and some things necessary to be done before Congress meets, keep me busy. But my thoughts run ahead, and I cannot help thinking of where the next vernal equinox may find me. But all that, I leave to a wiser disposition than I can make myself.

"Give my love to your husband and children, to S., and Julia and their babies, and to Mr. and Mrs. Joy, and theirs. I hope this will not you, as we really need him here.

find the C. C. with Some evils are neces

THEIR DEFINITION AND QUALITIES.

1. These are letters, that have for their object to reprimand, correct, or to admonish.

2. To reprimand, "is to reprehend another for some fault;" to correct, "is to set right what is wrong;" to advise, "is to counsel."

3. A reprimand, correction, and admonition, must be seasonable, expedient, necessary, or useful.

(1.) What are letters of reprimand, correction, and advice? (2.) What is to reprimand, correct, and advise?

(3.) What qualities must reprimand, correction, and advice, have?

4. They are seasonable, when the time, place, condition of the person to be admonished, and other adjuncts, indicate that the reprimand, correction, or admonition, will be well received.

5. They are expedient, when the public or private good demands them.

6. It is, however, proper to remark on this point, that every individual forms a part of the community in which he lives; and, therefore, is directly concerned in its welfare; hence, it is both his right, and duty to preserve it, if necessary, by a suitable reprimand, correction, or admonition.

7. The case, and, therefore, the right to reprimand, etc., is not the same in regard to the private good, or welfare of an individual; hence great discretion is required in its exercise.

8. A reprimand is necessary when its omission will do great injury to the person admonished, or to the public.

(4.) When are they reasonable?

(5.) When are they expedient?

(6.) When is the right and duty of an individual to reprimand, correct, or advise?

(7.) Is the case the same, when the private welfare of an individual is concerned?

(8.) When are reprimand, correction, and advice, considered

necessary?

OF

TRIVEL

9. It is useful, when it is calculated to benefit the public, or the individual.

10.

Seasonableness and usefulness are two requisites, indispensable for a reprimand, correction, and advice.

11. The person who reprimands, corrects, or advises, must derive his authority from his rank, office, or relationship to the person addressed. Hence, neither strangers, nor equals, have a right to exercise such an office, except in a case of necessity, or a great expediency, either public or private, agreeably to the remark made under Nos. 6 and 7.

12.

Rebuke and correction must generally be mild and paternal; because excessive harshness, or severity, is calculated to make the offender either dejected, or obstinate in his ways. Hence, a rebuke, or correction, must not reveal a spirit of passion, but, on the contrary, a sincere desire of the welfare of person addressed; by offering reasons, which will effectually per

(9.) When useful?

(10.) Are seasonableness and usefulness requisites necessary to the discharge of those duties?

(11.) Whence must a person who reprimands, corrects, or ad

vises, derive his authority?

(12.) What other general qualities must a rebuke and correction have?

suade him that the reprimand, correction, or advice, is wholesome and just.

13. The style adapted to this sort of letters is always the simple.

14. The following letter is a fine example of a letter of reprimand:

Quintus Metellus Celer, Proconsul, to

Cicero.

(A. U. 691.)

"As I persuaded myself that our reconciliation and friendship was mutually sincere, I never imagined I should have had occasion to complain of being marked out in my absence as the object of your ridicule. For the same reason, I was equally far from supposing, that you would have acted with so much bitterness against my relation, Metellus, as to persecute him, even to the loss of his fortunes, and his dignities, merely for a single word. If the regard, which is due to his own character, could not protect him from the unjust resentment of the Senate, at least the zeal I have ever shown for the interests of that illustrious order, the services I have rendered the commonwealth, and the consideration which is owing to our birth, should have powerfully pleaded in his favor. But it has been his fate to be oppressed, as well as mine to be deserted, by those who ought to have

(13.) What style is suitable to these letters?
(14.) Give an example of a letter of reprimand.

treated us in a very different manner; and the honor of that important command, with which I am invested, cannot secure me, it seems, from having cause to lament the indignities which are offered, both to myself and to my family. Since the Senate have shown themselves to be so little influenced by the dictates of equity, or those principles of moderation which distinguished our ancestors, it will be no wonder if they should find reason to repent of their conduct. But, as to yourself, I repeat it again, I never had the least suspicion that you were capable of acting with so much inconstancy to me and mine. However, neither this dishonor, which has been cast upon my family, nor any injuries which can be done to me in my own person, shall ever alienate my affections from the Republic. Farewell."

15. The subjoined letter is a pattern of a humorous reprimand:

Lord Byron to Mr. Murray.

RAVENNA, February 2d, 1821.

"Your letter of excuses has arrived. I received the letter, but do not admit the excuses, except in courtesy; as when a man treads on your corns and begs your pardon, the pardon is granted, but the joint aches, especially if there be a corn upon it. However, I shall scold you presently. In the last speech of the Doge, there occurs (I think from memory,) the phrase, and thou who makest and unmakest suns:

(15.) Adduce an example of humorous reprimand in a letter.