ends of the sheet meet together; after which, about one-third of it on the right hand of the writer, is turned over toward the left, and likewise about as much is turned over from the left to the right, making three folds in all. Subsequently, the letter is enclosed in an envelope, properly stamped, and the superscription made as above directed. Tickets and cards generally, do not require any folding.

PART VII.

OF ESSAYS.

DEFINITION, OBJECT, SUBJECT, DIVISION, AND QUALITIES OF ESSAYS.

1. A systematic exposition of a thing, or subject, by principles, rules, and examples, is termed a treatise.

2. An essay "is the exposition of a subject more brief and less methodical than that of a treatise."

3. The word essay, in its general signification, denotes an attempt of the body or mind at any thing; as applied to literary composition, it indicates an attempt at writing on any subject, and on any kind of composition, according to the writer's object, which may be either information, pleasure, or persuasion, or both.

4. Hence essays embrace every species and

(1.) What is a treatise?

(2.) What is an essay?

(3.) What does the word essay mean in its general signification ?

What does it mean particularly applied to composition ? (4.) What species and subjects of composition do essays com

prise?

subject, as well as every object of composition. More particularly, however, they are divided into three general classes, viz: Narrative Essays, which have for object, information; Descriptive Essays, which have for object, pleasure; and Demonstrative Essays, which have for object, persuasion.

5. It follows from this division, that the qualities, principles and rules to be observed in writing an essay, are those either of narrations, or descriptions, or orations. But as an essay, according to its definition, is an exposition more brief and less methodical than in those branches of composition; so the number and order of the parts, their peculiar qualities and rules, are less rigidly observed in an essay. Beside, in them, as in letters, the writer's object may be compound, namely: it may comprise both information and persuasion, or pleasure; and the subject may be either low, and sublime, or middle; wherefore, the style of an essay may be various.

6. Here, as in descriptions, we deem it superfluous to make a list of subjects for essays; since any and everything which exists in the material or immaterial world, and is subject to

How are they specially divided?

(5.) What are the qualities, principles, and rules to be observed in essays?

the senses, imagination, or intellect, may constitute the subject of an essay. The grand panorama of the universe is always open to the student's view. All that is necessary for him, is to look at the countless objects exhibited therein, and make his own selection.

7. The distinguished writers, worthy of imitation in this line of composition, are, Addison, Johnson, Channing, and Emerson.

8. We shall conclude this species of composition, and Treatise on Belles-Lettres, with an extract from Addison's Spectator, which may serve as an illustration of the Demonstrative and Narrative essays, and of their appropriate style.

ON THE EVIL SATIRE.

"There is nothing that more betrays a base, ungenerous spirit, than the giving of secret stabs to a man's reputation. Lampoons and satires, that are written. with wit and spirit, are like poisoned darts, which not only inflict a wound, but make it incurable. For this reason I am very much troubled when I see the talents of humor and ridicule in the possession of an illnatured man. There cannot be a greater gratification to a barbarous and inhuman wit, than to stir up sor

(6.) Is a list of subjects for essay necessary? (7.) Who are the distinguished essayists worthy of imitation? (8.) Give an example of an essay from a good author?

row in the heart of a private person, to raise uneasiness among near relations, and to expose whole families to derision, at the same time that he remains un seen and undiscovered. If, besides the accomplishments of being witty and ill-natured, a man is vicious into the bargain, he is one of the most mischievous creatures that can enter into a civil society. His satire will then chiefly fall upon those who ought to be the most exempt from it. Virtue, merit, and everything that is praiseworthy, will be made the subject of ridicule and buffoonery. It is impossible to enumerate the evils which arise from these arrows that fly in the dark ; and I know no other excuse that is or can be made for them, than that the wounds they give are only imaginary, and produce nothing more than a secret shame or sorrow in the mind of the suffering person. It must indeed be confessed, that a lampoon or a satire do not carry in them robbery or murder; but at the same time, how many are there that would not rather lose a considerable sum of money, or even life itself, than be set up as marks of infamy and derision? And in this case a man should consider, that an injury is not to be measured by the notions of him that gives, but of him that receives it.

Those who can put the best countenance upon the outrages of this nature which are offered them, are not without their secret anguish. I have often observed a passage in Socrates' behavior at his death, in a light wherein none of the critics have considered it. That excellent man, entertaining his friends, a little before he drank the bowl of poison, with a discourse on the