Page:Lifelettersoffaradayjonesvol1.djvu/36

1812.
${\displaystyle \scriptstyle {\underbrace {\quad \quad \quad } }}$
Æt. 20-21.

'Dear A———, Ceremony is useless in many cases, and sometimes impertinent; now between you and me it may not be the last, yet I conceive it is the first: therefore I have banished it at this time. But first let me wish you well, and then I will proceed on to the subject of this letter. Make my respects, too, if you please, to Mr. and Mrs. A., and also to your brother and sister.

'I was lately engaged in conversation with a gentleman who appeared to have a very extensive correspondence for within the space of half an hour he drew observations from two letters that he had received not a fortnight before—one was from Sicily and the other from France. After a while I adverted to his correspondence, and observed that it must be very interesting and a source of great pleasure to himself. He immediately affirmed, with great enthusiasm, that it was one of the purest enjoyments of his life (observe, he, like you and your humble servant, is a bachelor). Much more passed on the subject, but I will not waste your time in recapitulating it. However, let me notice, before I cease from praising and recommending epistolary correspondence, that the great Dr. Isaac Watts (great in all the methods respecting the attainment of learning) recommends it as a very effectual method of improving the mind of the person who writes and the person who receives. Not to forget, too, another strong instance in favour of the practice, I will merely call to your mind the correspondence that passed between Lord Chesterfield and his son. In general, I do not approve of the moral tendency of Lord Chesterfield's letters, but I heartily agree with him respecting the utility of a written correspondence. It, like many other