of thinking, his taste, his whim, his humour. Among the fair sex it is ordinarily more natural, because being less acquainted with the world and with books than the generality of the men, their letters can only give a transcript of themselves.

Besides, letters vary in their Style according to the ranks people occupy, and the persons with whom they are connected.-Thus when I write to you, my dear Abbé, I use the Style of conversation, It was that of Cicero, when he corresponded with his friends, but how far does my imitation come short of the model!

Though we have letters which treat interesting points with great depth, yet the epistolary way of writing requires that the subject should not be examined to the bottom. As it ought to resem-ble conversation, it should be simple and light.

Letters in a too florid Style, are commonly stu died, for which they are far from being the better. When they are the dictates of sincere friendship, the peu ordinarily uns without constraint; if we meet a flower in our way, we gather it, but we never stop to look for one.

Our Holy Father (Benedict XIV) has the talent of writing a letter with much more precision than

is

is usual in our language. I have seen some of them in which the words seem to disappear, and only the thoughts present themselves to the eye. This is the effect of an imagination, equally strong and sprightly, which expresses itself only by sallies of wit.

We have general rules for all the different Styles, but it is a sure and fundamental truth, that every man has one peculiar to himself, and that it is often proper to retain it. But Nature is ordinarily stifled under a load of precepts, we then replace it by Art; and we now meet only with factitious genius.

There would be much less monotony in our writings, if we did not pay a too fertile submission to what we learn at College. By a happy effort rules may be shaken off, and this is almost always the lot of genius.-The man who adheres too rigidly to method seldom writes with fire, when Wit is fettered its sprightliness evaporates, its sparkling is extinguished..

I see no reason why all Sermons should be tied down to the same form. The eloquence of the Pulpit would take a bolder flight were it left at liberty to trace out for itself the most proper plan.

Had

Had I been a Preacher, I believe I should not have restricted myself to divisions nor subdivisions: we see no such constraint in the fathers, who were the most eloquent of men.

When the head and heart are full, and have a lively impression of the subject, they can instruct and affect, without a first and second part.

Every discourse, doubtless, requires a certain geometrical order, that it may not become a mass without form, and disgust the audience, but it is the geometry of Nature for which a just way of thinking is sufficient, and the man who possesses that, may flatter himself that he will not mistake in this article.

His own reason furnishes every man with an excellent course of Logic, the only thing required is to put it in practice.

I do not pretend that no rules ought to be given upon Eloquence, and the method of composing discourses; but it is dangerous to give them so much importance as to prohibit all departure from them.

The greatest painters prescribed rules for themselves, and we ought to endeavour to become originals, instead of remaining perpetually imitators.

LETTER

LETTER CXLII.

TO THE SAME.

Do not imagine that I have sounded the depth of the Sciences, I have only skimmed the surface. Whether from the narrowness of my genius, or the duties of my profession, it has never been in my power to gratify the pleasure I should have felt in being able to cultivate them. My study, you know, has been principally confined to a Gothic system of philosophy: if, at some leisure moments, I was desirous of acquainting myself with Des Cartes and Newton, I could only have a glimpse of them, and I was even obliged to steal from sleep time to procure myself that satisfaction.

I have preached some Sermons, but they were hasty compositions, and I never made that my occupation. Theology afterwards employed all my attention, and I acknowledge that I have been charmed with it, having always entertained a pe

culiar attachment to every thing that could turn our thoughts directly to God.

As to this Science, so worthy of our enquiry and application, when it is freed from those opinions and superfluities with which it has been overloaded by the barbarism of the schools, I study it as closely as possible, always finding it more satisfactory, more sublime, and more worthy of my attention.

The high esteem which I had conceived for this Science even induced me to compose, or rather to new mould, some Treatises on Theological subjects. All this, joined to the office of Consultor, with which I have been invested, has permitted me only to make some slight excursions into the foreign regions of Literature, of which I know just enough for conversation.

This is all my merit. You see that it is very sinall, and that I should have a great share of vanity were I ridiculous enough to plume myself on

it.

It is true, that I am extremely fond of application, and if that can supply the want of science and genins, I may, in that respect, not be entirely

undeserving