The writer must express his great obligation to Dr. E. Sommer, whose "Manuel de Style," has furnished him with much of the preceptive matter

contained in this book.

LEAMINGTON,

January, 1872.

CONTENTS.

LETTERS PRELIMINARY.

I. From a Son to his Father requesting assistance in the study

of English Composition.

II.-The Father's answer, promising his aid and encouraging

his son.

P. 1-2

FIRST SERIES OF LETTERS.

CONCERNING IDEAS:

I.-On the Finding of Ideas.

The necessity of reflecting well before attempting to write.

Abundance of ideas not difficult to acquire. Probable effect of

writing from inspiration, so called. Ideas acquired not from

imagination alone.

II.—The same subject continued.

P. 8-5.

On forcing from a subject all the ideas it is capable of suggesting.

The manner of doing this illustrated by the subject ‘A quill pen.'

P. 6-7.

III.-On the Classification of Ideas.

The necessity of choosing some ideas and rejecting others shown
by the multiplicity of ideas that may be suggested by the simple
subject 'A tree.' Easy to write a very lengthened composition.
Classification of ideas illustrated.
P. 8-10.

V.-On the Choice and Rejection of Ideas.

What ideas should be sacrificed. Irrelevant matter not to be
introduced. The effect produced on the student's mind by
exercises in composition. Such ideas to be retained as are most
proper to effect the end in view.

P. 11-12.

V. On the Use of Ideas Appropriate to the End

Desired.

Breach of Propriety illustrated from a letter written by a youth

to his friend. Want of classification pointed out; as well as

want of a judicious rejection of ideas. Abruptness to be guarded

against. These faults avoided in an amended letter. P. 14-15.

VI.-On Forcible and Feeble Ideas.

The great importance of being able properly to express one's

id:as. Feeble ideas to be rejected. This illustrated from the

youth's previous letter. Not needful to say everything that can

be said on a subject.
P. 17-18.

VII.-On Common-Place Expressions.

Explanation of the term common-place. Every subject has its

common-place, which is to be avoided. When an exception to

this rule is allowable.
P. 20-22

VIII. On the Order of Ideas.

Ideas of a kindred nature to be linked together. One class of

ideas to be exhausted before passing to a new one. Advantage of

this method to the reader. The strongest idea to be reserved till

last. A similar gradation to be observed between the different

series of ideas as between the ideas of each group. P. 22-23.

IX.-On the method of Passing easily from One Series

of Ideas to Another.

Harshness produced by a too abrupt transition. The two sorts

of transitions explained. Brevity in transitions to be observed.

The kind of composition that may dispense with formal transi-

tions.
P. 25-27.

SECOND SERIES OF LETTERS.

CONCERNING STYLE.

Its Four General Qualities-

1. CLEARNESS.

2. PRECISION.

3. SIMPLICITY.

4. PROPRIETY.

L-On the Three qualities essential to Clearness; viz.,

Grammatical Correctness, Propriety of Terms,

and Proper Construction of Sentences.

The qualities of style: some essential or general, others par-

ticular. The essential qualities. Clearness the most important.

Our end in speaking or writing not to be attained without clear-

ness. What constitutes clearness.
P. 28-30.

II.-On the Second Requisite for Clearness: Propriety

of Terms.

On synonymes. An acquaintance with various languages neces-
sary, accurately to distinguish the exact meaning of synonymous
expressions. In case of doubt, reference to a dictionary of
synonymes recommended.
P. 81-83.

III.-On the Third Requisite for Clearness: The Pro-

per Construction of Sentences.

Sentences to be generally neither very long nor very short.

What constitutes a sentence long or short. Incidental clauses

defined. Inconveniences resulting from a multiplicity of these.

Model extract from De Quincey. The same marred by trifling

alterations. Rules of construction deducible from the passage.

P. 34-38.

IV.-On those points of Syntax that present most
difficulty to young Writers.

-On the Article and the Personal Pronoun.

The chief uses of the article. Before nouns. Before adjectives.

On the use of Pronouns. Examples of confusion from looseness

in the use of them. On the pronoun 'it.'
P. 40-43.

V.-On the Relative Pronoun.

The Proper use of

'that.' The Place of the Adverb.

The common error of using the objective case of the relative

instead of the nominative and vice versa. On the use of the

relative 'that.' Professor Bain's theory thereon. Examples of

the proper use of 'that;' of the improper substitution of 'who

for 'that.' On the position of the adverb. Sentences rendered

heavy and disagreeable from an injudicious placing of adverbs

or adverbial adjuncts.
P. 45-47.

VI.-On the Subjunctive Mood.

The verb 'to be' the only verb possesssing a subjunctive form.

The two moods, the indicative and subjunctive, often used

indiscriminately. On the proper use of the word 'if.' P. 49-59.

VII.-On the Second Essential Quality of Style: Pre-

cision.

Precision difficult to acquire. In what it consists. Its opposite,

periphrasis. Pleonasm defined. When admissible. General

rules for the attainment of precision. Clearness not to be sa-

crificed for it. The respective inconveniences of preciseness and

diffuseness compared. Excessive precision not a fault of youth.

P. 53-55.

VIII.-On the Third Essential Quality of Style: Sim-

plicity.

In

Simplicity best taught by considering its opposite faults.

what ornament of style consists. Two kinds of figures; figures

of thought and figures of words. Figures of thought enumerated.

The use of both kinds of figures natural and unavoidable. The

inconveniences resulting from an excessive employment of them.

P. 56-58.

IX.-Figures continued.

What is meant by figures of words. These figures bound up

with the language. Far-fetched and trite figures to be avoided.

Simplicity recommended.

P. 59-61.

X.-On the Fourth Essential Quality of Style: Pro-

priety.

In what the two kinds of propriety consists. Gravity suited to

some subjects, gaiety to others. The tone assumed by a father

writing to his son different from that of a son to his father.

P. 61, 62.

XI.-On the Studies necessary to the attainment of a
good Style.

The use of Exercises in Composition. Grammar stands at the
head of the requisite studies. Next comes history. An ac-
quaintance with the history of our own country most important.
Its uses. After history, mathematics. Their effect on the mind.
Next the natural sciences. The use of this knowledge. After-
wards the reading of good books. How these should be read,
and why. Learning by heart. The kind of compositions re-
quired from young people in the ordinary walk of life. These
demand a fair amount of literary talent. Excellence attainable
by docility, good-will, and perseverance. Speaking well and
writing well, the roads to distinction. -G. Washington Moon's
eloquent panegyric on the English language.
P. 63-67.