Selected English Letters (XV - XIX Centuries)

Various, H. [Editor] Wragg, M. [Editor] Duckitt

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• Publié par: phion
• Publié le: 08 décembre 2010
• Nombre de lectures: 41
• Langue: English

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Project Gutenberg's Selected English Letters (XV -
XIX Centuries), by Various
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Title: Selected English Letters (XV - XIX Centuries)
Author: Various
Release Date: June 4, 2004 [EBook #12515]
Language: English
*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG
EBOOK SELECTED ENGLISH LETTERS ***
Produced by Dave Morgan, Bill Hershey and PG
Distributed ProofreadersSELECTED ENGLISH LETTERS
(XV-XIX CENTURIES)
ARRANGED BY
M. DUCKITT & H. WRAGG
1913.PREFACE
This anthology has been compiled with rather
mixed motives. First, 'all for our delight'—a rule
that editors sometimes observe, and occasionally
acknowledge; then, with the desire to interest as
large a section of the public as may be. Here is a
medley of gay, grave, frivolous, homely, religious,
sociable, refined, philosophic, and feminine,—
something for every mood, and for the proper
study of mankind. We do not hope to satisfy all
critics, but we do not anticipate that we shall please
none. Our difficulty has been that of choice. Many
pleasant companions we have had to pass by; to
strike from our list many excellent letters. Those
that remain are intended to present as complete a
portrait of the writer as space permits.
Occasionally it was some feature of the age, some
nicety of manners, some contrast in point of view,
that obtained inclusion.
Into such an anthology the ordinary reader prefers
to dip at random, looking for old friends or new
faces, and has his reward. But if he is resolute to
read letters in chronological order, he will also, we
hope, find in our selection some trace of the
development of the Epistolary art, as, rising
through earlier naiveties and formalities to the
grace and bel air of the great Augustans, it slides
into the freer, if less dignified, utterance of an age
which, startled by cries of 'Equality' at its birth, hasconcerned itself less with form than with
individuality and sincerity of expression.
Three letters are included of which the originals
were penned in Latin. In a few cases the spelling
and punctuation have been modernized.
Our best thanks are due to Mr. J.C. Smith, whose
kind criticism and inspiring suggestions have been
of inestimable service to us in the preparation of
this work.
M.D. H.W.CONTENTS
SIR THOMAS MORE, 1478-1535—
To Margaret Roper. 'Wyth a cole' from prison.
MARGARET ROPER, 1505-1544—
To Sir Thomas More. Reply to the above.
ROGER ASCHAM, 1515-1568—
To Lady Jane Grey. A most accomplished maiden.
To Lady Clarke. An offer of assistance.
FRANCIS BACON, 1561-1626—
To Sir Thomas Bodley. With a copy of his book.
SIR THOMAS BROWNE, 1605-1682—
To his son Thomas. Fatherly commendations.
To his son Edward. Centenarians.
JOHN MILTON, 1608-1674—
To a Cambridge friend. The choice of a profession.
To Leonard Philaras. The blind poet.
JOHN EVELYN, 1620-1706—
To Samuel Pepys. In retirement at Wotton.
To the same. An old man's occupations.
DAME DOROTHY BROWNE, 1621-1685— To her
daughter in London. Three interesting postscripts.
GEORGE, LORD BERKELEY, 1628-1698—
To Samuel Pepys. Honourable acquittal.DOROTHY OSBORNE, 1628-1698—
To Sir William Temple. Passing the time.
To the same. Another pretender.
To the same. A disappointing preacher.
To the same. The ideal husband.
To the same. The growth of friendship.
To the same. Wilful woman.
KATHARINE PHILIPS, 1631-1664—
To the Honourable Berenice. Yielding to opinion.
JOHN LOCKE, 1632-1704—
To William Molyneux. A philosopher's confidences.
To Dr. Molyneux. True friendship.
SAMUEL PEPYS, 1633-1703—
To George, Lord Berkeley. An explanation.
To Mrs. Steward. A wedding in the City.
To John Evelyn. Reply to an old friend.
JONATHAN SWIFT, 1667-1745—
To Stella. The Dean at home.
To Lord Treasurer Oxford. The Dean makes his
bow.
To Dr. Sheridan. News from the country.
To Alexander Pope. Mostly about Gulliver.
To John Gay. Enquiries into Mr. Gay's pursuits.
JOSEPH ADDISON, 1672-1719—
To Alexander Pope. Translation of Homer.
To Mr. Secretary Craggs. A bequest.
SIR RICHARD STEELE, 1672-1729—
To Mary Scurlock. An explicit declaration.
To the same. A pleasing transport.To the same. A lover betrays himself.
To his wife. He proposes an outing.
To the same. His greatest affliction.
To the same. Four characteristic notes.
To the same. The natural slave of beauty.
JOHN GAY, 1685-1732—
To Jonathan Swift. Concerning Gulliver.
ALEXANDER POPE, 1688-1744—
To William Wycherley. Dryden and his critics.
To Joseph Addison. A few thoughts from a
rambling head.
To Jonathan Swift. Friends to posterity.
To the same. A farming friend, and The Dunciad.
To the same. An invitation to England.
SAMUEL RICHARDSON, 1689-1761—
To Miss Mulso. A discussion on love.
LADY MARY WORTLEY MONTAGU, 1689-1762—
To the Countess of Mar. The Viennese court.
To Miss Sarah Chiswell. Ingrafting for small-pox.
To the Countess of Bristol. The Grand Signior a
slave.
To the Countess of Mar. The Grand Vizier's lady.
To the Countess of Bute. Her grand-daughter's
education.
To the same. Fielding and Steele.
PHILIP DORMER STANHOPE, EARL OF
CHESTERFIELD, 1694-1773—
To his son. Dancing.
To the same. A good enunciation.
To the same. Keeping accounts.To the same. Keeping accounts.
To the same. A father's example.
To the same. Public speaking.
To the same. The new Earl of Chatham.
SAMUEL JOHNSON, 1709-1784—
To Bonnet Langton. Postponement of a visit.
To Miss Porter. A mother's death.
To Joseph Baretti. A letter of counsel.
To Mrs. Thrale. Travel in Scotland.
To the Earl of Chesterfield. Patronage.
To James Boswell. A silent friend.
To Mrs. Thrale. A great man's fortitude.
LAURENCE STERNE, 1713-1768—
To Miss Lumley. The disconsolate lover.
To David Garrick. Le Chevalier Shandy.
To Mr. Foley. An adventure on the road.
THOMAS GRAY, 1716-1771—
To Richard West. Scenery at Tivoli.
To the same. A poet's melancholy.
To Horace Walpole. The fate of Selima.
To the same. Publication of the Elegy.
To the same. At Burnham.
To the Rev. William Mason. The Laureateship.
To Dr. Wharton. A holiday in Kent.
HORACE WALPOLE, 1717-1797—
To Richard West. Floods in the Arno.
To Richard Bentley. Pictures, and Garrick.
To Lord Lyttelton. Gray's Odes.
To George Montagu. At Lady Suffolk's.
To Lady Hervey. A quiet life.
To the Rev. William Cole. Gray's death.To the Rev. William Mason. The quarrel with Gray.
To the Countess of Upper-Ossory. Fashionable
intelligence.
To the Rev. William Cole. Antiquaries and authors.
To the Miss Berrys. Their first meeting.
OLIVER GOLDSMITH, 1728-1774—
To his mother. At Cork.
To Robert Bryanton. In Scotland.
To his uncle Contarine. In Holland.
To his brother Henry. Family matters.
WILLIAM COWPER, 1731-1800—
To the Rev. John Newton. Escapade of Puss.
To the Rev. William Unwin. A laugh that hurts
nobody.
To the Rev. John Newton. Village politicians.
To the same. Village justice.
To the same. A candidate's visit.
To Lady Hesketh. An acquaintance reopened.
To the same. The kindliness of thanks.
To the same. Arrival of the desk.
To the same. Anticipations of a visit.
To the same. Commissions and thanks.
To Mrs. Bodham. His mother's portrait.
EDMUND BURKE, 1729-1797—
To Matthew Smith. First impressions of London.
To James Barry. A friend's infirmities.
To Lord Auckland. An old stag at bay.
To Mary Leadbeater. His last letter.
EDWARD GIBBON, 1737-1794—
To Mrs. Porten. His daily life.