When you write upon any subject, consider it fully before putting it upon paper, and treat of each topic in order, that you may not be obliged to recur to any one again, after having spoken of another thing.
If you have many subjects to treat of in the same letter, commence with the most important; for if the person to whom you write is interrupted while reading it, he will be the more impatient to resume [p136] the reading, however little interesting he may find it.
It is useful and convenient to begin a new paragraph at every change of the subject.
After having written Sir or Madam at the top of the letter, we should not commence with one of these phrases; Sir, madam —, your sister, has written me, that. We should say, I understand by a letter which madam —, your sister, has written me.
Take care also, when writing to a person worthy of respect, not to make compliments to any one. But write to this third person whatever you wish him to know.
Titles of respect, as Lordship, Majesty, Highness, Excellency, Honor, Madam, &c. ought never to be abbreviated, either in writing to the persons themselves, or to any one who has acquaintance with them.
Figures are used only for sums and dates; numbers of men, days, weeks, &c. are to be written at length.
SECTION II.
Of the Interior and Exterior Form of Letters.
The interior form of a letter comprehends the titles and qualities of persons to whom it is proper to give [p137] them; the more or less courteous phrases which we use; the more or less respectful manner with which the commencement and body of the letter are to be arranged; and the more or less humble terms which we are to use for the signature, the address or the superscription.
The exterior form of a letter is what concerns the size of the paper; the blank that we should leave between the vedette, (or line containing only the name) and the first line; between the last line, the appellation, and signature; the manner of folding the letter, and the choice and mode of putting on the seal.