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insinuating the delicate question orally, much ambiguity may be allowed for, on the score of anxiety and embarrassment: and it has always been understood, that the lady's answer, like a certain character in algebra, which combines the positive and negative signs, must be interpreted by accompanying circumstances; or rather, that it is like the adverb of answer, in some of the dead languages, which is both yea and nay, and requires an inclination of the head, or the expression of the countenance, to make it intelligible. Lawyers say, too, that it is difficult, in many cases, to prove a verbal promise of marriage. But equivocal writing has not the advantage of being illustrated by tone, glance, feature, or attitude, and may lead to very dangerous consequences.

In that department of the post-office, of which Cupid is master, the mails should contain only perfumed and gilt-edge billets, written in fair, soft, legible characters, like the correspondence of Julie and St. Preux, as conducted by their inspired amanuensis. I have written a narrative of the evils which befell one of the best of men, from an accidental obscurity in his manuscript, to which I merely meant these remarks as an introduction. I perceive they have run to a greater extent than I had anticipated. For this

reason, but more particularly because I would not encourage fraud or deception in any form or under any pretext, I will not even hint at the possible advantages which may flow from bad or ambiguous hand-writings.

I can conceive no instance in which sound morality will tolerate the commission of such a thing, with malice aforethought, or from sheer carelessness; unless it be, where the ingenuity of the writer is taxed for common-place complimentary flourishes, or at the conclusion of an epistle. It is sometimes a very perplexing thing to make a proper obeisance at the end of a letter, when we are at a little loss about etiquette, or fear to be too formal or too familiar, too cold or too tender. Whether an imitation of the Chinese or the Sanscrit characters may be employed with propriety, in any such dilemma, is a case of conscience, which I will not undertake to decide. I must refer the reader to an excellent work by Mrs. Opie, with a most unfashionable name; and if such an evasion is not classed by her among the peccadilloes which she has denounced, it may be safely resorted to by the most scrupulous pre

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