DIRECTION OF LETTERS. The former way of writing twice the title of a person on the MODELS OF LETTERS TO BE TRANSLATED INTO FRENCH. I. A YOUNG LADY TO HER MAMMA. MY DEAR MAMMA, You wish me to address my first French letter to Papa, and it is with the greatest pleasure that I obey your orders. You know that I have learned this language only a year;1 I therefore fear he will find a great many faults in the enclosed letter, but I rely on his indulgence, and the kindnesses with which he continually loads me. I have enclosed two landscapes which I finished two or three days ago, and which I hope you will accept as a token of my best love.3. Good-bye, my dear Mamma; tell (my) Papa to answer my scrawl soon, and to return it to me with the corrections of its numerous mistakes. I remain,5 Dearest Mamma, Your affectionate daughter, 1 Qu'il n'y a qu'un an que j'apprends cette langue. 2 Je vous envoie ci-inclus. 8 De mon affection. Corrige. 5 Toujours. II. A YOUNG LADY TO ANOTHER, INVITING HER TO SPEND A DAY. 23 PORTLAND CRESCENT, 18th August 1866. DEAR EMILY, Mamma desires her respects1 to your Aunt, and requests that she will be good enough to allow you to come and spend Saturday next with us. If the weather turns out fine, Mamma intends taking William and you and me to visit the wonderful palace and grounds at Sydenham, which will be a great treat to us all. We will start from here at ten o'clock, so you would require to take the omnibus that passes your house at half past nine to be here in good time.3 Drop me a note in the course of to-morrow, saying if it will be convenient for you to come. I am, dear Emily, Yours sincerely,5 ALICIA MORrell. 1 Présente ses respects. 2 Et la prie de vouloir bien vous permettre. 3 A temps. 4 Répondez-moi. 5 Croyez moi, ma chère Emilie, votre sincère amie. DEAR ALICIA III. REPLY TO THE PRECEDING. SIDNEY SQUARE, 19th August 1866. I have just received your note, and as Aunt is agreeable,1 I shall be delighted to come down on Saturday. I have long had a desire to visit the Crystal Palace, so I hope the weather will be favourable for the excursion. I am at present busy with a piece of fancy work for a bazaar, the contributions to which must be sent in to-morrow, so please excuse2 haste and brevity. I shall be with you on Saturday punctually at the hour named. With Aunt's compliments to your Mamma, I remain, dear Alicia, Ever yours sincerely, EMILY WALKER. 1 Y consent. 2 Veuillez excuser. IV. A YOUNG LADY IN THE COUNTRY TO A COMPANION IN TOWN. MY DEAR MARY, HOWDEN HEATH, 18th July 1866.. In writing the above date I was surprised to find that I have been now nearly three weeks here-so quickly has the time passed that it appears to me but a few days1 since I left home! There is no lack of amusement and pleasant occupation in this lively place, for, what with pic-nics,2 walking, driving, and botanizing on fine days—reading, music, and fancy-work in wet weather, and agreeable society at all times, one would be very misanthropical indeed3 not to enjoy the amenities of this retreat. I was delighted to hear of your success in the new style of needlework, but then you are so painstaking and persevering in anything you undertake that you cannot help succeeding. I fear I have not patience enough for it, but I mean to make a bold attempt5 as soon as I get to town, and will probably be indebted to your kindness and experience to assist me in the selection of suitable materials. I have added a large variety of specimens to my botanical museum, particularly of ferns, which are very abundant and beautiful in this quarter. You shall have an inspection of all in due time. Have you been to Brighton yet? My cousin, Clara Hamilton, is there, and reports that it was never more gay than at present. We have had charming weather all this week-bright sunshine every day. Trusting you have it equally fine, and are enjoying it as well as I am, Believe me, my dear Emily, Your most attached JULIA. 1 Il me semble qu'il n'y a que quelques jours. 2 Que vous dirai-je, entre les piqueniques. 3 Il faudrait être vraiment bien misanthrope. 4 Mais aussi. 5 Mais je me propose bien de m'y mettre tout de bon. V. A YOUNG LADY AT SCHOOL TO HER COUSIN. MY DEAR MATILDA, MELTON, 5th December 1866. Thank you, gentle coz., for your kind and welcome letter. It arrived as the afternoon classes were dismissing,1 and as I have now finished the preparation of my night-tasks, I hasten to reply to your inquiries. It is arranged that the Christmas vacation will commence on Friday, the 22d, on the evening of which day I hope to have the pleasure of joining the family circle of my dear Uncle and Aunt. I am happy to say that Miss Lendon has recovered from her serious indisposition, and has returned to school as well and cheerful as ever. She wishes to be kindly remembered to yourself and sisters.3 I have just learnt by a letter from Papa that George leaves Portsmouth to-morrow morning in the Heroine, transport ship, with troops for Calcutta. He is quite delighted with the prospect of visiting that 'City of Palaces,' and I hope his agreeable anticipations may be realized. Pray give my kind love to all with you, and believe me Your affectionate Cousin, EMILY MARKHAM. 2 Et le soir du même jour j'espère. 3 Elle vous envoie bien des 1 Se terminaient. amitiés à vous et à vos sœurs. VI. A YOUNG LADY VISITING, TO HER SISTER. GLASGOW, 17th August 1866. MY DEAR BESSY, After a ride of six hours,1 I arrived here yesterday evening, and found cousin George waiting for me at the station. We got a cab at once, and drove rapidly through streets, squares, and crescents, to Aunt's house, a distance of, I am sure, two and a half miles. This has been a busy and rather fatiguing day, as I have commenced in earnest, accompanied by Aunt and cousin Lucy, my inspection of the lions of the city. We first visited the Cathedral, a noble and venerable pile, which, though several hundred years old,2 is still in good preservation; the eastern end, or chapel, being used regularly as a place of worship. Immediately behind this building, and separated from it by an inky-looking stream, is the Necropolis3-the 'City of the Dead '-situated on a rising ground, and crowded with almost innumerable monuments, many of which are very chaste and beautiful. A few minutes' walk brought us to the College—an ancient, dim-looking structure—situated in what I should suppose is the oldest part of the city. Here we visited the Hunterian Museum, an extensive collection of objects of natural history and curiosities, and then strolled through busy, crowded streets to the Green. This is a very large park, situated on the north side of the Clyde, and very valuable as a place of public recreation for the inhabitants of the Eastern portion of the city. On our way home we walked through the principal business streets,-the crowds of people and vehicles reminding me of the bustle and throng of the leading thoroughfares in London. To-morrow we purpose visiting the principal objects of interest in the West End, and if time permits I shall give you an account of our ramble in my next letter. Meantime, with love to Papa,5 Mamma, and Sister Emma, I remain, My dear Bessy, Your loving Sister, LILLIE. 1 Après six heures en chemin de fer. 2 Malgré plusieurs siècles d'existence. trouve la Nécropole. 4 Très avantageux comme lieu. 5 Mille caresses à Papa. 3 Se VII. A YOUNG GENTLEMAN VISITING, TO HIS SISTER AT HOME. DEAR JANE, NORTHWOOD, WINDSOR, 14th July 1866. I promised to write to you after I had been a week or two here. This is a very pretty place, and Uncle and Aunt are very kind to me. My cousins and I are always playing together1 in a nice meadow behind the garden, and when George comes home he takes us a walk2 to the palace, or to gather wild-flowers. On Wednesday last Aunt took Mary, Fred, and me to London by an early train. On our arrival we at once proceeded to Madame Tussaud's Waxwork Exhibition, where we spent about two hours. After dinner we drove to the Zoological Gardens in Regent's Park, and in the evening went to the Colosseum. As you have visited all these sights,3 I need not here give any description of them, but you may believe we were very much delighted with the day's excursion, though all felt fatigued when we got back here about eleven at night. Tell mamma, with my love, that I am quite well and happy here. Your affectionate brother, ARTHUR. 1 Mes cousins et moi sommes toujours à jouer ensemble. 2 Il nous mène faire une promenade. 3 Tous ces endroits. VIII. A YOUNG GENTLEMAN TO A COMPANION, INVITING HIM TO DEAR WILLIAM, A PARTY. 35 UPPER GROSVENOR STREET, Kensington, Tuesday, 17th December 1866. Friday next is my birth-day, and as mamma has kindly allowed me1 to invite a few friends to have some fun on that evening, I shall be very happy if you will join us at five o'clock. A friend of papa's, M. Isard, from Paris, is to show us2 many wonderful things with a magic lantern, and Miss Tracey has several new games to amuse us, so I hope you can come to share in the sport.3 Master William Gregory, Gordonville. 1 A bien voulu me permettre. ments. I am, dear William, Yours sincerely, GEORGE RENNIE. 2 Doit nous montrer. 3 Prendre part aux amuse |