The Nature of Familiar Letters, written, as it were, to the Moment, while the Heart is agitated by Hopes and Fears, on Events undecided, must plead an Excuse for the Bulk of a Collection of this Kind. Mere Facts and Characters might be comprised in a much smaller Compass: But, would they be equally interesting?

Parents cannot expect advice to have the same force upon their children as experience has upon themselves.

A good man will not engage even in a national cause, without examining the justice of it.

Great allowances ought to be made for the petulance of persons labouring under ill-health.

Where words are restrained, the eyes often talk a great deal.

The pleasures of the mighty are obtained by the tears of the poor.

The little words in the Republic of Letters, like the little folks in a nation, are the most useful and significant.