The Sun.
London, England, 1861-01-04 00:00:00

LETTERS AND LET TER _,WRITING.

(From the Rome Journal.)
The art of Writing a re fly good letter ranks unquestion-
ably amongst the most valuable accomplishments of woman,
and next to that of-conversing well. "In both cases the first
is common-place,- because 'Whatever
thing to be avoided
partakes of the nature of common-place is not only vulgar
but ineffective. I know not howl can better define this
term, so frequently used, and so little.understood, than by
saying that common-place consists chiefly in _speaking, of
things by their little qualities, rather ths.ntheir great.ones.
Thus it is common-place— to speak of "religious persons as
using cant, to peak of distinguished 'characters as well or,

ill dressed,. and-to speak of the works of Shb.kspeare as being
peculiar in their style. -It is also common-place to use
those expressions of kindness, or sympathy, which custom
has led us to expect as a matterof course... And .we. never
feel this more than in cases of affliction or death; because
there is a kind of set phraseology made use of on such
occasions, which those who really feel would often be glad
to vary, if they only knew how. It is ' commen-place to
speak of some fact as recently discovered, to those who have
long known it. But above all that is genuine in common-
place, the kind of flattery generally adopted by men, when
they mean to address themselves pleasantly to women,
•
deserves the credit of Pre-eminence. Indeed, so deficient,
for the most part, is this flattery, in point, originality, and
adaptation, that I have known sensible women who felt
more really flattered by the most humiliating truths, even
plainly spy ken;, because such treatment imp Led a confi-
dence in their strength of mind, and good sense, in being
able to bear it. Common-place letters are such as, but for,
the direction, would 'have done as well for any other indi-
vidual as the one to whom they are addressed. In descrip-
tion•especially,it is desirable to avoid common-place. A
correspondent making the tour of the Lakes, tells you that,
on such a day, she set off to the summit of Helvellyn ; that
the first part of the ascent was steep and difficult, the
latter more easy ; that the view from the summit was niag
nificent,'extending over so many lakes, and so many other
mountains ; and there ends the story; and well forlyou it'
it ends there. &tench writers unfortunately often go on
through a whole catalogue of beauties and solemnities, no
single one of which they set before you in such a manner as
to render it one whit more attractive, or indeed more,pecu-
liar in any of its features, than the king's highway. In the
vain hope of avoiding common-place, some young writers
have recourse to extravagant expressiOns when describing
little things; a mode of writing which, besides being the
medium of falsehood, leaves them in the uncomfortable pre-
dicament of having no language adequate to what is great.
It is difficult to say what is
,the opposite of common-place,
without giving lengthened quotations frorn:the best style
of epistolary cOrresPondence, with Which the literature of
Our country during 'the last century abounds. There is a
quality both in writing- and conversation to which I can
give no other name•than freshness, which is not-only oppo-
site in its nature and. street to common-place, but on which
j. I believe depends more than half, the pleasure and amuse-
ment we derive from the intercourse of mind with mind.
Few persons possess this charm, because few are 'humble
enough to suppose thatit would be any advantage to them ;
and those who do are always in danger of losing it by writ-
ing too much. The letters'of a woman of moderate abilities
and limited, sphere of observation, may possess thissgreat
beauty; while those of a more highly. gifted. or accomplished
writer may want it ; because it must ever depend upon a
capability of ,receiving vivid impressions, combined with a
certain degree ,ef simplicity of heart.. . • • • •

VHS Airs MAREETS.

CORN EXCHANGE..

Since Monday very little fresh English wheat has come
to hand coastwise, or by land carriage, and the show, of
samples of both' red and white here, to-day, was trifling.
Although the attendance of buyers was limited the de-
mand ruled steady, at ls. per • quarter above Monday's
quotations.
There was a fair show of foreign wheat. Good and fine
samples were held at ls. per quarter more money, and other
kinds were steady.
.Floating cargoes were quite as dear as
last week.
Fine barley was searee; and in request, at-extreme cur-
rencies, but other kinds were a slow inquiry.
Fine malt was firm at 80s. per • quarter. Other kinds
were a dull inquiry, at late rates.
Oats commanded rather more money, with a good con-
sumptive demaid.
We have no change to notice in the value of beans or
peas.
The flour trade was firm, at very full prices.
ARRIVALS THIS WEEK.

Whelt. Barley. Malt. Oats. Flour.
Eng1i5h........ 920 I 640 I 1,010 1200 ; 850
Irish
F0reign........ 6,040 ) 2,710 I 1,610 I 1,570 sack
3.600 brls.

NEWGATE AND LEA.DENTIALL.
Our markets are seasonably well supplied with each kind
of meat. The trade generally is steady, at very full prices.

Per 81bs by the carcase.
s. d. s. d. s. d. s. d.
Inferior beef .... 3 0 3 4 Middling mutton 3 10 4 8
Middling d 0.... 3 6 4 0 Prime do
Prime large do.. 4 2 4 4 Veal
Do. small d 0.... 44 4 6 Small pork .. 48 5 4
Large pork 4 0 4 6! . amb.... ...... 0 0 0 0
Inferior mutton 3 4 3 8

• BOROUGH HOP.
We have to report an improved demand for all good and
fine hops at very full prices ; other kinds move off slowly,
but at extreme rates.
New Mid and East Kent
pockets..
ealds
Sussex
Yearlings

per cwt.
£6 Os to £lB Os
4Os to 14 Os
SOS to 9 Os
sOs to 9 108