•43 



to correspondents. March 7." 



TO CORRESPONDENTS. 



The letter of 5fK« is thankfully received, and fliall appear as soon as 

 pofsible; as also the anonymous expLnation of the stone coffin, &'f. 



The communication by a Friend le Liberty is also received. 



And Matthcia Bramble. Wit and humour are del'cate weapons, which ' 

 require to be handled with great addrcfs. Like a razor they derive the'r 

 whole value from being'extremely keen. Like a razor also their v.ilue doei 

 not depend on tlieir materials only, but on a happy cast when they are form- 

 Irg. From the same ma'.e.-ials may be formed a razor worth a guinea, 

 and another rot worth a groat; but if a knife (hould not be fit to cut 

 quills, it may still be very valuable for many o her purposes. In like 

 manner, though the materials may be good, where wit and humour are 

 attempted, unlefs an efsiy he struck off in a h.ippy moment, it is little 

 value J ; but if it be written in a plain, and unafl'e .ted manner, it may be 

 very much esteemed. 



Thoughts on Hypocrisy, &c. are received, as the writer will see, Bee 

 February 22. Corrcsoondents will please observe, that as the Bee is now 

 g nfrally put to prefs a considerable time before publication, the leceipt of 

 their pieces cannot be acknowledged si soon as tl.ey might expect. 



The elsay on Fortune-hunting is come to hand. Pity it is so long. 



Antinuous is respectfully informed, that though tiie Editor wiflies f» 

 oblige all, he finds himself runnng so fsst in aiie.us to his correspon- 

 dents, that he does not kmw how to overtake them. 



Anti-farmer general h tTiankfuUy received. 



The song by A. S. and die communications by the Phcenix-hur.ter, arc 

 come to hand, and Ihall appear as soon as conven'.ence will permit. 



Premiums. 



At the desire of the g-'ntleman who gives the premium of two guin'':is, 

 orte'ed in vol. vii. p. 2-224, it is hereby restricted to original efsays in 

 Venc only, thar are not of a great length. 



A piemium also of two guineas will be given by the Editor, for the 

 best original efsiy in Prose. The competition pieces for these premiunio 

 to be transmitted to the Editor, postpaid, on or before the ist of Novem- 

 ber next; accompanied each with a sealed note, contain'ng the name anJ 

 addreis of the writer, nm of which fliall be opened unleis the succefsful 

 pieces. 



The Editor res'^rvfs a power to with-hold the premiums altogerher, 

 jjnlefs the judges, to whom the pieces .Trail be sub.Tiitted, think so.ije . one 

 of them arg deserving of it. 



Abstrr.ct and speculative reasoning, especially where it has a me'aphy- 

 ,£;cal tcnJency, (hould be avoided, anJ perspicuous brevity studied. 



