What is the proper Style for Characteristic-Writings is briefly laid down by [H]_Libanius_ in the following Words. +Ergase ten ethopoiian charakteri saphei, suntomo, anthero, apoluto, apellagmeno pases plokes te kai schematos+.  “When you describe Manners you must use a plain, concise, florid, easy Style, free from all artificial Turns and Figures.”  Every Thing must be even, smooth, easy and unaffected; without any of those Points and Turns, which convey to the Mind nothing but a low and false Wit, in which our Moderns so much abound, and in which they seem to place their greatest Beauties.

  [H:  Ap. Is.  Casaub. Proleg. ad Theophrast.]

The primary Standard for Style is the Nature of the Subject:  And therefore, as Characteristic-Writings are professed Representations of Nature, an Author in this Way is immediately concern’d to use a simple and natural Style:  Nor has he any Reason to fear, that this will any ways prejudice his Performance, and make it appear low, flat and insipid; for in Reality there is nothing more noble than a true Simplicity, and nothing more beautiful than Nature, when it appears in the easy Charms of its own native Dress.

In Characteristic-Writings both the Way of Thinking and the Style must be Laconic:  Much must be contained in a little Compass.  Brevity of Diction adds new Life to a good Thought:  And since every perfect Stroke ought to be a distinct Representation of a particular Feature, Matters shou’d be so order’d, that every perfect Sentence may contain a perfect Thought, and every perfect Thought may represent one Feature.

Many other Particulars might have been observ’d and recommended to those, who wou’d attempt a Performance in this Kind, with some Assurance of Success.  The Laws of good Writing, in general, may and ought to be applied to Characteristic-Writing, in particular, as far as the Nature of it will bear.  But to pursue these Things accurately, wou’d carry me beyond the Bounds which the Title of this Work prescribes to me.  To shew the peculiar Nature; to point out the principal Beauties, and to lay down the general Laws of Characteristic-Writing, is all that was propos’d.  Besides, I shall have Occasion, in the Sequel of this Essay, to make some further Observations relating to the Constitution of Characteristic-Writings; which, to prevent Repetitions, I forbear mentioning here; but if the Reader be religious in the Observance of a strict Method, he is at full Liberty to alter the Situation of them, and to refer them to this Section.

SECT.  IV.