to bring into England any merchandise or commodities whatsoever, that were not of the growth and produce of that country to which those ships belonged, under penalty of the forfeiture of such ships.  This act was particularly leveled at the Dutch, who were at that time the carriers of almost all Europe, and got immensely by freight.  Upon this principle, of the advantages arising from freight, there is a provision in the same act, that even the growth and produce of our own colonies in America shall not be carried from thence to any other country in Europe, without first touching in England; but this clause has lately been repealed, in the instances of some perishable commodities, such as rice, etc., which are allowed to be carried directly from our American colonies to other countries.  The act also provides, that two-thirds, I think, of those who navigate the said ships shall be British subjects.  There is an excellent, and little book, written by the famous Monsieur Huet Eveque d’Avranches, ‘Sur le Commerce des Anciens’, which is very well worth your reading, and very soon read.  It will give you a clear notion of the rise and progress of commerce.  There are many other books, which take up the history of commerce where Monsieur d’Avranches leaves it, and bring it down to these times.  I advise you to read some of them with care; commerce being a very essential part of political knowledge in every country; but more particularly in that which owes all its riches and power to it.

I come now to another part of your letter, which is the orthography, if I may call bad spelling orthography.  You spell induce, ENDUCE; and grandeur, you spell grandURE; two faults of which few of my housemaids would have been guilty.  I must tell you that orthography, in the true sense of the word, is so absolutely necessary for a man of letters; or a gentleman, that one false spelling may fix ridicule upon him for the rest of his life; and I know a man of quality, who never recovered the ridicule of having spelled wholesome without the w.

Reading with care will secure everybody from false spelling; for books are always well spelled, according to the orthography of the times.  Some words are indeed doubtful, being spelled differently by different authors of equal authority; but those are few; and in those cases every man has his option, because he may plead his authority either way; but where there is but one right way, as in the two words above mentioned, it is unpardonable and ridiculous for a gentleman to miss it; even a woman of a tolerable education would despise and laugh, at a lover, who should send her an ill-spelled billet-doux.  I fear and suspect, that you have taken it into your head, in most cases, that the matter is all, and the manner little or nothing.  If you have, undeceive yourself, and be convinced that, in everything, the manner is full as important as the matter.  If you speak the sense of an angel, in bad words and with a disagreeable utterance, nobody