Writing in the 18th Century

[tonywalt]

I am always impressed reading letters written by the educated classes of the 18th Century.

This letter by Alexander Hamilton of Nevis/St. Kitts, West Indies (later Secretary of US Treasury) was written when he was 17(ish) and had not yet moved to the US.

Pretty incredible, but I have seen many letters on par with this letter. There is a formality no longer in fashion, unfortunately - but pretty damn good considering how rudimentary middle class education for an orphan would have been in Nevis, West Indies.

http://ahpatriot.blogspot.ca/2007/06/hurricane-letter-hamilton-to-his-father.html

[Der Wegwerfer]

thanks for posting.

[astrum]

Thanks for sharing this. Earlier this week, I had created a thread on a similar topic.


I do agree that writing from the past is more formal yet also more beautiful and sentimental. A part of me mourns the loss of such characteristics in modern writing.

[ashulman]

This is humbling

[Elina Taranenko]

Thank you for sharing :) I love 18th century English writing style, it takes some time to get used to but when you do the sentimentality and elegance of prose that is to be found, in my opinion, exceeds the emotional capabilities of modern writing. Also, the vocabulary is very impressive, considering this was an age before the thesaurus. One thing I do find slightly irritating about it is the little 'lisp' that occurs in your head when reading original sources or typed up copies that still write the s's like f's, I have come across some 18th century novels still published like that by some modern editions.

[astrum]

Also, the vocabulary is very impressive, considering this was an age before the thesaurus. One thing I do find slightly irritating about it is the little 'lisp' that occurs in your head when reading original sources or typed up copies that still write the s's like f's, I have come across some 18th century novels still published like that by some modern editions.


Yes, I agree. The appearance of "S"es can make the the texts quite cumbersome.

I also agree with you about the beauty of such writings. There are so many things that our forefathers did well.