it is very probable, he will fucceed as often as he is difpofed to try the experiment, that is, as long as he can preferve a thorough contempt for his own time and other people's understandings, and is refolved not to laugh cheaper than at the expence of a million of people.

HIN
NT S

ON

GOOD MANNERS*.

G%

OOD MANNERS is the art of making every reasonable person in the company easy, and to be eafy ourselves.

What paffeth for good-manners in the world, generally produceth quite contrary effects.

Many perfons of both fexes, whom I have known, and who paffed for well-bred in their own and the world's opinion, are the most troublefome in company to others and themselves.

Nothing is fo great an inftance of illmanners as flattery. If you flatter all the company, you please none; if you flatter only one or two, you affront the rest.

Flattery is the worft, and falfeft way fhewing our esteem.

of

Where company meets, I am confident the few reasonable perfons are every minute tempted to curfe the man or woman

* See Vol. XIV. p. 213.

among

among them, who endeavours to be most distinguished for their good-manners.

A man of sense would rather fast till night, than dine at some tables, where the lady of the house is poffeffed with goodmanners; uneafinefs, preffing to eat, teazing with civility; less practised in England than here.

Courts are the worft of all schools to teach good-manners.

A courtly bow, or gait, or dress, are no part of good-manners. And therefore every man of good understanding is capable of being well-bred upon any occafion.

To speak in such a manner as may possibly offend any reasonable person in company, is the highest instance of ill-manners.

Good-manners chiefly confift in action, not in words. Modefty and humility the chief ingredients.

I have known the court of England under four reigns, the two laft but for a short time; and, whatever good-manners or politenefs I obferved in any of them, was not of the court-growth, but imported. For a courtier by trade, as gentlemen-ushers, bedchamber-women, maids of honour, *

of

Of good manners as to conversation. Men of wit and good understanding, as well as breeding, are fometimes déceived, and give offence by conceiving a better opinion of those with whom they converse than they ought to do. Thus I have often known the most innocent raillery, and even of that kind which was meant for praise, to be mistaken for abuse and reflection.

Of gibing, and how gibers ought to fuffer.

Of arguers, perpetual contradictors, long talkers, who are absent in company, interrupters, not listeners, loud laughers.

Of those men and women whofe face is ever in a smile, talk ever with a smile, condole with a smile, &c.

Argument, as ufually managed, is the worst fort of converfation; as it is generally in books the worst fort of reading.

Good converfation is not to be expected in much company, because few liften, and there is continual interruption. But good or ill manners are difcovered let the company be ever fo large.

Perpetual aiming at wit, a very bad part of converfation. It is done to fupport a character; It generally fails: It is a fort of VOL. XV. infult

E e

infult on the company, and a constrai upon the speaker.

For a man to talk in his own trade, e bufinefs, or faculty, is a great breach o good manners. Divines, phyficians, law C yers, foldiers, particularly poets, are fre quently guilty of this weakness. A poe conceives that the whole kingdom *

RESOLU