PREFACE

TO THE

SECOND EDITION.

T

HE POLITE PHILOSOPHER was printed originally at Edinburgh, and Part of the Edition fent up to London. The Novelty of the Title, and, to say Truth, of the Performance itself, (for it is written in a Manner never before made ufe of in our Language) recommended it to fome, and prejudiced it in the Opinion of others; but Time, which is the Touchftone of fuch Productions, did Justice to this Work, and at laft procured it an Efteem, not only here, but abroad. This, together with my great Efteem for its ingenious AUTHOR, who is now in Italy, and who is allowed, by all who know him, to be truly a POLITE PHILOSOPHER, Occafioned my fending this Second Edition into the World.

The Intent of the Author (for I very well knew his Intent) was, to make Men ashamed VOL. I.

of

of their Vices, by fhewing them how ridiculous they were made by them, and how impoffible it was for a bad Man to be polite. It may be, graver Books have been written on this Subject, but few more to the Point; its Author being equally skilled in Books and in Men, in the dead Languages and the living: I prefume therefore, that his Obfervations will be generally found true, and his Maxims just.

At first fight, it may feem that this Book is calculated only for a few; but I beg leave to observe, that in Truth there are but few to whom it may not be useful. As every Man in his Station ought to be honest, so every Man in his Behaviour may be polite; nay, he ought to be fo, because he will be fure to find his Account in it; fince it is a Quality easier difcerned, and of confequence fooner rewarded, than the former. We must know and converse with a Man to be convinced of his Probity; whereas we perceive, at first fight, whether he has good Manners; by this we are prejudiced in his Favour: And who then would not strive to learn an Art at once fo eafy, and fo extenfive.in its Ufe?

But

But, if it be beneficial to all, it is peculiarly neceffary to Youth. It is at once a Remedy for Bashfulness, and a Preservative against the contrary Vice. A polite Perfon ftands in the Middle between a sheepish Modefty, and a distasteful Boldness. It is the Habit which adds the laft Polifh to Education, brightens the Man of Letters, and spreads a Gloss over that Sort of Learning, which would otherwise appear pedantic. The polite Man may not only understand Latin and Greek, but may alfo introduce them into Difcourfe, provided it be before proper Company, and on a proper Occafion. The unpolished Scholar lugs them in whenever they occur; quotes Ovid to his Mistress, and repeats a Paffage from Polyanus to a Captain of the Guards. To our Youth therefore I beg leave to recommend this concise Manual, which will coft them but little Time to read, and no great Pains to practise.