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THE

Pretty Gentleman, &c.

T

HE Theatre is faid to be the proper School for correcting the little Irregularities and Foibles of Mankind; and no Method is held more likely to check the Growth of Folly, than to bring it to full View in Scenes of humorous Representation. But then the Comic Writer fhould be certain, that what he endeavours to expose, be really an Object of Ridicule; otherwise he not only offends against the Rules of the Drama, but the Precepts of Virtue.

I am led into these Reflexions, by a late Performance exhibited on our Stage, wherein the Author attempts to laugh out of Countenance that mollifying Elegance which manifefts itself with fuch a bewitching Grace, in the refined Youths of this cultivated Age. It is in Defence of these injured Gentlemen that I have taken up my Pen; and how well qualified I am to execute such an Undertaking, the Reader will be convinced, if he has but Patience to perufe carefully the following Sheets.

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Amidst all my Researches into the Hiftory of this Country, I do not find one PRETTY GENTLEMAN, till the glorious Reign of King James I. This Prince had an odd Mixture of contrary Qualities. In fome respects he retained the Rufticity of Gothick Manners; in others, he was very refined.

Lord Clarendon affures us, "That His Moft Sacred "Majefty was fo highly delighted with a Beautiful "Perfon and Fine Cloaths, that these were the chief "Recommendations to the Great Offices of State." A convincing Proof (begging the noble Hiftorian's Pardon) of that Monarch's fuperior Talents for Go

vernment.

In the Reign of Charles I. this Refinement fank in Reputation: For how indeed was it poffible, that a genuine Tafte could be cultivated, when Falkland was beheld with general Admiration, and Waller read with general Delight?

Harder still was her Fate, under the Rebukes of an auftere Republic, and a four Protector. The very Loyalifts themselves were treated with lefs Rigor, and not a Man of any Elegance durft even fhow his Head.

But when Monarchy was reftored, Taste emerged from her Obfcurity, and fhone with fome Degree of Luftre. For though the Prince was fomewhat inelegant in himself, yet that downy Eafe, which was cherished under his aufpicious Influence, was highly favourable

favourable to the Cultivation of foft Manners; notwithstanding the malicious Efforts of Milton, Denham Dorfet, Buckingham, and Dryden.

From this Period, to the Beginning of the prefent Century, her Progrefs was now and then checked by the Blafts of Envy; yet, upon the whole, the made fome tolerable Shoots; when at laft, a Sett of malevolent Spirits arofe, who [a] with a cruel and bloody-minded Zeal, entered into a Combination to deftroy this lovely Plant, both Root and Branch. The better to effect their barbarous Refolution, they fet up an Idol of their own Fancy, ascribed to it all the Attributes of the Graces, and with the Artifice of deceiving Blandifhments, allured the Majority of the Nation to fall down and worship the Image which they had fet up.

Hence it was that Elegance became a neglected Character, and the Pretty Gentleman an Object of general Contempt, and barbarous Raillery.

But no fooner were thefe Enemies removed, than the Sons of Delicacy made an Attempt to rife again: And how fuccessful they have been, every Place of polite Refort does fully witness; and notwithstanding all Oppofition, they are determined to push on their Defigns, and polish the British Manners. Now the better to carry on this glorious Scheme of Reformation, these Gentlemen have erected themfelves into

[a] Under the Forms of Tatlors, Spectators, and Guardians.

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an amicable Society, and from the Principles on which it is founded, have very pertinently stiled it,

The Fraternity of PRETTY GENTLEMEN.

As no affociated Body can poffibly fubfift, unless they are cemented by an Union of Hearts, the grand Principle of this Fellowship is mutual Love, which, it must be confeffed, they carry to the highest Pitch. In this Respect, they are not inferior to the 'Iɛga Qaλav, The Sacred Theban Band, fo illuftrious in Story. Such an Harmony of Temper is preserved amongst them, fuch a Sameness is there in all their Words and Actions, that the Spirit of One seems to have paffed into the Other; or rather, they all breathe the fame Soul. This is the fecret Charm that the Platonists talk of, the intellectual Faculty, which connects one Man with another, and ties the Knot of virtuous Friendship. But I need not dwell any longer on a Subject, which can admit of no Debate; the Notoriety of the Fact is even become Proverbial amongst us, and every one cries out,

Magna eft inter MOLLES concordia!

I fhall now open another Scene, and prefent to the Reader a View of their Studies and Employments; where he will find them no less worthy of his Admiration and Regard.

They do not indeed confume their Hours in fuch Points of vain Speculation, wherein the Pride of Reafon and Learning has room to operate. And indeed there is fomething in the Drudgery of Maf

culine

culine Knowledge, by no means adapted to Youths of fo nice a Frame, that it cannot be faid, they are ever invigorated with perfect Health. The enfeebled Tone of their Organs and Spirits does therefore naturally dispose them to the fofter and more refined Studies; Furniture, Equipage, Dress, the Tiring Room, and the Toy fhop.-What a Fund is here for Study! And what a Variety of eafy Delights! Or, if the Mind is bent upon Manual Exercife, the Knotting-Bag is ready at hand; and their fkilful Fingers play their Part. Notwithstanding the Ridicule, which is thrown upon this Part of the Character, it appears to me, rather to merit our Applaufe, than to provoke our Laughter. With what Satisfaction have I beheld five or fix of thefe elegant Youths interspersed with an equal Number of Ladies, almost as delicate as themfelves, and vying with them in their own Accomplishments! Rouzed by the Ardor of Emulation, they work for Glory, and affert the Prize of Feminine Merit.

With equal Skill their practifed Fingers apply the Needle, and rejoin the Lace: With equal Facility they convey the gliding Shuttle through the opening Thread, and form the various Knots. Pretty Innocents! How virtuously, how usefully are their Hours employed! Not in the wrangling Squabbles of the Bar, or the unmannerly Contentions of the Senate; not in the robuft Sports of the Field, or in a toilfome Application to ungentleman-like Science; but in the pretty Fancies of Drefs, in Criticisms upon Fashions, in the artful Difpofition of China Jars, and

other

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