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an entire Stranger to those fine Sensations, which are requifite to give a thorough Notion, and true Relish of the Enjoyments it affords! How should you paint what Nature has not given you Faculties to feel? As far as She leads you by the Hand, you may, perhaps, fucceed: But to leave her bebind, and tread thofe fecret Paths to which her Guidance never points; This, Mr. Garrick, This is far beyond the Power of your limited Genius.

So wifhing you more fortunate in your next Eflay, and wife enough never to expose yourself again to Derifion, by endeavouring to laugh out of Countenance a Character, which all fenfible Men look upon with Admiration and Astonishment, I take leave to fubfcribe myfelf, as much as I ought to be,

S.IR,

Tour Humble Servant,

PHILAUTUS.

THE

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Pretty Gentleman, &c.

HE Theatre is faid to be the proper
School for correcting the little Irregu-

larities 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 Reprefentation. But then the Comic Writer fhould be certain, that what he endeavours to expofe, be really an Object of Ridicule; otherwife he not only offends againft the Rules of the Drama, but the Precepts of Vix

tue.

I am led into thefe 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 fuch an Undertaking, the Reader will be convinced, if he has but Patience to perufe carefully the following Sheets.

Amidst all my Refearches into the History of this Country, I do not find one PRETTY GEN

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TLEMAN, till the glorious Reign of King James I. This Prince had an odd Mixture of contrary Qualities. In fome refpects he retained the Rufticity of Gothick Manners; in others, he was very refined.

Lord Clarendon affures us, "That His Mot "Sacred Majefty was fo highly delighted with a "Beautiful Perfon and Fine Cloaths, that thefe "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 Government.

In the Reign of Charles I. this Refinement funk 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 restored, Tafie emerged from her Obfcurity, and fhone with some 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 to the Cultivation of foft Manners; notwithstanding the malicious Efforts of Milton, Denham, Dorset, Buckingbam, and Dryden.

From this Period, to the Beginning of the prefent Century, her Progrefs was now and then

checked

checked by the Blafts of Envy; yet, upon the whole, fhe 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 set up an Idol of their own Fancy, afcribed to it all the Attributes of the Graces, and with the Artifice of deceiving Blandishments, 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 Obje& of general Contempt, and barbarous Raillery.

But no fooner were these Enemies removed, than the Sons of Delicacy made an Attempt to rife again: And how fuccefsful they have been, every Place of polite Refort does fully witnefs; and notwithstanding all Opposition, 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 themselves into 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 subsift, unlefs they are cemented by an Union of Hearts,

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

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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 Laga pakav, The farred Theban Band, fo illuftrious in Story. Such an Harmony of Temper is preferved amongst them, fuch a Sameness is there in all their Words and Actions, that the Spirit of One feems to have paffed into the Other; or rather, they all breathe the fame Soul. This is the fecret Charm that the Platonifta talk of, the intelle&ual 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,

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Magna eft inter MOLLES concordia!

I fhall now open another Scene, and prefent to the Reader & View of their Studies and Employ-. ments; where he will find them no lefs 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 Mas 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 difpofe them to the fofter and more refined Studies; Furniture, Equipage, Drefs the Tiring Room, and the Toy fhop.

What

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