currence with her in Opinion, and suspect not Diffimulation under the Air of Franknefs, nor a studied Design of doing Mischief in a feemingly cafual Stroke of Wit. The most facred Character, the most exalted Station, the fairest Reputation, defend not against the infectious Blaft of Yprightly Raillery: born on the Wings of Wit, and supported by a Blaze of Beauty, the fiery Vapour withers the sweetest Blossoms, and communicates to all who hear her, an involuntary Diflike to those at whose Merit she points her Satyr. At Ev'ning thus the unfuspecting Swain, Returning homewards o'er a marfby Plain, Pleas'd, at a Diftance fees the lambent Light, And, bafty, follows the mifchievous Sprite; Thro' Brakes and Puddles, over Hedge and Style, Rambles, mifguided, many a weary Mile. Confus'd, and wond'ring at the Space be'as gone, Doubts, then believes, and burries fafter on: The Cheat detected, when the Vapour's spent, Scarce he's convinc'd, and hardly can repent.

Next to these Cautions with refpe& to Raillery, which, if we examine strictly, we shall find no better than a well-bred Phrafe for fpeaking ill of Folks; it may not be amifs to warn our Readers of a certain Vehemence in Difcourfe exceedingly fhocking to others, at the fame Time that it not a little exhausts themselves.

If we trace this Error to its Source, we fhall find that the Spring of it is an Impatience, at finding others differ from us in Opinion: there be any thing more unreasonable,

And can

than to

blame

blame that Disposition in them, which we cherish in ourselves?

If Submiffion be a Thing fo disagreeable to us, why fhould we expect it from them? Truth only can justify Tenacioufnefs in Opinion. Let us calmly lay down what convinces us, and, if it is reasonable, it will hardly fail of perfuading thofe to whom we fpeak. Heat begets Heat ; and the Clafhing of Opinions feldom fails to strike out the Fire of Diffention.

As this is a Foible more especially incident to the Fair Sex, I think it will be highly necessary to offer another, and perhaps a more cogent Argument to their Confideration. Paffion is a prodigious Enemy to Beauty : It ruffles the sweetest Features, difcolours the finest Complexion, and, in a Word, gives the Air of a Fury to the Face of an Angel. Far be it from me to lay Restraints upon the Ladies; but, in diffuading them from this Method of enforcing their Sentiments, I put them upon an eafier Way of effecting what they defire: For what can be denied to Beauty, when fpeaking with an Air of Satisfaction? Com placence does all that Vehemence would extort, as Anger can alone abate the Influence of their Charms.

Serene and mild we view the Ev'ning Air,
The pleasing Picture of the smiling Fair ;
A thousand Charms our fevral Senfes meet,
Cooling the Breeze, with fragrant Odours fweet.
But, fudden, if the fable Clouds deform

The azure Sky, and threat the coming Storm,
Hafty we flee- ere yet the Thunders roar,
And dread what we fo much admir'd before.

L 3

Το

To Vehemence in Difcourfe, let me join Redundancy in it also; a Fault flowing rather from Careleffness than Defign; and which is more dangerous, from its being more neglected, Paffion, as I have hinted, excites Oppofition; and that very Oppofition, to a Man of tolerable Senfe, will be the ftrongest Reproof for his Inadvertency: Whereas a Perfon of a loquacióus Difpofition, may often efcape open Cenfure from the Respect due to his Quality; or from an Apprehenfion in thofe with whom he converfes, that a Check would but increafe the Evil, and, like curbing a hard-mouthed Horfe, ferve only to make him run the fafter: From whence the Perfon in fault is often rivetted in his Error, by mistaking a filent Contempt for profound Attention.

Perhaps this thort Defcription may fet many of my Readers right; which, whatever they may 'think of it, I affure them is of no fmall Importance. Converfation is a Sort of Bank, in which all who compofe it have their respective Shares. The Man therefore who attempts to engrofs it, trefpaffes upon the Rights of his Companions; and, whether they think fit to tell him fo or no, will, of Confequence, be regarded as no fair Dealer. Notwithstanding I confider Converfation in this Light, I think it neceffary to obferve, that it differs from other Copartnerships in one very material Point; which is this, that it is worse taken if a Man pays in more than his Proportion, than if he had not contributed his full Quota, provided he be not too far deficient: For the Pre

vention

vention of which, let us have Horace's Caution

continually in our Eye,

"

The indifcreet with blind Averfion run
Into one Fault, when they another bun."

1

It is the peculiar Privilege of the Fair, that, fpeaking or filent, they never offend. Who can be weary of hearing the fofteft Harmony? or who, without Pleafure, can behold Beauty, when his Attention is not diverted from her Charms by listening to her. Words? I would have ftopt here, but that my Deference for the Ladies obliges me to take Notice, that fome of their own Sex, when past the Noon of Life, or in their Wane of Power from fome other Reafony are apt to place an Inclination of obliging their Hearers amongst thofe Topics of Detraction, by which they would reduce the Luftre of thofe Stars that now gild the Hemifphere where they once fhonei

From this Caufe only, I would advise the reignt ing Toafts, by an Equality of Behaviour, to avoid the Cenfure of these ill-natured: Tatlers.

Such hapless Fate attends the young and fair, 3:1 10 î
Expos'd to open Force, and fecret Snare: hot
bud of
Purfu'd by Men, warm with deftructive Fire, an
Against their Peace while female Frauds confpire.
Efcap'd from thefe, in vain they hope for Reft.
What Fame's fecure from an invidious Jeft?
By Flight the Deer, no more of Dogs afraid,
Falls by a Shot from fome dark Covert made
So envious Tongues their foul Intentions hide;
Wound, though unfeen, and kill ere they're defer'd."

“

Of all the Follies which Men are apt to fall into, to the Disturbance of others, and lessening of themselves, there is none more intolerable than continual Egotifms, and a perpetual Inclination to Self-panegyric. The mention of this Weakness is fufficient to expofe it; fince I think no Man was ever poffeffed of so warm an Affection for his own Perfon, as deliberately to affert, that it, and its Concerns, are proper Topics to entertain Company. Yet there are many, who, through want of Attention, fall into this Vein, as foon as the Conversation begins to acquire Life: They lay hold of every Opportunity of introducing themfelves, of defcribing themselves, and, if People are fo dull as not to take the Hint, of commending themfelves: Nay, what is more furprising than all this, they are amazed at the Coldnefs of their Auditors; forgetting, that the fame Paffion infpires almost every body; and that there is fcarce a Man in the Room who has not a better Opinion of himself, than of any body else.

Difquifitions of this Sort into Human Nature belong properly unto Sages in Polite Philofophy: For the first Principle of true Politeness, is, not to offend against fuch Difpofitions of the Mind, as are almost infeparable from our Species. To find out, and methodize these, requires no fmall Labour and Application. The Fruits of my Refearches on this Subject I communicate freely to the Public; but muft, at the fame Time, exhort my Readers to fpare, now and then, a few Minutes to fuch Reflexions; which will at leaft be attended with this good Confequence, that it will

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