and exclude all ideas of esteem and regard. Whoever is had (as it is called) in company, for the sake of any one thing singly, is singly that thing, and will never be considered in any other light; and consequently never respected, let his merits be what they will.

PRIDE.-Dignity of manners is not only as different from pride as true courage is from blustering, or true wit from joking, but is absolutely inconsistent with it; for nothing vilifies and degrades more than pride. The pretensions of the proud man are oftener treated with sneer and contempt than with indignation, as we offer ridiculously too little to a tradesman who asks ridiculously too much for his goods; but we do not haggle with one who only asks a just and reasonable price.

ABJECT FLATTERY.-Abject flattery and indiscriminate ostentation degrade, as much as indiscriminate contradiction and noisy debate disgust; but a modest assertion of one's own opinion, and a complaisant acquiescence to other people's preserve dignity. Vulgar, low expressions, awkward notions and address, vilify, as they imply either a very low turn of mind, or low education and low company.

FRIVOLOUS CURIOSITY.-Frivolous curiosity about trifles, and a laborious attention to little objects, which neither require nor deserve a moment's thought, lower a man: who thence is thought (and not unjustly) incapable of greater matters. Cardinal de Retz very sagaciously marked out Cardinal Chigi for a little mind, from the moment that he told him he had written three years with the same pen, and that it was an excellent good one still.

A certain degree of exterior seriousness in looks and motions gives dignity, without excluding wit and decent cheerfulness, which are always serious themselves. A constant smirk upon the face, and a whiffling activity of the body, are strong indications of futility. Whoever is in a hurry, shews that the thing he is about is too big for him. Haste and hurry are very different things.

To conclude: a man who has patiently been kicked, may as well pretend to courage, as a man, blasted by vices and crimes, may to dignity of any kind. But an exterior decency and dignity of manners will even keep such a man longer from sinking than otherwise he would be; of such consequence is decorum, even though affected and put on.

GENTLENESS OF MANNERS,

WITH FIRMNESS OR RESOLUTION OF MIND.

I Do not know any one rule so unexceptionably useful and necessary, in every part of life, as to unite gentleness of manners with firmness of mind. The first alone would degenerate and sink into a mean, timid complaisance, and passiveness, if not supported and dignified by the latter; which would also deviate into impetuosity and brutality, if not tempered and softened by the other; however, they are seldom united. The warm, choleric man, with strong animal spirits, despises the first, and thinks to carry all before him by the last. He may, possibly, by great accident, now and then succeed, when he has only weak and timid people to deal with; but his general fate will be to shock, offend, be hated, and fail. On the other hand, the cunning, crafty man thinks to gain all his ends by gentleness of manners only; he becomes all things to all men; he seems to have no opinion of his own, and servilely adopts the present opinion of the present person he insinuates himself only into the esteem of fools, but is soon detected and surely despised by every body else. The wise man (who differs as much from the cunning as from the choleric man) alone joins softness of manners with firmness of mind.

DELIVER COMMANDS WITH MILDNESS.-The advantages arising from a union of these qualities are equally striking and obvious. For example: if you are in authority, and have a right to command, your commands delivered with mildness and gentleness will be willingly, cheerfully, and consequently well obeyed;

whereas, if given brutally, they will rather be interpreted than executed. For, a cool, steady resolution shoudl shew, that where you have a right to command you will be obeyed; but, at the same time, a gentleness in the manner of enforcing that obedience should make it a cheerful one, and soften, as much as possible, the mortifying consciousness of inferiority.

ASK A FAVOUR WITH SOFTNESS.-If you are to ask a favour, or even to solicit your due, you must do it with a grace, or you will give those who have a mind to refuse you a pretence to do it, by resenting the manner; but, on the other hand, you must, by a steady perseverance and decent tenaciousness, shew firmness and resolution. The right motives are seldom the true ones of men's actions, especially of people in high stations who often give to importunity and fear what they would refuse to justice or to merit. By gentleness and softness engage their hearts, if you can; at least, prevent the pretence of offence; but take care to shew resolution and firmness enough to extort from their love of ease or their fear what you might in vain hope for from their justice or good-nature. People in high life are hardened to the wants and distresses of mankind, as surgeons are to their bodily pains: they see and hear them all day long, and even of so many simulated ones, that they do not know which are real and which are not. Other sentiments are therefore to be applied to than those of mere justice and humanity. Their favour must be captivated by the graces, their love of ease disturbed by unwearied importunity, or their fear wrought upon by a decent intimation of implacable cool resentment. This precept is the only way I know in the world of being loved without being despised, and feared without being hated. It constitutes the dignity of character which every wise man must endeavour to establish.

CHECK HASTINESS OF TEMPER.- -To conclude: If you find that you have a hastiness in your temper, which unguardedly breaks out into indiscreet sallies, or rough expressions to either your superiors, your

equals, or your inferiors, watch it narrowly, check it carefully, and call the graces to your assistance. At the first impulse of passion, be silent, till you can be soft. Labour even to get the command of your countenance so well that those emotions may not be read in it a most unspeakable advantage in business! On the other hand, let no complaisance, no gentleness of temper, no weak desire of pleasing, on your part, -no wheedling, coaxing, nor flattery, on other people's make you recede one jot from any point that reason and justice have bid you pursue; but return to the charge, persist, persevere, and you will find most things attainable that are possible. A yielding, timid meekness is always abused and insulted by the unjust and the unfeeling; but, when sustained by firmness and resolution, is always respected, commonly successful.

In your friendships and connexions, as well as in your enmities, this rule is particularly useful; let your firmness and vigour preserve and invite attachments to you; but, at the same time, let your manner hinder the enemies of your friends and dependants from becoming yours: let your enemies be disarmed by the gentleness of your manner, but let them feel, at the same time, the steadiness of your just resentment; for there is great difference between bearing malice, which is always ungenerous, and a resolute self-defence, which is always prudent and justifiable.

BE CIVIL, &C. TO RIVALS OR COMPETITORS.-Some people cannot gain upon themselves to be easy and civil to those who are either their rivals, competitors, or opposers, though, independently of those accidental circumstances, they would like and esteem them. They betray a shyness and awkwardness in company with them, and catch at any little thing to expose them; and so, from temporary and only occasional opponents, make them their personal enemies. This is exceedingly weak and detrimental, as, indeed, is all humour in business; which can only be carried on successfully by unadulterated good policy and right

reasoning. In such situations I would be more particularly civil, easy, and frank with the man whose designs I traversed; this is commonly called generosity and magnanimity, but is, in truth, good sense and policy. The manner is often as important as the matter; sometimes more so: a favour may make an enemy, and an injury may make a friend, according to the different manner in which they are severally done. In fine, gentleness of manners, with firmness of mind, is a short but full description of human perfections on this side of religious and moral duties.

MORAL CHARACTER.

THE moral character of a man should be not only pure, but, like Cæsar's wife, unsuspected. The least speck or blemish upon it is fatal. Nothing degrades and vilifies more; for it excites and unites detestation and contempt. There are, however wretches in the world profligate enough to explode all notions of moral good and evil; to maintain that they are merely local, and depend entirely upon the customs and fashions of different countries: nay, there are still, if possible, more unaccountable wretches; I mean, those who affect to preach and propagate such absurd and infamous notions, without believing them themselves. Avoid, as much as possible, the company of such people, who reflect a degree of discredit and infamy upon all who converse with them. But, as you may sometimes, by accident, fall into such company, take great care that no complaisance, no good humour, no warmth of festal mirth, ever make you seem to acquiesce in, much less approve or applaud, such infamous doctrines. On the other hand, do not debate, nor enter into serious argument, upon a subject so much below it: but content yourself with telling them, that you know they are not serious; that you have a much better opinion of them than they would have you have; and that you are very sure they would not practise