IT is evident, that none of the Abfurdities I met with in this Vifit proceeded from an ill Intention, but from a wrong Judgment of Complaisance, and a Mifapplication in the Rules of it. I cannot so easily excufe the more refined Criticks upon Behaviour, who having profeffed no other Study, are yet infinitely defective in the most material Parts of it. Ned Fashion hath been bred all his Life about Court, and underftandeth to a Title all the Punctilio's of a Drawingroom. He vifiteth most of the fine Women near St. James's; and upon every Occafion fays the civillest and fofteft Things to them of any Man breathing. To Mr.* Ifaac he oweth an eafy Slide in his Bow, and a graceful Manner of coming into a Room. But in fome other Cafes he is very far from being a well-bred Perfon: He laugheth at Men of far fuperior Underftanding to his own, for not being as well dreffed as himself; despiseth all his Acquaintance who are not of Quality; and in publick Places hath on that account often avoided taking notice of fome among the beft Speakers in the Houfe of Commons. He raileth ftrenuously at both Universities before the Members of either; and is never heard to fwear an Oath, or break in upon Religion and Morality, except in the Company of Divines. On the other hand, a Man of right Senfe hath all the Effentials of good Breeding, although he may be wanting in the Forms of it. Horatio hath fpent most of his Time at Oxford. He hath a great deal of Learning, an agreeable Wit, and as much Modefty as may ferve to adorn without concealing his other good Qualities. In that retired Way of living, he feemeth to have formed a Notion of human Nature, as he hath found it described in the Writings of the greatest Men; not as he is likely to meet with it in the common Courfe of Life. Hence it is, that he giveth no Offence; but converseth with great Deference, Candour, and Humanity.

A famous Dancing-Master in those Days.

manity. His Bow, I must confefs, is somewhat aukward; but then he hath an extensive," univerfal, and unaffected Knowledge, which may perhaps a little excufe him. He would make no extraoidinary Figure at a Ball; but I can affure the Ladies in his Behalf, and for their own Consolation, that he hath writ better Verfes on the Sex than any Man now living, and is preparing fuch a Poem for the Prefs, as will tranfmit their Praises and his own to many Generations.

A

LETTER

TO A

Young GENTLEMAN

Lately entered into

HOLY ORDERS.

By a PERSON of QUALITY.

Dated January 9. 1719-202

SIR,

A

LTHOUGH it were against my Knowledge, or Advice that you entered into Holy Or ders, under the prefent Difpofitions of Mankind towards the Church; yet, fince it is now fuppofed too late to recede, (at least according to the general Practice and Opinion) I cannot forbear offering my Thoughts to you upon this new Condition of Life you are engaged in.

2

I could heartily wish that the Circumstances of your Fortune had enabled you to have continued fome years longer in the Univerfity; at least, until you were ten Years standing; to have laid in a competent

T 2

Stock

Stock of human Learning, and fome Knowledge in Divinity, before you attempted to appear in the World: For, I cannot but lament the common Course, which at leaft nine in ten of those who enter into the Miniftry, are obliged to run. When they have taken a Degree, and are confequently grown a Burden to their Friends; who now think themfelves fully discharged; they get into Orders as foon as they can, (upon which I fhall make no Remarks), first folicit a Readership, and if they be very fortunate, arrive in Time to a Curacy here in Town; or elfe, are sent to be Affiftants in the Country, where they probably continue feveral Years (many of them their whole Lives) with thirty or forty Pounds a Year for their Support, until fome Bishop, who happeneth not to be over-stocked with Relations, or attached to Favourites, or is content to fupply his Diocese without Colonies from England, beftows them fome inconfiderable Benefice; when it is odds they are already incumbered with a numerous Family. I would be glad to know what Intervals of Life fuch Perfons can poffibly fet apart for Improvement of their Minds; or which Way they could be furnished with Books; the Library they brought with them from their College, being ufually not the moft numerous, or judicioufly chofen. If fuch Gentlemen arrive to be great Scholars, it muft, I think, be either by Means fupernatural, or by a Method altogether out of any Road yet known to the Learned. But I conceive the Fact directly otherwife; and that many of them lose the greatest Part of the small Pittance they received at the University.

I take it for granted, that you intend to pursue the beaten Tract, and are already defirous to be seen in a Pulpit; only, I hope, you will think it proper to pafs your Quarantine among fome of the defolate Churches five Miles round this Town, where you may at least learn to read and to speak, before you venture to expose your Parts in a City Congregation: Not that these are better Judges, but because, if a Man muft needs expofe his Folly, it is more fafe and

difcreet