adjust their Manners, and regulate their Behaviour. They, therefore, are under the strongest Obligations, not to give a contemptible Stamp to the Fashion.-Benevolence to their Fellowcreatures calls loudly upon them, a Concern for the public Good challenges it at their Hands, that they signalize themselves by a Preeminence in all that is excellent.

Ther. Away, away with these auftere Notions! Such a Strain of Converfation, would damp the Gaiety of our Spirits, and flatten the Relish of Society. It would turn the Affembly into a Conventicle, and make it Lent all the Year round.

Afp. Can it then be an auftere Practice, to cultivate the Understanding, and improve the Heart? Can it damp the Gaiety of our Spirits, to refine them upon the Plan of the higheft Perfection? Or, will it flatten the Relish of Society, to fecure and anticipate everlasting Delights?

-

Ther. Everlafting Delights, Afpafio !—To talk of fuch a Subject, would be termed, in every Circle of Wit and Gallantry, an Ufurpation of the Parfon's Office. A low Method, of retailing by Scraps, in the Parlour; what the Man in Black, vends by wholesale, from the Pulpit. It would infallibly mark Us out for Pedants. And, for aught I know, might expofe Us to the Sufpicion of Enthusiasm.

B 4

Afp.

Afp. Your Men of Wit muft excufe me, if I cannot perfuade myself to admire, either the Delicacy of their Language, or the Juftness of • their Opinion.

The first, be it ever fo humane and graceful, I refign to themselves.-As for the other, I would beg Leave to inquire; "Are the Clergy, then, the only Perfons, who should act "the becoming Part, and converse like rational Beings? Is folid Wisdom, and facred Truth, "the Privilege of their Order? While nothing " is left for You and me, but the Play of Fancy, or the Luxuries of Senfe."

I would farther ask the Circles of Gallantry; "Where is the Impropricty, of interweaving the noble Doctrines, difplayed by the

Preacher, with our common Discourse? Or, "what the Inconvenience, of introducing the "amiable Graces, recommended by his Lec"tures, into our ordinary Practice?"

Will fuch an Exercife of our Speech, rank Us among Pedants? Is this the Badge of Enthusiasm? A splendid and honourable Badge truly! Such as must add Weight to any Cause, and Worth to any Character.

Ther. This would curb the fprightly Sallies of Wit; and extinguish that engaging Glow of Good-humour, which enlivens our genteel Intercourfes. Accordingly, You may observe, that if any formal Creature, takes upon Him to men

tion,

tion, in polite Company, a religious Truth, or a Text of Scripture; the pretty Chat, though ever fo profufely flowing, ftagnates in an 'In-. ftant. Each voluble and facetious Tongue seems to be ftruck with a fudden Palfy. Every one wonders at the ftrange Man's Face; and they all conclude Him, either mad, or a Methodift.

Afp. Agreeable Strokes of Wit, are by no Means incompatible with ufeful Converfation. Unless we mistake an infipid Vivacity, or fantaftic Levity, for Wit and Facetiousness.—Neither have I heard, that, among all our Acts of Parliament, any one has paffed to divorce Good Senfe and Good-humour. Why may they not both refide on the fame Lips, and both circulate through the fame Affembly?-For my own Part, I would neither have our Difcourfe foured with Aufterity, nor evaporate into Impertinence: but unite (as a judicious Antient advifes) the Benefits of Improvement, with the Blandifhments of Pleafantry *.-And as to your polite People; if they can find more Mufic, in the Magpie's Voice, than in the Nightingale's Note; I must own myself as much furprised at their Ears, as they are at the strange Man's Face.

Ther. With all your grey-headed Authorities, I fanfy, You will find very few Profelytes, among the Profeffors of modern Refinement. Fashion

* Cum quadam Illecebrâ ac Voluptate utiles. Aul. Gel.

Fashion is, with the World, the Standard of Morals, as well as of Clothes. And He must be of a very peculiar Turn indeed, who would choose to be ridiculous in either.

Afp. Rather, Theron, He must be of a very pliant Turn, who tamely delivers up his Conduct, to be moulded by a Fashion; which has neither true Elegance to dignify it, nor the least Usefulness to recommend it.

And which, I befeech You, is most ridiculous?-He, who fervilely imitates every idle Fashion, and is the very Ape of corrupt Cuftom?-Or He, who afferts his native Liberty; and refolutely follows, where Wisdom and Truth lead the Way.

Ther. Would you then obtrude religious Difcourse, upon every Company? Confider, Afpafio, what a motley Figure this would make.A Wedding, and a Sermon !—Quadrille, and St. Paul! The last new Play, and primitive Christianity!

Afp. You know the Rule, Theron, which is given by the great "MASTER of our Af"femblies;" Caft not your Pearls before Swine*. Some there are, fo immerfed in Senfuality, that they can relish nothing, but the coarseft Husks of Conversation. To thefe, neither offer your Pearls, nor prostitute your Intimacy.

But,

*Matt. vii. 6.

But, when Perfons of a liberal Education, and elevated Sentiments-when these meet together; why fhould not their Difcourfe be fuitable, to the Eminence of their Rank, and the Superiority of their Genius? Raised, far above the Level of that trite and effeminate Strain-" Upon my Honour, the Actress topt "her Part. Heavens! How charmingly she fung! How gracefully fhe trod the Stage!"

Ther. Indeed, my Afpafio, I am intirely in your Way of Thinking; however I have hitherto put on the Mask.-The Gift of Speech, is one great Prerogative of our rational Nature. And 'tis Pity, that such a superior Faculty, fhould be debased to the meaneft Purposes.

Suppose, all our stately Veffels, that pass and repafs the Ocean, were to carry out nothing but Tinfel, and theatrical Decorations; were to import nothing but glittering Baubles, and nicely-fanfied Toys. Would fuch a Method of Trading, be well-judged in itself, or beneficial in its Confequences ?-Articulate Speech, is the Inftrument of a much nobler Commerce; intended to tranfmit and diffuse the Treasures of the Mind. And will not the Practice be altogether as injudicious, must not the Iffue be infinitely more detrimental, if this Vehicle of intellectual Wealth, is freighted only with pleafing Fopperies?

Afp.