will inftruct us in every part of good manners, without other affiftance.

I can think of nothing more ufeful upon this fubject, than to point out fome particulars, wherein the very effentials of good manners are concerned, the neglect or perverting of which doth very much disturb the good commerce of the world, by introducing a traffic of mutual uneafinefs in moft companies.

First, a neceffary part of good manners, is a punctual obfervance of time at our own dwellings, or thofe of others, or at third places; whether upon matters of civility, bufinefs, or diversion: Which rule, though it be a plain dictate of common reafon, yet the greatest minifter * I ever knew, was the greateft trefpaffer against it; by which all his bufinefs doubled upon him, and placed him in a continual arrear. Upon which I often used to rally him, as deficient in point of good manners. I have known more than one ambassador and fecretary of ftate, with a very moderate portion of intellectuals, execute their offices with good fuccefs and applause, by the mere force of exactnefs and regularity. If you duly obferve time for the fervice of another, it doubles the obligation; if upon your own account, it would be manifeft folly, as well as ingratitude, to neglect it. If both are concerned, to make your equal or inferior attend on you, to his own difadvantage, is pride and injustice

Ignorance of forms cannot properly be ftyled ill manners; becaufe forms are fubject to frequent changes; and confequently, being not founded upon reason, are beneath a wife man's regard. fides, they vary in every country; and, after a fhort period of time, very frequently in the fame. So that a man who travels muft needs be at firft a

The Earl of Oxford.

Be

ftranger

:

ftranger to them in every court through which he paffes and perhaps, at his return, as much a ftranger in his own; and, after all, they are easier to be remembered or forgotten, than faces or

names.

Indeed, among the many impertinences that fu-perficial young men bring with them from abroad, this bigotry of forms is one of the principal, and more prominent than the reft; who look upon them, not only as if they were matters capable of admitting of choice, but even as points of importance, and therefore zealous upon all occafions to introduce and propagate the new forms and fashions they have brought back with them. So that, ufually speaking, the worft-bred perfon in the compa ny is a young traveller juft returned from abroad.

LETTER S to and from Dr. SWIFT.

A CRITICISM on thefe LETTERS, by the Earl of ORKERY,

THIS

HIS volume contains Swift's epiftolary correfpondence. It is an acknowledged obfervation, that no part of an author's writings gives a greater infight into his natural difpofition than his letters, efpecially when written with freedom and fincerity. Swift's epiftles, and the anfwers of his friends, afford materials to form conjectures upon the different characters, not only of the Dean, but of his correfpondents. The reader is probably become acquainted with Dr. Swift, from the account of his life in the first volume; but the manners and opinions of thofe perfons with whom he correfponded, are, in every refpect fo blended with his own, as not to be eafily feparated; and in fuch a kind of united views they will mutually reflect light upon each other.

To a young gentleman juft entring into the world, the fubject may prove of particular importance as it may guide him, not only in the choice of his correfpondents, but in his manner of writing

to them.

The freedom of the prefs is to be watched and defended with the most jealous eye. It is one of the chief articles of that great charter of liberty to which the people of England are intitled. But as no human institution can be perfect, even this branch of liberty has its excrefcencies that might be pruned, I mean particularly, that licence which

has

has of late too much prevailed, of publishing epiftolary correspondences. Such a fashion, for I know not what elfe to call it, is extremely pernicious. At prefent, it fatis fies the curiofity of the public; but for the future, it will tend to reftrain that unfufpicious opennefs, which is the principal delight of writing to our friends. I am forry to fay by experience, that the letters which contains the most fincere, and perhaps hafty obfervations, upon perfons, times, circumstances, are often referved as treasures, and hoarded up as mifers hoard gold; like which, they lie concealed in cabinets and ftrong boxes for fome time, tilk chancing to fall into the hands of an extravagant heir, or an injudicious executor, they are not only brought into light, but difperfed and expofed, fo as to become the property of the whole world. A young man therefore, when he gives his opinion upon any important fubject, fhould confider it well, before he commit his thoughts to paper. He fhould exprefs himself with diffidence, preferve a prudent restraint over the fallies of wit and humour, and be cautious in all declarations of friendship; as the very common offers of civility are too often explained into undefigned engagements.

I own I find myself under no fmall difficulty in difcuffing Swift's letters. General criticifms will be attended with obfcurity; and it would be tedious to confider them in their exact order. I fhall endea-vour therefore to take a review only of what seems to deserve the reader's attention. The correfpondence between Dr. Swift and Mr. Pope had commenced in a very early part of Mr. Pope's life, and was carried on, with scarce any interruption, from -the death of Q. Anne. If we may judge of Mr. Pope from his works, his chief aim was to be efteemed a man of virtue. His letters are written in that ftyle. His laft volumes are all of the moral kind. He has avoided trifles, and confequently

has

has escaped a rock which has proved very in jurious to Swift's reputation. He had given his imagination full fcope, and yet has preferved a perpetual guard upon his conduct. The conftitution of his body and mind might early incline him to habits of caution and referve. The treatment which he met afterwards from an innumerable tribe of adverfaries, confirmed thofe habits, and made him flower than the Dean in pronouning his judgment upon perfons and things. His profe writings are little lefs harmonious than his verse: and his voice in common converfation was fo naturally mufical, that I remember honest Tom Sou therne ufed always to call him the little nightingale.. His manners were delicate, eafy, and engaging, and he treated his friends with a politenefs that charmed, and a generofity that was much to his honour. Every gueft was made happy within his doors. Pleasure dwelt under his roof, and elegance prefided at his table. Dr. Swift was of a different difpofition. To his domefties he was pasfionate and churlish; to his equals and fuperiors rather an entertaining than a defirable companion. He told a story in an admirable manner : his fentences were fhort and perfpicuous, his observations were piercing. He had feen the great world, and had profited much by his experience. He had not the least tincture of vanity in his converfation. He was perhaps, as he said himself, too proud to be vain. When he was polite, it was in a manner intirely his own In his friendships he was constant and undisguised. He was the fame in his enmities. He generally spoke as he thought in all companies, and at all times. I remember to have heard, that he dined once at a Lord Mayor's feast in Dublin, and was attacked and teafed by an opulent, boisterous, half-intoxicated 'fquire, who happened to fit next him he bore the awkward raillery for fome time, and then on a fudden called out in a loud voice to the Mayor,