[ '3 ] 



only well painted, but alfo juft likenefTes. We experience an 

 additional and peculiar pleafure, refulting from our comparifon 

 of the copy with the original, while we trace out the features 

 of refemblance. It may be faid, that fuch a defignation of per- 

 fons will give pain to the individuals, who are fingled out and 

 expofed to public notice ; — I reply, that in moft cafes it is fo 

 much the better — it is not often pradticable to make the vir- 

 tuous and the refpedable ridiculous — people can only become 

 the objed of contempt and laughter through their own follies, 

 extravagancies and vices — the foolifh and the vicious invite and 

 deferve corredlion ; and the comic Mufe is in her right place 

 and fundion, when fhe inflidts it with the rod of fatire. She 

 is then aflifting the magiftrate in the reformation of the public 

 morals, by the chaftifement of offenders againft virtue, good 

 order and decorum. • 



