ACCOUNT OF BOOKS. 



753 



is just going out, to pay a visit of 

 consequence, and therefore can- 

 not be detained : but if the peti- 

 tioner, unabashed by such checks, 

 Continues to relate his narrative, 

 he is set down as a brute, and 

 never again permitted to enter the 

 doors. In this instance, I again 

 say, that the French are greatly 

 (superior to the Englisli; they are 

 always courteous, and never be- 

 tray those symptoms of impatience 

 80 conspicuous and reprehensible 

 in the English character, 



"Tlieir fifth defect is nearly allied 

 to the former, and is termed irri- 

 tability of temper. This passion 

 often leads them to quarrel with 

 their friends and acquaintances, 

 without any substantial cause. 

 Of the bad effects of this quality, 

 strangers seldom have much rea- 

 son to complain ; but. as society 

 can only be sup|)orted by mutual 

 forbearance, and sometimes shut- 

 ting our eyes on the frailties or 

 ignorance of our friends, it often 

 causes animosities and disunion 

 between the nearest relatives, and 

 hurries tin- possessor into dilem- 

 mas whence he frequently finds it 

 difficult to extricate himself. 



♦'The sixth defectof the English 

 is their throwing away their time, 

 in sleeping, eating, and dressing : 

 for, besides the necessary ablu- 

 tions, they every morning shave, 

 and dress their hair; then, toaccom- 

 modate themselves to the fashion, 

 they put on twenty-five different 

 articles of dress : all this, except 

 shaving, is repeated before dinner, 

 and the whole of these clothes are 

 again to be taken oft at night : so 

 that not less than two complete 

 hours can be allowed on this ac- 

 count. One hour is expended 

 at breakfast ; three hours at din- 



YoL. Lll. 



ner; and the three following hours 

 are devoted to tea and the com- 

 pany of the ladies. Nine hours 

 are given to sleep ; so that there 

 remain just six hours out of the 

 twenty-four for visiting and busi- 

 ness. If they are reproached with 

 waste of time, they reply, ' How- 

 ls it to be avoided ?' I answer 

 them thus : ' Curtail the number 

 of your garments ; render your 

 dress simple ; wear your beards; 

 and give up less of your time to 

 eating, drinking, and sleeping.' 



•' Their seventh defect is a lux- 

 urious manner of living, by which 

 their wants are increased a hun- 

 dred-fold. Observe their kitchens 

 filled with various utensils; their 

 rooms fitted up with costly fur- 

 niture ; their side-boards covered 

 with plate ; their tables loaded - 

 with expensive glass and china ; 

 their cellars stocked with wines 

 from every quarter of the world ; 

 their parks abounding in game of 

 various sorts; and their ponds 

 stored with fish. All these ex- 

 penses are incurred to pamper 

 their appetites, which from long 

 indulgence have gained such ab- 

 solute sway over them, that a di- 

 minution of these luxuries would 

 be considered, by many, as a se- 

 rious misfortune. How unintel- 

 ligible to them is the verse of one 

 of their own poets : 



" Man wants but little here below, 

 " Nor wants that little long." 



It is certain, that luxurious living 

 generates many disorders, and is 

 jnoductive of various other bad 

 consequences." 



Leaving P^ngland, Abu Taleb 

 went to Paris, thence to Lyons, 

 and Marseilles : from this port 

 he embarked for Genoa, whence 



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