268 ON WIT. - Nov. 2, 



men mav make ufc of them, and that the wife never 

 will. I ftiall not take upon mc to decide upon Uie 

 controverfy. Let evfery one judge for himftrlf, after hav- 

 ing faithfully confulted both fides of the queftion. I 

 in'uit, however, remark, that I am of opinion with a 

 very learned author, that terms more ftriking may be 

 found, and that tlie words boit/e znd.ginfs, for inilance, 

 if introduced into every fentcnce, with that variety of 

 niodincation of which they are capable, woidd mof^ 

 certainly produce a much wittier effect. It. is cut of a 

 defire to bring the wit of men of faihion to its hii'hc-il 

 perfctSlion that I would earnelUy recommend them, 

 without d-ckiy, to fubllitute thefe words iidlcad cf thti 

 other. ' 



I The wit of the icountry fquire is the laft fpecies I 

 mentioned, and it is eflentialiy different from the other 

 two. It confdts of a complete round of merry llories, 

 treafured up in the brain, and brought forth as occa- 

 fion may ferve. ' There is great diihculty, however, in 

 introducing them properly. Hie- lub&r hoc opus eji. Th6 

 mod adroit man at this that 1 know, is my old friend 

 John Vickcrbank, Efq; member of Parliament, who 

 liaving but two favourite Itories, and both unfortunate* 

 ]y on the fume fubjeft, if the company happen to be 

 talking of fmoaking chimnies, Iriili blunders, no mat- 

 ter which, or what ufed, when it came to his turn to 

 fpeak, moil confkantly begins with thefe words \ — 

 " Tliis puts me m mind of a very good ftory about n 

 horfe." Youthful feats of hr.nting, flings at the parfoa 

 %ii the parilli, and one or two funny talts about the hard- 

 ships of fchcols, might furnifli a complete circle ot 

 witticifms, and enable a man to live in the country 

 ■>vith credit. I forbear, however, to enlarge in defcrip- 

 tion here, from this confidcration, that thofe who have 

 been in the way of hearing thefe things, will probably 

 have the pieafure of hearing them again from the foun- 

 tain-head, and as for cthersj tliey may not be able to 

 fee the be.uitv of it. 



