I79I* ' 0^ ^'^T. 269 



I proceed to give fome general dIre£l:ions towards the 

 attainment of this happy talent. And, in the firlt place, 

 let me recommend fwearing. I have indeed, in lomc 

 meafure anticipated this, and therefore fhall only 

 mention one advantage ot it, which has not, as I know 

 of, been infilled on before. The benevolent origin 

 and defign of fwearing. Some peribn or other, perhaps 

 in the feodal times, lamenti.Bg the great diftance there 

 was between different ranks of men, and animated 

 with true philanthropy, endeavoured, if poffible, to 

 introduce a practice which would effectually level all 

 the pride of ditlinction, — place the learned and the 

 unlearned, the genius and the fool on the fame bot- 

 tom, and make the heir of a crown, and the fweeper 

 of a chimney able to appear equally witty, and equally 

 wife. 



adly. If you would make others laugh, laugh your- 

 felf. This is agreeable (mutatis niuttmdisj to the di- 

 rect rule of Horace, who tells us in fo many words. 

 " Si bis me fiere^ dolendum eft primum ipfi tibi." If you 

 laugh, you will, as Shakefpear himfelf informs us, fet 

 on a quantity of fpeclators to laugh too. But we have no 

 need to rely upon authority for this. Upon refleftion 

 the plan will approve itfelf to your feverelt judgement > 

 for confider, your wit will either be fuccelsful or not ; 

 if it be fuccefsful, having begun with a laugh, you will 

 be doubly bleffed, and if not fuccefsrful, you will at 

 leaft be upon a level with your luckiell neighbours ; 

 they have gained the fruic of their labours at lalt : you 

 got paid before hand. 



3dly, Always make long prefaces. O ! hov/ many 

 mod excellent wits for want of this have I fcen, as 

 Gray pathetically defcribes, 



" Born to blufii unf(.eD, 



" And wuflc ihcir i'wectnefs in the defart air !" 



befides it is the rudeft thing in nature, it proves you 

 unaccuftomed to good company, and is a direct affront 

 to thofe you convcrfe with, fuppofmg them de dilute of 



