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NEW ENGLAND FARMER 



MAY 28, 1834. 



M I S C E LLANY. 



WRITINGS OF WASHINGTON. 



In noticing some weeks ago these admirable 

 volumes, published by Mr. Sparks., we referred to 

 some of the early papers of Washington. Anion}; 

 these, written in his nun hand, is a scries of max- 

 ims under the brad of "Rules of civility and decent 

 behaviour in company and coiiversation.'\ — Of these 

 there are 110. The only specimens published we 

 extract, and agree with Mr. Sparks in the opinion, 

 that " whoever has studied the character of Wash- 

 ington, will be persuaded that some of iis most 

 prominent features took tin ir shape IVoni the rules 

 thus earl] selected and adopted as bis guide." — jY. 

 Y. American. 



1. Every action in company ought to be with 

 some sign of respect to Ihose present. 



2. In the presence of others sing not to yourself 

 with a humming noise, nor drum with your lin- 

 gers or feet. 



3. Sleep not when others speak, sit not when 

 others stand, speak not when you should hold 

 your peace, and walk not when others snip. 



4. Turn uot your back to others, especially in 

 speaking: jog not the table or desk on which an- 

 other reads or writes, lean not on any one. 



5. Be no flatterer, neither play with any one 

 that delights not to be played with. 



6. Read no letters, honks or papers in company, 

 but when there is a necessity for doing it you must 

 ask leave. Come not near the books or writings 

 of any one so as to read them, unasked. Also, 

 look not nigh when any other is writing a letter. 



7. Let your countenance be pleasant, but in se- 

 rious matters somewhat grave. 



8. Show not yourself glad of the misfortunes of 

 another, though he were your enemy. 



9. When you meet with one of greater quality 

 than yourself, stop and retire, especially if it he at 

 a door, or any strait place, to give way fur him to 

 pass. 



10. They that arc in dignity or office have in 

 all places precedency ; but whilst they are young, 

 they ought to respect those that are their equals 

 in birth or other qualities, though they have no 

 public charge. 



11. It is good manners to prefer them to whom 

 we speak before ourselves, especially if they be 

 above us, with whom in no sort we ought to begin. 



12. Let your discourse with men of business be 

 short and comprehensive. 



13. In visiting the sick, do not presently play 

 the physician, if you be not knowing therein. 



14. In writing or speaking, give to every person 

 bis due title, according to bis degree and the cus- 

 tom of the place. 



15. Strive not with your superiors in argument, 

 but always submit your judgment to others with 

 modesty. 



16. Undertake not to teach your equal in the 

 art himself professes: it savors ofarrogancy. 



17. When a man dues all he can, though it suc- 

 ceeds not well, blame not him that did it. 



IS. Being to advise, or reprehend any one, con- 

 sider whether it ought to he in public or in private, 

 presently or at some other time ; also in what 

 terms to do it ; and in reproving, show no signs 

 ofcholer, but d0 it with sweetness and mildness, 



19. Take all admonitions thankfully, in what 

 place soever given ; but afterwards not being cul- 

 pable ttike a time or place convenient to let him 

 know it that gave them. 



20. Muck not, nor jest at any thing of import- 

 ance, break no jests that are sharp biting, and il 

 you deliver any thing witty and pleasant, abstain 

 from laughing thereat yourself. 



21. Wherein \(in reprove another be tinhlnme- 

 able yourself, for example is more prevalent than 

 precept. 



22. I'se no reproachful language against any 

 , neither curses nor re\ ding. 



23. Be not hasty to believe flying reports, to the 

 disparagement of any one. 



21. In your apparel be modest, and endeavor to 

 accommodate nature rather than procure admira- 

 tion. Keep to the fashion of your equals, such as 

 are civil and orderly with respect to time and place. 



25. Play not the peacock, looking every where 

 about you to see if you be well decked, if your 

 •.hoes lit well, if your stockings sit neatly and 

 clothes handsomely. 



26. Associate yourself with men of good quality 

 if you esteem your own reputation, for it is better 

 to be alone than in bad company. 



27. Let your conversation be without malice or 

 envy, for it is a sign of a tractable and commend- 

 able nature, and in all cases of passion admit rea- 

 son to govern. 



2S. Be not immodest in urging your friend to 

 discover a secret. 



29. Utter not base and frivolous things amongst 

 grown and learned men ; nor very difficult ques- 

 tions or subjects among the ignorant, nor things 

 hard to be believed. 



30. Speak not of doleful things in time of mirth, 

 nor at the table; speak not of melancholy things, 

 as death and wounds, and if others mention them, 

 change, if you can, the discourse. Tell not your 

 dreams but to your intimate friends. 



31. Break not a jest where none take pleasure 

 in mirth. Laugh not aloud nor at all without oc- 

 casion. Deride no man's misfortune, though there 

 seem to be some cause. 



32. Speak not injurious words neither in jest or 

 in earnest. Scoff at none, although they give oc- 



CMSinn. 



33. Be not forward, but friendly and courteous; 

 the first to salute, hear and answer, and be not 

 pensive when it is a time to converse. 



34. Detract not from others, but neither he ex- 

 cessive in commending. 



35. Go not thither, where you know not wbeth- 

 er-you shall be welcome or not. Give not advice 

 without being asked, and when desired, do it 

 briefly. 



36. If two contend together, lake not the part of 

 either unconstrained, and be not obstinate in your 

 opinion ; in things indifferent be of the major side. 



37. Reprehend not the imperfections of others, 

 for that belongs to parents, masters and superiors. 



38. Gaze not on the marks or blemishes of oth- 

 ers, and ask not how they came. What you may 

 speak in secret to your friend deliver not before 

 others. 



39. Speak not in an unknown tongue in com- 

 pany, but in your own language, and that as those 

 of quality do, and not as the vulgar. Sublime 

 matters tr.eat seriously. 



40. Think before yon speak ; pronounce not 

 imperfectly, nor bring out your words too hastily, 

 but orderly and distinctly. 



41. When another speaks, he attentive yourself, 

 and disturb not the audience. If any hesitate in 

 his words help him not, nor answer him not till 

 his speech be ended. 



42. Treat with men at tit times about business, 

 and whisper not in the company of others. 



43. Make no comparisons ; and if any of the 

 company be commended for any brave act of vir- 

 tue, commend not another for the same. 



I I. Be not apt to relate news, if you know not 

 the truth thereof. In discoursing of things you 

 have heard, name not your author always. A se- 

 cret discover not. 



45. Be not curious to know the affairs of others, 

 neither approach to those that speak in private. 



46. Undertake not what you cannot perform, 

 nit lie careful to keep your promise. 



47. Whin you deliver a matter, do it without 

 passion and with discretion, however mean the 

 pers nay be you do it to. 



48. When your superiors talk to any body, hear 

 them, but neither speak nor laugh. 



49. In disputes, be not so desirous to overcome 

 as not to give liberty to each one to deliver his 

 opinion, and submit to the judgment of the major 

 part especially if they are judges of the dispute. 



50. Be not tedious in discourse, make not many 

 digressions, nor repeat often the same matter of 

 discourse. 



51. Speak no evil of the absent, for it is unjust. 



52. Make no show of taking great delight in 

 your victuals, feed not with greediness, cut your 

 bread with a knife, lean not on the table, neither 

 find fault with what you eat. 



53. Be not angry at the table whatever happens, 

 and if you have reason to be so, show it not ; put 

 on a cheerful countenance, especially if there he 

 strangers, for good humor mades one dish a feast. 



54. Set not yourself at the upper end of the 

 table, but if it be your due or the master of the 

 house will have it so, contend not lest you should 

 trouble the company. 



55. When you speak of God or his attributes, 

 let it be seriously, in reverence and honor, and 

 obey your natural parents although they be poor. 



56. Let your recreations be manful not sinful. 



57. Labor to keep alive in your breast that little 

 spark of celestial fire called conscience. 



NEW WORK ON PLOWEKS. 

 Just published, the Florist's Manual, with Eighty beautifully 

 colored Engravings, being the best work adapied to American 

 Floriculture exXniii— price g2.50. GFO. C I'.\ RHETT. 



THE NEW ENGLAND FARMER 



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