HEN you come into any fresh company, observe their hu- 

 mours. Suit your own carriage thereto, by which insinu- 

 'fation you will make their converse more free and open. 

 Let your discours be more in querys and doublings than peremp- 

 tory assertions or disputings, it being the designe of travelers to 

 learne, not to teach. Besides, it will persuade your acquaintance that 

 you have the greater esteem of them, and soe make them more 

 ready to communicate what they know to you ; whereas nothing 

 sooner occasions disrespect and quarrels than peremptorinesse. You 

 will find little or no advantage in seeming wiser, or much more 

 ignorant than your company. Seldom discommend any thing though 

 never so bad, or doe it but moderately, lest you bee unexpectedly 

 forced to an unhansom retraction. It is safer to commend any thing 

 more than is due, than to discommend a thing soe much as it de- 

 serves ; for commendations meet not soe often with oppositions, or, 

 at least, are not usually soe ill resented by men that think otherwise, 

 as discommendations ; and you will insinuate into men's favour by 

 nothing sooner than seeming to approve and commend what they 

 like ; but beware of doing it by a comparison. 



SIR ISAAC NEWTON to one of his pupils. 



