EGYPT, AND SYRIA. 437 
Politenefs is, with the one, an eafy compliance, with which 
all are fatisfied ; with the other, it is a difficult effort, from the 
practice and the experience of which the parties mutually 
retire difcontented. 
. The fafhions to which we are flaves, are indeed many of 
them fo little founded in reafon, that one is fometimes difpofed 
to confider them as imagined by the indolent and reftlefs, to 
occupy the thoughts and time of thofe who have no better 
employment; or invented, like certain dogmas, to fhew the 
merit of implicit credence. A certain drefs is to be worn, a 
certain eftablifhment kept up, under pain of indelible igno- 
miny ; and the man whofe circumftances difable him from 
complying with this terrific mandate, with timid irrefolution 
hides his head. 
See the European in converfation, even among his equals, he 
is not fo folicitous to exprefs fugh thoughts as rife in his mind, 
as to find fome employment for his tongue. It is not to give 
utterance to what naturally occurs, but that converfation may 
be kept up, that all are anxious. Garrulities, and mifconcep- 
tions are civilly uttered for arguments ; and the abortions of 
fancy and caprice, hold the place of the fane offspring of 
judgment and refle£lion. Yet we laugh at them for ufmg fhort 
and few phrafes, [phrafes courtes et rares, as Volney defcribes 
them,) when they have nothing to fay ! 
It is with them however neither ridiculous nor irkfome to be 
filent. They go into company to be diverted, not to labour, 
and 
