of utility or of future beneficial confequences enter into this fentiment of approbation; yet is it of a kind fimilar to that other fentiment, which arifes from views of a public or private utility. The fame focial fympathy, we may obferve, or fellow-feeling with human happiness or mifery, gives rife to both; and this analogy, in all the parts of the present theory, may juftly be regarded as a confirmation of it.

SECTION VIII.

OF QUALITIES IMMEDIATELY AGREEABLE to OTHERS.

S the mutual fhocks, in fecity, and the oppofitions of intereft and felf-love have conftrained mankind to establish the laws of juice; in order to preferve the advantages of common affiftance and protection In like manner, the eternal contrarieties, in company, of men's pride and felf-conceit, have introduced the rules of GOOD-MANNERS or POLITENESS; in order to facilitate the intercourfe of minds, and an undisturbed commerce and converfation. Among well-bred people, a mutual deference is affected: Contempt of others difguifed: Authority concealed: Attention given to each in his turn: And an eafy ftream of converfation maintained, without vehemence, without mutual interruption, without eagerness for victory, and without any airs of fuperiority. Thefe attentions and regards are immediately agreeable to others, abftracted from confideration of utility or beneficial tendencies:

any

It is the nature, and, indeed, the definition of virtue, that it is a quality of the mind agreeable to or approved of by every one, who confuders or contemplates it. But fome qualities produce pleasure, because they are useful to fociety, or useful or agreeable to the perfon himself; others produce it more immediately: Which is the cafe with the clafs of virtues here confi❤ dered.

They conciliate affection, promote esteem, and extremely enhance the merit of the perfon, who regulates his behaviour by them.

Many of the forms of breeding are arbitrary and cafual: But the thing expreffed by them is ftill the fame. A SPANIARD goes out of his own houfe before his gucft, to fignify that he leaves him mafter of all. In other countries, the landlord walks out laft, as a common mark of deference and regard.

But, in order to render a man perfect good company, he muft have WIT and INGENUITY as well as goodmanners. What wit is, it may not be easy to define; but it is eafy furely to determine, that it is a quality immediately agreeable to others, and communicating, on its firft appearance, a lively joy and fatisfaction to every one who has any comprehenfion of it. The most profound metaphyfics, indeed, might be employed, in explaining the various kinds and fpecies of wit; and many claffes of it, which are now received on the fole teftimony of tafte and fentiment, might, perhaps, be refolved into more general principles. But this is fufficient for our prefent purpose, that it does affect taste and fentiment, and bestowing an immediate enjoyment, is a fure fource of approbation and affection.

In countries, where men pafs moft of their time in converfation, and vifits, and affemblies, thefe companionable qualities, fo to speak, are of high eftimation, and form a chief part of perfonal merit. In countries, where men live a more domeftic life, and either are employed in bufinef, or amuse themselves in a narrower circle of acquaintance, the more folid qualities are chiefly regarded. Thus, I have often obferved, that, among the FRENCH, the first questions, with regard to a stranger, are, Is be polite? Has he wit? In our own country, the chief

praise

praise bestowed, is always that of a good-natured, fenfible fellow.

In converfation, the lively spirit of dialogue is agreeable, even to those who defire not to have any fhare in the difcourfe: Hence the teller of long ftories, or the pompous declaimer, is very little approved of. But most men defire likewife their turn in the converfation, and regard, with a very evil eye, that loquacity, which deprives them of a right they are naturally fo jealous of.

There is a fort of harmless liars, frequently to be met with in company, who deal much in the marvellous. Their ufual intention is to please and entertain; but as men are moft delighted with what they conceive to be truth, thefe people mistake extremely the means of pleafing, and incur univerfal blame. Some indulgence, however, to lying or fiction is given in humorous ftories; because it is there really agreeable and entertaining; and truth is not of any importance.

Eloquence, genius of all kinds, even good fenfe, and found reafoning, when it rifes to an eminent degree, and is employed upon fubjects of any confiderable dignity and nice difcernment; all thefe endowments feem immediately agreeable, and have a merit diftinct from their ufefulness. Rarity, likewife, which fo much enhances the price of every thing, muft fet an additional value on these noble talents of the human mind.

Modefty may be understood in different fenfes, even abstracted from chaftity, which has been already treated of. It fometimes means that tenderness and nicety of honour, that apprehenfion of blame, that dread of intrufion or injury towards others, that PUDOR, which is the proper guardian of every kind of virtue, and a fure preservative against vice and corruption. But its most usual meaning is when it is opposed to impudence and arrogance,

and

and expreffes a diffidence of our own judgment,, and a due attention and regard for others. In young men chiefly, this quality is a fure fign of good fenfe; and is alfo the certain means of augmenting that endowment, by preferving their ears open to inftruction, and making them ftil grafp after new attainments. But it has a farther charm to every spectator; by flattering every man's vanity, and prefenting the appearance of a docile pupil, who receives, with proper attention and respect, every word they utter.

Men have, in general, a much greater propenfity to over-value than under-value themselves; notwithstanding the opinion of ARISTOTLE *. This makes us more jealous of the excefs on the former fide, and caufes us to regard, with a peculiar indulgence, all tendency to modefty and felf-diffidence; as efteeming the danger lefs of falling into any vicious extreme of that nature. It is thus, in countries, where men's bodies are apt to exceed in corpulency, perfonal beauty is placed in a much greater degree of flenderness, than in countries where that is the most ufual defect. Being so often struck with inftances of one fpecies of deformity, men think they can never keep at too great a distance from it, and wish always to have a leaning to the oppofite fide. In like manner, were the door opened to felf-praife, and were MONTAIGNE's maxim obferved, that one should say as frankly, I have fenfe, I have learning, I have courage, beauty, or wit; as it is fure we often think fo; were this the cafe, I fay, every one is fenfible, that fuch a flood of impertinence would break in upon us, as would render fociety wholly intolerable. For this reafon cuftom has eftablished it as a rule, in common focieties, that men

Ethic, ad Nicomachum.

fhould