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to the perfon poffeffed of them. No views of utility or of future beneficial confequences enter into this sentiment of approbation; yet is it of a kind fimilar to that other sentiment, which arifes from views of a public or private utility. The fame focial fympathy, we may observe, or fellow-feeling with human happiness or misery, gives rife to both; and this analogy in all the parts of the present theory, may justly be regarded as a confirmation of it.

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SECTION VIII.

OF QUALITIES IMMEDIATELY AGREEABLE
TO OTHERS*.

A

S the mutual fhocks, in fociety, and the oppofitions of intereft and felf-love have constrained mankind to establish the laws of juftice; in order to preferve the advantages of common affiftance and protection: In like manner, the eternal contrarieties, in company, of men's pride and selfconceit, have introduced the rules of GOOD-MANNERS or POLITENESS; in order to facilitate the intercourse of minds, and an undisturbed commerce and converfation. Among well-bred people, a mutual deference is affected: Contempt of others disguised: Authority concealed: Attention given to each in his turn: And an easy ftream of conversation maintained, without vehemence, without mutual interruption, without eagerness for victory, and without any airs of fuperiority. These attentions and regards are immediately agreeable to others, abstracted from any confideration of utility or bene

• 'Tis the nature, and, indeed, the definition of virtue, that 'tis a quality of the mind agreeable to or approved of by every one, who confiders or contemplates it. But fome qualities produce pleasure, because they are useful to fociety, or ufeful or agreeable to the perfon himfelf; others produce it more immediately: Which is the clafs of virtues here confidered.

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ficial tendencies: They conciliate affection, promote esteem, and enhance extremely 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 house before his guest, to signify 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 good-manners. What wit is, it may not be easy to define; but 'tis easy surely to determine, that 'tis a quality immediately agreeable to others, and communicating, on its first 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 taste and sentiment, might, perhaps, be refolved into more general principles. But this is fufficient for our present purpose, that it does affect taste and sentiment, and bestowing an immediate enjoyment, is a fure fource of approbation and affection.

In countries, where men pass most of their time in converfation, and vifits and affemblies, these companionable qualities, so to speak, are of high estimation, and form a chief part of perfonal merit. In countries, where men live a more domeftic life, and either are employed in business, or amuse themselves Y y 2

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́in a narrower circle of acquaintance, the more folid qualities are chiefly regarded. Thus, I have often obferved, that among the FRENCH, the first queftions, with regard to a franger, are, Is he polite? Has he wit? In our own country, the chief praise bestowed, is always that of a good-natured, fenfible fellow.

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

There are a set of harmless liars, frequently to be met with in company, who deal much in the marvelous. Their usual intention is to please and entertain; but as men are most delighted with what they conceive to be truth, these people mistake extremely the means of pleasing, and incur universal blame. Some indulgence, however, to lying or fiction is given in humorous stories; because it is there really agreeable and entertaining; and truth is not of any importance.

Eloquence, genius of all kinds, even good sense and found reasoning, when it rifes to an eminent degree, and is employed upon subjects of any confiderable dignity and nice discernment; all these endowments feem immediately agreeable, and have a merit diftinct from their usefulness. Rarity, likewise, which fo much enhances the price of every thing, muft

give an additional value to these noble talents of the human mind.

Modesty may be understood in different fenfes, even abftracted from chastity, 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 oppofed to impudence and arrogance, and expreffes a diffidence of our own judgment, and a due attention and regard to others. In young men chiefly, this quality is a fure fign of good sense; and is also the certain means of augmenting that endowment, by preferving their ears open to inftruction, and making them ftill grasp after new attainments. But it has a farther charm to every spectator; by flattering men's vanity, and presenting. the appearance of a docile pupil, who receives, with proper attention and refpect, every word they utter.

Men have, in general, a much greater propensity to overvalue 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 cfteeming the danger lefs of falling into any vicious extreme of that nature. 'Tis thus, in countries, where men's bodies are apt to exceed in corpulency, perfonal beauty is placed in a greater degree of flenderness, than in countries where that is the moft ufual defect. Being fo often ftruck with inftances of

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