Such forms of speech are displeasing when they are evidently contrived, though they add both force and elegance when they present themselves to the mind. It sometimes happens that a perfect symmetry, a formality in the phrase, a daring metaphor, an hyperbole, are the most natural and proper expression of the thought or sentiment. "Quanto "più sodezza tanto più splendore"

These beau

ties should be neither sought nor shunned.

Indeed too much anxiety about expression defeats itself. It may as well be expected that a dancer always thinking of the five positions should move with ease and grace, as that an author should write agreeably, who is fettered by habitual selfcriticism. It is no paradox to say that the perfection of style is to have none, but to let the words be suggested by the sentiments, unchecked by the monotony of a manner, and untainted by affectation; and, when it happens that the diction is happy,

""Tis a sweetness of breath from a soundness of sense."

TO THE SAME.

16th January, 1810.

CERTAINLY we do not usually go to church expecting to hear a lecture on the subject of mere good-manners; but the observations of the right reverend preacher, which you quote, are uncommonly striking, and far from being out of place in the pulpit.

The system of Lord Chesterfield, as inculcated in his famous letters, is deserving of public censure, and, fortunately, it is so ill-suited to the morals and to the taste of Englishmen, that it has been generally discredited by the well-bred, and by the righthearted, in this country.

Lord Chatham, who was almost as remarkable for his manners, as for his eloquence and his publicspirit, has defined good breeding "Benevolence "in trifles, or the preference of others to ourselves "in the little daily occurrences of life," and this you

cannot but perceive is very different from the complimentary duplicity recommended by his brother

earl ; for whom there is but one excuse, that a cold and repulsive demeanour has been so prevalent in this country, as to induce Mr. Loveday to call shyness the English-mania.

In the spirit of Lord Chatham it is of unspeakable importance to follow his precepts and his example, and, perhaps, Lady Mary Wortley Montague hardly speaks too strongly when she says "civility costs "nothing and buys everything. Engrave this on "your heart" An amusing and hardly credible instance of its effect is related of Ghino di Tacco (mentioned both by Dante and Boccaccio,) a highway-man, who was knighted by the pope for robbing genteelly.

Of this civility the trouble and the self-sacrifice are but small, and Chesterfield's scheme requires still less. A little silver will plate a large surface of copper, and common brass, when highly polished, looks like gold.

To be captious and contradictory is offensive

enough, but not so provoking, so unbearable, as the spirit of mockery affected by witlings and coxcombs ; for that, like a blighting east-wind, withers every living and heartfelt sentiment springing up in conversation, and, especially, chills and disheartens the young, in their earliest intercourse with the world. The weapon inflicting the wound, is so fine as to be scarcely perceptible, but the point has been dipped in poison. A breeze, itself invisible, often makes a whole lake to shudder. Yet one would rather be cut by a keen than by a blunt lancet, and a coarse supercilious way is almost as hateful as the freezing irony of more subtle ill-humour. The Italians have, however, always complained more of their French, than of their Austrian masters, because, though ill-treated, they are not despised by the latter. In one respect the underbred have an advantage, and they often excel in banter, being without any delicacy to restrain their malice, or their heedlessness.

There is no occasion either to jeer or to scold

habitually, yet we need not always stifle our displeasure at what is improper or insolent; but then there is no necessity for losing our temper because we cannot make others better than we can make ourselves. There are also sometimes faults so inveterate that it would be cruel to notice them, as when a man has a mortal disorder none but his physician should speak to him on the painful subject. At Constantinople a Turk is punished, once or twice, for being drunk, but afterwards he is considered as irreclaimable, and he is called a privileged imperial drunkard. It is neither good-natured nor

wise to be always attacking faults.

"I suppose

says an obscure novel, "that Daniel when cast into "the lions' den, did not amuse himself by twisting "their tails, or treading on their toes

Those who are accustomed to the best company avoid all these offences; but there is one kind of ill-breeding nearly universal; I mean that of not listening to others, or of listening only to devise objections and contradictions. This fault, though