Esteem yourself, and others will learn to

esteem you.

Be dignified, yet simple in your manners and address.

XVI.

SPEAKING OF YOURSELF.

Be particularly careful not to speak of yourself, if you can avoid it. An impudent fellow intrudes himself and his affairs abruptly, upon all occasions, and is ever the hero of his own story.

The less you say of yourself, the more merit the world will give you credit for; and the more you say of yourself, the less will it believe you.

Your perfections, be assured, most people will find out; but, whether they do or not, they will not believe your enumeration of them.

XVII.

LYING.

Of all vices, none is more criminal, more cowardly, and more ridiculous than lying.

There is nothing more manly, or more noble,

than, when we have done wrong, to frankly own it; and it is the best way to meet forgiveness.

Remember, that though truth be sometimes troublesome, it is always honourable. It has this advantage too, it needs nothing to help it out. It is always at hand, sits upon our lips, and is ready to drop out before we are aware. Whereas a lie is always troublesome; it sets a man's invention on the rack; and one requires many more to make it seemingly secure. A liar is often the last person to know when he is found out, and may be despised for years by all his friends, before he discovers the overwhelming disgrace and contempt into which he has fallen.

XVIII.

GOOD-BREEDING.

Formerly it was considered extremely rude to answer only Yes, or No, to any body, without adding Sir, or Ma'am; but good breeding dispenses with a good deal of this formality, and it is now considered enough to say Yes, and No. Seldom introduce Sir or Ma'am.

It is extremely rude not to give your full

attention, and a civil answer, when a person speaks to you. Do not go away, or attend to something else, while you are continued to be addressed. If you do so, your friend will feel that you treat him with disrespect, and do not think it worth your while to hear or answer what he says.

I need not tell you how rude it is to take the best place in the room; or to seize immediately upon that which you like at table, as if you considered nobody but yourself. Offer first to help others, and endeavour to supply all the requisites you can to the persons with whom you are in company.

Besides being civil, which is absolutely neces sary, the perfection of good breeding is to be civil with ease, and in a gentlemanly manner. To acquire this, you should observe those who excel in it, and whose politeness seems as easy and natural as their conversation is welltimed.

Pray remember never to be ashamed of doing that which is right. You would have much reason to be ashamed, were you uncivil; but what reason have you to be ashamed of being civil; and why not say a civil and obliging

thing as willingly and as naturally as you would ask what o'clock it is?

Upon no account put your fingers, as too many people are apt to do, into your nose or ears; it is the most shocking, nasty, vulgar rudeness that can be done. It disgusts one.

Wash your ears well every morning, and blow your nose in your handkerchief, whenever you have occasion, but, without looking at it afterwards, which is an abominable practice.

XIX.

COMPLAISANCE.

If we desire the good will and esteem of our acquaintance, our good-breeding must be active, cheerful, and winning.

Answer with complaisance when you are spoken to.

Place yourself at the lower end of the table, unless requested to go higher.

Sit not while others stand.

Do every thing with an air of complaisance, and not with a grave, sour look, as if you did it unwillingly.

XX.

TALE BEARING.

Take great care never to repeat (I do not mean the pleasantries, which are an exception) in one company what you have heard in another. Be not a tale bearer, whom every one despises.

XXI.

GRACEFULNESS.

Be graceful and gracious in your manners and bearing. The effect of the same thing said or done, when accompanied with, or devoid of, graceful manners, is almost inconceivable, for such find an irresistible way to the heart. From your own observation, consider what a disagreeable impression an awkward address, a slovenly figure, an ungraceful manner of speaking, whether fluttering, muttering or drawling, makes upon you at first sight in a stranger, and how they prejudice you against him.

XXII.

AWKWARD HABITS.

Next to good breeding is an elegant manner and graceful carriage, wholly free from those