Such of them as are of my own compofition, and they are not a few (I think I may with safety say a third) I have formed from many of thofe ingenious and exalted reflections, religious and moral, which are interspersed all through those ineftimable treasures of instruction and wisdom, the SPECTATOR, TATLER, GUARDIAN, IDLER, RAMBLER, ADVENTURER, THE WORLD, DUCLO'S MANNERS OF THE AGE, FULLER, THE WORKS OF FIELDING, RICHARDSON, &C. as also from my own experience and observations upon human life and its objects (men and things), having, as is well known, for a course of forty years and upwards, gone through as great a multiplicity and variety of businesses in this kingdom, as any man whatsoever, but especially in the law way, whence more knowledge of that state is to be gained in one year, than in twenty colleges in fifty. In order to render the whole the more fatisfactory, as well as more useful to my readers, I have endeavoured to digefst them under proper heads; and, though several of them under the fame head may have pretty much the fame thoughts, yet, where they are well diverfified in the expreffion, or thrown into different or new lights, I thought it better to infert them all, than reject any of them, as I might have been mistaken in my choice. Several APOTHEGMS have been added to this publication, and almost as many, which were in the former one, have been omitted, especially fuch as were not short and explicit, or might bear a double conftruction. To conclude: If they fhall be esteemed as well adapted to the laudable ends, for which the publication of them is intended, I shall think think myself one of the happiest of men: if not, I shall have that most pleasing self-fatisfaction of being fure, that I meant well; however, I believe I may venture to say, that fo large a collection under their proper heads, hath not hitherto been published, THE Adverfity, Afflictions and Misfortunes Affectation Affronts Age Ancestry Bashfulness Page 3 3 4 5 9 10 II 12 14 15 16 19 22 ib. 23 25 Beauty Beneficence, Benefits, and Benevolence Bufinefs, Employment, and Profeffion Calumny, Cenfure, Defamation, and Detraction 26 29 Charity |