ly, and have always hanging to it the ungracefulness of constraint and affectation. tion. Affectation is not, I confefs, an Affecta early fault of childhood, or the product of untaught nature. It is not of that fort of weeds which grow up in the wild uncultivated wafte, but in garden-plots, under the negligent hand, or unkilful care of a gardener. Management and inftruction, and fome fenfe of the neceffity of breeding, are requisite to make any one capable of affectation, which endeavours to correct natural defects, and has always the laudable aim of pleafing, though it always miffes it; and the more it labours to put on gracefulness, the farther it is from it. For this reafon, it is the more carefully to be watched, because it is the proper fault of education; a perverted education indeed, but fuch as young people often fall into, either by their own mistake, or the ill conduct of thofe about them. He that will examine wherein the gracefulnefs lies, which always pleafes, will find it arifes from that natural coherence, which appears between the thing done, and fuch a temper of mind as cannot but be approved of as fuitable to the occafion. We cannot but be pleased with an humane, friendly, civil temper, wherever we met with it. A mind free, and mafter of itself and all its actions, not low and narrow, not haughtyand infolent,not blemished with any great defect, is what every one is taken with. The actions which naturally flow from fuch a well-formed mind, pleafé us alfo, as the genuine marks of it; and being, as it were, natural emanations from the fpirit and difpofition within, cannot but be eafy and unconftrained. This feems to me to be that beauty which fhines through fome mens actions, fets off all that they do, and takes all they come near; when by a conftant practice they have fashioned their carriage, and made all thofe little expreffions of civility and refpect which nature or custom has established in converfation, fo eafy to themselves, that they feem not artificial or ftudied, but naturally to flow from a sweetness of mind, and a well-turned difpofition. On the other fide, affectation is an auk. ward and forced imitation of what should be genuine and eafy, wanting the beauty that accompanies what is natural; because there is always a disagreement between the outward action, and the mind within, one of these two ways. 1. Either when a man would outward. ly put on a difpofition of mind, which then he really has not, but endeavours by a forced carriage to make fhew of; yet fo, that the constraint he is under difcovers itself. And thus men affect fometimes to appear fad, mer. ry, or kind, when in truth they are not fo. 2. The other is, when they do not endeavour to make fhew of difpofitions of mind, which they have not, but do exprefs thofe they have by a carriage not fuited to them and fuch in converfation are all constrained motions, actions, words, or looks, which, though defigned to fhew either their respect or civility to the company, or their fatisfaction and eafinefs in it, are not yet natural nor genuine marks of the one or the other, but rather of fome defect or mistake within. Imitation of others, without difcerning what is graceful in them, or what is peculiar to their charac ters, often makes a great part of this. But affectation of all kinds, whenfoever it proceeds, is always offenfive; because we naturally hate whatever is counterfeit, and condemn thofe who have nothing better to recommend then felves by. Plain and rough nature left to itfelf,is much better than an artificial ungracefulness, and fuch ftudy'd ways of being ill-fashioned. The want of an accomplishment, or fome defect in our behaviour, coming fhort of the utmost gracefulaefs, often efcapes obfervation and ccnfure. But affectation in any part of our carriage is lighting up a candle to our defects, and never fails to make us to be taken notice of, either as wanting fenfe, or wanting fincerity. This governors ought the more dili gently to look after; because, as I above ob ferved, ferved, 'tis an acquired uglinefs, owing to miftaken education, few being guilty of it, but those who pretend to breeding, and would not be thought ignorant of what is fashionable and becoming in converfation; and, if I mistake not, it has often its rife from the lazy admonitions of those who give rules and propofe examples, without joining practice with their inftructions, and making their pupils repeat the action in their fight, that they may correct what is indecent or conftrained in it, till it be perfected into an habitual and becoming eafinefs. § 67. Manners, as they call it, about which children are fo often Manners. perplexed, and have so many good ly exhortations made them by their wife maids and governeffes, I think, are rather to be learnt by example than rules; and then chil dren if kept out of ill company, will take a pride to behave themfelves prettily, after the fashion of others, perceiving themselves efteemed and commended for it. But if by a little negligence in this part, the boy fhould not pull off his hat, nor make legs very gracefully, a dancing-mafter will cure that defect, and wipe off all that plainnefs of nature, which the a-la-mode people call clownishness. And fiace nothing appears to me to give chil dren fo much becoming confidence and behaviour, and fo to raife them to the converfation D 4 fation of thofe above their age, as Dancing. Dancing, I think they should-be taught to dance as foon as they are capable of learning it. For tho' this consists only in outward gracefulness of motion; yet, I know not how, it gives children manly thoughts and carriage, more than any thing. But otherwife I would not have little children much tormented about punctilio's or niceties of breeding. Never trouble yourself about those faults in them, which you know age will cure and therefore want of well-fashioned civility in the carriage, whilft civility is not wanting in the mind (for there you must take care to plant it early) fhould be the parents least care, whilft they are young. If his tender mind be filled with a veneration for his parents and teachers, which confifts in love and efteem, and a fear to offend them; and with respect and good will to all people; that respect will of itfelf teach thofe ways of expreffing it, which he obferves moft acceptable. Be fure to keep up in him the principles of good nature and kindness; make them as habitual as you can by credit and commendation, and the good things accompanying that ftate: and when they have taken root in his mind, and are fettled there by a continued practice, fear not, the ornaments of converfation, and the outfide of fashionable manners, will come |