"Mihi Galba, Otho, Vitellius, nec beneficio nec injuria cog"niti; nec amore quifquam, et fine odio dicendus eft.” TACIT, Hift. lib. I. cap. I. VOLUME THE FIRST. LONDON: Printed for C. BATHURST, J, BUCKLAND, J. RIVINGTON and MDCCLXXXVI. ADVERTISEMENT. THE HE Editor of thefe volumes claims no other merit than that of introducing them to the public. Neither the plan, nor much of the execution of it, is his own. It It is now about five-and-twenty years fince the outlines of the undertaking were sketched, in conjunction with the late Mr. TONSON, by a Writer of distinguished taste and talents; who was prevented from purfuing it by avocations, of a far different and more important nature. has been confiderably altered, and carried much farther than was at firft intended; but all the information which was obtained by the active zeal, and well-directed enquiries, which that gentleman made among men of the firft eminence in the world of letters, though fometimes fuperfeded on indubitable authorities, has been faithfully preferved, and is distinguished by a fignature, in the accumulated collection, which the reader has now before him. Of the Original Papers it may be fufficient to fay, in the emphatic words of JOHNSON, that they comprize precepts of criticism, fallies of "invention, deferiptions of life, and lectures of VOL. I. "morality; a "morality; they employ wit in the cause of "truth, and make elegance fubfervient to "piety; they have now for more than half a "century fupplied the English nation, in a great "meafure, with principles of fpeculation, and "rules of practice, and given their authors a "claim to be mentioned amongst the benefac"tors of mankind, 6 "To teach the minuter decencies and in"ferior duties," to regulate the practice of daily converfation, to correct thofe depravities which are rather ridiculous than cri"minal, and remove thofe grievances which, if they produce no lafting calamities, imprefs hourly vexation, was first attempted in Italy "by CASA in his Book of Manners,' and CAS"TIGLIONE in his Courtier,' two books yet "celebrated in Italy for purity and elegance. "This fpecies of inftruction was continued, "and perhaps advanced, by the French; among "whom LA BRUYERE'S Manners of the Age,' "though written without connection, deferves great praife. Before the TATLER and SPEC"tator, if the writers for the theatre are ex"cepted, England had no mafters of common "life. No writers had yet undertaken to re"form either the favagenefs of neglect, or the impertinence of civility; to teach when to fpeak, or to be filent; how to refuse, or how to comply. We wanted not books to teach 66 66 |