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OF

Vulgar Errors.

ROFANENESS in converfation pafses for sprightlinefs and wit; whereas 'tis only a fign of wanting both Judgment and Manners.

BEING complemental and cringing on all occafions, paffes with many for good breeding; whereas 'tis just the contrary. For good breeding is judging well when to be formal, and when to be familiar. Too much of the firft is as ridiculous on the one hand, as a Quaker's fcrupling to put off his Hat, on the other; and in my opinion the more troublesome extreme of the two.

SILENT fort of men are esteem'd generally the more judicious and thinking; but 'tis commonly only dulnefs and want of thought:

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for imagination will hardly let the tongue lic ftill: Tho' if a quick fort of man can overcome his eagerness of speaking so much, he will shine the more for his not appear, ing to aim at it.

PHYSICIANS are commonly believ❜d to be of a profession both honest and skilful; yet their art is little better than that of a Jugler or Aftrologer; which is no art at all, but couzening the ignorant. Their whole defign (generally speaking) is to delay the Cure, as well as the Death of their patients: So that in truth, the last of these is no lefs an injury than the other; for what is Life worth, under the uneafiness of a languishing condition? I except particular friendfhips, which will fometimes influence them, (and indeed even ill people :) but I think a Salary for life a better method than Fees, and wou'd more prevail upon thefe gentlemen to do their beft; (tho' alas, how little does their beft fignify) This is only the cafe in general; for I doubt not but some Physicians are abler and honester than the reft; and I have my self had the experience of One, whofe skill, honefty, and friendfhip, has recovered the most valuable part of my family out of dangers in which we have almoft

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defpaired of fuccefs, and restored her to perfect health.

SURGEONS are something lefs respected than phyficians, which is wrong; theirs being a real art, and one of the most useful ones, if practifed faithfully, (which I doubt is very feldom.)

APOTHECARIES are under-valued, but yet, when men of judgment and practice, are as useful as phyficians, who either have not time, or will not give it, to attend their patients as they should do.

DIVINES are generally thought to be, and often are, Men of the best Lives; because indeed for fhame they dare hardly be otherwise but if their Morals are well obferved, I doubt they will most of them appear like other men.

GREAT gravity paffes with moft for wif dom, but is often dulnefs, fometimes af. fectation, at the best disagreeable.

TELLING ftories well, paffed for the best sort of wit in the last age, and is fometimes approved of even in this; but 'tis more a talent of diverfion than value.

A man's temper is more judg'd by his mien and outfide, though very fallacious, than by his very behaviour it felf. I have

known a man thought haughty, only be cause he was short-fighted, and could not know people as he met them: but the fame man, by mistake, would often bow to his own fervants; who knew his defect, and therefore had as little reason to think him humble, as others had to think him proud.

THE world is always inclined to think those persons vain (though never so far from it) who have either fuch talents, or fuch good fortune, as would make a great many others fo. For this reafon, the first thing women say of a new beauty, is, that the is proud and conceited, even before they have feen her; because they wou'd be fo in her condition.

WOMEN are thought generally by nature to be much inferior to man in Underftanding; but I believe the difference lies chiefly in education, by which they give us very great odds; and yet I know fome that can hold up the game pretty well against

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WOMEN are believed extremely timorous too; indeed they are fo of swords and guns, because fo little used to them; but in other matters not lefs dangerous, we find them fufficiently hazardous. Certainly their readi

nefs in finding excuses on the sudden, is no small proof of their resolution; with which fort of confidence nature has armed them for their neceffary defence on all occafions, especially against those dangers to which she moft inclines them.

A Wife sometimes, but a Mistress always, thinks her felf undone and forfaken, if fhe finds a man has but once had an affair with another woman: As if a bit or two of second courfe were a fign that a man wou'd never love mutton again; whereas, perhaps it is a reason not to be naufeated even with mutton it self, though it came from Bagshot, or Banftead Downs.

MEMORY is accounted a talent oppofite to Wit and Understanding, whereas indeed tis juft the contrary. I believe the mistake arifes from this: A man of fenfe will never tell a long ftory, tho' he should remem ber it never fo well; nor will fuch a man think many things worth his remembring, which a fool perhaps fets a value upon.

THEY are thought to have read much, who speak of it often; which is only a fign of not digefting what they read; juft as a Man's bringing up his fupper, gives

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