in the world with common decency; and, consequently, does not easily forgive those negligencies, inattentions, and slights, which seem to call in question, or utterly deny him, both these pretensions. [Same date.]
Too Ready Friends.—Be upon your guard
against those who, upon very slight acquaintance,
obtrude their unasked and unmerited friendship and
confidence upon you; for they probably cram you
with them only for their own eating; but, at the
same time, do not roughly reject them upon that
general supposition. Examine further, and see
whether those unexpected offers flow from a warm
heart and a silly head, or a designing head and a
cold heart; for knavery and folly have often the
same symptoms. In the first case, there is no danger
in accepting them, valeant quantum valere possunt.
In the latter case, it may be useful to seem to accept
them, and artfully to turn the battery upon him who
raised it.
There is an incontinency of friendship among young fellows, who are associated by their mutual pleasures only; which has, very frequently, bad consequences. A parcel of warm hearts, and unexperienced heads, heated by convivial mirth, and possibly a little too much wine, vow, and really mean
