20
conſtant attendants, Honeſty and Civility; Honeſty to preſerve you from offering any violence to your own principles and Civility to preſerve you from unneceſſarily offending others. In all companies, reſpect yourſelf ſo far as to preſerve conſiſtency of character; ſuit your converſation and addreſs to the different circumſtances and characters of the perſons you converſe with, but always with the ſtrictest adherance to what is fit and becoming in your ſelf. Regard in the firſt place, truth and ſincerity; in the next propriety and ſeaſonableneſs: endeavour to keep the due medium between openneſs and reſerve that you may neither on the one hand, lay an unpleaſant and diſguſting reſtraint upon the freedom of converſation, nor on the other, unneceſſarily expoſe yourſelf to cenſure and obloquy. Be ever ready to make candid allowances for the errors or prejudices of others; remembering that you too have errors and prejudices which will call for candour in return. Beware of deſpiſing thoſe who may be inferior to you in ſome accompliſhments; they may perhaps be much your ſuperiors in other reſpects; if not, they may have many juſt claims to eſteem or at leaſt are entitled to the common expreſions of civility. Laſtly, make converſation, as much as poſſible a ſchool for improvement⟨.⟩ Take pains to gather up and carry away from every company ſome uſeful information, or ſome good ſentiment: or if this cannot
