Charles Dieupart, a Frenchman, was a fine performer on the violin and harpsichord.  At the representation of Arsinoe and the other earliest operas, he played the harpsichord and Haym the violoncello.  Dieupart, after the small success of the design set forth in this letter, taught the harpsichord in families of distinction, but wanted self-respect enough to save him from declining into a player at obscure ale-houses, where he executed for the pleasure of dull ears solos of Corelli with the nicety of taste that never left him.  He died old and poor in 1740.]

* * * * *

No. 259.  Thursday, December 27, 1711.  Steele.

  Quod decet honestum est, et quod honestum est decet.

  Tull.

There are some Things which cannot come under certain Rules, but which one would think could not need them.  Of this kind are outward Civilities and Salutations.  These one would imagine might be regulated by every Man’s Common Sense without the Help of an Instructor; but that which we call Common Sense suffers under that Word; for it sometimes implies no more than that Faculty which is common to all Men, but sometimes signifies right Reason, and what all Men should consent to.  In this latter Acceptation of the Phrase, it is no great Wonder People err so much against it, since it is not every one who is possessed of it, and there are fewer, who against common Rules and Fashions, dare obey its Dictates.  As to Salutations, which I was about to talk of, I observe as I strole about Town, there are great Enormities committed with regard to this Particular.  You shall sometimes see a Man begin the Offer of a Salutation, and observe a forbidding Air, or escaping Eye, in the Person he is going to salute, and stop short in the Pole of his Neck.  This in the Person who believed he could do it with a good Grace, and was refused the Opportunity, is justly resented with a Coldness the whole ensuing Season.  Your great Beauties, People in much Favour, or by any Means or for any Purpose overflattered, are apt to practise this which one may call the preventing Aspect, and throw their Attention another Way, lest they should confer a Bow or a Curtsie upon a Person who might not appear to deserve that Dignity.  Others you shall find so obsequious, and so very courteous, as there is no escaping their Favours of this Kind.  Of this Sort may be a Man who is in the fifth or sixth Degree of Favour with a Minister; this good Creature is resolved to shew the World, that great Honours cannot at all change his Manners; he is the same civil Person he ever was; he will venture his Neck to bow out of a Coach in full Speed, at once, to shew he is full of Business, and yet is not so taken up as to forget his old Friend.  With a Man, who is not so well formed for Courtship and elegant Behaviour, such a Gentleman as this seldom finds his Account in the Return of his Compliments, but he will still