25.  He watches how they address themselves to their superiors, how they accost their equals, and how they treat their inferiors:  and lets none of those little niceties escape him; which are to good-breeding, what the last delicate and masterly touches are to a good picture, and which the vulgar have no notion of, but by which good judges distinguish the master.  He attends even to their airs, dress, and motions, and imitates them liberally, and not servilely; he copies, but does not mimic.  These personal graces are of very great consequence.  They anticipate the sentiments, before merit can engage the understanding:  they captivate the heart, and give rise, I believe, to the extravagant notions of charms and philtres.  Their effects were so surprising, that they were reckoned supernatural.

26.  In short, as it is necessary to possess learning, honor and virtue, to gain the esteem and admiration of mankind, so politeness and good-breeding are equally necessary to render us agreeable in conversation and common life.  Great talents are above the generality of the world; who neither possess them themselves, nor are competent judges of them in others; but all are judges of the lesser talents, such, as civility, affability, and an agreeable address and manner; because they feel the good effects of them, as making society easy and agreeable.

To conclude:  be assured that the profoundest learning, without good-breeding, is unwelcome and tiresome pedantry; that a man who is not perfectly well-bred, is unfit for company, and unwelcome in it; and that a man, who is not well-bred, is full as unfit for business as for company.

Make, then, good-breeding the great object of your thoughts and actions.  Observe carefully the behaviour and manners of those who are distinguished by their good-breeding; imitate, nay, endeavour to excel, that you may at least reach them; and be convinced that good-breeding is to all worldly qualifications, what charity is to all christian virtues.  Observe how it adorns merit, and how often it covers the want of it.

Genteel Carriage.

1.  Next to good-breeding is a genteel manner and carriage, wholly free from those ill habits and aukward actions, which many very worthy persons are addicted to.

2.  A genteel manner of behaviour, how trifling soever it may seem, is of the utmost consequence in private life.  Men of very inferior parts have been esteemed, merely for their genteel carriage and good-breeding, while sensible men have given disgust for want of it.  There is something or other that prepossesses us at first sight in favor of a well-bred man, and makes us wish to like him.

3.  When an aukward fellow first comes into a room, he attempts to bow, and his sword, if he wears one, gets between his legs, and nearly throws him down.  Confused, and ashamed, he stumbles to the upper end of the room and seats himself in the very chair he should not.  He there begins playing with his hat, which he presently drops; and recovering his hat, he lets fall his cane; and in picking up his cane, down goes his hat again:  thus ’tis a considerable time before he is adjusted.