4.  Some people have a silly trick of laughing whenever they speak, so that they are always on the grin, and their faces are ever distorted.  This and a thousand other tricks, such as scratching their heads, twirling their hats, fumbling with their button, playing with their fingers, &c. are acquired from a false modesty at their first out-set in life.  Being shame-faced in company, they try a variety of ways to keep themselves in countenance; thus, they fall into those awkward habits I have mentioned, which grow upon them, and in time become habitual.

Nothing is more repugnant likewise to good-breeding than horse-play of any sort, romping, throwing things at one another’s heads, and so on.  They may pass well enough with the mob; but they lessen and degrade the gentleman.

Sundry little Accomplishments.

1.  I have had reason to observe before, that various little matters, apparently trifling in themselves, conspire to form the whole of pleasing, as in a well-finished portrait, a variety of colours combine to complete the piece.  It not being necessary to dwell much upon them, I shall content myself with just mentioning them as they occur.

2.  To do the honours of a table gracefully, is one of the outlines of a well-bred man; and to carve well, is an article, little as it may seem, that is useful twice every day, and the doing of which ill is not only troublesome to one’s self, but renders us disagreeable and ridiculous to others.  We are always in pain for a man who, instead of cutting up a fowl genteelly, is hacking for half an hour across the bone, greasing himself, and bespattering the company with the sauce.  Use, with a little attention, is all that is requisite to acquit yourself well in this particular.

3.  To be well received, you must also pay some attention to your behaviour at table, where it is exceedingly rude to scratch any part of your body; to spit, or blow your nose, if you can possibly avoid it, to eat greedily, to lean your elbows on the table, to pick your teeth before the dishes are removed, or to leave the table before grace is said.

4.  Drinking of healths is now growing out of fashion, and is very unpolite in good company.  Custom once had made it universal, but the improved manners of the age now render it vulgar.  What can be more rude or ridiculous, than to interrupt persons at their meals with an unnecessary compliment?  Abstain then from this silly custom, where you find it out of use; and use it only at those tables where it continues general.

5.  A polite manner of refusing to comply with the solicitations of a company, is also very necessary to be learnt, for a young man who seems to have no will of his own, but does every thing that is asked of him, may be a very good-natured fellow, but he is a very silly one.  If you are invited to drink at any man’s house, more than you think is wholesome, you may say, “you wish you could, but that so little makes you both drunk and sick, that you shall only be bad company by doing it:  of course beg to be excused.”