manners there to be, no body who wishes to preferve the character of a well-bred gentleman is ever feen, at a place of public refort, in company with those misguided fair-ones, who, however much they may be objects of pity and compaffion, have forfeited all title to refpect and efteem. I would recommend to our young men to follow, in this, the example of our neighbours, whom they are fo ready to imitate in less laudable inftances. To confider it only in this view, there is certainly no greater breach of politeness than that which has given occafion to this letter. In other refpects, the confequences are truly alarming. When every diftinction is removed between the woman of virtue and the proftitute; when both are treated with equal attention and obfervance; are we to wonder if we find an alteration of the manners of the women in general, and a proportional diminution of that delicacy which forms the diftinguishing characteristic of the refpectable part of the fex?

These confiderations will, I hope, prove fufficient to correct this abuse in our young gentlemen. As to my fair country-women, it is ever with reluctance that I am obliged to take notice of any little impropriety into which

they

they inadvertently fall. Let them, however, reflect, that a certain delicacy of fentiment and of manners is the chief ornament of the female character, and the best and fureft guardian of female honour. That once removed, there will remain, in the opinion of the world, lefs difference than perhaps they may be aware of, between them and the avowedly licentious. Let them alfo confider, that, as it is unquestionably in their power to form and correct the manners of the men, fo they are, in fome fort, accountable, not for their own conduct only, but also for that of their admirers.

I

To the AUTHOR of the MIRROR.

Do not mean to reflect, Mr. MIRROR; for that is your bufinefs, not mine; far lefs do I purpose to pun, when I tell you, that it might fave fome reflections upon yourself, did you take the trouble to tranflate into good common English, thofe fame Latin fcraps, or mottoes, which you fometimes hang out by way of fign-poft infcription at the top of your paper. For, confider, Sir, who will be tempted to enter a house of entertainment offered to the

the public, when the majority can neither read nor understand the language in which the bill of fare is drawn and held out? I am a Scotfman of a good plain ftomach, who can eat and digeft any thing; yet would I like to have a guess at what was to be expected before I fit down to table. Befides, the fair fex, Mr. MIRROR, for whom you express so much respect, -What shall they do? Believe me, then, Sir, by complying with this hint, you will not only please the ladies, but now and then fave a blush in their company to fome grown gentlemen, who have not the good fortune to be fo learned as yourself. Amongst the rest, you will oblige one who has the honour to be

Your admirer and humble fervant,

IGNORAMUS.

Edinburgh, Feb 19, 1779.

Mr. Ignoramus (whom I take to be a wifer man than he gives himself out for) must have often observed many great perfonages contrive to be unintelligible in order to be refpected.

E

N° 10. SATURDAY, February 27, 1779.

Id arbitror

Adprime in vita effe utile, ne quid nimis. TER.

REfinement, and Delicacy of Tafte, are the productions of advanced fociety. They open to the mind of perfons poffeffed of them a field of elegant enjoyment; but they may be pushed to a dangerous extreme. By that excess of fenfibility to which they lead; by that vanity which they flatter; that idea of fuperiority which they nourifh; they may unfit their poffeffor for the common and ordinary enjoyments of life; and, by that over-nicenefs which they are apt to create, they may mingle fomewhat of difguft and uneafinefs, even in the highest and finest pleasures. A person of such a mind will often mifs happiness where Nature intended it fhould be found, and feek for it where it is not to be met with. Difguft and Chagrin will frequently be his companions, while lefs cultivated minds are enjoying pleasure unmixed and unalloyed.

I have ever confidered my friend Charles Fleetwood to be a remarkable inftance of fuch a character.

character. Mr. Fleetwood has been endowed by nature with a moft feeling and tender heart. Educated to no particular profeffion, his natural fenfibility has been increased by a life of inactivity, chiefly employed in reading, and the study of the polite arts, which has given him that excess of refinement I have defcribed above, that injures while it captivates.

Laft fummer I accompanied him in an excurfion into the country. Our object was partly air and exercife, and partly to pay a visit to fome of our friends.

Our first visit was to a college-acquaintance, remarkable for that old-fashioned hospitality which fill prevails in fome parts of the country, and which too often degenerates into excefs. Unfortunately for us, we found with our friend a number of his jovial companions, whofe object of entertainment was very different from ours. Instead of wishing to enjoy the pleasures of the country, they expreffed their fatisfaction at the meeting of fo many old acquaintance; because, they said, it would add to the mirth and fociality of the party. Accordingly, after a long, and fomewhat noisy, dinner, the table was covered with bottles and glaffes: the mirth of the company rofe