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WE

To our CORRESPONDENTS.

Ehould willingly oblige Jemima, but her lines are deficient in the true qualities of poetry.

Eliza Wouldpleafe writes on a flrange fubject for a lady, a morning whet.This practice we cannot poffibly countenance,

The Elegy on the death of Mr. Field of Gloucefter is no doubt just, but. not poetical-pain and join, form and bloom, are forry rhimes.

Lines addreffed to Mr. W.-The Epitaph by E M-Werter to Chatt lotte-Elegiac Effufion by E. M.-On Anna by W. G.-On fecing a Dog fed by his Mafier-Cautions addreffed to a young Lady by Amicus-Paftora Addrefs to mifs E. N-s. All thefe we beg leave to reject on the score of their respective deficiencies in poetical merit.

The Rival Lovers is too long and uninteresting. It wants point.

Two fmall pieces from W. H. Reid-Ode to the Sun-The Sculls har rangue-Elegy on an amiable young Lady who died in a decline-Lines or Abfence, and others received in the course of last month, and not notice here, are intended for our next.

A Virgin's Letter to W. H. Reid has fome little malice, and more malic than wit.

Eliza wishes to know what will remove fuperfluous hairs from the face.

Our profe Correfpondents will find that we have not been unmindful their favours; but we must again repeat that no pieces will be receive unless completed.-C. S. will pleafe to attend to this hint.

THE

Lady's Magazine;

For SEPTEMBER, 1790.

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THE INDE X.

A

N. XVII.

"SHE IS A MOST ACCOMPLISHED WOMAN, AND MAKES POLITENESS HER STUDY."

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HIS was the character Mrs. Maftix gave the other evening of an acquaintance he had fallen in with. have combated the propriety of the character, but I do not find that he is difpofed to give up the point I will not allow that politenefs ought to be a ftudy-1 would rather have it a natural qualification, arifing from a good heart, and an obliging difpofition. Mrs. Maftix, who is a great stickler for education, would have young people taught every thing. Now there are fome things which I would rather have to come fpontaneoufly-and politeness is one of them-and on this fubject we differ.

converfation which I deem indif
penfible; without it all converfation
is ufelefs, dangerous, and deceitful.
Friend hip without it is a meré
mockery, and although the rude
nefs of what is called "plain, blung
honefty" be not very palatable, it is
upon the whole preferable to those
profeffions of friend hip which po-
litenefs dictates, and which rarely
have no meaning. I am forry to
add, that I have very rarely known a
thorough well-bred perfon who was
perfectly fincere. The expreffions
of finished politeness are calculated to
deceive, becaufe they are often im-
practicable to be performed.

But a great objection to studied politeness is, that it removes us farther and farther from the language of the heart, and creates a kind of artificial liking and difliking which constrains the natural inclinations ac the expence of truth. It is a dress which we put on for vifits abroad, but which is found too cumber fome Although I would have politenefs for family bufinefs. Hence the very to be natural, 1 do not mean that it great difference in the behaviour of ought not to be improved by imi- the fame perfons at home and atation. Speech is natural to man, broad, and the proverbial faying of and yet he learns it by imitation."an angel abroad and a devil at But it is dangerous for all that, to home," is not improperly applied inculcate that politenets fhould be a to tome of this defcription. ftudy, for when made a fudy, it is very apt to get the better of fincerity. Now incerity is that ingredient in

It is to be regretted that when we
wish to pass from one extreme, it is
only to pafs into another.
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The

blunt

blunt manners of an Englishman | This is called politeness. In the

have been ridiculed in plays, poems,
and fatirical writings, until we have
become ashamed of them; but un-
fortunately in rejecting those man-
ners, we have rejected that fincerity
which was their foundation, and
are every day approaching nearer
and nearer to the frivolous profef
fions and empty founds which pafs
for extreme politeness among our
lively neighbours on the continent.
Thus we are learning to deceive one
another, and fubftitute an outward
thow of friendship for the reality, at
the fame time that we cannot but be
convinced how much is loft, and
how little can be gained by establish
ing a fyftem of genteel hoftility a-
imong one another. A lady enters
a room; fhe is received with all the
language which friendship cau em-
ploy; the leaves it, and her charac-
ter, manners, and little foibles are
cenfured with all the malice which
fpleen, contempt, and envy can fug-
geft, If this lady does not deferve
fuch cenfure, it must be falfe and
cruel; if she does, why keep up the
appearance of extreme friendship;
why tell lies on purpose to preferve
the acquaintance of one we defpife?
I once happened to dine with a
friend a few miles from town. A
French gentleman was one of the
company, and being about to leave
England, where he had refided for
fome time, came now to take leave
of my friend; this he performed
with due gratitude and affection,
overloading my friend with compli-
ments of cfteem and love, which,
indeed, he deferved, as he had
fhown the other very much real
friendship. I came to town in the
fame carriage with monfieur; on
parting, he repeated every fyllable
which he had ufed to my friend,
and which to him were applicable,
to me, whom he had never feen be-
fore, who had never conferred a
favour on him, and whom he had
no chance of ever feeing again.

moment me are pleafed with itafter the fmalleft reflection, we regret that truth and good manners thould be fo far afunder.

Ingenua is a lady whofe manners I could wish to recommend. Though allowed to be perfectly well-bred, it is impoffible for her to go a step be yond ftrict truth in what the fays.Though one in whofe company all her acquaintances profefs themselves to be extremely happy, no perfon is ever deceived by her, or can recollect that the ever uttered a compliment which flze did not prove that he felt. She is averfe to speak of the characters of the absent, but if compelled, he draws her picture with perfect truth, and without the leaft partiality. Though her taste is feldom difputed, the never affents to what is afferted without examining for herfelf. She will not compliment a lady on her good locks, or the beauty and faflion of her gown, merely because others have done fo. Hence fome fay that he deals now and then in unpleasant truths; and indeed where truths are unpleafant, they will be unprofitable, and may as well be withheld. But why fhould deceit be more pleasant? Is it fo excellent a thing to be deceived and deluded? Ingenua has faid in my hearing," I wish fuch a lady would not afk me my opinion, when in fact he expects me to give her on." This method of afking the opinion of friends is certainly ridiculous, and can answer no purpose whatfoever; nay, is it not truly fhocking to hear a perfon declare, "I told Mrs.

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that I liked

her gown, but between ourselves it is a perfect fright." I own I cannot fee how the lady who makes fuch a declaration can be acquitted of deliberate falfehood-and the ftudy of politeness will be but a forry ex

cufe.

The character I have given of Ingenua may to fome appear difficult

to

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Inconvenience of living in a Mufical Neighbourhood. 455

to be imitated; for, fay fome, there
are certain perfons whom one can-
not contradict without being guilty
of very great rudencfs." Who
thofe perfons are that are fo perfect
in wifdom and power, that one either
cannot or dare not contradi&t them,
it is not for me to determine. What-
ever may be the cafe with depen-
denis and fuperiors, when friends
meet together, fuperiority is fup-
pofed to be destroyed; or if it were
not, there is no rank, nor merit,
and, indeed, no confideration on
earth that should induce us to part
with fincerity.

take fo little care of them, that
many valuable clays are frequent-
ly loft, which deferve to be pre-
ferved with care. The following
very humourous letter appears to
be one of those, which it were à
pity to confign to oblivion, and
we truft our readers will not be
forry that we have thus refcued
it from the common fate of di-
urnal papers.]

MISFORTUNES of a MAN who
lives in a Mufical Neighbourhood.

SIR,

MONG the numberless mis

A fortunes of human life, there
are fome to be found for which man-
kind are difpofed to allow no pity.
On the contrary, they are apt to
pa's them by without notice, or, if
they listen to the complaint, are
more inclined to laughter than com-
paffion. Whether my diftreffes be
of this kind, you will be best able to

Valuable as friendhip is, it cau-
not exist an hour without fincerity;
the moment we ceafe to be fincere,
we deceive, and deceit is incompat-
ible with friendship. And from this
uuhappy caufe it is that we find fo
many perfons who can boaft of a
numerous circle of gay acquaintances
without one real friend; for un-
verfal experience has often proved,
and fooner or later will always prove,
that friendship muft decay, falfe-judge when you have read my story.
hood, felfishness, and deceit be pro-
moted, and all our best feelings be
deftroyed, if we admit it as a rule
of manners that politenefs and fin-
cerity are incompatible. Pefides
truth is fo eafy to be expreffed, and
fo eafy to be remembered, that it is
furpriting fo many people, not de.
void of tenfe, do not bewilder them-
felves in the mazes of error and de-
ceit, faying to one what they can-
tradict to another, forgetting the
fiction of one moment, and offering
the direct contrary on another op
portunity. These are the difficulties
which attend that extreme politenefs
which excludes fincerity, while an
attachment to truth is always ac-
companied by perfect fecurity, and
can offend thofe only whom it is
not worth while to please.

[The existence of a newfpaper is fo
very short, and people in general

I am, fir, one of that clafs of men, who being conftitutionally addicted to literary purfuits, and having fuch a portion of the good things of this life, as enables me to enjoy may purfuits unmolefted by the eires of the world, am confequently more concerned with books than men, and folitude and quiet are to me indifpentible requifiles. As I confider London as the mart of literature, as well as of politics and commerce, I prefer a houfe in town to one in the country, for that and many other reafons, and should be very happy in my prefent fituation, which is central for all the haunts of literature, were it not that I have lately discovered that I am in the heart of a mufical neighbourhood, and`eavironed by inftruments of music.

Judge then, fir, how I can with due attention, read, think, or write. Before me, right oppofite, and at no great diftunce, are two fiddles, a

German

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456

Inconvenience of living in a Mufical Neighbourhood.

German flute, and a bautboy. On and it is incredible how much ineach fide is a bartficord, with young ftruction I am daily lofing in this performers; and behind, two gen- way. I was but the other day readtlemen amuse themfelves with learning Smollett's account of the Revo ing to play the French horn and cla-lution, and had got king William rinet. What the business of my fafely landed at Torbay, when my mufical neighbours is, I know not; ears were affailed (on purpose, I but as they are affiduous in their think) with "O'er the water to melodious ftudies from morning to Charley ;" and I fhould have been night, I conceive they are, likeable the fame day to have read your my felf, eafy gentlemen, who can paper throughout, had there not employ their time as they pleafe.-been "a fweet little Angel that fits up Mufic would in my fituation, be an interruption, whether I liked it or not; but the misfortune is, I am paffionately fond of it; and as most of my neighbours, particularly the violinift and flute-player are really - excellent ones; the first note they play is a fignal for me to throw afide my own labours and listen to theirs, By this means my time paffes unprofitably, all my ideas are confuted, what I read, I read imperfectly and remember faintly. Another mifchief is, that the perform. ers around me generally play for their own amusement, and without paying any attention to each other, To that often when I have a concerto of Handel's before me, I have Poor Jack on the right hand, the Eafter Hymn on the left, and the Grenadiers march behind me. I have frequently the Early Horn falutes the Morn, at night, May-day buds in Auguft, and Nancy Darfon after divine fervice on Sundays.

It would be fome relief to me, where there any part of the day on · which I could depend, but the truth is, my neighbours feem often te take advantage of each others abfence to keep me in a perpetual attention. And when I am waked in the morning with God fave the King, I proceed to breakfaft to the Dead March in Saul, while Sweet Nan of Hampton Green affifts me in putting on a clean shirt.

aloft."-As to philofophy, I appeal to you whether the Duke of York's March be confiftent with." Man's free Agency;" or whether it is poffible to review the Cartefian Hypothefis amidst the crash of a full chorus. And with Rule Britannia before me, and a Sweet Bird on each fide, not to fpeak of Galloping dreary dun on my rear, how was I to afcertain proofs a priori, or a pofteriori ?— Amidft fo much harmony, how meditate on the original formation of the world, or what opera tune can atfist me in difcuffing the moral fitnefs of things.

As I amufe my felf fometimes with writing fhort effays on various fubjeas, you may fuppofe this talk must be rendered grievous. Indeed, fir, to tell you the plain truth, I have not for the last twelvemonth been able to finish one of them. In fome I have got half way, in fome a third, or two thirds, when fome favouite air came in the way, and my ideas flew off, neyer to return.However, that my heirs and fucceffors may not be aftonished and puzzled to find fo many imperfe& papers, I have carefully noted down in each, at the place where I left off, the tune which was the cause of my interruption. Thus, one is entitled, An ESSAY ON SOCIAL AND PERSONAL VIRTUES-broke off by the Anacreontic Song.-A METAPHYSICAL TRACT ON CONTINGENT EVENTS, interrupted by the Soldier tired.-And a FAMILIAR

When I take up a book I have no fecurity that I fhall be able to read two pages without interruption-TREATISE ON CONCUBINAGE ren

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