'fo infolent as to expect a whole Nation, a refined and learned Nation, fhould fubmit to learn them, In a word, Mr. SPECTATOR, with all Deference and Humility, we hope to behave our felves in this Underta'king in fuch a manner, that all English "Men who have any Skill in Mufick may be furthered in it for their Profit "or Diverfion by what new Things we fhall produce; never pretending to furpafs others, or afferting that any thing which is a Science is not attainable by all Men of all Nations who have proper Genius for it: We fay, Sir, what we hope for is not expected will arrive to us by contemning others, but through the utmost Diligence recom mending our felves,

T

We are, SIR,

Your most humble Servants,

N° 259.

Thursday, December 27.

Quod decet boneftum eft, & quod honeftum eft

decet.

Tull.

HERE are fome Things

T

which cannot come under certain Rules, but which one would think could not need them. Of this kind are outward Civilities and Salutations. Thefe one would imagine might be regulated, by every Man's common Senfe, without the Help of an Inftructor; but that which we call common Sense fuffers under that Word; for it fometimes implies no more than that Faculty which is common to all Men, but fometimes fignifies right Reason, and what all Men fhould confent to. In this latter Aċceptation of the Phrafe, it is no great wonder People err fo much against it, fince it is not every one who is poffeffed of it, and there are fewer who against common Rules and Fashions dare obey its Dictates. As to H 4

Salutations,

which

which I was about to talk of, Tobferve as I ftrole about Town, there are great Enormities committed with regard to this Particular. You fhall fometimes fee a Man begin the Offer of a Salutation, and obferve a forbidding Air, or going

to falute, in the Perfon he is

ftop fhort in the Pole of his Neck. This in the Perfon who believed he could do it with a good Grace, and was refufed the Opportunity, is juftly refented with a Coldness in the whole enfuing Seafon. Your great Beauties, People in much Favour, or by any Means or for any Purpofe over-flattered, are apt to practife this which one may call the preventing Afpect, and throw their Attention another way, left they fhould confer a Bow or a Curtfie upon a Perfon who might not appear to deferve that Dignity. Others you fhall find fo obfequious, and fo very courteous, as there is no efcaping their Favours of this kind. Of this fort may be a Man who is in the fifth or fixth degree of Favour with a Minifter; this good Creature is refolved to fhew the World, that great Honours cannot at all change his Manners, he is the fame civil Perfon he ever was. He will ven

ture his Neck to bow out of a Coach in full Speed, at once to fhew he is full of Bufinefs, and yet is not fo taken up as to forget his old Friend. With who is not fo well formed for

10

a

Man and elegant Behaviour,

fuch a Gentleman as this feldom finds his Account in the Return of his Compliments, but he will still go on, for he is in his own way, and muft not omit; let the Neglect fall on your fide, or where it will, his Bufinefs is ftill to be well-bred to the end. I think I have read, in one of our English Comedies, a Defcription of a Fellow that affected knowing every Body, and for want of Judgment in Time and Place, would bow and fmile in the Face of a Judge fitting in the Court, would fit in an oppofite Gallery, and fmile in the Minifter's Face as he came up into the Pulpit, and nod as if he alluded to fome Familiarities between them in another Place. But now I happen to speak of Salutation at Church, I must take no tice that feveral of my Correfpondents have importuned me to confider that Subject, and fettle the Point of Decorum in that Particular.

I do not pretend to be the best Courtier in the World, but I have often on publick Occafions thought it a very great Abfurdity in the Company (during the Royal Prefence) to exchange Salutations from all Parts of the Room, when certainly common Senfe fhould fuggeft, that all Regards at that time fhould be engaged, and cannot be diverted to any other Object, without Difrefpect to the Sovereign. But as to the Complaint of my Correfpondents, Ormy it is not to be imagined what Offence fome of them take at the Custom of Saluting in Places of Worship. I have a very angry Letter from a Lady, who tells me, one of her Acquaintance, out of meer Pride and Pretence to be rude, takes upon her to return no Civilities done to her in time of Divine Service, and is the most religious Woman for no other Reason, but to appear a Woman of the best Quality in the Church. This abfurd Cuftom had better be abolifhed than retained, if it were but to prevent Evils of no higher a nature than this is, but I am informed of Objections much more confiderable: A Diffenter of Rank and Diftinction was lately pre vailed upon by a Friend of his to come

to