on. A BR by trade, so possess'd by a -, 'twas meerly by chance when he either e or believed truth, growing mellow, fell a ng news as part of his profession.

hether he, as usually, invented news, or amd upon something in an old Gazette, he'd put dance of circumstances into the scale, to add ht to his narrative; all which he utter'd with sterious air, as if a great arcanum of state, and y asserted what he said to be infallible even = consequences,

209. As he always begun with news, so he ever ended with detraction.

210.

211.

212.

The actions, steps, and designs of this, that, and the other prince, general, minister of state, &c. he affirm'd base, imprudent, or unjust; but had he had the management of affairs, believe him, things would have succeeded much better.

Father. Vain-glory, or a desire of seeming more knowing than others, is a strong passion; seeking reformation, advancing knowledge, and the like, is oft the pretence, when seeking applause, insinuating into a party, and vaunting our selves, is the thing.

We should often blush at some of our best words and actions, if the world did but see the motives upon which they were grounded.

213. In matters of news make such abatement as may bear proportion to the character and faction of the

relator.

214. "The rabble gather round the man of news,

215.

And listen with their mouths

some make it,

Some tell, some hear, some judge of news,
And he that lies most loud, is most believ'd."

is very

ridiculous

The character of a newsmonger and contemptible; they generally deal more by con

ecture than almanac-makers, and out-lye Chanceryills and epitaphs. Yet that such petty-foggers, nd retailers of news and politicks, such poor reples, should before they have learnt so much as to bey, pretend to teach their rulers how to govern, nd presume by the baseness of their own genius, › judge of princes, and censure ministers of state, tempora! O mores!

ens

Beware of busy bodies, and medlers in other matters; their over-zeal, or under-wit, akes 'em apt to talk of things not only unprofitle, but dangerous to be either spoken or heard.

217. Son. AN Opiniator, so far like Narcissus, he doted more on his own shadow than another's

substance, affected a disdainful singularity in his port, words, and actions.

218. He knew just enough to excite his pride, but not so much as to cure his ignorance, yet boasted such wonderful insight in the mysteries of art and nature, as if he alone had the monopoly of knowledge, and that it came into the world and would expire with him.

219. He talked much of his pedigree and arms, ex

ing his ancestors to the skies, telling their acts h more glory than they did 'em, and seem'd to cy himself so immoveably fix'd upon the pinacle onour that even baseness itself could not degrade

1.

Every thing he did, and word he spake, shew'd intoxicated he was with self-conceit, tho' had not sense enough to distinguish irony and rical praise from sincere and unaffected comndation.

The company laugh'd in their sleeves, but ught it not worth while to cure his extravag

e.

Father. Some talk high, breath flashes, and nder out big words of their pedigree, &c. as if ing loud, big, and being very positive, were cient to make all the world of their opinion. Others take as much pains to perswade the ld they have knowledge, as bullies do that they e courage, and generally with the same success, they seldom deceive any but themselves. Bishop Sanderson observes, wealth, honour, ength, beauty, birth, friends, alliance, authority, wer, wit, learning, eloquence, reputation, any de, can leaven our thoughts, partial as they are wards our selves, and swell us, and heave us up