ence) with how; move, love, &c. are determined in their pro nunciation by the univocal orthography, moove, luv, &c.'

In the body of the Dictionary, the author thus endeavours to determine the pronunciation of the following words: bird rhymes curd, word; fierce rhymes verfe; fir rhymes cur; baunch, the diphthong au in this word has the found of a in father and the word founds nearly as if written barnft; paunch rhymeş baunch; great rhymes fate; break, rhymes cake; dirt, girt, shirt, Skirt, fiirt, Squirt, &c. rhyme burt; birch rhymes church; foul rhymes bole beryl (a wooden ball) rhymes bole; gape, the a in this word is pronounced like a in father, and the word nearly as if wriiten garp; once, rhymes dunce; pufs, pronounced nearly as if written poofs; aunt, pronounced nearly as if written arat; waft rhymes left; valve rhymes calve, &c.

We cannot agree with our ingenious author in the manner of prenouncing many of these words. But as there are many nice diftinctions of found, which it is difficult to afcertain in writing with precifion, we leave thefe rhymes to the examination of our difcerning readers; and hall only obferve, that, notwithstanding fome few imperfections, this work is a valuable acquifition to men of letters, especially the ppets of the prefent age; who, as it is of a fmall fize, may keep it very commodioufly in their efcrutoirs.

VIII. Galateo: or, a Treatise on Politeness and Delicacy of Manners. From the Italian of Monfig. Giovanni de la Cafa, Archbishop of Benevento. 8vo. 3. Dodfley,

THIS treatife was originally written about the middle of the

fixteenth century, when refinement of manners was lefs known or practifed than in the prefent age; a circumstance, however, which can neither diminish its value, nor substract from its utility. Good breeding or politenefs, though not abfolutely a moral virtue, approaches near to that character. It is the art of pra&ifing what are ufually called the petites morales, which, notwithstanding they be frivolous in comparison of the more effential duties of life, are yet an ornament to the person who poffeffes them, and conduce much to the happiness of fociety. The fundamental principle of politeness is, to regulate our behaviour towards others, not according to our own humour, but agreeably to the inclination of those with whom we converfe. This obfequioufnefs, however, is not without its proper limits; for, if carried to an unjustifiable excefs, it would undoubtedly make him who practifed it appear rather like a parafite, than a well-bred gentleman.

The archbishop of Benevento, after establishing the idea of

polite

politeness, proceeds to enquire what thofe particulars are, with which mankind are in general pleased; and likewise what those are, which they deteft, as troublefome and offenfive. From fuch an enquiry, he observes, we fhall discover what kind of conduct in our intercourfe with others is to be avoided, and what to be pursued. The following quotation contains a general view of the fubject.

It is to be obferved then, that whatever is offenfive or difagreeable to any one of the fenfes, or contrary to our natural instincts and defires: and further, whatever raises in our minds an idea of any thing filthy or indecent or what shocks our understanding: I fay, that every thing and every action of this kind, as being greatly difpleafing to others, is carefully to be avoided. Nothing therefore, either filthy or immodeft, nauseous or difgufting, ought not only to be done, but even mentioned, in the prefence of others. Nor is it only the acting or mentioning any thing of this kind, that is generelly difpleafing; but even the reprefenting them, by any motion or gefture, to the imagination of another, is extremely offenfive.'

The author begins with mentioning examples of indelicacy, offenfive to the fenfes; after relating an inftance of a delicate reproof, he confiders fuch modes of behaviour, though not offenfive to any of the fenfes, yet as are contrary to the natural defires and expectations of the generality of mankind. Nothing, he obferves, ought to be faid or done, which may dif cover our want either of love or efteem for those with whom we are in company.

It fhould feem, therefore, proceeds he, not a very decent cuftom, (which is yet practifed by fome people) who affect to be drowly and even fall afleep, (on purpofe as it were) where a genteel company is met together for their mutual entertainment. For, certainly, thofe that behave in this manner, declare in effect, that they do not much efteem those who are prefent, or pay any regard to their converfation; not to mention, that fomething may happen in their fleep, (efpecially if they are any ways indifpofed) that may be difagreeable either to the eyes or the ears of the company: for one often fees, in fuch fleepy folks, the sweat run down their faces, or the faliva down their beards, in no very decent manner.

For the fame reason, it is rather a troublesome practice, for any one to rife up, in an affembly thus converfing together, and to walk about the room.

You meet with fome people, likewife, who are continually wriggling and twifing themfelves about; ftretching and gaping, and turning themselves, fometimes on one fide, fometimes on another, as if they were feized with a fudden fever; which is a certain indication that they are tired and difgufted with their prefent company.

In like manner, they act very improperly, who pull out of their pockets, first one letter, then another; and read them before the company.

And much worfe does he behave, who, taking out his fciffars or his penknife, fets himself, with great compofure, to cut and polish his nails; as if he had an utter contempt for those that are prefent; and therefore, to deceive the time, was endeavouring to amufe himself in fome other manner.

We ought alfo carefully to abftain from those little ways, which are much in ufe, of humming a tune to ourselves, or imitating the beating of a drum with our fingers upon the table, or kicking out our feet alternately in an infolent manner; for thefe are all indications of our contempt for others.

Moreover, it is by no means decent to fit in fuch a manner, as either to turn our backs upon any part of the company; or to lift up our legs fo as to difcover, to the eyes of others, thofe parts of the body which are ufually concealed: for we never act thus, but in the prefence of thofe, for whofe good opinion we have not the leaft regard.

It must be confeffed, however, that when any perfon of rank Vouchfafes to do any thing of this kind, before a domeftic, or an humble friend, it ought not to be considered as the effect of pride, but of love and friendship for the perfon, before whom he takes this liberty.

Every man ought likewife to ftand with his body erect, and not to loll or lean upon another perfon, by way of fupport, or leaning-flock, as we say.

• When you are talking to any one, don't be continually punching him in the fide, as fome people are; who, after every fentence, keep afking the person they are converfing with; "Did not tell you fo?" "What do you think of the matter ?” "What fay you, Sir?" And, in the mean time, they are every moment jogging and thrusting him with their elbow; which cannot be confidered as a mark of respect.'

The prelate then delivers his fentiments refpe&ting dress, in which point he obferves that we ought to conform to the fashion of the time, though it be even inconvenient; admitting, however, fuch flight variations as may be more fuitable to the fhape of any particular perfon. He afterwards makes inany pertinent remarks on refractory people, the melancholy or abfent, and those of too great fenfibility; from which subjects he proceeds to lay down the proper rules for converfation, and makes several fenfible remarks on ceremonies, compliments, &c.

There is alfo, fays he, another fet of people extremely odious and troublesome; who, in their conversation with others, by their geftures and behaviour, are really guilty of a lie: for though, by the confeffion of every one, the firft, or at leaft a more honourable place is juftly due to them, yet they perpetually feize upon the very loweft; and it is an intolerable plague to

force

force them up higher: for, like a startlish or refractory horse, they are every moment running back; fo that, in genteel company, there is an infinite deal of trouble with fuch people, whenever they come to a door; for they will by no means in the world be prevailed upon to go firft; but run, fometimes across you; fometimes quite backwards; and with their hands and arms defend themselves, and make fuch a bustle, that at, every third ftair you must enter into a regular conteft with them; by which means all the pleafuee of your vifit, or fometimes even the most important bufinefs, muft be neceffarily interrupted.'

In a fubfequent article, he treats of the government of the tongue, giving advice, cenfure, ridicule, jingling puns, buffoonery, and story-telling. For attaining a polite manner of expreflion, he gives the following directions.

Firft, by never difcourfing upon low, frivolous, dirty, or immodest fudjects. ́

Secondly, by making choice of fuch words, in your own language, as are clear, proper, well-founding, and fuch as have ufually a good meaning annexed to them, and do not fuggest to the imaginatination the idea of any thing base, filthy, or indecent.

Thirdly, by ranging your words in an elegant order, so that they may not appear confufed, and jumbled together at random, nor yet, by too laboured an exactnefs, forced into certain regular feet and measures.

Farther, by taking care to pronounce carefully and distinctly, what you have to fay; and not join together things entirely different and diffimilar.

If, moreover, in your discourse, you are not too flow, like a man, who, at a plentiful table, does not know what to chufe firft; nor yet too eager, like a man half-ftarved; but if you speak calmly and deliberately, as a moderate man ought to do.

Laftly, if you pronounce each letter and fyllable with a proper fweetnefs, (yet not like fome pedagogue, who is teaching children to read and fpell,) neither ftifling your words between your teeth, as if you were chewing them; or huddling them together, as if you were fwallowing them. By carefully attending to thefe precepts then, and a few more of this kind, others will hear you gladly and with pleafure; and you yourself will obtain, with applaufe, that degree of dignity which becomes a well-bred man, and a gentleman.'

After making fome obfervations on taciturnity, he enters upon the confideration of grace, gait or motion, and behaviour at table. We fhall prefent our readers with a fhort extract from the fubject laft mentioned.

• It is very rude, when at table, to scratch any part of your body.

You ought to take care, alfo, if poffible, not to spit during that time; or, if you are under a neceffity of doing it, it ought to be done in fome decent manner. I have fometimes heard, that there were whole nations formerly, fo temperate, and of fo dry an habit of body, from frequent exercife, that they never fpit or blew their nofes on any occafion. Why cannot we, therefore, contain our fpittle for fo fhort a space of time, at least, as is fpent at our meals ?

We should likewife be careful not to cram in our food fo greedily, and with fo voracious an appetite, as to caufe us to hickup, or to be guilty of any thing elfe that may offend the eyes or the ears of the company; which they do, who eat in fuch an hurry, as, by their puffing and blowing, to be very troublesome to those who fit near them.

It is also very indecent to rub your teeth with the tablecloth or napkin; and to endeavour to pick them with your finger is more fo.

In the prefence alfo of others, to wash your mouth, and to fquirt out the wine with which you have performed that operation, is very unpolite.

• When the table is cleared, to carry about your tooth-pick in your mouth, like a bird going to build his neft, or to stick it behind your car, as a barber does his comb, is no very genteel cuftom.

They also are undoubtedly mistaken in their notions of politeness, who carry their tooth pick cafes hanging down from their necks: for, befides that it is an odd fight for a gentleman to produce any thing of that kind from his bofom, like fome ftrolling pedlar, this inconvenience muft alfo follow from fuch a practice, that he who acts thus, difcovers that he is but too well furnished with every inftrument of luxury, and too anxious about every thing that relates to the belly: and I can fee no reafon why the fame perfons might not as well display a filver fpoon hanging about their necks.

To lean with your elbows upon the table, or to fill both your cheeks fo full, that your jaws feem fwelled, is by no means agreeable.

Neither ought you, by any token or gefture, to difcover, that you take too great pleafure in any kind of food or wine; which is a cuftom more proper for inn-keepers and parafites.

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To invite thofe who fit at table with you to eat, by ex, preffions of this kind: "What! have you proclaimed a fall today?" or, " Perhaps here is nothing at table you can make a dinner of:" or, Pray, fir, tafte this or this dish." Thus to invite people, I fay, is by no means a laudable cuftom, though now become familiar to almost every one, and practifed in every family for though thefe officious people fhew, that the perfon whom they thus invite is really the object of their care; yet they