However, these Modes of good Breeding were not to be abolished, as it was impossible to dispense with the Respect annex'd to them, without some further Pretence than of their Inconvenience only; which no Person could decently urge, or admit in his own behalf, when it was his Province to pay any Ceremonies to another; In this Difficulty it was at last happily observ'd, for the Advantage of genteel Commerce and Society, that whatever gives Trouble, is inconsistent with Respect; Upon which Foundation, all Ceremonies which create Embarrassments or Trouble to either Side, are now justly exploded; And the Ease of each other is the Point most peculiarly consulted by well-bred Persons.
If this Attention to Ease was properly conducted, so that it might always appear to have Respect for its Motive; And only to act in Obedience to that, as the ruling Principle, it would then comprehend the just Plan of good Breeding; But as this was formerly encumber'd with Ceremonies and Embarrassments, so the modern good Breeding perhaps deviates too far into Negligence and Disregard;--A Fault more unpardonable than the former; As an Inconvenience, evidently proceeding from the Respect which is paid to us, may be easily excus'd; But a Freedom, which carries the Air of Neglect with it, gives a lasting Offence.
Beauty is the delightful Effect which arises from the joint Order, Proportion, and Harmony of all the Parts of an Object.
And to have a good Taste, is to have a just Relish of Beauty.
[CORBYN MORRIS]
An / Essay / Towards Fixing the / True Standards / of / Wit, Humour,
Raillery, / Satire, and Ridicule. / To which is Added, an / Analysis /
Of the Characters of / An Humourist, Sir John Falstaff, Sir Roger / De
Coverly, and Don Quixote. / Inscribed, to the Right Honorable / Robert
Earl of Orford. / [rule] / By the Author of a / Letter from a
By-Stander. / [rule] /--Jacta est Alea. / [double rule] / London: /
Printed for J. Roberts, at the Oxford-Arms, in War- / wick-lane;
and W. Bickerton, In the Temple-Ex- / change, near the
Inner-Temple-Gate, Fleet-street. / M DCC XLIV.
[Price 2 s.] /
Collation: A, a-c, in fours; d in two; a-d, in fours; B-K in fours;
L in two. A, title; verso blank; A2-d, dedication;
d2 erratum and advertisements; a-d4,
Introduction; B-L2, text.
The first edition. A second edition was published in 1758.
Colton Storm
Clements Library
ANNOUNCING
THE
Publications
OF
THE AUGUSTAN
REPRINT SOCIETY
General Editors
Richard C. Boys
Edward Niles Hooker
H. T. Swedenberg, Jr.
THE AUGUSTAN REPRINT
SOCIETY
MAKES AVAILABLE
Inexpensive Reprints of Rare
Materials
FROM
ENGLISH LITERATURE OF THE
SEVENTEENTH AND EIGHTEENTH CENTURIES
Students, scholars, and bibliographers of literature, history, and philology will find the publications valuable. The Johnsonian News Letter has said of them: "Excellent facsimiles, and cheap in price, these represent the triumph of modern scientific reproduction. Be sure to become a subscriber; and take it upon yourself to see that your college library is on the mailing list."
The Augustan Reprint Society is a non-profit, scholarly organization, run without overhead expense. By careful management it is able to offer at least six publications each year at the unusually low membership fee of $2.50 per year in the United States and Canada, and $2.75 in Great Britain and the continent.
Libraries as well as individuals are eligible for membership. Since the publications are issued without profit, however, no discount can be allowed to libraries, agents, or booksellers.
New members may still obtain a complete run of the first year's publications for $2.50, the annual membership fee.
During the first two years the publications are issued in three series: I. Essays on Wit; II. Essays on Poetry and Language; and III. Essays on the Stage.
| PUBLICATIONS FOR THE
FIRST YEAR (1946-1947) | |
| MAY, 1946: | Series I, No. 1--Richard Blackmore's Essay upon Wit (1716), and Addison's Freeholder No. 45 (1716). |
| JULY, 1946: | Series II, No. 1--Samuel Cobb's Of Poetry and Discourse on Criticism (1707) |
| SEPT., 1946: | Series III, No. 1--Anon., Letter to A.H. Esq.; concerning the Stage (1698), and Richard Willis' Occasional Paper No. IX (1698). |
| NOV., 1946: | Series I, No. 2--Anon., Essay on Wit (1748), together with Characters by Flecknoe, and Joseph Warton's Adventurer Nos. 127 and 133. |
| JAN., 1947: | Series II, No. 2--Samuel Wesley's Epistle to a Friend Concerning Poetry (1700) and Essay on Heroic Poetry (1693). |
| MARCH, 1947: | Series III, No. 2--Anon., Representation of the Impiety and Immorality of the Stage (1704) and anon., Some Thoughts Concerning the Stage (1704). |
|
PUBLICATIONS FOR THE SECOND YEAR (1947-1948) | |
| MAY, 1947: | Series I, No. 3--John Gay's The Present State of Wit; and a section on Wit from The English Theophrastus. With an Introduction by Donald Bond. |
| JULY, 1947: | Series II, No. 3--Rapin's De Carmine Pastorali, translated by Creech. With an Introduction by J. E. Congleton. |
| SEPT., 1947: | Series III, No. 3--T. Hanmer's (?) Some Remarks on the Tragedy of Hamlet. With an Introduction by Clarence D. Thorpe. |
| NOV., 1947: | Series I, No. 4--Corbyn Morris' Essay towards Fixing the True Standards of Wit, etc. With an Introduction by James L. Clifford. |
| JAN., 1948: | Series II, No. 4--Thomas Purney's Discourse on the Pastoral. With an Introduction by Earl Wasserman. |
| MARCH, 1948: | Series III, No. 4--Essays on the Stage, selected, with an Introduction by Joseph Wood Krutch. |
The list of publications is subject to modification in response to requests by members. From time to time Bibliographical Notes will be included in the issues. Each issue contains an Introduction by a scholar of special competence in the field represented.
The Augustan Reprints are available only to members. They will never be offered at "remainder" prices.