pleasures of the table; the excellence of particular articles of food; the relish of certain kinds of cookery, &c. Let nothing of this kind ever engage your thoughts, or your tongue. Let nothing indicate that you are a man "given to appetite." Wherever you may be, or whatever may be the subjects of conversation with others; let every word and look, on your part, evince that you are seeking higher and better objects than those which "minister to the flesh." And, although it may seldom be proper or seasonable to administer a direct rebuke to those who are fond of such topics of conversation; yet it is always both seasonable and proper, by abstaining from any participation in them, to administer what may sometimes be a most powerful rebuke, to those around you. When at your own table, or the tables of others, think how your Master, or one of his inspired apostles, would act and converse in similar circumstances, and endeavour to make that the model of your own conduct.

5. Guard against loud or boisterous laughter in company. It is a mark of ill-breeding. Some persons, of manners otherwise correct, greatly offend in this particular. I have known a few ministers, of buoyant animal spirits, who were in the habit of laughing with as much unrestrained coarseness and noise as the boatswain of a man-of-war; insomuch that they were heard over a whole house, and even in the street. I need not add, that, until their worth became known by an intimate acquaintance, they excited surprise and suspicion in most who heard them. The laughter of a polished man, and especially of a

clergyman, however hearty, ought never to be obstreperous, and seldom audible.

6. It is the habit of many, almost as soon as they are seated in company, to take out a penknife, and to begin to pare their nails; or, if they have been sufficiently pared before, to scrape, or polish, or clean them. This is an indelicate practice, always carrying with it the idea of the want of cleanliness, and no less of a want of respect to those in whose presence we are seated. It is, indeed, important if we would appear decent, that our nails be kept properly pared, and carefully divested of the foul matter which is apt to accumulate at the ends of them. But let these operations always be performed in private. Why should they be performed before company any more than washing our hands and face, or cleaning our teeth? It is certain, that to some they are peculiarly offensive. I once heard a clergyman of great eminence, for both piety and talents, say that he "would be nearly as willing to see a person pull off his shoes and stockings, and fall to cutting his toe nails in company, as to see him constantly trimming and cleaning those of his hands."

7. Many persons who are aware of the impropriety of cutting or cleaning their nails before company, are apt, when sitting in the presence of others, either from embarrassment, or from having nothing to do, to be picking at the skin on their hands, as if they were picking off scales, or were incommoded by some cutaneous disease. This has an ill appear

ance.

To many persons it is extremely revolting; and nothing is more natural than to associate with it the idea of something uncleanly or unwholesome.

8. The practice, by no means unfrequent, of combing the hair in company, is quite exceptionable. It is an offence against delicacy and cleanliness, and ought always to be performed in private. Yet I have known many candidates for the ministry, and even ministers, do this without reserve; and, what is more, wipe off what had accumulated on the comb in the course of the operation, and scatter it at their feet.

9. The practice of yawning in company, ought, as far as possible, to be avoided. It looks as if we were weary of our companions. And although it is often an involuntary act, yet there is no doubt, at the same time, that it may be encouraged, so as to occur far more frequently than is absolutely necessary, and even to be established as a habit. Avoid it as much as possible even in private; for if you desire to form good habits in company, you must endeavour to establish them in your most secret retirement. And when it does involuntarily occur in company, hide it as much as you can by the delicate use of your handkerchief.

10. The act of coughing in company is not always a voluntary act: yet nothing is more certain. than that it may be restrained and mitigated to a great degree. Many persons, however, make no attempt at this restraint. They cough in the largest circles, with a frequency, a loudness, and an apparent straining of the chest, which cannot fail to give pain to all who witness it. Such persons ought, if consistent with duty, to remain at home: or if compelled to go into company, it ought to be their constant aim to restrain their cough. By this means, while they avoid giving pain to others, they will be benefited

themselves; for nothing is more certain than that the irritation of continual coughing is quite as injurious to the patient himself, as it is annoying to those around him. It will readily occur to every person of delicacy that peculiar caution in this respect ought to be exercised, while seated at table. The practice in which many vulgar people indulge, of coughing, jawning, and sneezing over the dishes placed in their immediate neighbourhood, is intolerable, and has driven many a delicate person from the table.

11. The practice of picking the teeth, while seated at table, is proscribed by all correct people. If you cannot avoid it without being very uncomfortable, cover your mouth with your handkerchief, and let the operation be as little conspicuous as possible. As to picking your teeth with the fork which you employ in eating, (which I have sometimes witnessed) I presume your own sense of propriety will instinctively revolt from it, as peculiarly offensive.

12. When sitting at table in company, guard against leaning with your elbows on the table. There is a slouching and disrespectful familiarity in this practice, which ought never to be indulged by any one who wishes to be considered as a man of correct manners. It is enough for incorrigible loungers to be leaning upon every thing which stands within their reach. Guard against any assimilation to their habits. You ought to be very much at home, indeed, where any thing of this kind is allowable. But the fact is, it ought not to be allowed, even at your own table, when strangers are present.

13. There are some personal habits so very offensive, that it is difficult to speak of them without ex

citing, in many delicate minds, a state of feeling almost as painful as that which would be produced by witnessing the habits themselves. On this account, I cannot dwell upon them in minute detail: and yet to pass them altogether without notice, would be doing injustice to my design. I shall, therefore, simply name, in a cursory manner, a few of those which I have in view, and trust to your own discernment and good sense to supply the rest of the catalogue, as well as to suggest the reasons why they are prohibited in all polished society.

Among the habits alluded to, are those of audible and uncovered eructation; picking the nose, and the ears, not in a guarded and delicate manner, with the handkerchief, but with the finger, and with full exposure to view; blowing the nose in a loud and disgusting manner; looking into the handkerchief, after blowing the nose, as if apprehensive of finding some threatening appearance in the secretion inspected; sneezing frequently, without breaking either the force or the noise of the blast by the application of a handkerchief; holding the handkerchief at a distance from the mouth, and spitting into it, instead of silently and covertly wiping the saliva from the lips; snuffing up the nose with an offensive frequency; the habit of hemming, and clearing the throat very loudly and frequently, and in a disgusting manner, as if labouring under some organic obstruction;

these, and a number of other similar habits, ought carefully to be avoided by all who wish to attain decent and acceptable manners. It is no excuse for these habits to say, that some of the things alluded to are involuntary acts. This is, no doubt, true. But