abstain from those topics on which his conversation would be most
natural, instructing, and entertaining. Instances, indeed, may be found,
where men, eminent for science and literature, or of high professional
reputation, inflamed with a distempered appetite for fashionable society,
"drag their slow lengths along" among the guardsmen and dowagers who
frequent such scenes; but they are rather tolerated than encouraged, and
the sacrifices by which they purchase their admission into the dullest
society of Europe are so numerous, their appearance is so mortifying, and
the effect produced upon themselves so pernicious, that hitherto such
instances have served not as models to imitate, but as bywords to deter.
Instead of improving others, they degrade themselves; instead of inspiring
the frivolous with nobler aims and better principles, they condescend to
be the echoes of imbecility; instead of raising the standard of
conversation, they yield implicitly to any signal, however corrupt,
worthless, or utterly unreasonable may be the quarter from which it
proceeds, that the most submissive votaries of fashion watch for and obey.
The system is denounced by our author in the following vigorous and
eloquent passage:--

"The assembly-room or dinner-table _is the very focus of care and
anxiety_, so that a funereal dulness often overhangs it; and
there, where there is the greatest amount of money, time, and
contrivance expended on pleasure--there is least animation of
spirits. For one who is pleased, a dozen are chewing the cud of
some petty annoyance, and _the flow of spirits excited and
animated by rapid interchange of ideas is scarcely known._ When
it occurs, it is seldom owing to those who live for dissipation,
but to men whom the duties of office compel to work very hard.
Notwithstanding their wealth, the pursuits of ambition compel
them to become men of business, and the elasticity of their minds
is preserved. That languid and depressed condition which cankers
the very heart of social enjoyment, loses its solemn character on
occasions of disappointment and vexation. Its pleasures are not
cheerful, but its distresses are ludicrous, and are felt to be
so. Each laughs at his neighbour's mortifications, and the
consciousness he is supplying the same malicious amusement in his
turn, does not take the sting from his own griefs when they
arise.

"Nor is it