d Otium cum Dignitate. Accordingly the first was
continually at work behind the Curtain, drew up and prepared all those
Schemes and Designs, which the latter Still drove on, and stood out
exposed to the World to receive its Praises or Censures.

Mean time, all our unbyassed well-wishers to Learning, are in hopes,
that the known Temper and Prudence of one of these Gentlemen, will
hinder the other from ever lashing out into Party, and rend'ring that
wit which is at present a Common Good, Odious and Ungrateful to the
better part of the Nation.

If this piece of imprudence do's not spoil so excellent a Paper, I
propose to my self, the highest Satisfaction, in Reading it with you
over a Dish of Tea, every Morning next Winter.

As we have yet had nothing new since the SPECTATOR, it only remains for
me to assure you, that I am

Yours, &c.
J.G.

Westminster,
May 3, 1711.

POSTSCRIPT.

Upon a Review of my Letter, I find I have quite forgot The BRITISH
APOLLO; which might possibly happen, from its having of late Retreated
out of this end of the Town into the City; where I am inform'd however,
That it still recommends its self by deciding Wagers at Cards, and
giving good Advice to Shop-keepers, and their Apprentices.

FINIS.

The / Present State / of / Wit, / in a / Letter / to a / Friend in the
Country. / [double rule] / London / Printed in the Year, MDCCXI./ (Price
3 d.) /

Collation: A-C4. Pp. [1-24] P. [1] half-title, signed "A"; p. [2] blank;
p. [3] title, as above; p. [4] blank; pp. 5-22 text; p. [23] Postscript;
p. [24] blank.

This appears to be the only contemporary edition.

Colton Storm

THE

_English Theophrastus_:

OR, THE

Manners of the Age.

Being the

MODERN CHARACTERS

OF THE

COURT, the TOWN,

and the CITY.

* * * * *

_Quicquid agunt Homines, Votum, Timor, Ira, Voluptas, Gaudia, Discursus,
nostri est Farrago, Libelli._

Juven.

--_Quis enim Virtutem amplectitur ipsam?_

Id.

* * * * *

_LONDON_,

Printed for _W. Turner_, at _Lincolns-Inn Back-Gate_; _R. Basset_ in
_Fleetstreet_; and _J. Chantry_, without _Temple Bar_, 1702

INTRODUCTION

Abel Boyer, a Huguenot who settled in London in 1689, devoted himself to
language, history, and literature. As a linguist, he tutored Allen
Bathurst and the Duke of Gloucester in French, prepared a textbook for
English students of French, compiled