ts of persons of
birth, rank, and fashion; the other of those who are distinguished by
some peculiar merit, in any liberal art or science; as men of letters,
&c. and a mixture of these is what I would have understood by good
company; for it is not what particular sets of people shall call
themselves, but what the people in general acknowledge to be so, and are
the accredited good company of the place.

3. Now and then, persons without either birth, rank, or character, will
creep into good company, under the protection of some considerable
personage; but, in general, none are admitted of mean degree, or
infamous moral character.

In this fashionable good company alone, can you learn the best manners
and the best language, for, as there is no legal standard to form them
by, 'tis here they are established.

It may possibly be questioned whether a man has it always in his power
to get into good company: undoubtedly, by deserving it, he has; provided
he is in circumstances which enable him to live and appear in the style
of a gentleman. Knowledge, modesty, and good-breeding, will endear him
to all that see him; for without politeness, the scholar is no better
than a pedant, the philosopher than a cynic, the soldier than a brute,
nor any man than a clown.

4. Though the company of men of learning and genius is highly to be
valued, and occasionally coveted, I would by no means have you always
found in such company. As they do not live in the world, they cannot
have that easy manner and address which I would wish you to acquire. If
you can bear a part in such company, it is certainly adviseable to be in
it sometimes, and you will be the more esteemed in other company by
being so; but let it not engross you, lest you be considered as one of
the _literati_, which, however respectable in name, is not the way to
rise or shine in the fashionable world.

5. But the company, which, of all others, you should carefully avoid, is
that, which, in every sense of the word, may be called _low_; low in
birth, low in rank, low in parts, and low in manners; that company, who,
insignificant and contemptible in themselves, think it an honour to be
seen with _you_, and who will flatter your follies, nay, your very
vices, to keep you with them.

6. Though _you_ may think such a caution unnecessary, _I_ do not; for
many a young gentleman of sense and rank has been led by his vanity to
keep such company, till he has been degraded, villified an