uly benevolent disposition, and formed to promote the
happiness of all around him, may sometimes, perhaps, from an ill habit
of body, an accidental vexation, or from a commendable openness of
heart, above the meanness of disguise, be guilty of little sallies of
peevishness, or of ill humor, which, carrying the appearance of ill
nature, may be unjustly thought to proceed from it, by persons who are
unacquainted with his true character, and who, take ill humor and ill
nature to be synonymous terms, though in reality they bear not the least
analogy to each other. In order to the forming a right judgment, it is
absolutely necessary to observe this distinction, which will effectually
secure you from the dangerous error of taking the shadow for the
substance, an irretrievable mistake, pregnant with innumerable
consequent evils!

"From what has been said, it plainly appears, that the criterion of this
amiable virtue is not to be taken for the general opinion; mere good
humor being, to all intents and purposes, sufficient in this particular,
to establish the public voice in favor of a man utterly devoid of every
humane and benevolent affection of heart. It is only from the less
conspicuous scenes of life, the more retired sphere of action, from the
artless tenor of domestic conduct, that the real character can, with any
certainty be drawn. These, undisguised, proclaim the man. But, as they
shun the glare of light, nor court the noise of popular applause, they
pass unnoticed, and are seldom known till after an intimate
acquaintance. The best method, therefore, to avoid the deception in this
case, is to lay no stress on outward appearances, which are too often
fallacious, but to take the rule of judging from the simple unpolished
sentiments of those whose dependent connections give them undeniable
certainty; who not only see, but who hourly feel, the good or bad effect
of that disposition, to which they are subjected. By this, I mean, that
if a man is equally respected, esteemed, and beloved by his dependants
and domestics, you may justly conclude, he has that true good nature,
that real benevolence, which delights in communicating felicity, and
enjoys the satisfaction it diffuses. But if by these he is despised and
hated, served merely from a principle of fear, devoid of affection,
which is ever easily discoverable, whatever may be his public character,
however favorable the general opinion, be assured, that his disposition
is s