ng your consequence.

21. In acquiring new acquaintance, be careful not to neglect your old,
for a slight of this kind is seldom forgiven. If you cannot be with your
former acquaintance so often as you used to be, while you had no others,
take care not to give them cause to think you neglect them; call upon
them frequently though you cannot stay long with them; tell them you are
sorry to leave them so soon, and nothing should take you away but
certain engagements which good manners obliged you to attend to; for it
will be your interest to make all the friends you can, and as few
enemies as possible.

22. By friends, I would not be understood to mean confidential ones; but
persons who speak of you respectfully, and who, consistent with their
own interest, would wish to be of service to you, and would rather do
you good than harm.

Another thing I must recommend to you, as characteristic of a polite
education, and of having kept good company, is a graceful manner of
conferring favours. The most obliging things may be done so aukwardly as
to offend, while the most disagreeable things may be done so agreeable
as to please.

23. A few more articles of general advice, and I have done; the first is
on the subject of vanity. It is the common failing of youth, and as such
ought to be carefully guarded against. The vanity I mean, is that which,
if given way to, stamps a man a coxcomb, a character he will find a
difficulty to get rid of, perhaps as long as he lives. Now this vanity
shews itself in a variety of shapes; one man shall pride himself in
taking the lead in all conversations, and peremptorily deciding upon
every subject; another, desirous of appearing successful among the
women, shall insinuate the encouragement he has met with, the conquests
he makes, and perhaps boasts of favours he never received; if he speaks
the truth, he is ungenerous; if false, he is a villain; but whether true
or false, he defeats his own purposes, overthrows the reputation he
wishes to erect, and draws upon himself contempt in the room of respect.

24. Some men are vain enough to think they acquire consequence by
alliance, or by an acquaintance with persons of distinguished character
or abilities: hence they are eternally taking of their grand-father,
Lord such-a-one; their kinsman, Sir William such-a-one; or their
intimate friend, Dr. such-a-one, with whom, perhaps, they are scarce
acquainted. If they are ever found out (and that they are