engaging softness, or mildness.

7. If you discover any hastiness in your temper, and find it apt to
break out into rough and unguarded expressions, watch it narrowly, and
endeavour to curb it; but let no complaisance, no weak desire of
pleasing, no weedling, urge you to do that which discretion forbids; but
persist and persevere in all that is right. In your connections and
friendships, you will find this rule of use to you. Invite and preserve
attachments by your firmness; but labour to keep clear of enemies by a
mildness of behaviour. Disarm those enemies you may unfortunately have
(and few are without them) by a gentleness of manner, but make them feel
the steadiness of your just resentment; for there is a wide difference
between bearing malice and a determined self-defence; the one is
imperious, but the other is prudent and justifiable.

8. In directing your servants, or any person you have a right to
command, if you deliver your orders mildly and in that engaging manner
which every gentleman should study to do, you will be cheerfully, and,
consequently, well obeyed: but if tyrannically, you would be very
unwillingly served, if served at all. A cool, steady determination
should shew that you _will_ be obeyed, but a gentleness in the manner of
enforcing that obedience should make service a cheerful one. Thus will
you be loved without being despised, and feared without being hated.

9. I hope I need not mention vices. A man who has patiently been kicked
out of company, may have as good a pretence to courage, as one rendered
infamous by his vices, may to dignity of any kind; however, of such
consequence are appearances, that an outward decency, and an affected
dignity of manners, will even keep such a man the longer from sinking.
If, therefore, you should unfortunately have no intrinsic merit of your
own, keep up, if possible, the appearance of it; and the world will
possibly give you credit for the rest. A versatility of manner is as
necessary in social life, as a versatility of parts in political. This
is no way blameable, if not used with an ill design. We must, like the
cameleon, then, put on the hue of the persons we wish to be well with;
and it surely can never be blameable, to endeavour to gain the good will
or affection of any one, if, when obtained, we do not mean to abuse it.

_Rules for Conversation._

1. Jack Lizard was about fifteen when he was first entered in the
university, and being a you