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ceal or controul it； they are hurried by it into the most ridiculous and indeed intolerable extravagance。
When I talk of the French nation； I must again except a great number of individuals； from the general censure。 Though I have a hearty contempt for the ignorance； folly； and presumption which characterise the generality； I cannot but respect the talents of many great men； who have eminently distinguished themselves in every art and science： these I shall always revere and esteem as creatures of a superior species； produced； for the wise purposes of providence； among the refuse of mankind。 It would be absurd to conclude that the Welch or Highlanders are a gigantic people； because those mountains may have produced a few individuals near seven feet high。 It would be equally absurd to suppose the French are a nation of philosophers； because France has given birth to a Des Cartes； a Maupertuis； a Reaumur； and a Buffon。
I shall not even deny； that the French are by no means deficient in natural capacity； but they are at the same time remarkable for a natural levity； which hinders their youth from cultivating that capacity。 This is reinforced by the most preposterous education； and the example of a giddy people； engaged in the most frivolous pursuits。 A Frenchman is by some Jesuit； or other monk； taught to read his mother tongue； and to say his prayers in a language he does not understand。 He learns to dance and to fence； by the masters of those noble sciences。 He becomes a compleat connoisseur in dressing hair； and in adorning his own person； under the hands and instructions of his barber and valet de chambre。 If he learns to play upon the flute or the fiddle； he is altogether irresistible。 But he piques himself upon being polished above the natives of any other country by his conversation with the fair sex。 In the course of this communication； with which he is indulged from his tender years； he learns like a parrot； by rote； the whole circle of French compliments； which you know are a set of phrases ridiculous even to a proverb； and these he throws out indiscriminately to all women； without distinction in the exercise of that kind of address； which is here distinguished by the name of gallantry： it is no more than his making love to every woman who will give him the hearing。 It is an exercise； by the repetition of which he becomes very pert； very familiar； and very impertinent。 Modesty； or diffidence； I have already said； is utterly unknown among them； and therefore I wonder there should be a term to express it in their language。
If I was obliged to define politeness； I should call it； the art of making one's self agreeable。 I think it an art that necessarily implies a sense of decorum； and a delicacy of sentiment。 These are qualities； of which （as far as I have been able to observe） a Frenchman has no idea； therefore he never can be deemed polite； except by those persons among whom they are as little understood。 His first aim is to adorn his own person with what he calls fine cloaths； that is the frippery of the fashion。 It is no wonder that the heart of a female； unimproved by reason； and untinctured with natural good sense； should flutter at the sight of such a gaudy thing； among the number of her admirers： this impression is enforced by fustian compliments； which her own vanity interprets in a literal sense； and still more confirmed by the assiduous attention of the gallant； who； indeed； has nothing else to mind。 A Frenchman in consequence of his mingling with the females from his infancy； not only becomes acquainted with all their customs and humours； but grows wonderfully alert in performing a thousand little offices； which are overlooked by other men； whose time hath been spent in making more valuable acquisitions。 He enters； without ceremony； a lady's bed…chamber； while she is in bed； reaches her whatever she wants； airs her shift； and helps to put it on。 He attends at her toilette； regulates the distribution of her patches； and advises where to lay on the paint。 If he visits her when she is dressed； and perceives the least impropriety in her coeffure； he insists upon adjusting it with his own hands： if he sees a curl； or even a single hair amiss； he produces his comb； his scissars； and pomatum； and sets it to rights with the dexterity of a professed friseur。 He 'squires her to every place she visits； either on business； or pleasure； and； by dedicating his whole time to her； renders himself necessary to her occasions。 This I take to be the most agreeable side of his character： let us view him on the quarter of impertinence。 A Frenchman pries into all your secrets with the most impudent and importunate curiosity； and then discloses them without remorse。 If you are indisposed； he questions you about the symptoms of your disorder； with more freedom than your physician would presume to use； very often in the grossest terms。 He then proposes his remedy （for they are all quacks）； he prepares it without your knowledge； and worries you with solicitation to take it； without paying the least regard to the opinion of those whom you have chosen to take care of your health。 Let you be ever so ill； or averse to company； he forces himself at all times into your bed…chamber； and if it is necessary to give him a peremptory refusal； he is affronted。 I have known one of those petit maitres insist upon paying regular visits twice a day to a poor gentleman who was delirious； and he conversed with him on different subjects； till he was in his last agonies。 This attendance is not the effect of attachment； or regard； but of sheer vanity； that he may afterwards boast of his charity and humane disposition： though； of all the people I have ever known； I think the French are the least capable of feeling for the distresses of their fellow creatures。 Their hearts are not susceptible of deep impressions； and； such is their levity； that the imagination has not time to brood long over any disagreeable idea； or sensation。 As a Frenchman piques himself on his gallantry； he no sooner makes a conquest of a female's heart； than he exposes her character； for the gratification of his vanity。 Nay； if he should miscarry in his schemes； he will forge letters and stories； to the ruin of the lady's reputation。 This is a species of perfidy which one would think should render them odious and detestable to the whole sex； but the case is otherwise。 I beg your pardon； Madam； but women are never better pleased； than when they see one another exposed； and every individual has such confidence in her own superior charms and discretion； that she thinks she can fix the most volatile； and reform the most treacherous lover。
If a Frenchman is admitted into your family； and distinguished by repeated marks of your friendship and regard； the first return he makes for your civilities is to make love to your wife； if she is handsome； if not； to your sister； or daughter； or niece。 If he suffers a repulse from your wife； or attempts in vain to debauch your sister； or your daughter； or your niece； he will； rather than not play the traitor with his gallantry； make his ad