fects of that Paffion upon feveral Humours, are infinitely different: but here the Ladies, who abound in Servants, are the best Judges. Talking of the Ladies, methinks fomething should be obferved of the Humour of the Fair Sex, fince they are fometimes fo kind as to furnish out a Character for Comedy. But I muft confefs, I have never made any Obfervation of what I apprehend to be true Humour in Women. Perhaps Paffions are too powerful in that Sex to let Humour have its Courfe, or may-be, by reafon of their natural Coldness, Humour cannot exert itfelf to that extravagant Degree, which it often does in the Male Sex: for if ever any thing does appear comical or ridiculous in a Woman, I think it is little more than an acquir'd Folly or an Affectation. We may call them the weaker Sex; but I think the true Reason is, because our Follies are ftronger, and our Faults are more prevailing.

One might think that the Diverfity of Humour, which must be allowed to be diffused throughout Mankind, might afford endless Matter for the Support of Comedies. But when we come closely to confider that Point, and nicely to diftinguish the Difference of Humours, I believe we fhall find the contrary. For tho' we allow every Man fomething of his own, and a peculiar Humour, yet every Man has it not in Quantity to become remarkable by it; or, if many do become remarkable by their Humours, yet all thofe Humours may not be diverting. Nor is it only requifite to diftinguish what Humour will be diverting, but alfo how much of it, what Part of it to fhew in Light, and what to caft in Shades; how to fet it off in preparatory Scenes,

Scenes, and by oppofing other Humours to it in the fame Scene. Through a wrong Judgment, fometimes, Mens Humours may be oppofed when there is really no specific Difference between them, only a greater Proportion of the fame in one than t'other, occafion'd by having more Phlegm or Choler, or whatever the Conftitution is, from whence their Humours derive their Source.

There is infinitely more to be faid on this Subject, tho' perhaps I have already said too much; but I have faid it to a Friend, who I am fure will not expofe it, if he does not approve of it. I believe the Subject is intirely new, and was never touched upon before; and if I would have any one to fee this private Effay, it should be fome one who might be provoked by my Errors in it, to publish a more judicious Treatife on the Subject. Indeed I wish it were done, that the World being a little acquainted with the Scarcity of true Humour, and the Difficulty of finding and fhewing it, might look a little more favourably on the Labours of them, who endeavour to fearch into Nature for it, and lay it 'open to the public View.

I don't say, but that very entertaining and useFul Characters, and proper for Comedy, may be drawn from Affectations, and those other Qualities which I have endeavour'd to diftinguish from Humour: but I would not have fuch imposed on the World for Humour, nor efteen'd of equal Value with it. It were perhaps the Work of a long Life to make one Comedy true in all its Parts, and to give every Character in it a true and diftinct Humour. Therefore every Poet must be beholden to other Helps, to make out his Number of ridiculous Characters. But I think fuch a one deferves to be broke, who H 5 makes

makes all falfe Mufters; who does not fhew one true Humour in a Comedy, but entertains his Audience to the end of the Play with every thing out of Nature.

I will make but one Obfervation to you more, and I have done; and that is grounded upon an Obfervation of your own, and which I mention'd at the beginning of my Letter, viz. that there is more of Humour in our English Comic Writers, than in any others. I do not at all wonder at it, for I look upon Humour to be almost of Eng lifh Growth; at leaft it does not feem to have found fuch Increase on any other Soil: and what appears to me to be the Reason of it, is the great Freedom, Privilege, and Liberty, which the common People of England enjoy. Any Man that has a Humour, is under no Restraint, or Fear of giving it Vent: they have a Proverb among them, which, may-be, will fhew the Bent and Genius of the People, as well as a longer Difcourfe: He that will have a May-pote, hall have a May-pole. This is a Maxim with them, and their Practice is agreeable to it. I believe fomething confiderable too may be afcribed to their feeding fo much on Flesh, and the Groffness of their Diet in general. But I have done, let the Physicians agree that. Thus you have my Thoughts of Humour, to my Power of expreffing them in fo little Time and Compafs. You will be kind to fhew me wherein I have erred; and as you are very capable of giving me Inftruction, so I think I have a very just Title to demand it from you; being, without Refervo, Your real Friend,

and humble Servant,

W. CONGREVE.
LET-

LETTER LXXXIX.

To Congreve at Tunbridge.

Dear Sir,

MR.

R. Moyle and I have impatiently expected to hear from you. But if the Well which you drink of had sprung up from Lethe, you could not have been more forgetful of us. Indeed, as the Tunbridge Water is good for the Spleen, it may be faid in fome manner to caufe Oblivion. But I will yet a while hope that Mr. Moyle and I are not of the Number of Things that plague you: however, I am so fenfible of your being mindful of me in Town, that I should be ungrateful, if I should complain that you do not remember me where you are. Mr. Moyle tells me that you have made a favourable Mention of me to a certain Lady of your Acquaintance, whom he calls But then to mortify the Old Man in me, or indeed rather the Young, he affured me that you had given as much better Character of him. However, for that which you gave of me, I cannot but own myfelf obliged to you, and I look upon your Kindness as fo much the greater, because I am fenfible that I do not deferve it. And I could almost wish that your good Qualities were not quite fo numerous, that I might be able to make you fome Return in Specie: for commending you now, I do you but Justice, which a Man of Honour will do to his Enemy; whereas you, by partial Praife, have treated me like a Friend. I make no doubt, but that you do me the Jufticeto believe that I am perfectly yours; and that:

your

your Merit has engaged me, and your obliged me, to be all my Life-time,

Dear Sir,

Favours

Your humble Servant,

JOHN DENNIS.

LETTER XC.
Congreve to Dennis.

Dear Sir,

IT

T is not more to keep my Word, than to gratify my Inclination, that I write to you; and tho' I have thus long deferr'd it, I was never forgetful of you, nor of my Promife. Indeed I waited in Expectation of fomething that might enable me to return the Entertainment I received from your Letters; but you reprefent the Town fo agreeable to me, that you quite put me out of Conceit with the Country, and my De figns of making Obfervations upon it.

Before I came to Tunbridge, I propofed to myfelf the Satisfaction of communicating the Pleafures of the Place to you: but if I keep my Refolution, I muft tranfcribe, and return you your own Letters; fince I must own I have met with nothing else fo truly delightful. When you fuppofe the Country agreeable to me, you fuppofe fuch Reafons why it fhould be fo, that while I read your Letter, I am of your Mind; but when I look off, I find I am only charmed with the Landfkip which you have drawn. So that if I would fee a fine Profpect of the Country, I muft defire you to fend it me from the Town: as if I would eat good Fruit here, perhaps the best way were to beg a Basket from my Friends in CoventGarden.

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