these Observations to the Work before us; for
indeed I have set them down principally to obviate some Constructions, which the
Good-nature of Mankind, who are always forward to see their Friends Virtues
recorded, may put to particular parts. I question not but several of my Readers
will know the Lawyer in the Stage-Coach, the Moment they hear his Voice. It is
likewise odds, but the Wit and the Prude meet with some of their Acquaintance,
as well as all the rest of my Characters. To prevent therefore any such
malicious Applications, I declare here once for all, I describe not Men, but
Manners; not an Individual, but a Species. Perhaps it will be answered, Are not
the Characters then taken from Life? To which I answer in the Affirmative; nay,
I believe I might aver, that I have writ little more than I have seen. The
Lawyer is not only alive, but hath been so these 4000 Years, and I hope G-- will
indulge his Life as many yet to come. He hath not indeed confined himself to one
Profession, one Religion, or one Country; but when the first mean selfish
Creature appeared on the human Stage, who made Self the Centre of the whole
Creation; would give himself no Pain, incur no Danger, advance no Money to
assist, or preserve his Fellow-Creatures; then was our Lawyer born; and whilst
such a Person as I have described, exists on Earth, so long shall he remain upon
it. It is therefore doing him little Honour, to imagine he endeavours to mimick
some little obscure Fellow, because he happens to resemble him in one particular
Feature, or perhaps in his Profession; whereas his Appearance in the World is
calculated for much more general and noble Purposes; not to expose one pitiful
Wretch, to the small and contemptible Circle of his Acquaintance; but to hold
the Glass to thousands in their Closets, that they may contemplate their
Deformity, and endeavour to reduce it, and thus by suffering private
Mortification may avoid public Shame. This places the Boundary between, and
distinguishes the Satirist from the Libeller; for the former privately corrects
the Fault for the Benefit of the Person, like a Parent; the latter publickly
exposes the Person himself, as an Example to others, like an Executioner.
    There are besides little Circumstances to be considered, as the Drapery of a
Picture, which tho' Fashion varies at different Times, the Resemblance of the
Countenance is not by those means diminished. Thus, I believe, we may venture to
say, Mrs. Tow-