Letters from a Persian in England to His Friend at Ispahan (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1793 edition. Excerpt: ...and ill-grounded a reflection, on a man for whom I had conteived a great esteem, and desired to know why he supposed him to be illnatured, only because he was not dull. 'His he abused, ' said I, 'any worthy masi? has he defamed any woman of 'good character? If all the edge of his 'wij is turned on those who are justly the objects of ridicule, his wit is as 'great a benesit to private lise, as the 'lword of the magistrate is to tbe pub 'lick: My gentleman, fearing to be drawn into a dispute which he could not carry on without exposmg the secret envy of his heart, changed the discourse;. and for the rest of his stay among us, which was not very long, kept a most strict silence, and gave no other indications of life, but that of laughing whenever any body laughed, and nods and gestures of approbation to whoever spoke. The moment he was gone, I told my friend that I did not much wonder to fee that gentleman in mixed company, where it was enough that he gave no offence; but that in a select society as this was, he mould be received only from a general notion of his good-nature, which was supported by no one action of his life, seemed to me entirely unaccountable. For, even allowing his pretensions to that title, I was sorprized that such a character should be so scarce, as to make it sb very valuable. I can easily conceive, ' continued I, that the notorious reverse of that vir tue would be a good reason to turn a man out os company; but I cannot r think that the possellion os that virtue, destitute of all others, is a reason for letting him into it: 'If you will keep my secret, ' replied my friend, 'I will tell you the whole truth; but if you discover me, I shall pass for ill-natured myself. You must know then, that there are about this. town tea...