This _Problem_, _How far_ SURPRIZE _is, or is not, necessary to_ WIT, I humbly apprehend, may be thus solved.--In Subjects which have a _natural_ and _splendid Agreement_, there will always be WIT upon their _Arrangement_ together; though when it becomes _trite_, and not accompanied with _Surprize_, the _Lustre_ will be much faded;--But where the _Agreement_ is _forced_ and _strained_, _Novelty_ and _Surprize_ are absolutely necessary to usher it in; An unexpected _Assemblage_ of this Sort, striking our Fancy, and being gaily admitted at first to be WIT; which upon frequent Repetition, the _Judgment_ will have examined, and rise up against it wherever it appears;--So that in short, in Instances where the _Agreement_ is _strained_ and _defective_, which indeed are abundantly the most general, _Surprize_ is a necessary _Passport_ to WIT; but _Surprize_ is not necessary to WIT, where the _Agreement_ between the two Subjects is _natural_ and _splendid_; though in these Instances it greatly heightens the _Brillancy_. The subsequent Remark of Mr. _Addison_, _That the Poet, after saying his Mistress's Bosom is as white as Snow, should add, with a Sigh, that it is as cold too, in order that it may grow to_ WIT, is I fear, very incorrect. For as to the _Sigh_, it avails not a Rush; and this Addition will be found to be only a _new_ Stroke of WIT, equally _trite_, and less perfect, and natural, than the former Comparison. It may also be observed, That Mr. _Addison_ has omitted the _Elucidation_ of the _original_ Subject, which is the grand Excellence of WIT. Nor has he prescribed any _Limits_ to the Subjects, which are to be arranged together; without which the Result will be frequently the SUBLIME or BURLESQUE; In which, it is true, WIT often appears, but taking their whole Compositions together, they are different Substances, and usually ranked in different _Classes_. All that Mr. _Congreve_ has delivered upon WIT, as far as I know, appears in his _Essay_ upon HUMOUR, annexed to this Treatise. He there says, To define HUMOUR, perhaps, were as difficult, as to define WIT; for, like that, it is of infinite Variety. --Again, he afterwards adds, But though we cannot certainly tell what WIT is, or what HUMOUR is, yet we may _go near_ to shew something, which is not WIT, or not HUMOUR, and yet often mistaken for both. --In this _Essay_, wherein he particularly considers HUMOUR, and the Difference between _this_, and WIT, he may be expected to have delivered his best Sentiments upon both: But these Words, which I have quoted, seem to be as important and precise, as any which he has offered upon the Subject of WIT. As such, I present them, without any Remarks, to my Reader, who, if he only _goes near_ to be _edified_ by them, will discover a great Share of _Sagacity_.