It is also observable that the _Humourist_, though he makes it his Point to regulate his Conduct only by his own Conviction, will sometimes run counter to it, merely from his Disdain of all _Imitation_. Thus he will persist in a wrong Course, which he knows to be such, and refuse his Compliance with an Amendment offer'd by others, rather than endure the Appearance of being an _Imitator_. This is a _narrow_ Side of the _Humourist_; and whenever he is turn'd upon it, he feels great Uneasiness himself. It strikes a durable Pain into his Breast, like the constant gnawing of a Worm; and is one considerable Source of that Stream of Peevishnesss incident to _Humourists_. Upon the same Principle of scorning all _Imitation_, the _Humourist_ seldom heartily assents to any speculative Opinion, which is deliver'd by another; for he is above being inform'd or set right in his Judgment by any Person, even by a Brother _Humourist_. If two of this _Cast_ happen to meet, instead of uniting together, they are afraid of each other; and you shall observe _one_, in order to court the good Opinion of the _other_, produce a Specimen of his own Perfection as an _Humourist_; by exhibiting some unusual Strain of _sensible Oddity_, or by unexpectedly biting a poor _Insipid_; which the other _Humourist_ shall answer again in the same manner, in order to display _his_ Talents. These are the _Foibles_ and _narrow_ Whims of a perfect _Humourist_. But, on the other hand, he stands upon a very enlarged Basis; Is a Lover of Reason and Liberty; and scorns to flatter or betray; nor will he falsify his Principles, to court the Favour of the Great. He is not credulous, or fond of Religious or Philosophical Creeds or Creed- makers; But then he never offers himself to forge Articles of Faith for the rest of the World. Abounding in poignant and just Reflections; The Guardian of Freedom, and Scourge of such as do wrong. It is _He_ checks the Frauds, and curbs the Usurpations of every Profession. The venal Biass of the assuming Judge, the cruel Pride of the starch'd Priest, the empty Froth of the florid Counsellor, the false Importance of the formal Man of Business, the specious Jargon of the grave Physician, and the creeping Taste of the trifling Connoisseur, are all bare to his Eye, and feel the Lash of his Censure; It is _He_ that watches the daring Strides, and secret Mines of the ambitious Prince, and desperate Minister: _He_ gives the Alarm, and prevents their Mischief. Others there are who have Sense and Foresight; but _they_ are brib'd by Hopes or Fears, or bound by softer Ties; It is _He_ only, the _Humourist_, that has the Courage and Honesty to cry out, unmov'd by personal Resentment: He flourishes only in a Land of _Freedom_, and when _that_ ceases he dies too, the last and noblest _Weed_ of the Soil of _Liberty_.