For HUMOUR extensively and fully understood, is _any remarkable_ Oddity _or_ Foible _belonging to a_ Person _in_ real Life; _whether this_ Foible _be constitutional, habitual_, or _only affected; whether partial in one or two Circumstances; or tinging the whole Temper and Conduct of the_ Person. It has from hence been observ'd, that there is more HUMOUR in the _English_ Comedies than in others; as we have more various odd _Characters_ in real Life, than any other Nation, or perhaps than all other Nations together. That HUMOUR gives more Delight, and leaves a more pleasurable Impression behind it, than WIT, is universally felt and established; Though the Reasons for this have not yet been assign'd.--I shall therefore beg Leave to submit the following. 1. HUMOUR is more _interesting_ than WIT in general, as the _Oddities_ and _Foibles_ of _Persons_ in _real Life_ are more apt to affect our Passions, than any Oppositions or Relations between _inanimate_ Objects. 2. HUMOUR is _Nature_, or what really appears in the Subject, without any Embellishments; WIT only a Stroke of _Art_, where the original Subject, being insufficient of itself, is garnished and deck'd with auxiliary Objects. 3. HUMOUR, or the Foible of a _Character_ in real Life, is usually insisted upon for some Length of Time. From whence, and from the common Knowledge of the Character, it is universally felt and understood.--Whereas the Strokes of WIT are like sudden _Flashes_, vanishing in an Instant, and usually flying too fast to be sufficiently marked and pursued by the Audience. 4. HUMOUR, if the Representation of it be just, is compleat and perfect in its Kind, and entirely fair and unstrain'd.--Whereas in the Allusions of WIT, the Affinity is generally imperfect and defective in one Part or other; and even in those Points where the Affinity may be allow'd to subsist, some Nicety and Strain is usually requir'd to make it appear. 5. HUMOUR generally appears in such Foibles, as each of the Company thinks himself superior to.--Whereas WIT shews the Quickness and Abilities of the Person who discovers it, and places him superior to the rest of the Company. 6. Humour, in the Representation of the _Foibles_ of _Persons_ in _real Life_, frequently exhibits very _generous benevolent_ Sentiments of the Heart; And these, tho' exerted in a particular odd Manner, justly command our Fondness and Love.--Whereas in the Allusions of WIT, _Severity_, _Bitterness_, and _Satire_, are frequently exhibited.--And where these are avoided, not worthy amiable Sentiments of the _Heart_, but quick unexpected Efforts of the _Fancy_, are presented.