_Says, Ridicule is a general practice, and proceeds either from the wantonness of our own vanity, or contempt of others frailties. We take the same pleasure in scandal as monkies do in mischief. Wonders why the Tea-table should be thought the mother of scandal, or the nurse of ridicule, when all mankind is pursuing the same pleasure under different disguises. They condemn Censure in others, that they may indulge it themselves. The taverns are as accessary to it as private houses. Courts are esteemed the source of politeness and good manners; theatres of ingenuity, churches of sanctity; yet all are infected with the evil of scandal. Seems to prefer the gaming-table as freest from irony and slander; avarice being a spirit that allows of no rival. This vice is contagious, and runs thro’ the whole people: it wanders every where, like an ~ignis fatuus~, and is only at home in the ~Grubstreet-Journal~._ _Don’t pretend how far this libertinism of speech is allowable, but is certain that every moral man will use it only for the sake of him he censures; and every gentleman will make good manners the only rule of behaviour. All men are jealous of their characters, and we must have a due complaisance for one frailty while we would reform another; for the insolence of knowledge is as insupportable as the affectation of folly. The subjects of ridicule are to be justly chosen and carefully distinguished._ _Concludes with some Reflections on the authors of the ~Grubstreet-Journal~, who have undertaken the drudgery of invective under pretence of being champions for politeness._ Weekly Register, _Jan. 24._ No. 41. He remarks, that from an ambition of emulating, without a capacity to equal another’s excellencies, have arisen an infinite number of pretenders to reputation. The regular physician is intruded upon by the empyrick; the masterly painter is slighted in favour of impudence and ignorance; the most elegant and chaste compositions of musick, are forc’d to give way to amusements less polite: Quackery interferes with trade, and undermines honesty. The pedlar stiles himself a merchant; No wonder then that authors of every character are so wretchedly personated. Exclaims against bad writers, from the Court-scribbler to the _Grubstreet_ hackney.