From the above, we detect another truth. There are in society, certain little observances, which tend to regulate it—such as the forms of etiquette; which observances, it is deemed can best be learned _in_ society. This we deem a very pernicious doctrine. It is reasoning from wrong premises; and false _data_ in moral, assuredly bring about as wrong deductions, as in physical science. The very object to be attained, viz. the regulation of society, not only goes to show, that it is something which is extraneous, but presupposes that it can never be found there: and yet we are told, that politeness is the result of social intercourse. But this we believe not. So far from it, we believe that true politeness is _never_ learned there. Society is nothing but a hot bed—what grows in it, is rank and unwholesome. True, there is a something passing for politeness, very meaningless, and very stiff; but it is, at the same time, so very shallow, that men of sense make no pretensions to it: and _this_ is learned _in_ society. True politeness is of another growth. It is the offspring of correct principle; and any thing springing from such a source, we may not be much afraid of. True politeness is nothing but a refined kind of humanity; and give a man a kind heart, and one regulated by correct taste; and never fear, but he has that which will make his way any where, to the utter exclusion of these danglers on the skirts of good breeding. It is a sad thing, that we have such an abundance of _manners_ in the world, and so little _character_: that men think so little, they have mostly become frivolous and superficial: that frivolous and superficial manners, best become them. This is true however. We _have_ lost the substance, and taken the shadow; and now, in groping for it, we have got a substitute, without one of the virtues of its expatriated pre-occupant.