the characters of the persons, according to their circumstances, according to the solem|nity of the promise, and even according to the incidents of the rencounter: and if the promiser had been treated with a great deal of that sort of gallantry, which is sometimes to be met with in persons of the most aban|doned characters, more would seem due than upon other occasions. It may be said in ge|neral, that exact propriety requires the obser|vance of all such promises, wherever it is not inconsistent with some other duties that are more sacred; such as regard to the public interest, to those whom gratitude, whom natural affection, or whom the laws of proper beneficence should prompt us to provide for. But, as was formerly taken notice of, we have no precise rules to determine what ex|ternal actions are due from a regard to such motives, nor, consequently, when it is that those virtues are inconsistent with the obser|vance of such promises.
It is to be observed, however, that when|ever such promises are violated, tho' for the most necessary reasons, it is always with some degree of dishonour to the person who made them. After they are made, we may be con|vinced of the impropriety of observing them.
