CCXI sociable letters written by the thrice noble, illustrious, and excellent princess, the Lady Marchioness of Newcastle.

CXLII.

MADAM,

IT is to be Observed, that most Men and VVomen are so Busie to find out other Mens, or VVomens Faults, as they Forget their own, and when they Perceive any Faults in others, they are so Joy'd, as their Tongues are like Trumpets, to Sound out their Reproach; also they are Busie in the Inquiry of others Misfor∣tunes, but never Consider, the Same, or some other Misfortunes may Light upon them; also they are Busie to Inquire of every Particular Persons Private Affairs, as their VVealth, Or∣dering their Families, their Pleasures, or their Discontents, nay, of every Person, or Thing that Concerns them not; but these Busie Na∣tures or Humours Dwell with Idle Persons, as the most part of the Gentry, and not with Labo∣rious, nay, with the most Foolish of the Gentry, not with the VVisest of them, for VVise men never Inquire into other mens Affairs that Con∣cern them not, nor Meddle with other mens Faults, if they Touch them not; they VVish VVell to All, but Regard Nothing but their own Affairs; they let other men Suffer for their own Crimes, and will have a care that they may not be guilty of Crimes to Suffer for; they will Inquire how Provision is Sold, when they are

to Buy, not what their Neighbours Spend; they go not to Sessions or Assizes, to hear the Accusa∣tions or Condemnations, unless they be Com∣manded or Call'd, nor do they Inquire what Thieves are Hang'd, or how many, but are care∣ful that no Thief may Rob them; and if they be Country-Gentlemen, and not Courtiers, they Inquire not what Masks, Balls, and Playes are at the Court, but what Hawks and Hounds are in the Country, for their own Sports and Exercises, and if they be Wise Courtiers (al∣though not Wise Men) they do not Inquire what Wakes and Fairs there are in the Country, but what Offices, or Places they may Beg; nei∣ther do Wise Citizens Inquire after Hawks and Hounds in the Contry, nor what Mode-Con∣gies are at the Court, nor of the Courtiers A∣mours, but they Inquire after their Merchan∣dizes, and how they may Sell off their Wares, and what Fairs to send them to; indeed they will Inquire after a Courtier, if he Ow them Mony; Neither do Wise Farmers Inquire af∣ter the Price of Sattin, but how the Market goes for Corn, nor do their VVives Inquire how Paint is Sold, but what Cheesemongers will Buy their Cheeses and Pots of Butter; where∣fore, in my Opinion, Societies should be apart by themselves, like several Commonwealths, Courtiers should only Converse with Courti∣ers, or Courtly Persons, and Country Gentle∣men with Country Gentlemen, Citizens with Citizens, Farmers with Farmers, and I think

they do so, at least, are most pleased with the Conversation of their own likeness: Also States∣men should only Converse with Statesmen, Learned men with Learned men, Wits with Wits, or else their Wit will be Lost; indeed, Societies should be Chosen, and not Mix'd, and every Society should Move in its own Sphere, for the truth is, in Mix'd Societies is Confusion of Tongues, of Wits, of Capacities, and the like. But lest I should make a Confusion of VVords in this Letter, I take my leave of you, and rest,

Madam,

Your faithful Friend and Servant.