The writings of George Washington; being his correspondence, addresses, messages, and other papers, official and private, selected and published from the original manuscripts; with a life of the author, notes and illustrations. By Jared Sparks.

APPENDIX.] EARLY PAPERS. 413
" 16. Undertake not to teach your equal in the art himself professes; it savours of arrogancy.
"17. When a man does all he can, though it succeeds not well,
blame not him that did it.
"18. Being to advise, or reprehend any one, consider whether
it ought to be in public or in private, presently or at some other
time, in what terms to do it; and in reproving show no signs of
choler, but do it with sweetness and mildness.
"19. Take all admonitions thankfully, in what time or place
soever given; but afterwards, not being culpable, take a time or place
convenient to let him know it that gave them.
"20. Mock not, nor jest at any thing of importance; break no
jests that are sharp-biting, and if you deliver any thing witty, and
pleasant, abstain from laughing thereat yourself.
"21. Wherein you reprove another be unblamable yourself; for
example is more prevalent than precepts.
" 22. Use no reproachful language against any one, neither curse,
nor revile.
"23. Be not hasty to believe flying reports to the disparagement
of any.
"24. In your apparel, be modest, and endeavour to accommodate
nature, rather than to procure admiration; keep to the fashion of
your equals, such as are civil and orderly with respect to times
and places.
" 25. Play not the peacock, looking every where about you to see
if you be well decked, if your shoes fit well, if your stockings sit
neatly, and clothes handsomely.
"26. Associate yourself with men of good quality, if you esteem
your own reputation, for it is better to be alone, than in bad company.
"27. Let your conversation be without malice or envy, for it is
a sign of a tractable and commendable nature; and in all causes
of passion, admit reason to govern.
"28. Be not immodest in urging your friend to discover a secret.
",29. Utter not base and frivolous things amongst grave and
learned men; nor very difficult questions or subjects among the
ignorant; nor things hard to be believed.
"30. Speak not of doleful things in time of mirth, nor at the
table; speak not of melancholy things, as death, and wounds, and
if others mention them, change, if you can, the discourse. Tell
not your dreams, but to your intimate friend.
"' 31. Break not a jest where none takes pleasure in mirth; laugh
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