It appears from hence that GOOD BREEDING and POLITENESS differ in
this; that GOOD BREEDING relates only to the Manners of _Persons_
in their Commerce together; Whereas Politeness may relate also to
_Books_, as well as to _Persons_, or to any Subjects of Taste and
Ornament.
So that _Politeness_ may subsist in a Subject, as in a _Cornish_, or
_Architrave_, where _good Breeding_ can't enter; But it is impossible
for _good Breeding_ to be offer'd without _Politeness_.
At the same time _good Breeding_ is not to be understood, as merely
the _Politeness_ of _Persons_; But as _Respect_, tender'd with
_Politeness_, in the Commerce between _Persons_.
It is easy to perceive, that _good Breeding_ is a different Behaviour
in different Countries, and in the same Countries at different
Periods, according to the Manners which are us'd amongst _polite_
Persons of those Places and Seasons.
In _England_ the chief Point of it _formerly_ was plac'd, in carrying
a _Respect_ in our Manners to all we convers'd with; whence every
Omission of the slightest Ceremony, as it might be construed into
a want of _Respect_, was particularly to be avoided; So that _good
Breeding_ became then
a precise Observance and Exercise of all the Motions and
Ceremonies, expressive of Respect, which might justly be paid
to every Person;
--This, as it is easy to imagine, requir'd much Nicety in the
Adjustment upon many Occasions, and created immense Trouble and
Constraint, and most ridiculous Embarrassments.
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