The Virginia Gazette

A CHARACTER by lord Chesterfield.-----There is a man, of strict moral character, deep learning, and superior parts, I acknowledge, I admire, and respect; but whom it is so impossible for me to love, that I am almost in a fever whenever I am in his company. His figure (without being deformed) seems made to disgrace or ridicule the structure of the human body. His legs and arms are never in the position which, according to the situation of his body, they ought to be in, but constantly employed in committing hostilities upon the grace of those who look at him. His mouth is not more mechanic than his arms and legs; he throws any where, but down his throat, whatever he means to eat, and only mangles what he means to carve. Inattentive to all the regards of social life, he mis-times or mis-places everything. He disputes with heat, and indiscriminately. Mindless of the rank, character, and situation, of those with whom he disputes, and absolutely ignorant of the several gradations of familiarity or respect, he is exactly the same to his superiors, his equals, and his inferiors, and therefore, by necessary consequence, absurd to two of the three. Is it possible for such a man? No. The utmost I can do for him is to consider him as a respectable Hottentot!