being displeased with every thing that comes to the table.

If you can once catch a servant in this, or any such-like trap, it gives continual new opportunities of scolding. For if the fault was the adherence to your commands, you may always to your orders add—"

If your friend be so assiduous to serve and please you, that, by making your concerns her own, she, as much as possible, prevents even your very wishes, you may often make such ungracious and disobliging requests, as will be truly grating to a friendly disposition.

To ruin a man by imposing on his generosity and good-nature, and then to laugh at him; to insult your distressed friend with reproaches, and to wear away his very soul by insults, under the mark of kindness; may be called the Racks, the Tortures, of friendship.

pursue the method called indulgence,

little use in high life,

If your friend should come to any worldly misfortune, be sure, in the first place, not to fail telling him (and that repeatedly), that it was entirely by his own fault,

vex, plague, and abuse your friends, as much as ever the power you have over them, by their affections, will bear; yet be sure to seem very jealous of any other person's using them ill: this makes the appearance of great zeal for their service;

blame yourself for conversing with so low a wretch.