why he should not make use of their favour, and set
himself in the first degree of conversation.
Therefore he is very successfully loud among the wits,
familiar among the ladies, and dissolute among the
rakes. Thus he is admitted in one place, because
he is so in another; and every man treats Brunett
well, not out of his particular esteem for him, but
in respect to the opinion of others. It is to
me a solid pleasure to see the world thus mistaken
on the good-natured side; for it is ten to one but
the colonel mounts into a general officer, marries
a fine lady, and is master of a good estate, before
they come to explain upon him. What gives most
delight to me in this observation, is, that all this
arises from pure nature, and the colonel can account
for his success no more than those by whom he succeeds.
For these causes and considerations, I pronounce him
a true woman’s man, and in the first degree,
“a very pretty fellow.” The next
to a man of this universal genius, is one who is peculiarly
formed for the service of the ladies, and his merit
chiefly is to be of no consequence. I am indeed
a little in doubt, whether he ought not rather to
be called a “very happy,” than a “very
pretty” fellow? For he is admitted at all
hours: all he says or does, which would offend
in another, are passed over in him; and all actions
and speeches which please, doubly please if they come
from him: no one wonders or takes notice when
he is wrong; but all admire him when he is in the
right. By the way it is fit to remark, that there
are people of better sense than these, who endeavour
at this character; but they are out of nature; and
though, with some industry, they get the characters
of fools, they cannot arrive to be “very,”
seldom to be merely “pretty fellows.”
But where nature has formed a person for this station
amongst men, he is gifted with a peculiar genius for
success, and his very errors and absurdities contribute
to it; this felicity attending him to his life’s
end. For it being in a manner necessary that he
should be of no consequence, he is as well in old
age as youth; and I know a man, whose son has been
some years a pretty fellow, who is himself at this
hour a “very” pretty fellow. One must
move tenderly in this place, for we are now in the
ladies’ lodgings, and speaking of such as are
supported by their influence and favour; against which
there is not, neither ought there to be, any dispute
or observation. But when we come into more free
air, one may talk a little more at large. Give
me leave then to mention three, whom I do not doubt
but we shall see make considerable figures; and these
are such as, for their Bacchanalian performances,
must be admitted into this order. They are three
brothers lately landed from Holland: as yet,
indeed, they have not made their public entry, but
lodge and converse at Wapping. They have merited
already on the waterside particular titles: the
first is called Hogshead; the second Culverin; and
the third Musket. This fraternity is preparing


