from TRUTH and GOOD SENSE;
Nor is WIT any Ancestor of HUMOUR, but of a quite different
Family; it being notorious that much HUMOUR may be drawn from
the Manners of Dutchmen, and of the most formal and dull Persons,
who are yet never guilty of WIT.  Again, MIRTH is not so properly
the Parent of HUMOUR, as the Offspring.—­In short, this whole
Genealogy is a nubilous Piece of Conceit, instead of being any
Elucidation of HUMOUR.  It is a formal Method of trifling, introduced
under a deep Ostentation of Learning, which deserves the severest
Rebuke.—­But I restrain my Pen, recollecting the Visions of MIRZA,
and heartily profess my high Veneration for their admirable Author.

The Essay upon HUMOUR, at the End of this Treatise, written by Mr. Congreve, is next to be considered.  It appears, that at first he professes his absolute Uncertainty in regard to this Subject; and says, “We cannot certainly tell what WIT is, or what HUMOUR is.”  But yet, through his whole Piece, he neglects the Subject of HUMOUR in general, and only discourses upon the HUMOUR, by which he means barely the Disposition, of Persons:  This may particularly appear from the following Words.

A Man may change his Opinion, but I believe he will find it a Difficulty to part with his HUMOUR; and there is nothing more provoking than the being made sensible of that Difficulty.  Sometimes we shall meet with those, who perhaps indifferently enough, but at the same time impertinently, will ask the Question, WHY ARE YOU NOT MERRY?  WHY ARE YOU NOT GAY, PLEASANT, AND CHEARFUL?  Then instead of answering, could I ask such a Person, WHY ARE YOU NOT HANDSOME?  WHY HAVE YOU NOT BLACK EYES, AND A BETTER COMPLEXION?  Nature abhors to be forced.

  The two famous Philosophers of Ephesus and Abdera, have their
  different Sects at this Day.  Some weep, and others laugh at one
  and the same Thing.

I don’t doubt but you have observed several Men laugh when they are angry; others, who are silent; some that are loud; yet I cannot suppose that it is the Passion of ANGER, which is in itself different, or more or less in one than t’other, but that it is the HUMOUR of the Man that is predominant, and urges him to express it in that Manner.  Demonstrations of PLEASURE, are as various:  One Man has a HUMOUR of retiring from all Company, when any thing has happened to please him beyond Expectation; he hugs himself alone, and thinks it an Addition to the Pleasure to keep it a Secret, &c.

All which, I apprehend, is no more than saying; That there are different Dispositions in different Persons.

In another Place, he seems to understand by Humour, not only the Disposition, but the Tone of the Nerves, of a Person, thus,