The Fashionable World Displayed

Transcribed from the L. B. Seeley 1817 (eighth) edition by David Price, email ccx074@pglaf.org, using scans made available by the British Library.
BY THE REV. JOHN OWEN , A.M.
LATE FELLOW OF CORPUS CHRISTI COLLEGE, CAMBRIDGE; AND RECTOR OF PAGLESHAM, ESSEX.
VELUTI IN SPECULUM. THE STAGE .
Eighth Edition .
LONDON: PRINTED FOR L. B. SEELEY, FLEET STREET. 1817.
TO THE RIGHT REVEREND BEILBY PORTEUS, D.D. LORD BISHOP OF LONDON , NOT MORE DISTINGUISHED BY HIS ELOQUENCE AS A PREACHER, HIS VIGILANCE AS A PRELATE, HIS SANCTITY AS A CHRISTIAN, AND HIS VARIOUS ACCOMPLISHMENTS AS A SCHOLAR AND A MAN, THAN BY HIS INDEFATIGABLE EXERTIONS TO DETECT THE ERRORS, REBUKE THE FOLLIES, AND REFORM THE VICES, OF THE FASHIONABLE WORLD, THE FOLLOWING ATTEMPT TO BENEFIT THAT PART OF SOCIETY, BY MEANS TOO FREQUENTLY EMPLOYED TO CORRUPT IT, IS RESPECTFULLY INSCRIBED, BY HIS LORDSHIP’S FAITHFUL AND DUTIFUL SERVANT,
The AUTHOR.
Fulham .
The following little Work was originally published in the Spring of 1804, under the assumed name of Theophilus Christian, Esq. From the high commendation bestowed on it by the late Bishop Porteus, the Author was induced to avow himself in the second impression, and to prefix a Dedication, in which he endeavoured to do some justice to the merits of that Prelate, whose character he united with the public in revering, and whose patronage and friendship he had the honour to enjoy.
The Author is not insensible to the degree of improvement in the general tone of society, which has rendered certain strictures on the grosser qualities of a Fashionable character, somewhat less appropriate than they were at the period of their first publication. He wishes, however, he could convince himself, that the improvement to which he alludes, and of which he desires to speak with becoming respect, were not to be interpreted as originating more in humour than in principle , and as indicating rather the progress of refinement than the influence of virtue. The peccant evil, he is sorry to observe, continues to exist; and, however the form of its operation may have been varied, its spirit remains the same. On this account, it did not appear to the Author expedient to tamper with his text. He felt persuaded that its application will be found sufficiently accurate for every practical purpose; and he could not consent to weaken its force by over-scrupulous concessions to the pleadings of candour, or the requirements of temporary accommodation.