If a Person in real Life, discovers any odd and remarkable Features of Temper or Conduct, I call such a Person in the Book of Mankind, a Character. So that the chief Subjects of Humour are Persons in real Life, who are Characters.
It is easy to be perceived, that Humour, and Wit are extremely different.
Humour appears only in the Foibles and whimsical Conduct of Persons in real Life; Wit appears in Comparisons, either between Persons in real Life, or between other Subjects.
Humour is the whimsical Oddity, or Foible, which fairly appears in its Subject, of itself; whereas Wit, is the Lustre which is thrown upon one Subject, by the sudden Introduction of another Subject.
To constitute Humour, there need be no more than one Object concern'd, and this must be always some Person in real Life;--whereas to produce Wit, there must be always two Objects arranged together, and either or both of these may be inanimate.
However, though Humour and Wit are thus absolutely different in themselves, yet we frequently see them blended together.
Thus if any Foible of a Character in real Life is directly attacked, by pointing out the unexpected and ridiculous Affinity it bears to some inanimate Circumstances, this Foible is then ridiculed with Wit, from the Comparison which is made.--At the same time, as the whimsical Oddity of a Character in real Life is the Ground of the whole, there is also Humour contain'd in the Attack.
If instead of referring the Foible of a Person to any inanimate Circumstance, the Allusion had been made to any other ridiculous Person in real Life; As a conceited Fellow, perpetually recommending his own Whims, to a Quack-Doctor;--This Foible will then be ridiculed with Humour; which is likewise the original Ground: At the same Time, from the Comparison which is made, there is apparently Wit in the Description.
So that where-ever the Foible of a Character in real Life is concern'd, there Humour comes in; and wherever a sprightly unexpected Arrangement is presented of two similar, or opposite Subjects, whether animate or inanimate, there Wit is exhibited.
Humour and Wit, as they may thus both be united in the same Subject, may also separately appear without the least Mixture together; that is, there may be Humour without Wit, and Wit without Humour.