nine o'clock
It is not indeed agreeable to be the spectator of riot ; but how easy to shun being a partaker in it ! Ho easy to avoid the too freely circling glass , if a man is known to have established a rule to himself , from which he will not depart ; and if it be not refused sullenly ; but mirth and good humour the more studiously kept up , by the person ; who would else indeed be looked upon as a spy on unguarded folly ! I heartily pitied a young man , who , I dare say , has a good heart , but from false shame durst not assert the freedom that every Englishman would claim a right to , in almost every other instance ! He had once put by the glass , and excused himself on account of his health ; but on being laughed at for a sober dog , as they phrased it , and asked , if his spouse had not lectured him before he came out , he gave way to the wretched raillery : nor could I interfere at such a noisy moment with effect : they had laughed him out of his caution before I could be heard ; and I left him there at nine o'clock trying with Bagenhall which should drink the deepest . I wish , my good Dr. Bartlett , you would throw together some serious considerations on this subject . You could touch it delicately , and such a discourse would not be unuseful to some few of our neighbours even at Grandison-hall . What is it , that , in this single article , men sacrifice to false shame and false glory !