he will do this or, that, and it may be adds, "God damn him he
will;" that is, "God damn him if he don't." This, though it be
horrid in another sense, yet may be read in writing, and is English:
but what language is this?

"Jack, God damn me, Jack, how dost do? How hast thou done this long
time, by God?" And then they kiss; and the other, as lewd as
himself, goes on:-

"Dear Tom, I am glad to see thee with all my heart, let me die.
Come, let us go take a bottle, we must not part so; pr'ythee let's
go and be drunk by God."

This is some of our new florid language, and the graces and
delicacies of style, which if it were put into Latin, I would fain
know which is the principal verb.

But for a little further remembrance of this impertinence, go among
the gamesters, and there nothing is more frequent than, "God damn
the dice," or "God damn the bowls."

Among the sportsmen it is, "God damn the hounds," when they are at a
fault; or, "God damn the horse," if he baulks a leap. They call men
"sons of -," and "dogs," and innumerable instances may be given of
the like gallantry of language, grown now so much a custom.

It is true, custom is allowed to be our best authority for words,
and it is fit it should be so; but reason must be the judge of sense
in language, and custom can never prevail over it. Words, indeed,
like ceremonies in religion, may be submitted to the magistrate; but