An Essay towards Fixing the True Standards of Wit, Humour, Railery, Satire, and Ridicule (1744)

An Essay towards Fixing the True Standards of Wit, Humor, Rallery, Satire, and Ridicule is about the history and the highest form of wit and satire. Corbyn Morris uses the examples of John Dryden, John Locke, Joseph Addison, and more to evaluate wit. Morris discusses Congreve, John Falstaff, and Shakespeare in his introspection on humor. Excerpt: «The Sentiments of these eminent Writers upon Wit, having thus been exhibited, I come next to the Subject of Humour. This has been defined by some, in the following Manner, with great Perspicuity.– Humor is the genuine Wit of Comedies,–which has afforded vast Satisfaction to many Connoisseurs in the Belles Lettres; especially as Wit has been supposed to be incapable of any Definition.»