I received the following Letter foon after the Lady's dated from Grofvenor-Street, and hope it will be of fome fervice to those for whose benefit I publifh it. SIR, To NICHOLAS BABBLE, Efq. Thames-Street, June 10. I am a large Trader, and have a fnug Estate befides my bufinefs, with only one Child, a Son, whom I took into my Compting-house, as soon as Mr. KIPPAX told me he was perfect in his Arithmetic, in order to have him under my own Eye, and to make him a Man of Bufinefs. I was at first in hopes he would be a Chip of the old Block, but he has lately contracted an acquaintance with a couple of priggish Puppies, Jack Blufter and Tom Titup: and I believe they have turned his head: for, fince he knew them, he has neglected his Accompts, and instead of minding Debtor and Creditor, Ledger and Cafhbook, talks of nothing but Vaux-hall and Ranelagh, Affemblies and Reviews; and ftudies one HOYLE on Whift till be stares like a Bedlamite. In a Morning he is dreffed juft like a HackneyCoachman and walks up and down the Comptinghouse, humming Ballads, and practifing Dancing-steps till Dinner. Afterwards he sets two hours hours under the fingers of a French Rafcal, till he is tranfmogrified into a very Devil, and comes down with his head four inches thick with Grease and grey Powder, and fmells fo much of Lavender Water, that my Dinner comes up to my throat. Then truly, he fays he is fit to be feen; and after fixing himself in a Chair as gingerly as if he was a China Doll, is carried off for the Evening; and the next Morning the fame trade begins again. I have fwore at him, and laugh'd at him; nay reafon'd with him but in vain:he vows the Life of a Man of Business is mean: and tells me he muft enjoy my money at my death, if I won't let him have it before. But I tell him there he may be out, for that I can leave 'it to whom I pleafe; and affure him, that I will rather diftribute it among Hofpitals, than leave it to a Creature half Man, half Monkey-but my Words are Wind. He tells me he had rather be annikilated (one of his outlandish words I fuppofe) than not live like other young fellows now thefe other young Fellows are Titup and Blufter, (whofe Fathers are Merchants, and would be glad to fee them fettle in bufinefs: but they are worfe than my Harry; for Tom keeps an Italian Singer, and Jack is always knocking down every Man who is foberer than himself, by which means he has Jain in all the Roundhouses in London, and he is now now in fuch a Pickle, that it is an even tofs-up 'whether he will be ever able to fcour the Streets again. I wish you would give these headstrong Youths a little wholesome advice. Tell them they are not only a parcel of ridiculous Coxcombs, but will certainly come to the Gallows: for I fuppofe their laft shift will be the Highway. I fhould be glad to know whether these raking Dogs, who are fo fond of following the Fashions, would chufe to follow their Companions to the Devil, for to his Dominions they feem to be travelling febu-like. This is the needful at present from, Sir, Your humble Servant, SAM, SEALAND. *** NUMB. ********************** NU M B. XVIII. Saturday, July 10, 1756. One who long in populous City pent, T MILTON. HE Encomiums on a Country Life are innumerable. Poets and Warriors, Priests and Lawyers, Tradesmen and Physicians, have been extravagant Admirers of it, and loud in its Praife. "The beauteous Scene of lofty Mountains, "Groves to gentle Sleep inviting, "Whifp'ring Winds the Poplars courting, "Swains in ruftic Circles fporting. These have been preferred by all wife Men to the fumum ftrepitumque Roma, the Smoke and Clamour of a City. No No People whatever tafte the fweets of a rural Jaunt with a higher Gusto than your Citizens; for to those who are obliged to spend the greatest part of their time in crowded Streets, full of dirt, noise, and confufion, a Village is a little Paradife. As the Prifoner, when he kens through a small crevice in his Cell a beautiful Profpect, peeps at it with anxiety, and longs with many a figh to behold it more at large, unfetter'd with the shackles of Slavery: fo He who is closely confined within the City Walls by Business or Neceffity, wishes ardently to have his noftrils regaled with uncontaminated Air, and pants impatiently to hide himself in the fhades of Tranquility from the ear-distracting din of rattling Carriages, and all the tumult of Trade. Thefe Reflections were occafioned by an excurfion I made lately to the Villa of an old Friend of mine, honeft Will. Barter of Blow-BladderStreet. Will feized me by the fleeve yesterday morning as I paffed by his door, and preffed me with fo much heartiness to spend a Day with him, in a family, way, at his Box, that I could not refift his importunities. I fet out with him in |