ESSAY VI. LOSS OF HONOUR. Where am I? wretched and undone ; WHEN a person is the cause of his own ruin, and that of his family, merely through thoughtlessness and extravagance, he must, on reflection, feel unhappy and miserable. But when he, by a dissipated life, not only squanders away his means, but forfeits his honour and good fame, he must, on the smallest reflection, feel the strongest pangs of remorse; especially when he is sensible that the world, although unjustly, includes his family in his guilt. When a person brings ruin on himself and family by thoughtlessness and extravagance, he very justly draws down upon himself the censure of the well-thinking part of mankind; as they consider him guilty of a double crime-First, The squandering that substance given him for a better purpose, as well as reducing a helpless family to utter ruin: no person would surely attempt to vindicate such conduct. But the great misfortune is, that the world in general seldom discriminate between such conduct and the more innocent character, who is ruined in fair trade. No doubt, the more experienced and well-informed part of mankind allow, that there are many ways by which a man may be ruined, without incurring censure. In the first place, he may meet with losses from those with whom he has dealings; and, secondly, he may meet with misfortunes in trade, and other causes unnecessary to be here mentioned. As to the first head, it will be allowed by those best conversant in business, that the most cautious will often be involved, to ruinous extent, by giving credit, lending money, or even by cautionry, and that with out deserving the least blame. With regard to those who are hurt by unforeseen misfortunes, such as the decline of trade and fall of markets, by misfortunes in their family, and other circumstances, few will venture to attach blame to their conduct, unless they speculated to an unreasonable extent. Yet it too commonly happens, that when a man's circumstances are hurt even by any of those innocent causes, surmises are often raised against his conduct, that he has not acted fairly; and it will be said, "It is a pity such a person has been so unfortunate, as he was certainly a very honest man :" and what adds more to their regret is, that whispers have gone abroad that something is wrong in the state of his affairs, although probably not the slightest evidence can be shewn: By these vague reports, the character of the most innocent is frequently injured. Nothing is more reprobated, by men little conversant in trade, than cautionry, and none more severely handled than those who have suffered by its effects. In place of sympathising with them, they are, gene. rally abused in the most unqualified manner, and considered every thing but honest But, notwithstanding the censure of the world against these unfortunate people, it will be allowed, by rational men, that one may be brought into cautionry in the most innocent manner; and, from a desire to get relieved from one engagement, may be men. often deeper involved, until he is ultimately ruined, by the downfal of those with whom he was so connected. Such a person certainly ought not to be branded with disho nesty, nor considered equally criminal with those whose unprincipled conduct have precipitated their ruin; yet so uncharitable are mankind in general, that they seldom make any distinction between these two characters. This is both unjust and ungenerous; because it not only involves the innocent with the guilty, but it is absolutely criminal in regard to the sufferer, as it in a manner screens, the thoughtless and dissipated from just reprobation, and encourages them to go on in their improper ways. The dissipated and extravagant man will say, "I will no doubt be looked down on by the world in my reduced state, but I am no worse in the eye of society than he who has been ruined by unavoidable misfortunes. We, therefore, stand on an equal footing, and I have as good a chance to recover my character as he." But this want of discrimination has a still worse effect; it discourages the honest but unfortunate man from endeavouring to recover his lost reputation-for he naturally concludes, that he is already numbered with the vilest of characters, and that his after exertions will be of little consequence; for having once lost the good opinion of the public, it will be in vain for him to try and re-esta blish his good fame. These considerations ought to weigh with those who make so small account of their neighbour's good name, and should guard the public from overlooking the rules of justice and equity in regard to their unfortunate neighbours, and teach them to make a proper distinction between the man who, through thoughtlessness and dissipation, brings ruin on himself and friends, and the man who is reduced to that state by misfortunes which he had not the power to prevent. The main intention of this Essay is to shew the fatal effects of dissipation and loss of honour in society, and it is presumed that stronger instances can hardly be produced than the following. DAVID SPENDTHRIFT was born of most respectable parents, in the northern parts of Scotland. His father was proprietor of an estate of L.500 or L.600 per annum; but, |