BUT I am most at a lofs to guefs for what purpose they related such tragick ftories of the cruelty, perfidy, and artifices of men, who, if they ever were fo malicious and deftructive, have certainly now reformed their manners. I have not fince my entrance into the world found one who does not profess himself devoted to my fervice, and ready to live or die as I fhall command him. They are fo far from intending to hurt me, that their only contention is, who fhall be allowed moft clofely to attend, and most frequently to treat me; when different places of entertainment or schemes of pleasure are mentioned, I can fee the eyes fparkle and the checks glow of him whofe proposals obtain my approbation; he then leads me off in triumph, adores my condefcention, and congratulates himself that he has lived to the hour of felicity. Are these, Mr. Rambler, creatures to be feared? Is it likely that any injury will be done me by thofe who can enjoy life only while I favour them with my presence? As little reafon can I yet find to suspect them of stratagems and fraud. When I play at cards, they never take advantage of my mistakes, H. 4 mistakes, nor exact from me a rigorous obfervation of the laws of the game. Even Mr. Shuffle, a grave gentleman, who has daughters older than myself, plays with me so negligently, that I am fometimes inclined to believe he loses his money by defign, and yet he is fo fond of play, that he fays, he will one day take me to his house in the country; that we may try by ourselves who can conquer. I have not yet promifed him, but when the town grows a little empty, I fhall think upon it, for I want fome trinkets, like Letitia's, to my watch. I do not doubt my luck, but muft ftudy fome means of amufing my relations.. FOR all thefe diftinctions I find myself indebted to that beauty which I was never fuffered to hear praised, and of which therefore, I did not before know the full value. This concealment was certainly an intentional fraud, for my aunts have eyes like other people, and I am every day told, that nothing but blindness can efcape the influence of my charms. Their whole account of that world which they pretend to know fo well, has been only one fiction entangled with an other; other; and though the modes of life oblige: me to continue fome appearances of refpect,, I cannot think that they, who have been so› clearly detected in ignorance or impofture,, have any right to the efteem, veneration, or obedience of.. SIR, Yours, BELLARIA ****************** NUMB. 192. SATURDAY, Jan. 18, 1752. Γένος ἐδὲν εἰς ἔρωτα, Σοφίη, τρόπος πατεῖται SIR, ANACREON.. To the RAMBLER. A M the fon of a gentleman, whose an-ceftors, for many ages, held the firft rank: in the county; till at laft one of them, too» H.5 defirouss defirous of popularity, fet his house open to all that would enter it, kept a table covered with continual profufion, and diftributed his beef and ale to fuch as chose rather to live: upon the folly of others than their own labour with fuch thoughtless liberality, that he left a third part of his eftate mortgaged. His fucceffor a man of fpirit, fcorned to impairhis dignity by parfimonious retrenchments, or to admit by a fale of his lands any participation of the rights of his manor; he therefore made another mortgage to pay the interest of the former, and pleased himself with the reflection, that his fon would have the hereditary eftate without the diminution of an acre. NEARLY refembling this, was the practice of my wife progenitors for many ages.. Every man boafted the antiquity of his family, refolved to fupport the dignity of his birth, and lived in splendor and plenty at the expence of his heir, who, fometimes by a wealthy marriage, and fometimes by lucky legacies, difcharged part of the incumbrances, and thought himself entitled to contract new debts, and to leave to his children the fame inheritance of embarrafment and diftrefs. THUS THUS the estate perpetually decayed; the woods were felled by one, the park ploughed by another, the fishery let to farmers by a third; at last the old hall was pulled down to fpare the coft of reparation, and part of the materials fold to build a fmall houfe with the rest. We were now openly degraded from our original rank, and my father's brother was allowed with less reluctance to serve an apprenticeship, though we never reconciled ourfelves heartily to the found of haberdasher, but always talked of warehoufes and a merchant, and when the wind happened to blow loud affected to pity the hazards of commerce, and to fympathize with the folicitude: of my poor uncle, who had the true retailer's terror of adventure, and never expofed himfelf or his property to any wider water than the Thames. In time, however, by continual profit and fmall expences he grew rich, and began to turn his thoughts towards rank. He hung the arms of the family over his parlour-chimney; pointed at a chariot decorated only with a cypher; became of opinion that money: could not make a gentleman; refented the petulance: |