muit certainly happen. Will Honey-fon; on him was entailed the father's, ་ uncle's, and grandmother's estate. This cut off 42,000l. The maiden 'aunt married a tall Irishman, and with her went the 6,000l. The widow died, and left but enough to pay her debts and bury her; fo that there remained. for thefe three girls but their own 1000l. They had by this time paffed their prime, and got on the wrong fide of thirty; and muft pafs the remainder of their days, upbraiding • mankind that they mind nothing but money, and bewailing that virtue, fenfe, and modefty, are had at present in no manner of estimation.' comb, upon my obferving his looking I mention this cafe of ladies before any other, because it is the most irreparable: for though youth is the time lefs capable of reflection, it is in that fex the only feafon in which they can advance their fortunes. But if we turn our thoughts to the men, we see such crowds of unhappy from no other reafon, but an ill-grounded hope, that it is hard to fay which they rather deserve, our pity or contempt. It is not unpleasant to fee a fellow, grown old in attendance, and after having paffed half a life in fervitude, call himself the unhappiest of all men, and pretend to be difappointed becaufe a courtier broke his word. He that promifes himself any thing but what may naturally arife from his own property or labour, and goes beyond the defire of poffeffing above two parts in three even of that, lays up for himself an increafing heap of afflic tions and disappointments. There are but two means in the world of gaining by other men, and these are by being either agreeable or confiderable. The generality of mankind do all things for their own fakes; and when you hope any thing from perfons above you, if you cannot fay, I can be thus agreeable or thus ferviceable, it is ridiculous to pretend to the dignity of being unfortunate when they leave you; you were injudicious, in hoping for any other than to be neglected for fuch as can come within thefe defcriptions of being capable to please or ferve your patron, when his humour or interefts call for their capacity either way. It would not methinks be an useless comparifon between the condition of a man who fhuns all the pleafures of life, and of one who makes it his business to purfue them. Hope in the reclufe makes L have fcarce feen the young baronet I drefs at these three weeks, though we have both been very conftant at our devotions, and do not fit above three pews off. The church, as it is now equip ped, looks more like a green-house than a place of worship: the middle ifle is a very pretty fhady walk, and the pews look like fo many arbours on each fide of it. The pulpit itfelf has fuch clufters of ivy, holly, and rofemary about it, that a light fellew in our pew tock occafion to fay, that the congregation heard the word out of a bush, like Moles. Sir Anthony Love's pew in particular is fo well hedged, that all my batteries have no effect. I am obliged to shoot at random ainting the boughs, without taking any manner of aim. Mr. Speetator, unless you will give orders for removing thefe greens, I fhall grow a very aukward creature at church, and foon have little elfe to do there but to fay my prayers. I am in hafte, dear Sir, your most obedient fervant, T JENNY SIMPER. N° CCLXXXIII. THURSDAY JANUARY 24. MAGISTER ARTIS ET LARGITOR INGENI PERS. PROLOG. VER. IC. NECESSITY IS THE MOTHER OF INVENTION. UCIAN rallies the philofophers in his time, who could not agree whether they should adnuit riches into the number of real goods; the profeflors of the feverer fects threw them quite out, while others as refolutely inferted them. I am apt to believe, that as the world grew more pol te, the rigid doctrines of the firft were wholly difcarded; and I do not find any one fo hardy at prefent as to deny that there are very great advantages in the enjoyment of a Indeed the best and plentiful fortune. wifeft of men, though they may poffibly defpife a good part of thofe things which the world calls pleatures, can, I think, hardly be infenfible of that weight and dignity which a moderate thare of wealth adds to their characters, counfels, and actions. We find it is a general complaint in profeffions and trades, that the richest members of them are chiefly encouraged, and this is fallely imputed to the illnature of mankind, who are ever be ENGLISH PROVERB. flowing their favours on fuch as leaft want them: whereas if we fairly confider their proceedings in this cafe, we fhall find them founded on undoubted reafon: fince fuppoling both equal in their natural integrity, I ought, in common prudence, to fear foul play from an indigent perfon, rather than from one whofe circumftances feem to have placed him above the bare temptation of money. This reafon alfo makes the commonwealth regard her nicheft fubjects, as thofe who are moft concerned for her quiet and intereft, and confequently fittelt to be intrusted with her highe employments. On the contrary, Catiline's faying to thofe men of desperate fortunes, who applied themselves to him, and of whom he afterwards compofed his army, that they had nothing to hope for but a civil war,' was too true not to make the impreffions he defired. I believe I need not fear but that what I have faid in praife of money, will will be more than fufficient with most of my readers to excuse the subject of my present paper, which I intend as an ellay on the ways to raife a man's fortune, or the art of growing rich.' The first and moft infallible method towards the attaining of this end is thrift: all men are not equally qualified for getting money, but it is in the power of every one alike to practife this virtue; and I believe there are very few perfons, who, if they please to reflect on their paft lives, will not find that had they faved all thofe little fums which they have spent unneceffarily, they might at prefent have been maiters of a competent fortune. Diligence juftly claims the next place to thrift: I find both thefe excellently well recommended to common ufe in the three following Italian proverbs: they defpife wealth in comparison of fomething else; or at least are not content to be getting an estate, unless they may do it their own way, and at the fame time enjoy all the pleasures and gratifications of life. But befides thefe ordinary forms of growing rich, it must be allowed that there is room for genius as well in this. as in all other circumftances of life. Though the ways of getting money were long fince very numerous, and though fo many new ones have been found out of late years, there is certainly ftill remaining fo large a field for invention, that a man of an indifferent head might easily fit down and draw up fuch a plan for the conduct and fupport of his life, as was never yet once thought of. We daily fee methods put in practice Never do that by proxy which you demonstrate the power of invention in by hungry and ingenious men, which can do yourself. Never defer that until to-morrow which you can do to-day. Never neglect fmall matters and ex pences. A third instrument in growing rich, is method in butinefs, which, as well as the two former, is alfo attainable by perfons of the meanett capacities. The famous DeWit, one of the greatest ftatefinen of the age in which he lived, being afked by a friend, how he was able to difpatch that multitude of affairs in which he was engaged? replied, That his whole art confitted in doing one thing at once. 'If,' fays he,' I have any neceflary difpatches to make, i think of nothing elfe until thofe are ⚫ finished; if any domeftic affairs require my attention, I give myself up wholly to them until they are fet in crder." In short, we often fee men of dull and phlegmatic tempers, arriving to great eftates, by making a regular and orderly difpofition of their bufinefs, and that without it the greatest parts and molt lively imaginations rather puzzle their, affairs, than bring them to an happy iffue. From what has been faid, I think I may lay it down as a maxim, that every man of good common fenfe may, if he pleafes, in his particular station of life, moft certainly be rich. The reason why we fometimes fee that men of the greatest capacities are not fo, is either because this particular. It is reported of Scaramouche, the firft famous Italian comedian, that being at Paris and in great want, he bethought himself of conftantly plying near the door of a noted perfumer in that city, and when any one came out who had been buying fnuff, never failed to defire a taste of them: when he had by this means got together a quantity made up of feveral different forts, he fold it again at a lower rate to the same perfumer, who finding out the trick, called it Tabac de mille fleurs, or Snuff of a thousand flowers. The story farther tells us, that by this means he got a very comfortable fubfiftence, until making too much halle to grow rich, he one day took fuch an unreafonable pinch out of the box of a Swif's officer, as engaged him in a quarrel, and obliged him to quit this ingenious way of life. Nor can I in this place omit doing juftice to a youth of my own country, who though he is fearce yet twelve years old, has with great induftry and appli cation attained to the art of beating the grenadiers march on his chin. I am credibly informed that by this means he does not only maintain himself and his mother, but that he is laying up money every day, with a defign, if the war continues, to purchase a drum at least, if not a pair of colours. I fhall conclude thefe inftances with the device of the famous Rabelais, when he was at a great diftance from Paris, and and without money to bear his expences thither. This ingenious author being thus fharp fet, got together a convenient quantity of brick-duft, and having difpofed of it into feveral papers, writ upon one, Poifon for Monfieur;' upon a fecond, Poifon for the Dauphin;' and on a third, Poifon for the King.' Having made this provifion for the royal family of France, he laid his papers fo that his landlord, who was an inquifitive man, and a good fubject, might get a fight of them. The plot fucceeded as he defired: the hoft gave immediate intelligence to the fecretary of ftate. The fecretary prefently fent down a special, messenger, who brought up the traitor to court, and provided him at the king's expence with proper accommodations on the road. As foon as he appeared, he was known to be the celebrated Rabelais, and his powder upon examination being found very innocent, the jeft was only laughed at; for which a lefs eminent droll would have been fent to the gallies. Trade and commerce might doubtless be ftill varied a thousand ways, out of which would arife fuch branches as have not yet been touched. The famous Doily is ftill fresh in every one's memory, who raised a fortune by finding out materials for fuch stuffs as might at once he cheap and genteel. I have heard it affirmed, that had not he difcovered this frugal method of gratifying our pride, we should hardly have been able to carry on the last war. I regard trade not only as highly advantageous to the commonwealth in general, but as the most natural and likely method of making a man's fortune, having obferved, fince my being 1 Spectator in the world, greater eftates got about Change, than at Whitehall or St. James's. I believe I may al add, that the first acquifitions are gene rally attended with more fatisfaction, and as good a confcience. I niut not however clofe this effay, without observing that what has been faid is only intended for perfons in the common ways of thriving, and is not defigned for thofe men who from low beginnings push themselves up to the top of ftates, and the moft confiderabl figures in life. My maxim of faving is not defigned for such as thefe, fince nothing is more ufual than for thrift to difappoint the ends of ambition; it be ing almoft impoffible that the mind fhould be intent upon trifles, while it is at the fame time forming fome great defign. I may therefore compare these men to a great poet, who, as Longinus fays, while he is full of the moft magnificent ideas, is not always at leisure to mind the little beauties and niceties of his art. , I would however have all my readers take great care how they mistake themfelves for uncommon geniuses, and men above rule, fince it is very easy for them to be deceived in this particular. N° CCLXXXIV. FRIDAY, JANUARY 25. POSTHABUI TAMEN ILLORUM MEA SERIA LUDO. VIRG.ECL. VII. VER. 17. THEIR MIRTH TO SHARE, I BID MY BUSINESS WAIT. N unaffected behaviour is without hair; but under the notion of being unconstrained and disengaged, people take upon them to be unconcerned in any duty of life. A general negligence is what they af fume upon all occafions, and fet up for an averfion to all manner of bufinefs and attention. I am the careleffet creature in the world, I have certainly the work memory of any man living, are frequent expreffions in the mouth of a pretender of this fort. It is a pro X feffed maxim with thefe people never to there is reflection, they, forfooth, can never give themfelves time for fuch a way of employing themselves. It happens often that this fort of man is heavy enough in his nature to be a good proficient in fuch matters as are attainable by induftry; but alas! he has fuch an ardent defire to be what he is not, to be too volatile, to, have the faults of a perfon of fpirit, that he profeffes himself the moft unfit man living for any manner of of application. When this humour enters into the head of a female, fhe generally profeffes ficknefs upon all occafions, and acts all things with an indifpofed air: fhe is offended, but her mind is too lazy to raise her to anger, therefore fhe lives only as actuated by a violent fpleen and gentle fcorn. She has hardly curiofity to liften to fcandal of her acquaintance, and has never attention enough to hear them commended. This affectation in both fexes makes them vain of being ufelefs, and take a certain pride in their infignificancy. Oppofite to this folly is another no lefs unreasonable, and that is the impertinence of being always in a hurry. There are those who vifit ladies, and beg pardon, before they are well feated in their chairs, that they just called in, but are obliged to attend bufinefs of importance elsewhere the very next moment: thus they run from place to place, profelling that they are obliged to be still in another company than that which they are in. Thefe perfons who are juft going fomewhere elfe fhould never be detained; let all the world allow that bufinefs is to be minded, and their affairs will be at an end. Their vanity is to be importuned, and compliance with their multiplicity of affairs would effectually difpatch them. The travel ling ladies, who have half the town to fee in an afternoon, may be pardoned for being in a constant hurry; but it is inexcufable in men to come where they have no business, to profefs they abfent themselves where they have. It has been remarked by fome nice obfervers and critics, that there is nothing difcovers the true temper of a person so much as his letters. I have by me two epiftles, which are written by two people of the different humours above-mentioned. It is wonderful that a man cannot obferve upon himfelf when he fits down to write, but that he will gravely commit himself to paper the fame man that he is in the freedom of converfation. I have hardly feen a line from any of thefe gentlemen, but spoke them as abfent from what they were doing, as they profeís they are when they come into company. For the folly is, that they have perfuaded themfelves they really are busy. Thus their whole time is spent in fufpence of the prefent moment to the next, and then from the next to the fucceeding, which to the end of life, is to pass away 3 with pretence to many things, and execution of nothing. SIR, THE poft is just going out, and I have many other letters of very great importance to write this evening, but I could not omit making my compliments to you for your civilities to me when I was laft in town. It is my misfor tune to be fo full of bufinefs, that I cannot tell you a thoufand things which I have to fay to you. I must defire you to communicate the contents of this to no one living; but believe me to be, with the greateft fidelity, Sir, your moit obedient humble fervant, MADAM, STEPHEN COURIER. I Hate writing, of all things in the world; however, though I have drank the waters, and am told I ought not to ufe my eyes fo much, I cannot forbear writing to you, to tell you I have been to the laft degree hipped fince I faw you. How could you entertain such a thought, as that I should hear of that filly fellow with patience? Take my word for it, lieve it when fo lazy a creature as I am, there is nothing in it; and you may beundergo the pains to affure you of it, by taking pen, ink, and paper, in my hand. Forgive this, you know I fhall not often offend in this kind. I am very much your fervant, BRIDGET EITHER DOWN. The fellow is of your country; pr'ythee fend me word however whether he has fo great an eftate. Ain clerk of the parish from whence Mrs. Simper fends her complaint, in your yesterday's Spectator. I must beg of you to publifh this as a public admonition to the aforefaid Mrs. Simper, otherwife all my honeft care in the difpofition of the greens in the church will have no effect: I fhall therefore with your leave lay before you the whole matter. I was formerly, as the charges me, for feveral years a gardener in the county of Kent; but I muft abfolutely deny, that it is out of any affection I retain for my old employment that I have placed my greens to liberally about the church, but out of a particular fpleen I conceived against Mrs. Simper, and others of the fame fifterhood, fome 3 2 time |