him; but alass he crept fuddenly into a thorny brake, and died in a fhort time. Thus I have ftrove to rehearse fuch of his deeds as maie fuggeft much more to yr Highneffe thought of this Dogge. But havinge faide fo much of him in profe, I will fay fomewhat too in verse, as you may find hereafter at the close of this history. Now let Uleffes praise his Dogge Argus, or Tobite be led by that Dogge whofe name doth not appeare, yet could I fay fuch things of my Bungey, for fo was he ftyled, as might fhame them both, either for good faith, clear wit, or wonderful deeds; to faie no more than I have said of his bearing letters to London and Greenwich more than an hundred miles. As I thouhte not but your Highneffe would love my Dogge if not myfelfe, I have been thus tedious in his florie, and againe faie that of all the Dogges near your father's Court not one hathe more love, more diligence to please, or lefs pay for pleafinge, than him I write of; for verrily a bone would contente my fervante, when fome expecte greater matters, or will knavifhly find oute a bone of contention. I now refte youre Highneffe friend in all service that maye fuite him. JOHN HARRINGTON. P. S. The verses above spoken of are in my book of epigrams in praise of my Dogge Bungey to Momus, And I have an excellente picture curiously limned to remain in my pofterity. Kilftone, June 14, 1608. The national debt, therefore, from very good accounts, appears to be, at prefent, one hundred and forty millions, which, at three and an half per cent, pays the fum of five millions per annum intereft; and which is paid not only to the fubjects of this kingdom, but, unhappily, to all the nations round us, and particularly to the Dutch, to whom we are thereby become tributary. And this is the real and only cause of the dearnefs of provifions, and every other neceffary of life; for not only the land which grows them, but the materials for our manufactures, as leather, foap, candles, glafs, ftarch, malt, falt, paint, with a thousand others, and even the light from heaven, is taxed. These are the reafons (all derived from the national debt) why our trade declines, why diftrefs and poverty overtake our people, and which drives annually many thousands of them to America; which is not only to this kingdom a lofs of their perfons, but of the arts which they car ry along with them. An Effay on Gentlemen. -And he whofe mind Is virtuous, is alone of noble kind. DRYDEN. Could not forbear laughing immode 47 Irately the other day, when I had a Hh2 vifit vifit to a certain Nobleman, who not being in the way, the Servant asked me, if I would fee his Gentleman. I was furprifed at the queftion, and immediately acquiefced; but more out of curiosity to fee my Lord's Gentleman, than any thing elfe. When this Apology for Manhood appeared, I was alonifhed. A fellow advanced in fome of his Lord fhip's cloaths, who looked like a meagre Devil that had just done penance, or a Bird delivered from a jail by an Insolvent Act ; or like C J in his morning flannels. He had a comb in his hair to denote his occupation, and in fome contemptible bad English informed me, that his Lordship was not vifible. I revolved in my mind over and over again his Lordhip's Gentleman! aftonifhed at the phrafe, to think that any man fhould give another a name to which he never afcended himfelf. His Lordfhip is a man of great eftate, and hath alfo rank in life, but ftill his Lordinip hath not a trait of the Gentleman in his nature. Coblers may be Gentlemen by Nature, when even the cryf tal Circle of a Court cannot make one of a King. I do not know a Prince in Europe who is a Gentleman. The French King by his prefence would almoft perfuade you to think fo; and yet by his daily actions he convinces you that he is not one. The King of Spain is a fool; confequently, not a Gentleman. The King of Pruffia is a mercenary favage Warriour, and therefore not a Gentleman. The difcarded, banished Paoli, who now Stoops to Conquer with Doctor Goldsmith, amongst the Tabbies on Richmond Hill, is no Gentleman; for a Man who could fuffer a glorious People to be ruined, without heading them himfelf, and ftriking a blow; who could fuffer his brother Clement to fight his Battles, and yet meanly arrogate to himself the fame of them; who could win the petty opinion of the vain and ignorant James Bofwell to tataow his character, and then fly from his people in a pufillanimous manner; ignobly take a penfion of One Thousand per annum at the hands of the English Miniftry, and refufe to vifit that amiable and glorious Daughter of Liberty, Mrs. MACAULAY, for fear of offending the narrow mind of a British King, is no Gentleman. The King of the Danes is a very poor Gentleman-The King of the Swedes is a very uncertain. Character; and when all is faid (and the Pope excepted) I don't know but Empress of Ruffia may be more of a Gentleman than all the crown'd Heads in Europe. Now it is natural to fuppofe, that I will praise my own Monarch, and allow him every Gentlemanlike Virtue: but being a Philofopher, I cannot let my civility run away with my good fense; and when I recollect the duplicity of the Prince in all his behaviour, and the company he keeps, fuch as Pinchbeck, ****, P****, *****, T****, and the dreadful end of the great late Chancellor York, I cannot allow him the character of a Gentleman. To his Grandfather I give every honour; and I believe there are very few of his English fubjects, who will not allow him to have been the Gentleman and the Soldier. Kings and Princes are but Men, and few amongst them are Gentlemen. There is an innate virtuous fpirit of manners. about a real Gentleman, which no edu cation can give. It is the very topmost dignity of human Nature, and falls to the fhare of very few. The Man who earns his bread by the fweat of his brow, uneducated and untntored, may be the Gentleman; while the filken, tawdry fops of the Savoir Vrure, with the advantages of Education, fhall only be unprincipled Coxcombs. Some think the Dancing-fchool is the most ready method to form a Gentleman; or a trip to France. I have feen many dance with ease and grace, who were not Gentlemen; and the travell'd Fop, in general, returns fo truly ridiculous, that inftead of mending his manners, he only picks up the frippery of every fop he meets, and adds his feathers to the many he has already borrowed of the other Gallic Peacocks. A compleat Gentleman is the first character of Nature. It is not the Courtier that makes one; though many think that Titles and drefs qualify a man for the character: thofe who reafon fo, know little of that which belong to the compofition of a Gentleman.-A Gentle man muft have the bafis of his character formed in Nature; and then, if to a complacency of manners, a sweetness of difpofition, a lively genius, integrity of heart, elegance of form, be added a good education: fuch a perfon bids fair to arrive at the character, A Gentleman cannot do a mean or a bad thing: he cannot traduce his neighbours, or tell a falfity; it is that part about our compofition which arifes nearest to Angel, and which fo largely diftinguishes us from the lowest level of our fpecies, Kings are often not Gentlemen, while Peasants are fo. Harry VIII. of England was a Monster, while his divine fubject Mr. SHAKESPEARE was a perfect and compleat Gentleman. SHAKESPEARE was a Glafs, wherein all men might fee fuch just perfection, as to make their copies from him: by him they might drefs themselves; he was a pattern to mankind; a mirrour to Manhood. Charles Stuart the Firft, who moft justly loft his head for a duplicity of character: who amidst prayer and penance would lye and while foothing his fubjects with a most voluble plaufibility, took up arms to cut their throats -he could be no Gentleman. And yet Mr. MILTON, who was his Latin Secretary, was fo perfectly fo, that I may fay he challenged all Nature to match him; which made an Italian Nobleman fay to him upon his travels, that he was not an Englishman, but an Angel in his mien and manners. Ut mens, forma, decor, facies, mos, fi pietas fic. Non Anglus, verum hercle Angelus ipfe fores. The prefent King of France has condefcended to fay, that the Honourable Auguftus Harvey was the compleatet English Gentleman at his court. I do not mean to extenuate Mr. Hervey's qualities; but as a Philofopher, I have a right to doubt the judgment of the French King. It is Virtue joined to the moft refined Manners which constitutes the Gentleman, The young Men of this Age entirely mistake the character: they emptily think, that it confifts in flutter, drefs, and grimace, or riding a horfe full gallop through the streets to pay morning vifits. Alas! ye Tulips of the Day, ye are mistaken. It is Honour, godlike Honour, that ftamps alone the heavenly character,-such a character, as Englishmen alone fhould May, 1774. ftudy to cherish and preferve. The Education which we formerly gave our Children formed their minds to dignity and virtue; it was folid and claffical'; but now it is empty, light, fummer learning; more calculated for the manners of Valets than Gentlemen. Our Valets and Gentlemen are fo much the fame, it is difficult to diftinguish them: and fince their drefs and manners are much alike, they have changed names and characters, like Aimwell and Archer; and it is now a difficult matter to know My Lord from his fcoundrel of a Gentleman, and his Gentleman from a fcoundrel of a Lord. Pictures of the Times, Hominem pagina noftra fapit. MART. Mayors, Aldermen, Common Council. A VERY curious groupe of Animals! very Had I Hogarth's pencil, I could draw them more in character than it is poffible to defcribe them. These here are gentlemen of very great confequence in Corporation-towns, and are generally dubbed Squires: and truly very pretty ones they make! There's my friend Squire Strap the fhoe-maker cuts good figure at his business; but when he is wrapped up in his fur gown, and has got about a couple of dozen Common Council-men at his heels, he looks exactly like an owl followed by a flock of tom-tits in a fummer's day. Here are Squires among butchers, bakers, tinkers, black-fmiths, and, in fact, in every order; and Squires too who can do honour to a fmoaking firloin of beef-plumpudding-a tankard of ale, and a pipe of tobacco; fo that if they excel in nothing elfe, it can't be denied but they do it in eating and drinking. Hair-dreffers, Taylors. If the Romans had a fet of fabulous Gods amongst them, we are not much behind them. But it is enough to make one laugh to think we worship Barbers and Taylors, though it is really fast. Thofe are the deities who make the Gentleman: and, my ftars! only think what a number of their making turn out every Sunday! One may fee apprentices, who I i have have been all the week confined behind the counter, ftrutting forth in fcarlet and gold, a long fword, looking as big as a City alderman on a Lord Mayor's day: And if you speak to any of 'em, you have only this reply-" Demme, Sir, if you affront a gemman, d'ye fee, demme, I'll run you thro' the body, by G-d." Tempora mutantur, & nos mutamur in illis. Attorneys' Clerks. ; I acquaint my Reader that she was very handfome, it will be easily conceived that many were defirous of an alliance with her. Three perfons, in the number of whom was our clerk; openly declared their inclinations: but the lady did not appear to have more regard for one than the other, and treated them all with the fame indifference. The father who earnestly defired to fee his daughter married, and who thought either of them a proper match, was defirous that the thould determine in favour of one of them. Speak to me with confidence, faid he, one day to her, your inclinations fhall be mine, fo that I defire you will not disguise from me, to which of your lovers you give the preference. I cannot decide, faid fhe, in favour of either of the three, I eiteem them all, and fee them with pleasure, but my heart does not give preference to one more than the other, fo that I expect your pleasure will determine which of them I fhall take for my hufband. Thefe pretty creatures are feldom feen here till the evening, when they faften on their fwords, place on their cockaded bats, and ftrut to the Play-houfe or fome other public place, where they difcover their accomplishments in impudence, fwearing, lying and other fimilar polite qualities. In general they swear a tolerable flick;-lie with a good grace; —and, at last, put a devilish bold face on the matter. They ogle every woman they meet;-talk of Ladies of quality they are intimately acquainted with;and d-n their fouls if they have not a dozen invitations to different noblemen. These animals are very harmlefs-and do no manner of mischief, but with their tongues. In idea they knock down watchmen-break lamps-kick up confounded dufts-lay waiters behind the fire-and play bell with every body they meet; but in every other refpect they are as peaceable as lambs-and fit at the defk with the most philofophic ease imaginable. The Country Gentlemen are very different from the Town. Their fummum bonum lies in drinking themselves The father at length tired with this dead drunk-fwearing like any mad incertitude, resolved to invite the rivals playing Smoak with the girls-hunting to fup with him; and when they came, like devils-and being monftrous jolly fel- their furprife and fears were equal at lows. These are not quite fo harmlefs finding themselves together, for their as the others their manners being more hoft had engaged each of them seperaterough their behaviour lefs engagingly, that he might at this repaft reguand their affected airs fo intolerable that late the marriage of his daughter. they are scarce bareable. The father, delighted with this refignation to his will, the more pleasing as it is fo feldom met with, determined to wait with patience till the affiduities of one of them thould make her prejudiced in his favour. In vain each attempted it; neither of them could fucceed; and for fome days each addrefled himself to her father, in hopes that he would ufe his authority, fince neither could poffibly prevail with the lady, to determine her choice. Nothing was thought of at first but eating, drinking, and diverting themselves, The ridiculous Law Suit. A Story till supper was finished, when the father T founded on a Fact. addreffed himself as follows to the lovers, who equally asked the hand of his daughHE clerk to a great Merchant of ter. London had long paid his addresfes to a young lady remarked for her infenfibility. She beheld his paffion with an eye of indifference, which he could not complain of, because his rivals were treated in the fame manner. When I know your intentions, Gentlemen, faid he, and approve them. I would make you all happy, but that is not in my power. I have but one daughter, and the can be but one husband; fhe efteems you all fo well, that the cannot decide in favour of either, though for a long time it has been my requeft! fhe depends on my prudence in the choice, and for that reafon you as well as fhe expect my determination. I will not be more unjust than your mistress, Gentlemen, and, through fear of being miftaken, Fate muft determine both your hopes, and the hand of my daughter. As it is the only means that I know of, to have nothing to reproach myself with, and to rid me of this embarraffment, it maft be thus decided. My daughter will be rich at my death, but till then will have nothing. You are all rich, and love her equally; and as you are all competitors for her heart, you may without incommoding yourselves each beftow an equal fum, which when united will make a little fortune for the object of your wifhes, and if your loves are fincere, will not hesitate at what I fhall impose you. Let each of you put into my hands a hundred guineas, which put together will amount to three, and will ferve as a fortune for my daughter, when the thall efpouse him, whom fortune fhall favour. The terms were accepted, whoever had refused must have been deficient in his love, and would have alfo pronounced his own exclufion. A few days afterwards each brought his money, which was received by the father, who taking a book into his hands, prefented it to the three rivals, declaring, that he who fhould prick through the most noble letter fhould be his daughter's husband. Each looked for the place which he fuppofed the most favourable, and with a trembling hand fluck a pin therein. The book being opened, every one waited with impatience; the oracle, however, declared in favour of the Merchant's clerk, who was almost mad with joy, whilft the others retired in the utmolt dejection. The happy mortal who was now matter of the field of battle, found himself careffed with the greateft tendernefs by the object of his love, who even made him fenfible that fate had only followed her inclinations. A happiness as great, as unexpected, did not permit him to be mafter enough of himself to contain his joy, for when he returned home he acquainted his mafter, who was a batchelor, with it. The lover did not hide any circumftance of this fingular history from him-Could he have thought any ill could happen from it? No; he even alfo owned that the hundred guineas which he had depofited belonged to him, but that he fhould return them immediately. The mafter applauded and complimented his conduct, and to fhew his regard for him, made him promife to engage his future fpoufe to an entertainment which he would make on the occafion. The clerk fpoke to his miftrefs, who made no difficulty of accepting the invitation, fhe went, therefore, to the Merchant to difplay all her charms, who was fo ftruck with them, that he fell in love with her at first fight. The day after this entertainment, the merchant, who had feriously weighed all the circumstances by which his clerk had obtained the right of pretending to the hand of his miftrefs, refolved to rob him of her. But firft called his clerk to him. Friend, faid he, it is to chance only that you are indebted for efpoufing the lady whom I faw yefterday, fo that your regard for her cannot be fo great, but you may be able to relinquifli her without difficulty. If my attachment for you merits any thing on your part, you muft defift from your pretenfions in my favour. I adore the object of your vows, but I do not mean that you fhall lofe the fortune, for I will make you a prefent of the three hundred guineas intended for her fortune, and fo far from looking on the hundred you have advanced as my right, that I will give them to you, and even double the fum. See, continued he, reflect, and decide, for I am refolved to go this inflant and fpeak to her father. were The hufband of chance did not hefitate, but refufed all his offers and thought the happiness of poffefling her he loved fuperior to all the favours of fortune. His mafter preffed and intreated him but all in vain, and feeing at length that all his endeavours ufclefs: Tremble, faid he, I shall now acquaint you that I can have by fores, and by the laws of the kingdom, that which I have this day ftooped, to afk you. Yes, in fpite of you, I will obtain the hand of your miftref, and you fhall lofe with her the advantages that my too eafy nature defigned for you. |