even wrestling, with several other as low qualifications, necessary for the man whom he figures for a perfect courtier; for this reason no doubt, because his end being to find grace in the eyes of men of all degrees, the means to pursue this end, was the furnishing him with such real and seeming excellencies as each degree had its particular taste of. But those of the university, instead of employing their leisure hours in the pursuit of such acquisitions as would shorten their way to better fortune, enjoy those moments at certain houses in the town, or repair to others at very pretty distances out of it, where they drink and forget their poverty, and remember their misery no more.' Persons of this indigent education are apt to pass upon themselves and others for modest, especially in the point of behaviour; though it is easy to prove, that this mistaken modesty not only arises from ignorance, but begets the appearance of its opposite, pride. For he that is conscious of his own insufficiency to address his superiors without appearing ridiculous, is by that betrayed into the same neglect and indifference towards them, which may bear the construction of pride. From this habit they begin to argue against the base submissive application from men of letters to men of fortune, and be grieved when they see, as Ben Jonson says, -The learned pate Duck to the golden fool though these are points of necessity and convenience, and to be esteemed submissions rather to the occasion than to the person. It was a fine answer of Diogenes, who being asked in mockery, why philosophers were the followers of rich men, and not rich men of philo sophers, replied, Because the one knew what they had need of, and the other did not.' It certainly must be difficult to prove, that a man of business or a profession ought not to be what we call a gentleman; but yet very few of them are so. Upon this account they have little conversation with those who might do them most service, but upon such occasions only as application is made to them in their particular calling; and for any thing they can do or say in such matters have their reward, and therefore rather receive than confer an obligation: whereas he that adds his being agreeable to his being serviceable, is constantly in a capacity of obliging others. The character of a beau is, I think, what the men that pretend to learning please themselves in ridiculing: and yet if we compare these persons as we see them in public, we shall find that the lettered coxcombs without good-breeding, give more just occasion to raillery, than the unlettered coxcombs with it: as our behaviour falls within the judgment of more persons than our conversation, and a failure in it is therefore more visible. What pleasant victories over the loud, the saucy, and illiterate, would attend the men of learning and breeding; which qualifications, could we but join them, would beget such a confidence, as, arising from good sense and good-nature, would never let us oppress others, or desert ourselves. In short, whether a man intends a life of business or pleasure, it is impossible to pursue either in an elegant manner, without the help of good breeding. I shall conclude with the face at least of a regular discourse; and say, if it is our behaviour and address upon all occasions that prejudice people in our favour, or to our disadvantage, and the more substantial parts, as our learn. ing and industry, cannot possibly appear but to few; it is not justifiable to spend so much time in that which so very few are judges of, and utterly neglect that which falls within the censure of so many. STEELE. N° 95. TUESDAY, JUNE 30, 1713. -Aliena negotia centum A crowd of petitioners. HOR. 2. Sat. vi. 33. CREECH. I FIND business increase upon me very much, as will appear by the following letters. SIR, Oxford, June 24, 1713. THIS day Mr. Oliver Purville, gentleman, propertyman to the theatre royal in the room of Mr. William Peer', deceased, arrived here in Widow Bartlett's waggon. He is an humble member of the Little Club 2, and a passionate man, which makes him tell the disasters which he met with on his road hither, a little too incoherently to be rightly understood. By what I can gather from him, it seems that within three miles of this side Wickham, the party was set upon by highwaymen. Mr. Purville was supercargo to the great hamper in which were the following goods. The chains of Jaffier and Pierre; the crowns and sceptres of the posterity of Banquo; the bull, 1 Some account of whom may be seen in No 82. 2 See No 91 and 92. bear, and horse of captain Otter; bones, skulls, pickaxes, a bottle of brandy, and five muskets; fourscore pieces of stock-gold, and thirty pieces of tin-silver hid in a green purse within a skull. These the robbers, by being put up safe, supposed to be true, and rid off with, not forgetting to take Mr. Purville's own current coin. They broke the armour of Jacomo, which was cased up in the same hamper, and one of them put on the said Jacomo's mask to escape. They also did several extravagancies with no other purpose but to do mischief; they broke a mace for the lord mayor of London. They also destroyed the world, the sun and moon, which lay loose in the waggon. Mrs. Bartlett is frighted out of her wits, for Purville says he has her servant's receipt for the world, and expects she shall make it good. Purville is resolved to take no lodgings in town, but makes behind the scenes a bed-chamber of the hamper. His bed is that in which Desdemona is to die, and he uses the sheet in which Mr. Johnson is tied up in a comedy, for his own bed of nights. It is to be hoped the great ones will consider Mr. Purville's loss. One of the robbers has sent, by a country fellow, the stock gold, and had the impudence to write the following letter to Mr. Purville : 66 SIR, "IF you had been an honest man, you would not have put bad money upon men who venture their lives for it. But we shall see you when you come back. · PHILIP SCOWRER." 'There are many things in this matter which employ the ablest men here; as whether an action will VOL. II. E lie for the world among people who make the most of words? or whether it be adviseable to call that round ball the world, and if we do not call it so, whether we can have any remedy? The ablest lawyer here says there is no help; for if you call it the world, it will be answered how could the world be in one shire, to wit, that of Buckingham; for the county must be named, and if you do not name it we shall certainly be nonsuited. I do not know whether I make myself understood; but you understand me right when you believe I am • Your most humble servant, HONOURED SIR, "YOUR character of Guardian makes it not only ne cessary, but becoming, to have several employed under you. And being myself ambitious of your ser vice, I am now your humble petitioner to be admitted into a place I do not find yet disposed of—I mean that of your lion-catcher. It was, sir, for want of such commission from your honour, that very many lions have lately escaped. However, I made bold to distinguish a couple. One I found in a coffee-house-He was of the larger sort, looked fierce, and roared loud. I considered wherein he was dangerous; and accordingly expressed my displeasure against him, in such a manner upon his chaps, that now he is not able to show his teeth. The other was a small lion, who was slipping by me as I stood 3 See an inventory of playhouse-goods, Tat, No 42; also, the last letter of this Paper. 4 See N°71. |