a minister to all kinds of pleasure, and enable them to keep mistresses, horses, hounds; to driuk, feast, and game with their companions, pay their debts contracted by former extravagancies, or some such vile and unworthy end; and indulge themselves in pleasures which are a shame and a scandal to human nature. Now as for women; how few of them are there, who place the happiness of their marriage in the haying a wise and virtuous friend? One who will be faithful and just to all, and constant and loving to them? Who with care and diligence will look after and improve the estate, and without grudging will allow whatever is prudent and convenient? Rather, how few are there, who do not place their happiness in outshining others in pomp and shew? and that do not think within themselves when they have married such a rich person, that none of their acquaintance shall appear so fine in their equipage, so adorned in their persons, or so magnificent in their furniture as themselves? Thus their heads are filled with vain ideas; and I heartily wish I could say that equipage and shew were not the chief good of so many women as I fear it is.

After this manner do both sexes deceive

désirs. Sans s'inquiéter quelle espèce de femme ils épousent, ils croient que les richesses leur fourniront les moyens de se procurer toute sorte de plaisirs; d'avoir des maîtresses, des chevaux et des chiens; de se divertir, de faire bonne chère et de jouer avec leurs amis; de payer leurs anciennes dettes contractées par des extravagances et par la débauche; en un mot, de se plonger dans des excès qui font la honte et le scandale de l'humanité.

« Pour ce qui regarde les femmes, combien peu y en a-t-il qui cherchent dans le mariage un ami sincère et vertueux; un homme qui, exact à tenir sa parole et juste envers tout le monde, leur soit toujours fidèle; un homme actif et diligent pour conserver et augmenter sa fortune; enfin qui leur accorde sans murmurer tout ce qui est raisonnable et nécessaire! Au contraire, on n'en voit presque point qui ne mettent leur gloire à surpasser les autres en pompe et en éclat, et qui ne s'imaginent qu'après avoir épousé un homme fort riche, aucune de leurs amies n'aura ni un équipage si leste, ni de si beaux habits, ni de si magnifiques ameublemens qu'elle. On peut dire que leur tête est remplie de ces vanités, et il est même à craindre que la plupart n'en fassent leur souverain

bien.

« C'est ainsi que les deux sexes s'abusent égale

themselves, and bring reflections and disgrace upon the most happy and most honourable state of life; whereas, if they would but correct their depraved taste, moderate their ambition, and place their happiness upon proper objects, we should not find felicity in the marriage state such a wonder in the world as it now is.

Sir, if you think these thoughts worth inserting among your own, be pleased to give them a better dress; and let them pass abroad; and you will oblige

Your admirer,

A. B.'

STEELE.

Of the art of growing rich, and resources found out by necessity.

LUCIAN rallies the philosophers in his time, who could not agree whether they should admit riches into the number of real goods; the professors of the severer sects threw them quite out, while others as resolutely inserted them.

I am apt to believe, that as the world grew more polite, the rigid doctrines of the first were wholly discarded; and I do not find any one so hardy at present as to deny that there are very great advantages in the enjoyment of a plentiful fortune. Indeed the best and wisest of men,

ment, et que le plus heureux et le plus respectable état de la vie doune lieu à tant de réflexions et à tant de malheurs, tandis que s'ils vouloient corriger leur goût dépravé, modérer leur ambition, et placer leur bonheur là où il se trouve, le contentement dans le mariage ne seroit pas un si grand miracle qu'il l'est aujourd'hui.

« Si vous croyez, monsieur, que ces pensées -méritent d'être insérées avec les vôtres, je vous prie de leur donner un meilleur tour, et de les publier ensuite; vous obligerez beaucoup un de vos admirateurs.»

A. B.

STEELE.

Des moyens de s'enrichir et des ressources inventées par la nécessité.

LUCIEN se moque des philosophes de son temps, qui ne pouvoient pas convenir entre eux si les richesses étoient un véritable bien les sectes les

plus sévères le nioient hautement, pendant. que les autres l'affirmoient avec autant d'assurance.

Je suis porté à croire qu'à mesure que le monde devint plus poli, on abandonna l'opinion de ces philosophes rigides, et il n'y a personne aujourd'hui qui n'avoue que la possession des bien s de la fortune ne soit accompagnée de très-grands avantages. Quoique ceux qui ont le plus de vertu

though they may possibly despise a good part of those things which the world calls pleasures, can, I think, hardly be insensible of that weight and dignity which a moderate share of wealth adds to their characters, counsels and actions.

We find it a general complaint in professions and trades, that the richest members of them are chiefly encouraged, and this is falsely imputed to the ill-nature of mankind, who are ever bestowing their favours on such as least want them. Whereas if we fairly consider their proceedings in this case, we shall find them founded on undoubted reason: since supposing both equal in their natural integrity, I ought, in common prudence, to fear foul play from an indigent person, rather than from one whose circumstances seem to have placed him above the bare temptation of money.

This reason also makes the commonwealth regard her richest subjects, as those who are most concerned for her quiet and interest, and consequently fittest to be intrusted with her highest employments. On the contrary, Catiline's saying to those men of desperate fortunes, who applied themselves to him, and of whom he afterwards composed his army, that they had nothing to hope for but from a civil war, was too true not to make the impressions he desired.

I believe I need not fear but that what I have