propensity of rich and worthless people to appear with a splendour upon all occasions, puts one in mind of the country shopkeeper, who gilds his boxes in order to be the receptacle of pitch or tobacco. 'Tis not unlike the management at our theatres royal, where you see a piece of candle honoured with a crown.

I HAVE generally considered those as privileged people, who are able to support the character they assume. Those who are incapable of shining but by dress, would do well to consider that the contrast betwixt them and their clothes turns out much to their disadvantage. 'Tis on this account I have sometimes observed with pleasure some noblemen of immense fortune to dress exceeding plain.

IF dress be only allowable to persons of family, it may then be considered as a sort of family livery, and Jack the groom may, with equal justice, pride himself upon the gaudy wardrobe his master gives him. Nay more-for a gentleman, before he hires a servant, will require some testimony of his merit; whereas the master challenges his own right to splendour, though possessed of no merit at all.

UPON

:

UPON my present scheme of dress, it may seem to answer some very good purposes. It is then established on the same foundation, as the judge's robe and the prelate's lawn. If dress were only authorized in men of ingenuity, we should find many aiming at the previous merit, in hopes of the subsequent distinction. The finery of an empty fellow would render him as ridiculous as a star and garter would one never knighted and men would use as commendable a diligence to qualify themselves for a brocaded waistcoat, or a gold snuff-box, as they now do to procure themselves a right of investing their limbs in lawn or ermine. We should not esteem a man a coxcomb for his dress, till, by frequent conversation, we discovered a flaw in his title. If he was incapable of uttering a bon mot, the gold upon his coat would seem foreign to his circumstances. A man should not wear a French dress, till he could give an account of the best French authors; and should be versed in all the oriental languages before he should presume to wear a diamond.

IT may be urged, that men of the greatest merit may not be able to shew it in their distress, on account of their slender income. But here it should be con

sidered

sidered that another part of the world would find their equipage so much reduced by a sumptuary law of this nature, that a very moderate degree of splendour would distinguish them more than a greater does at present.

WHAT I propose, however, upon the whole is, that men of merit should be allowed to dress in proportion to it; but this with the privilege of appearing plain, whenever they found an expediency in so doing: As a nobleman lays aside his garter, when he sees no valuable consequence in the discovery of his quality.

A CHA

A CHARACTER.

Animæ nil magnæ laudis egentes.

HERE is an order of persons in the world whose thoughts never deviate from the common road; whatever events occur, whatever objects present themselves, their observations are as uniform as though they were the consequence of instinct. There is nothing places these men in a more insignificant point of light, than a comparison of their ideas with the refinement of some great genius. I shall only add, by way of reflection, that it is people of this stamp, who, together with the soundest health, often enjoy the greatest equanimity : their passions, like dull steeds, being the least apt to endanger or misguide them: yet such is the fatality! Men of genius are often expected to act with most discretion, on account of that very fancy which is their greatest impediment.

F

I WAS taking a view of Westminster Abbey, with an old gentleman of exceeding honesty, but the same degree of understanding as that I have described.

THERE had nothing passed in our way thither, beside the customary salutations, and an endeavour to decide with accuracy upon the present temperature of the weather. On passing over the threshold, he observed, with an air of thoughtfulness, that it was a brave ancient place.

I TOLD him, I thought there was none more suitable, to moralize upon the futility of all earthly glory, as there was none which contained the ashes of men that had acquired a greater share of it. On this he gave a nod of approbation, but did not seem to comprehend me.

SILENCE ensued for many minutes; when having had time to reflect upon the monuments of men famous in their generations, he stood collected in himself; assuring me there was no sort of excellence could exempt a man from death.

I AP