ghed at her, but was not ill-pleased
with the certainty of her power over her husband, who, she knew, would
support her in any humour he was able, rather than pass through the
torment of an expostulation, to gainsay anything she had a mind to. As
soon as my fine lady was gone, I writ the following letter to my
brother:

"DEAR BROTHER,

"I am at present under very much concern at the splendid appearance
I saw my sister make in an equipage which she has set up in your
absence. I beg of you not to indulge her in this vanity; and desire
you to consider, the world is so whimsical, that though it will
value you for being happy, it will hate you for appearing so. The
possession of wisdom and virtue (the only solid distinctions of
life) is allowed much more easily than that of wealth and quality.
Besides which, I must entreat you to weigh with yourself, what it
is that people aim at in setting themselves out to show in gay
equipages, and moderate fortunes. You are not by this means a
better man than your neighbour is; but your horses are better than
his are. And will you suffer care and inquietude, to have it said
as you pass by, 'Those are very pretty punch nags!'[146] Nay, when
you have arrived at this, there are a hundred worthless fellows who
are still four horses happier than you are. Remember, dear brother,
there is a certain modesty in the enjoyment of moderate wealth,
which to transgress, exposes men to the utmost derision; and as
there is nothing but meanness of spirit can move a man to value
himself upon what can be purchased with money, so he that shows an
ambition that way, and cannot arrive at it, is more emphatically
guilty of that meanness. I give you only my first thoughts on this
occasion, but shall, as I am a censor, entertain you in my next
with my sentiments in general upon the subject of equipage; and
show, that though there are no sumptuary laws amongst us, reason
and good sense are equally binding, and will ever prevail in
appointing approbation or dislike in all matters of an indifferent
nature, when they are pursued with earnestness. I am,

"Sir," &c.

ADVERTISEMENTS.

To all Gentlemen, Ladies, and others, that delight in soft lines.

These are to give notice, that the proper time of the year for wri