ing into my room after dinner, I was secretly touched with
compassion towards the honest gentleman that had dined with us; and could
not but consider with a great deal of concern, how so good an heart and
such busy hands were wholly employed in trifles; that so much humanity
should be so little beneficial to others, and so much industry so little
advantageous to himself. The same temper of mind and application to
affairs, might have recommended him to the public esteem, and have raised
his fortune in another station of life. What good to his country or
himself might not a trader or merchant have done with such useful though
ordinary qualifications?

Will Wimble's is the case of many a younger brother of a great family,
who had rather see their children starve like gentlemen, than thrive in a
trade or profession that is beneath their quality. This humour[61] fills
several parts of Europe with pride and beggary. It is the happiness of a
trading nation, like ours, that the younger sons, though incapable of any
liberal art or profession, may be placed in such a way of life, as may
perhaps enable them to vie with the best of their family: accordingly we
find several citizens that were launched into the world with narrow
fortunes, rising by an honest industry to greater estates than those of
their elder brothers. It is not improbable but Will was formerly tried at
divinity, law, or physic; and that, finding his genius did not lie that
way, his parents gave him up at length to his own inventions; but
certainly, however improper he might have been for studies of a higher
nature, he was perfectly well turned[62] for the occupations of trade and
commerce. As I think this is a point which cannot be too much
inculcated, I shall desire my reader to compare what I have here written
with what I have said in my twenty-first speculation.

L.

FOOTNOTES:

[53] _Jack._ Pike.

[54] _Country._ Country-side.

[55] _Officious._ Obliging.

[56] _Correspondence._ Inter-communication.

[57] _Made._ Trained.

[58] _Discovered._ Showed.

[59] _Foiled._ Rendered helpless.

[60] _Quail-pipe._ Device for decoying quails.

[61] _Humour._ Prejudice.

[62] _Turned._ Fitted by nature.

NO. 109. THURSDAY, JULY 5

_Abnormis sapiens._

HOR. _Sat._ ii. l. 2. ver. 3.

Of plain good sense, untutor'd in the schools.

I was this morning walking in the gallery when Sir Roger entered at the
end opposite to me, and a