street are to be tolerated on different conditions,
and at different prices; if they are tradesmen, their conversation will
soon end, and may be well paid for by a halfpenny: if an inferior clings
to the skirt of a superior, he will give twopence rather than be pulled
off; and when you are happy enough to meet a lover and his mistress,
never part with them under sixpence, for you may be sure they will never
part from one another.

"So much regards communities of men; but when you hunt single, the great
game of all is to be played. However much you ramble in the day, be sure
to have some street near your home, where your chief residence is, and
all your idle time is spent, for the night. Here learn the history of
every family, and whatever has been the latest calamity; of that provide
a brother or a sister that may pretend the same. If the master of one
house has lost a son, let your eldest brother attack his compassion on
that tender side, and tell him he has lost the sweetest, hopefullest, and
dutifullest child, that was his only comfort: what would the answer be,
but, aye, poor fellow! I know how to pity thee in that; and a shilling be
in as much haste to fly out of his pocket as the first tear from his eye.

"Is the master of a second house sick? waylay his wife from morning till
night, and tell her you will pray, morning, noon, and night for his
recovery. If he dies, grief is the reigning passion for the first
fortnight, let him have been what he would: grief leads naturally to
compassion, so let your sister thrust a pillow under her coats, tell her
she is a poor disconsolate widow, left with seven small children, and
that she lost the best husband in the world; and you may share
considerable gains.

"Whatever people seem to want, give it them largely in your address to
them: call the beau Sweet Gentleman, bless even his coat or perriwig, and
tell him they are happy ladies where he is going. If you meet with a
schoolboy-captain, such as our streets are full of, call him Noble
General; and if the miser can be any way got to strip himself of a
farthing, it will be by the name of Charitable Sir.

"Some people show you in their looks the whole thoughts of their heart,
and give you a fine notice how to succeed with them: if you meet a
sorrowful countenance with a red coat, be sure the wearer is a disbanded
officer: let a female always attack him, and tell him she is the widow of
a poor marine, who had served twe