Miscellaneous Pieces, in Verse and Prose (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1770. Excerpt: ... PIECES, RELIGIOUS, MORAL, AND METAPHYSICAL. ESSAYS PUBLISHED IN A WEEKLY PAPER, fcALLED THE World. THE WORLD. NUMBER CXXV. HAD the many wise philosophers of antiquity, who have so often and so justly compared rthe life of man to a race, lived in the present times, they would have seen the propriety of that simile greatly augmented: for if we observe the behaviour of the polite part of this nation (that is, of all the nation) we shall fee that their whole lives are one continued race; in which every one is endeavouring to distance all behind him, and, to overtake, or pass by, all who are before him:, every one is flying from his inferiors, in pursuit of his superiors, who fly from Him with equal. alacrity. . Were not the consequences of this ridiculous pride of the most destructive nature to the public, the scene wouldbe really entertaining. Every trades f man is a merchant, every merchant is a gentleman, and every gentleman one of the nobless. We area Vj N 3 nation nation of gentry, fopitlas generefofitm: we have no such thing as common people amongst us: between vanity and gin, the species is utterly destroyed. The sons of Our lowest mechanics, acr quiring with thejr learning at charity-schools, the laudable ambition of beeoming gentle-folks, despise their paternal occupations, and are all solicit ing for the honourable employments of tidewaiters and excisemen. Their girls are all milliners, mantua-makers, or lady's women; or presumptuously exercise that genteel profession, which used to be peculiarly reserved for the pdlitelyeducated, but yriportioned daughters of their superiors. Attorneys clerks and city prentice dress like cornets of dragoons-, keep their mistfeflefc and their hunters, criticise at the play, and toast at the tavfcrn. The merchant leay...