14. But thofe worthlefs men lead fuch a life of inactivity, as if they defpifed any honors, you can beftow; whilft they afpire to honors, as if they had deferved them by the most induftrious virtue. They lay claim to the rewards of activity, for their having enjoyed the pleafures of luxury; yet none can be more lavish than they are in praife of their ancestors. And they imagin they honor themselves by celebrating their forefathers; whereas they do the very contrary; for as much as their ancestors were distinguished for their virtues, so much are they difgraced by their vices.

15. The glory of ancestors cafts a light, indeed, upon their pofterity; but it only ferves to fhow what the defcendants are. It alike exhibits to public view their degeneracy and their worth. I own I cannot boast of the deeds of my forefathers; but I hope I may anfwer the cavils of the patricians by standing up in defenfe of what I have myself done.

16. Obferve now, my countrymen, the injustice of the pa tricians. They arrogate to themselves honors on account of the exploits done by their forefathers, whilst they will not allow me the due praife for performing the very fame fort of actions in my own perfon. He has no ftatues, they cry, of his family. He can trace no venerable line of ancestors. What then? Is it matter of more praife to difgrace one's illuftrious ancestors, than to become illuftrious by one's own good be. havior?

17. What if I can fhow no ftatues of my family? I can how the ftandards, the armor, and the trappings, which I have myself taken from the vanquished: I can how the fears of thofe wounds, which I have received by facing the enemies of my country. Thefe are my ftatues. Thefe are the honors I boast of; not left me by inheritance, as theirs ; but earned by toil, by abftinence, by valor; amidft clouds of duft and feas of blood; fcenes of action, where those effeminate patricians, who endeavor by indirect means to depreciate me in your esteem, have never dared to fhow their faces.

A DIALOGUE, written in the year 1776, by Mr. ANDRUS, of Yale College, fince deceased.

Blithe. HOW now, Mr. Hunks, have you fettled the controverfy with Baxter ?

Hunks. Yes, to a fraction, upon condition that he would

pay me fix per cent, upon all his notes and bonds, from the date until they were discharged.

Blithe. Then it feems you have bro't him to your own

terms.

Hunks. Indeed I have; I would fettle with him upon no other. Men now a-days think it a dreadful hardship to pay a little intereft; and will quibble a thousand ways to fool a body out of his just property. But I've grown too old to be cheated in that manner. I take care to fecure the interest as well as the principal. And to prevent any difficulty, I take new notes every year, and carefully exact intereft upon intereft, and add it to the principal.

Blithe. You don't exact intereft upon intereft! this looks a little like extortion.

Hunks. Extortion! I have already loft more than five hundred pounds, by a number of rafcally bankrupts. I won't truft a farthing of my money without interest upon intereft.

Blithe. I fee I muft humor his foible, there's no other way to deal with him.-[afide.

Hunks. There's no fecurity in men's obligations, in thefe times. And if I've a sum of money in the hands of thofe we call good chaps, I'm more plagu'd to get it than 'tis all worth. They would be glad to turn me off with mere rubbish, if they could. I'd rather keep my money in my own cheft, than let it out for fuch fmall intereft as I have for it. Blithe. There's fomething I contels in obfervations. We e never know when we are fecure unless we have our property in our chefts or in lands.

your

Hunks. That's true-I'd rather have my property in lands at three per cent, than in the hands of the best man in this town at fix-it is a fact. Lands will grow higher when the

wars are over.

Blithe. You're entirely right. I believe if I'd as much money as you, I fhould be of the fame mind.

Hunks. That's a good difpefition. We must all learn to take care of ourselves thefe hard times. But I wonder how it happens that your difpofition is fo different from your fon's -he's extremely wild and profufe-I fhould think it was not poffible for you with all pour prudence and dexterity, to get money as fast as he would pend it.

Blithe. Oh, he's young and airy; we must make allowan

ces for fuch things; we ufed to do fo ourselves when we were young men.

Hunks. No, you are mistaken; I never wore a neckcloth nor a pair of fhoe-buckles, on a week day, in my life. But this is now become neceffary among the lowest ranks of people. Blithe. You have been very fingular; there are few men in our age that have been fo frugal and faving as you have. But we must all endeavor to, conform ourselves a little to the cuftoms of the times. My fon is not more extravagant than other young people of his age. He loves to drink a glass of wine fometimes, with his companions, and to appear pretty gaily dreft; but this is only what is natural and customary for every one. I understand he has formed fome connections with your eldest daughter, and I fhould be fond of the allance, if I could gain your approbation in the matter.

Hunks. The customs of the times will undo us all there's no living in this prodigal age. The young people must have their bottles, their tavern dinners, and dice, while the old ones are made perfect drudges to fupport their luxury.

Blithe. Our families, fir, without doubt, would be very happy in such a connection, if you would grant your confent. Hunks. I lofe all patience when I fee the young beaux and fops, ftrutting about the ftreets in their laced coats and ruffled fhirts, and a thousand other extravagant articles of expense. Blithe. Sir, I fhould be very glad if you would turn your attention to the question I propofed.

Hunks. There's one half of these coxcomical spendthrifts, that can't pay their taxes, and yet they are constantly running in debt, and their prodigality must be fupported by poor, honeft, laboring men.

Blithe. This is infufferable; I'm vex'd at the old fellow's impertinence-[afide.

Hunks. The world has got to a strange país, a very strange pass indeed; there's no distinguishing a poor man from a rich one, but only by his extravagant drefs, and fupercillious be

haviour.

Blithe. I abhor to fee a man all mouth and no ears.

Hunks. All mouth and no ears! do you mean to infult me to my face?

Blithe. I afk your pardon, Sir; but I've been talking to you this hour and you have paid me no attention.

Hunks. Well and what is this mighty affair upon which you want my opinion.

Blithe. It is fomething you have paid very little attention to, it seems; I'm willing to be heard in my turn, as well as you. I was telling that my fon had entered into a treaty of marriage with year eldeft daughter, and I defire you confent in the matter.

Hunks. A treaty of marriage! why did'nt fhe ak my lib. erty before the attempted any fuch thing? A treaty of marriage! I won't hear a word of it.

Blithe. The young couple are very fond of each other, and may perhaps be ruin'd if you cross their inclinations.

Hunks. Then let them be ruined.

I'll have my daughter to know the hall make no treaties without my confent.

Blithe. She's of the fame mind, that's what she wants now. Hunks. But you fay the treaty is already made; however I'll make it over again.

Blithe. Well, Sir, the ftronger the better.

Hunks. But I mean to make it void.

Blithe. I want no trifling in the matter; the fubject is not of a trifling nature. I expect you will give me a direct answer

one way or the other.

Hunks. If that's what you defire, I can tell you at once, I have two very strong objections against the propofal; one is, I diflike your fon; and the other is, I have determined another match for my daughter. Blithe. Why do you diflike my fon, pray?

upon

Hunks. O, he's like the reft of mankind, running on in this extravagant way of living. My estate was earned too hard to be trifled away in fuch a manner.

Blithe. Extravagant! I'm fure he is very far from deferv. ing that character. 'Tis true, he appears genteel and fashionable among people, but he's in good bufinefs, and above board, and that's fufficient for any man.

Hunks. 'Tis fashionable I fuppofe, to powder and curl at the barber's an hour or two before he visits his miftrefs; to Pay fix pence or eight pence for brushing his boots; to drink a glafs of wine at every tavern; to dine upon fowls dreft in the richest manner and he must dirty two or three ruffled shirts in the journey. This is your genteel fashionable Blithe. Indeed, Sir, it is a matter of importance to appear is it? way,

decently at fuch a time if ever. Would you have him go as you used to do, upon the fame business, drefs'd in a long ill hapen coat, a greafy pair of breeches, and a flap'd hat; with your oats in one fide of your faddle bags and your dinner in the other? This would make an odd appearance in the prefent

age.

Hunks. A fig for the appearance, fo long as I gain'd my point, and fav'd my money, and confequently my credit. The coat you mention is the fame I have on now. 'Tis not fo very long as you would reprefent it to be-[Measuring the Skirts by one leg.] See, it comes juft below the calf. This is the coat that my father was married in and I after him. It has been in the fashion five times fince it was new, and never was altered, and 'tis a pretty good coat yet.

Blithe. You've a wonderful faculty of faving your money and credit and keeping in the fashion at the fame time. I fuppofe you mean by faving your credit, that money and credit are infeparably connected.

Hunks. Yes, that they are; he that has one need not fear the lofs of the other. For this reafon, I can't consent to your fon's propofal; he's too much of a, fpendthrift to merit my approbation.

Blithe. If you call him a fpendthrift for his generofity, I defire he may never merit your approbation. A reputation that's gained by faving money in the manner you have mention. ed, is at best but a despicable character.

Hunks. Do you mean to call my character despicable? Blithe. We wont quarrel about the name, fince you are fo well contented with the thing.

Hunks. You're welcome to your opinion: I would not give a fiddle stick's end for your good or ill will; my ideas of reputation are entirely different from your's or your fon's which are juft the fame; for I find you justify him in all his conduct. But as I have determined upon another match for my daughter, I fhan't trouble myself about his behavior.

Blithe. But perhaps your propofed match will be equally difagreeable.

Hunks. No I've no apprehenfion of that. He's a perfon of a fine genius and an excellent character.

Blithe. Sir, I defire to know who this perfon is, that has fuch a genius and character, and is fo agreeable to your taste.