And if they should get themselves erected into a Corporation, 'tis what I have long expected, and they cannot do a better thing. But to proceed: the Situation of our Country inclines us to Commerce, and the Genius of our People determines them to Play. The Merchant often rifks his whole Effects in one Bottom, and the Gentleman often hazards all his Estate upon one Rubber: 'Tis true they are both liable to the Strokes of Fortune; for one cannot command the Winds and the Waves, any more than the other can the Aces and Honours; but their Defigns are the fame, equally tending to advance their Family, and to ferve their Country. The whole Diftinction is, that when the fatal Stroke happens, one is styled a Bankrupt, the other a Cull; but for my own Part, I must be indulged in calling the Gamefter, under those Circumftances, a Broken Merchant, because it was the Term we used at School when a Boy had loft all his Marbles.

But now, to fee the different Treatment the mifjudging World affords to thefe two baffled Adventurers One is received with Pity, the other with Infamy; neglected by his Friends, infulted by his Enemies, defpifed by all.-This is the Reward of diftreffed Merit in this Northern Climate! These are the Fruits a Gentleman is to expect after having facrificed his Time, Health, and Quiet, in the Profecution of a noble Scheme, merely because he has happened, in the Experiment, to beggar himself and his Pofterity.

But I hope thefe Gentlemen, when they are brought to a Situation wherein they shall no longer choofe to be popular, I truft, they will appeal from the Clamours of the Multitude, to the ftill Voice of their own Confcience - And when they shall hear themselves traduced as Poifoners of Morals, and Corruptors of Youth, they will lay their Hands upon their Breafts (where they will be fure to find all quict) and reflect that all this happened to Socrates long ago.

I now come to thofe Objections wherein the Gamefter is taxed as an Enemy to the general Good of the Community. And first, those old-fashioned Politicians (there are not many of them left) who think Righteousness exalteth a Nation, are in Pain for the general Defection to Vice, which Gaming occafions; and they are grievously åfraid that the horrid Oaths and Blafphemies which are daily vented, and numberless Frauds which are inceffantly practifed, will foon complete the Measure of our Iniquities, and bring on the third Earthquake very shortly.

As to Oaths, the Objection, I must needs fay, is frivolous enough; for all Perfons are agreed, Gentemen must swear fomewhere, what is the matter whether it be done in the Progrefs of a Rubber, or an Intrigue, in W-te's Chocolate-house, or a Lady's Bed-Chamber? But for my own Part, fince Perjuries have been fo freely tolerated of late, I thought, (and if I am wrong I beg Pardon for a very innocent Mistake)

2

Miftake) I took it for granted that Oaths had been allowed, as tending to enliven Conversation, and to revive Eloquence.

The Suppofition of Blafphemy muft proceed from a Want of Candour, which, I hope, few will imitate. Such Words fhould not be rafhly applied to large Affemblies, where it is odds but far the greater Part are entirely innocent; for how can Men blafpheme a Power which they do not acknowledge to exift?

As to Frauds, they could never be suspected, if the Principles on which Gentlemen regulate their Conduct were once known, which I fhall therefore take leave to disclose as briefly as poffible.

It is agreed by Philofophers, there is a ftrict Analogy between the Natural and Moral Systems. Now as the Mafs of Nature, according to Ariftotle, is compounded out of four principal Ingredients, to which he afterwards added a Quinta Effentia, of more refined Nature and occult Qualities; fo Morality is formed in like manner out of four Elements, which are vulgarly styled the Cardinal Virtues, befides which there is a Quintessence called Honour, for the Ufe of the Nobility, Gentry, but No Others; for thus the matter is ordered; the Mob content themfelves with the Elements, leaving to the Quality the fole Poffeffion of the Quintessence. As to defining it, I fhall not fet about it for the prefent, nor in all Likelihood for the Time to come, it being a thing much easier to be felt than understood.-And here withou

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without the leaft Intention to offend the Clergy (for whofe Function I have a fincere Reverence) I muft have Permiffion to hint one thing.-It would be well taken, if they would drop this Subject entirely in all their Difcourfes and Writings.-There is a fecret Impediment in a Gown and Band, which disqualifies the Owner from faying any thing to the Purpose on this head; for as a Noble Lord well obferved, Honour should never be mentioned in the Pulpit, nor Religion out of it. Not that I think Justice should altogether be discarded; and I am of opinion that Temperance, with fome few Improvements, might be made useful enough: But Honour !

By Heavens it were an eafy Leap

To pluck bright Honour from the pale fac'd Moon,
Or dive into the Bottom of the Deep,

And pluck up drowned Honour by the Locks. Shakespear.

I hope no Man alive will say any thing against Honour in my Hearing.

It is likewise alledged that Gaming has a Tendency to destroy all Diftinctions of Rank and Quality; for that many Perfons of the moft fordid and obfcure Families are hereby introduced to Familiarities with the Great, by which the Dignity of the P-age is debafed.

With Submiffion I am of a different Opinion: I think the Dignity of the P-r-ge is most effectually debased by Pride, and exalted by Condefcenfion. What can be more amiable than to fee Perfons of

the

the highest Rank vying with each other to caress an unfortunate Man, that is making a defperate Pufh with the last Handful of Guineas he has in the World? Propofing Betts with so much Affability, taking his Money in fuch a friendly Manner, and adminiftring the last Offices to him with such a Fund of Humanity? I fee no Juftice in excluding every Stranger from an E O Table, that cannot produce a Pedigree traced from the Conqueft: If he has the Drefs, and Purfe of a Gentleman, that is fufficient: As for a full and true Account of his Birth, Parentage, and Education,-let that be referved for another Time and Place.

To say the Truth, these Questions about Family are more for Curiofity than Ufe; and do but serve to delay Bufinefs. For when a Dozen Carrion Birds are met together in a Field, and get Scent of a Car cafe, I never could obferve them debating whether it were an Horse or an Ass they were about to devour: All they do is, to vote themselves hungry, and fall on without farther Ceremony.

Laftly, it is urged, the Example is pernicious: Vices of Quality naturally descend to a lower Sphere, and infect those, who can eafily learn the Corruptions, without having the Refources of Wealth; from whence Violence and Rapine are practifed, as the only means to feed Riot and Extravagance.

I am afraid this Reasoning will prove rather more than it intended; for at this rate Gentlemen must

reftrain