of this monftrous trial of fkill, whether or no they are not guilty, in fome measure, of an affront to their fpecies, in treating after this manner the HUMAN FACE DIVINE, and turning that part of us, which has fo great an image impreffed upon it, into the image of a monkey; whether the railing fuch filly competitions among the ignorant, propofing prizes for fuch ufelefs accomplishments, filling the common people's heads with fuch fenfelefs ambitions, and infpiring them with fuch abfurd ideas of fuperiority and pre-eminence, has not in it fomething immoral as well as ridiculous *.

L

*The foregoing Paper had fuch an effect, that immediately on publifting it, the propofed GRINNING-MATCH was laid afide,With fuch refpect were the Spectator's admonitions received in those days, even in a diftant county. An attention that perhaps would not have been paid to them now.

In the 2d Vol. of "Original Letters fent to the Spectator, &c." afterwards published in 1725, 8vo. is one from Coleshill to inform him what public deference had been paid to his opinion (chiefly thro' the mediation of fome neighbouring ladies) and to beg his directions how to difpofe of the Grinning-prize. See ut fupra No 29, P. 72; and TAT. with Notes, Vol. III. No 110, p. 339, note P.

N° 174 Wednesday, September 19, 1711.

Hæc memini & victum fruftra contendere Thyrfin. Virg. Ecl. vii. 69. "The whole debate in memory I retain, "When Thyrfis argued warmly, but in vain." P.

T

HERE is fcarce any thing more common than animofities between parties that cannot fubfilt but by their agreement: this was well reprefented in the fedition of the members of the human body in the old Roman fablet. It is often the case of leffer confederate ftates against a fuperior power, which are hardly held together, though their unanimity is

LIVII Hift. Dec. I. Lib. ii. cap. 32.

neceffary

neceffary for their common fafety: and this is always the cafe of the landed and trading intereft of GreatBritain: the trader is fed by the product of the land, and the landed man cannot be clothed but by the skill of the trader; and yet those interests are ever jarring.

We had laft winter an instance of this at our club, in Sir ROGER DE COVERLEY and SIR ANDREW FREEPORT, between whom there is generally a conftant, though friendly, oppofition of opinions. It happened that one of the company, in an hiftorical difcourle, was obferving, that Carthaginian faith was a proverbial phrafe to intimate breach of leagues. Sir ROGER faid it could hardly be otherwife: that the Carthaginians were the greatest traders in the world; and as gain is the chief end of fuch a people, they never purfue any other: the means to it are never regarded: they will, if it comes eafily, get money honeftly; but if not, they will not fcruple to attain it by fraud or cozenage: and indeed, what is the whole bufinefs of the trader's account, but to over-reach him who trufts to his memory? But were not that fo, what can there great and noble be expected from him whofe attention is for ever fixed upon balancing his books, and watching over his expences? And at beft, let frugality and parfimony be the virtues of the merchant, how much is his punctual dealing below a gentleman's charity to the poor, or hofpitality among his neighbours?

Captain SENTRY obferved Sir ANDREW very dili. gent in hearing Sir ROGER, and had a mind to turn the difcourfe, by taking notice in general, from the highest to the lowest parts of human fociety, there was a fecret, though unjust, way among men, of indulging the feeds of ill-nature and envy, by comparing their own ftate of life to that of another, and grudging the approach of their neighbour to their own happiness; and on the other fide, he, who is the lefs at his eafe, repines at the other, who he thinks has unjustly the advantage over him. Thus the civil and military lifts look upon each other with much ill-nature; the foldier repines at the courtier's power, and the courtier rallies the foldier's honour; or, to come to lower inftances, the pri

vate

vate men in the horse and foot of an army, the carmen and coachmen in the city streets, mutually look upon each other with ill-will, when they are in competition for quarters, or the way, in their respective motions.

It is very well, good captain, interrupted Sir ANDREW: You may attempt to turn the difcourfe if you think fit; but I must however have a word or two with Sir ROGER, who, I see, thinks he has paid me off, and been very fevere upon the merchant. I fhall not, continued he, at this time remind Sir ROGER of the great and noble monuments of charity and public spirit, which have been erected by merchants fince the reformation, but at prefent content myself with what he allows us, parfimony and frugality. If it were confiftent with the quality of fo ancient a baronet as Sir ROGER, to keep an account, or measure things by the most infallible way, that of numbers, he would prefer our parfimony to his hofpitality. If to drink fo many hogsheads is to be hofpitable, we do not contend for the fame of that virtue; but it would be worth while to confider, whether fo many artificers at work ten days together by my appointment, or fo many peafants made merry on Sir ROGER's charge, are the men more obliged? I believe the families of the artificers will thank me, more than the houshold of the peafants fhall Sir ROGER. Sir ROGER gives to his men, but I place mine above the neceffity or obligation of my bounty. I am in very little pain for the Roman proverb upon the Carthaginian traders; the Romans were their profeffed enemies: I am only forry no Carthaginian hiftories have come to our hands; we might have been taught perhaps by them fome proverbs against the Roman generofity, in fighting for and beftowing other people's goods. But fince Sir ROGER has taken

occafion from an old proverb to be out of humour with merchants, it should be no offence to offer one not quite fo old in their defence. When a man happens to break in Holland, they fay of him that "he has not kept true accounts." This phrafe, perhaps among us, would appear a foft or humourous way of fpeaking, but with that exact nation it bears the highest reproach. For a man to be mistaken in the calculation

of

of his expence, in his ability to anfwer future demands, or to be impertinently fanguine in putting his credit to too great adventure, are all inftances of as much infamy as with gayer nations to be failing in courage or common honesty.

NUMBERS are fo much the measure of every thing that is valuable, that it is not poffible to demonstrate the fuccess of any action, or the prudence of any undertaking without them. I fay this in anfwer to what Sir ROGER is pleafed to fay, That little that is truly noble can be expected from one who is ever poring on his cash-book, or balancing his accounts. When I have my returns from abroad, I can tell to a fhilling, by the help of numbers, the profit or lofs by my adventure; but I ought alfo to be able to fhew that I had reason for making it, either from my own experience, or that of other people, or from a reasonable prefumption that my returns will be fufficient to anfwer my expence and hazard; and this is never to be done without the skill of numbers. For instance, if I am to trade to Turkey, I ought beforehand to know the demand of our manufactures there, as well as of their filks in England, and the customary prices that are given for both in each country. I ought to have a clear knowledge of thefe matters beforehand, that I may prefume upon fufficient returns to anfwer the charge of the cargo I have fitted out, the freight and affurance out and home, the customs to the queen, and the intereft of my own money, and befides all thefe expences a reasonable profit to myself. Now what is there of fcandal in this kill? What has the merchant done, that he thould be fo little in the good graces of Sir ROGER? He throws down no man's inclofures, and tramples upon no man's corn; he takes nothing from the industrious labourer; he pays the poor man for his work; he communicates his profit with mankind; by the preparation of his cargo, and the manufacture of his returns, he furnishes employment and fubfiftence to greater numbers than the richest nobleman; and even the nobleman is obliged to him for finding out foreign markets for the produce of his eftate, and for making a great addition to his rents; and yet it is certain, that none of all these things VOL. III,

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could

could be done by him without the exercise of his skill in numbers.

This is the economy of the merchant; and the conduct of the gentleman must be the fame, unless by fcorning to be the fteward, he refolves the fteward shall be the gentleman. The gentleman, no more than the merchant, is able, without the help of numbers, to account for the fuccefs of any action, or the prudence of any adventure. If, for instance, the chace is his whole adventure, his only returns must be the ftag's horns in the great hall, and the fox's nofe upon the ftable door. Without doubt Sir ROGER knows the full value of these returns; and if beforehand he had computed the charges of the chace, a gentleman of his difcretion would certainly have hanged up all his dogs; he would never have brought back fo many fine horses to the kennel, he would never have gone fo often, like a blaft, over fields of corn. If fuch too had been the conduct of all his ancestors, he might truly have boasted at this day, that the antiquity of his family had never been fullied by a trade; a merchant had never been permitted with his whole eftate to purchase a room for his picture in the gallery of the COVERLEYS, or to claim his defcent from the maid of honour. But it is very happy for Sir ROGER that the merchant paid fo dear for his ambition. It is the misfortune of niany other gentlemen to turn out of the feats of their ancestors, to make way for fuch new masters as have been more exact in their accounts than themselves; and certainly he deferves the estate a great deal better, who has got it by his industry, than he who has loft it by his negligence.

*By STEELE.

Adv. An admirable Confect which affuredly cures stuttering or ftammering in children or adults, tho' never so bad, causing them to speak diftinct and free, without any trouble or difficulty. It remedies all manner of impediment in the fpeech, or diforders of the voice of any kind, proceeding from what caufe foever. Its ftupendous effects are quick, infallible, and really wonderful. Price 2s. and 6d. a pot, with directions.

ttt The famous Bavarian Red Liquor, which gives a moft delightful blufhing, &c. It is nothing of paint, and not to be pe:ceived to be artificial by the nearest friend, &c. Price 3s. and 6d. a bottle, with directions. SPECT. in folio.

Thursday,