LETTER VIII. TRADES. No extensive Manufactories in the Borough: yet considerable Fortunes made there.-Ill Judgment of Parents in disposing of their Sons.-The best educated not the most likely to succeed.-Instance.-Want of Success compensated by the lenient Power of some Avocations. -The Naturalist.-The Weaver an Entomologist, &c. -A Prize-Flower.-Story of Walter and William. OF Manufactures, Trade, Inventions rare, "Tis small: we boast not these rich Subjects here, Still common Minds with us in common Trade, * The title of a short piece of humour by Arbuthnot. This they encourag'd, and were blest to see A Living fell, he married, and his Sire Children then bless'd them, and when Letters came, "Martin," said he," at vast expense was taught, Yet let us own that Trade has much of Chance, Not all the Careful by their Care advance; With the same Parts and Prospects, one a Seat Builds for himself; one finds it in the Fleet. Then to the Wealthy, you will see denied, Comforts and Joys that with the Poor abide : There are who labour through the Year, and yet No more have gain'd than—not to be in Debt; Who still maintain the same laborious course, Yet Pleasure hails them from some favourite source; And Health, Amusements, Children, Wife or Friend, With Life's dull views their Consolations blend. Nor these alone possess the lenient power Of soothing Life in the desponding hour; Some favourite Studies, some delightful Care, The Mind, with Trouble and Distresses, share; And by a Coin, a Flower, a Verse, a Boat, With all his Phlegm, it broke a Dutchman's Heart, flies; Who broke that Morning from their half-year's Sleep, With every filmy Fly from Mead or Bower, And hungry Sphinx who threads the honey'd Flower; She o'er the Larkspur's Bed, where Sweets abound, Views ev'ry Bell, and hums th' approving Sound; Pois'd on her busy Plumes, with Feeling nice She draws from every Flower, nor tries a Floret twice. He fears no Bailiff's wrath, no Baron's blame, His is untax'd and undisputed Game; Nor less the place of curious Plant he knows*; The glorious Flower which bore the palm away; His was the Prize, and joy o'erflow'd his heart. * In botanical language "the habitat," the favourite soil or situation of the more scarce species. + This, it must be acknowledged, is contrary to the opinion of Thomson, and I believe of some other poets, who, in describing the varying hues of our most beautiful flowers, have considered them as lost and blended with each other; whereas their beauty, in the eye of a florist (and I conceive in that of the uninitiated also), depends upon the distinctness of their colours: the stronger the bounding line, and the less they break into the neighbouring tint, so much the richer and more valuable is the flower esteemed. Pin-ey'd. An auricula, or any other single flower, is so called when the stigma (the part which arises from the seed-vessel) is protruded beyond the tube of the flower, and becomes visible. This word, so far as it relates to flowers, means those variegated with three or more colours irregularly and indeter minately. Thus may the Poor the cheap Indulgence seize, While the most Wealthy pine and pray for Ease; Content not always waits upon Success, And more may he enjoy who profits less. Walter and William took (their Father dead) Jointly the Trade to which they both were bred; When fix'd, they married, and they quickly found With due success their honest labours crown'd: Few were their Losses, but although a few, Walter was vex'd, and somewhat peevish grew; You put your trust in every pleading Fool,' Said he to William, and grew strange and cool. "Brother, forbear," he answer'd, “take your due, "Nor let my lack of caution injure you:" Half Friends they parted,-better so to close, Than longer wait to part entirely Foes. Walter had Knowledge, Prudence, jealous Care; He let no idle Views his Bosom share; He never thought nor felt for other Men'Let one mind one, and all are minded then.' Friends he respected, and believ'd them just, But they were Men, and he would no Man trust; He tried and watch'd his People day and night,— The Good it harm'd not; for the Bad 'twas right, He could their humours bear, nay disrespect, But he could yield no pardon to neglect; That all about him were of him afraid, 'Was right,' he said- so should we be obey'd.' These Merchant-maxims, much Good-fortune too, And ever keeping one grand Point in view, To vast Amount his once small Portion drew. William was kind and easy; he complied With all requests, or griev'd when he denied ; To please his Wife he made a costly Trip, To please his Child he let a Bargain slip; |