No extensive manufactories in the Borough: yet considerable Fortunes made there. of their Sons- The succeed-Instance Ill Judgment of Parents in disposing best educated not the most likely to Want of Success compensated by the The - A Prize-Flower Story of lenient Power of some Avocations - The Naturalist 145 THE BOROUGH. LETTER VIII. TRADES. Or manufactures, trade, inventions rare, share 'Tis small: we boast not these rich subjects here, Who hazard thrice ten thousand pounds a year; We've no huge buildings, where incessant noise Is made by springs and spindles, girls and boys; Where, 'mid such thundering sounds, the maiden's song Is" Harmony in Uproar" (1) all day long. Still common minds with us in common trade, Have gain'd more wealth than ever student made; And yet a merchant, when he gives his son His college-learning, thinks his duty done; A way to wealth he leaves his boy to find, Just when he's made for the discovery blind. (1) The title of a short piece of humour by Arbuthnot. VOL. III. L Jones and his wife perceived their elder boy Took to his learning, and it gave them joy; This they encouraged, and were bless'd to see Their son a fellow with a high degree; A living fell, he married, and his sire Declared 'twas all a father could require; Children then bless'd them, and when letters came, The parents proudly told each grandchild's name. Meantime the sons at home in trade wer placed, Money their object-just the father's taste; What estimate is made by vulgar minds; Yet let us own that Trade has much of chance, And health, amusements, children, wife, or friend, With all his phlegm, it broke a Dutchman's heart, (1) The tulip mania prevailed, in 1637, to such an extent in Holland, that a single root has been sold for five thousand florins, together with a new carriage, two grey horses, and a complete harness. The tulips, however, were seldom delivered. A nobleman bespoke of a merchant a tulip root, to be delivered in six months, at the price of a thousand florins. During these six months the price of that species of tulip must have risen or fallen, or remained as it was. But instead of demanding his tulip then, he paid or received the difference of price. This singular species of gaming could, from its nature, only go to a limited extent: the value of tulip roots began to fall. The sellers were then anxious to deliver the roots in natura; but the buyers would not receive them. The consequence was, that tulips fell very speedily to their intrinsic value, and the gambling was at an end. (2) Different birds require different sorts of calls; but they are mostly Or whether tumblers, croppers, carriers seize There is my friend the Weaver; strong desires flies; [sleep, Who broke that morning from their half-year's And hungry Sphinx who threads the honey'd flower; 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 ;(1) He both his Flora and his Fauna shows; composed of a pipe or reed, with a little leather purse or bag, somewhat in the form of a bellows; which, by the motion given thereto, yields a noise like that of the species of bird to be taken. (1) In botanical language “ the habitat," the favourite soil or situation of the more scarce species. |