INTRODUCTION.

"But for one end, one much neglected use, are riches worth your care:

This noble end is, to shew the virtues in their
fairest light;

To make humanity the minister of bounteous
Providence,

And teach the breast the generous luxury of do

ing good.",

DR. ARMSTRONG.

THERE is scarcely among the evils of life, any so generally, dreaded as poverty. Many other kinds of misery a man may easily forget, because they do not always force themselves upon his regards. But it is impossible to pass a day or an hour, in the company of men without seeing how much poverty is exposed to neglect and insult; and in its lowest state, to hunger and

K

nakedness; to injuries, against which every passion is in arms; and to wants, which nature, without the aids of religion, cannot sustain.

Of these calamities, mankind in general seem to be sensible. We hear on every side the noise of trade; and see the streets thronged with numberless multitudes, whose faces are clouded with anxiety, and whose steps are hurried by precipitation, from no other motive than the hope of gain. The whole world is putin motion by the desire of that wealth, which is chiefly to be valued as it secures us from poverty and its miseries. But there are always some whose passions or follies lead them to a conduct widely different from the general practice of mankind. I mean the thoughtless and the negligent, who, from an excess of carelessness, or the seductions of company, indulge habits of pleasure and expence above their fortunes; and thus mispend their time, or waste the inheritance of

their fathers, without ever seeming to reflect on the great sacrifice they are making, or the gulf to which they approach, till poverty, like an unexpected winter, comes upon them with all its chilling calamities, and awakens them to a pungent sense of ' their folly and wretchedness. The young, and those of the most generous and unsuspecting tempers, often fall into this evil net, out of which they seldom escape without suffering injuries, which they painfully feel and seriously lament through life. No man had a heart more disposed to pity, nor a head more able to counsel these unfortu. nates than the sage Dr. Franklin, the friend of man, and the great economist of America. His little work, entitled, "the Way to Wealth," is universally considered as a master-piece, on the art of making and preserving a fortune. But before we give the Reader a sight of this, we will exhibit to his view some of the many felicities of wealth, that

on seeing how much happiness he may derive from it to himself, and how many services he may therewith confer on others, he may apply with vigour and perseverance to the means conducive to so dsirable an end.

In the first place; Wealth always commands respect, unless its owner be an infamous wretch indeed; and even in that deplorable case, it has the magic powers of charity, to cover and hide a multitude of sins. It gives a man an air of consequence, and like true beauty, without any exertion of its own, wins the favour of all beholders. When the rich man goes into company, every body rise up to salute him: no features too hard to assume a smile: no back so stiff but can afford him a bow. He is placed in the uppermost seat at the table, and men covet to direct their con- ́ versation to him. The poor man speaketh, but no one regardeth; the rich

openeth his mouth, and lo! silence is

kept.

What can be more pleasing to a man thian to see himself thus honoured by his friends? But besides this satisfaction, which to the good, is very exquisite; it has a very happy moral effect on the mind. In a mind possessed of common sensibility, it must kindle the soft fire of good humour, and good humour naturally inspires bene. volence and affection. Whence we infer, that a rich man, who is prudent, stands a much fairer chance to be good humoured than the poor, whose poverty exposes them to such frequent slights and neglects.

In the second place, wealth places a man in a state which all must covet; a state of Independence. To owe no man any thing to be able to go withersoever we please; and to face any company without dread of dunning, is a luxury too divine, even to be conceived by any who have not been haunted and hag ridden