employed in trifles; that so much humanity should be so little
beneficial to others, and so much industry so little advantageous
to himself. The same temper of mind and application to affairs
might have recommended him to the publick esteem, and have raised
his fortune in another station of life. What good to his country
or himself might not a trader or merchant have done with such
useful tho' ordinary qualifications?

Will Wimble's is the case of many a younger brother of a great
family, who had rather see their children starve like gentlemen,
than thrive in a trade or profession that is beneath their
quality. This humour fills several parts of Europe with pride
and beggary. It is the happiness of a trading nation, like ours,
that the younger sons, tho' uncapable of any liberal art or
profession, may be placed in such a way of life as may perhaps
enable them to vie with the best of their family. Accordingly,
we find several citizens that were launched into the world with
narrow fortunes, rising by an honest industry to greater estates
than those of their elder brothers. It is not improbable but
Will was formerly tried at divinity, law, or physick; and that
finding his genius did not lie that way, his parents gave him up
at length to his own inventions. But certainly, however improper
he might have been for studies of a higher nature, he was
perfectly well turned for the occupations of trade and commerce.
As I think this is a point which cannot be too much inculcated, I
shall desire my reader to compare what I have here written with
what I have said in my twenty-first speculation.