But it is only over minds of a higher order that external circumftances do not poflefs a power to push them from that equilibrum in which virtue and happiness reside. Ordinary men will equally feel the i±flation of profperity, and the harfhnefs of a lefs favourable fituation; will in the one cafe incur the contempt and derifion of the world, and in the other experience. the grating of a ruffled fpirit. Moderation and. wisdom would teach the one to procure respect, and the other to attain good-humour.

I remember fome years ago,—it was during the last war, and it is of no importance that I have forgot the exact date,-being invited to dine at the house of Mr. Draper, one of the moft confiderable merchants in this country.. Mr. Draper twenty years ago was not worth a fhilling; but by a course of industry, and great intelligence in his profeffion, he is reported fince that time to have realized a very great for

tune.

The principal part of our company, I found, upon entering the houfe, confifted of Sir Wil ham Roberts, his Lady, and children, Sir WilHam is a country gentleman, the representative of a very old and refpectable family, whofe anecftors were once in pofiffion of a great cftate but partly from a want of œconomy in some of s proprietors, and partly from the change in

manners

manners and the mode of living, it is now dwindled down to an inconfiderable amount. Sir William, however, ftill feels ftrongly the pride of ancient family, and is apt to be hurt by the rife of those new men who are but of yesterday, and yet overtop him in wealth.

When I entered the drawing-room the company were pretty generally affembled. Sir William's manner attracted my notice, and I found in it the most finished complaifance and attention. There was a degree of politeness which carried in its appearance the utmost respect and condefcenfion to Mr. Draper and his family at the fame time there was a formal distance which was calculated to prevent them from using any familiarity with him; and instead of fhewing that Sir William really felt high reverence for the company, contained evident marks of his confidering himself as much above them. We stoop as well as rife with difficulty; 'tis only on even ground that we carry ourselves eafily.

Draper's manner was very different. Without being in the least moved by Sir William's formal obeifance, he went on in his ufual way, giving a difplay of the richness of his house and furniture. I had not been long in the company when he took occafion to observe, that he never knew the times fo bad as now, and never was money 'fcarcer. This very morning, continued

he,

he, I was applied to for payment of a bond of L.10,cco, against next Whitfun-term; but inftead of waiting for the term, I gave orders that the money fhould be paid immediately. Sir William looked, and was filent.

At this time there came into the room a fon of Mr. Draper's, a boy about ten years of age. The boy was at the public school of the city; and that very day, agreeably to a pretty general cuftom, the fcholars had been making a prefent or offering, as it is called, in money, to their masters. It is the practice, in such cases, for children of rich parents to vie with one another who shall give the greatest present; and the vanity of the parents is generally as much interefted on the occafion as that of the fons.

Papa," fays young Draper, "I was King at "school to-day, having given the highest of

fering." Sir William faid nothing; but his fon, a lively little fellow, about the fame age, and in the fame clafs with Mr. Draper's fon, fprung forward, and gave him a blow in the face, which fet him a-crying. This incident produced fome confufion, but the company was at length compofed.

Dinner was now ferved up. It confifted of two magnificent courfes and a deflert; and Mr. Draper frequently obferved, that part of the difhes came from his little farm in the Weft In

dies. Sir William eat but of one difh, obferving, that he always found his health and his appetite best when he dined plainly.

After dinner, a great variety of wines were fet upon the table. Sir William, instead of drinking the high-priced French and Hunga rian wines, tasted nothing but a little Port and water; repeating his former obfervation, that as he eat, fo he regulated his drinking, for his ftomach's fake.

In a little time one of the fervants brought in Mr. Draper's letters. Mr. Draper looked them over, and then began to talk of politics. He faid, he had got a variety of important intelligence in the dispatches he had received, and talked with the confidence of a rich man, whose credit in point of information was as unimpeachable as in point of wealth. He mentioned, in particular, information which that day's poft had brought him, of the deftination of a certain fecret expedition then going on, and that he knew well the troops were about that time making good their landing at the appointed place. Sir William had, just the day before, received a letter from a coufin of his, the fecond in command on that expedition, telling him that the troops were not yet failed, and that their object was still unknown. Sir William faid nothing of this, but allowed Mr.

Draper

Draper to plume himself on his fuperior information; only I, who knew the circumftance, obferved a fmile on the Baronet's face, of which I could tranflate all the confcious fuperiority.

My attention was now turned to the younger members of the two families. I obferved Mr. Draper's eldest son, a good-looking lad of four and twenty, paying very particular attention to the eldest Mifs Roberts, next whom he happened to be feated. This attention was not unobferved by the parents. Mr. Draper, with all his attachment to wealth, was not without the ambition of connecting his children with ancient blood; and an alliance with the family of the Robertfes, who had long been at the head of the county, and had frequently reprefented it in parliament, would not have been disagreeable to him. As the Drapers had hitherto triumphed in their wealth, so now the Robertfes began to triumph in their ancestry. Mr. Draper obferved, that his was as yet but a young family, and faid fomething of the high refpect he had for the family of Sir William Roberts; how happy it made him that his prefent company had eat a bit of mutton with him, and what fatisfaction it would give him to cultivate a closer friendship and connection with them. He therefore propofed that the company fhould drink a bumper to their better acquaintance; and in