in Defence of our Calling, is but a mere Pretence. We are govern'd by our Palate, or over-born by the Pleafure of the Company; and then to fence off the Imputation, we make Business our Excufe, and take fhelter in Neceffity. But thefe Allegations are but trifling. For fuppofe my Goods, both for Quality and Price, are fit for my Chap+ man's purpose, will he not deal with me, because I refuse to take Glass for Glass with him? Will he baulk his Intereft, and punish himself for fo fmall an Incompliance? Drinking, by Confeffion, is but fubfervient to Trade, and ministerial to the Pocket; and therefore, one would think it fhould never over-rule the main Design. I don't perceive, but Trades-men fell their Commodities in their Shops well enough without fetting a Bottle upon the Compter.

OEnoph. That's true: However, you may fometimes work a Customer much better at the Tavern. When a Man is enter'd, he is apt to be more pliable and good-natur'd; he is not fo over-burden'd with Caution; he does not haggle fo hard, nor clog the Bargain with fo many Scruples and Demands. Now if you are fo abftemious, it may be, he won't

drink

drink by himself, and then you lose the Benefit of his Humour.

Encrat I fuppofe your Humour is always the fame. You are proof against thefe Difadvantages; your Head is above Water when you plunge deepest: Otherwife, it may be, you would not venture fo far. Your Project, I confefs, is extraordinary. You make a Bait of the Bottle, and give your Friend an Opiate to circumvent him; and when you find his Discretion begins to nod, you feize the Opportunity, and furprize him. Will this Practice ftand the Test of your Confcience? Is it not drinking with a felonious Intent? Does it nor double the Crime, and add Injustice to Intemperance?

O Enoph. When you have faid all; a Man that does not conform to the common Ufage, makes but a wooden Figure on't.

Encrat. Is Custom then the Rule of Life, and the Standard of Practice? And are we never to do any thing without a Majority on our fide? If we are govern'd by Numbers, we fhall live ftrangely at random. If you go to the Poll, Senfe and Confcience will lofe it in moft cafes. Certainly you don't confider the Confequences of Drinking, otherwise

you

you wou'd not talk at this rate.

OEnoph. Now, I fuppofe, we must have a Declamation upon this Head.

Encrat. No, I won't be tedious; but pray, have a care you don't get too much of this Rhetorick into your Bones. If you continue to gorge your felf with this Freedom, you will find the Tone of your Stomach weaken'd, the Acids spoil'd, and your Digestion good for nothing: And when you are once difabled in this Faculty, your Conftitution is undermin'd, and the Business commonly ends in Dropfy or Confumption. This Misfortune in the first Concoction, ruins all. Unless the Juices are well prepar'd in the Stomach, the Blood and Spirits must fuffer of course, the Nerves and Muscles relax, and the Functions of Life lie by, and languish. How many young People do we fee miscarry upon this Conduct, and tire upon the Road before the Journey is half reach'd?

O Enoph. I grant you, to be always pouring in Oil, is the way to over-fet the Flame, and extinguish the Lamp; If you lay a Country conftantly under water, you must of neceffity fpoil the Soil, and lofe the Product; but then this is the Folly of the Management.—

Encrat.

Encrat. Have a care of being an In ftance:Your laft Allegory puts me in mind, how much fome People fuffer for this Crime before Execution. Have you not seen Men that made a promifing Appearance at firft, that fet forward with Genius and Improvement? Have you not feen them metamorphofe themselves at the Tavern, drown their Parts, and drink away their Shape to that degree, as one would almoft have thought that Circe had been their Drawer?olis Me

OEnoph. I'm fo far of your mind, that, I believe, more People break their Brains by Drinking than Study: For, tho the latter may be troublesome enough, yet a Book is not fo hard as a Bottle: But, what are we to have next? mowrord

Encrat. Why, give me leave to remark farther, that Intemperance is a dangerous Companion It throws Peòple off their Guard, betrays them to a great many Indecencies, to ruinous Paffions,ito Difadvantages into Fortune; makes them discover Secrets, drive foolish Bargains, engage in Play, and often ftagger from the Tavern to the Stews. I don't fay, this is every Man's Cafe; but the Frequency of the Mischief is fufficient to fright you from the Practices By Intemperance, Weakness is

M

difco

difcovered, and ill Humour improv❜d. The Heat of Wine makes the Malice creep out, warms the Snake, and gives Vigour to the Poison. What Misbehaviour, what Outrage; how many Murthers may we lay to the Charge of this Vice? Did not Alexander kill him that faved his Life, and burn the finest City in the World in a drunken Fit? But we need not fetch our Proof thus far; for there's fcarcely any Time, or Place, but will afford us too much Evidence. temperance puts a Man out of his own Power, makes his Folly ungovernable, and lays him at the Mercy of almost every Accident. To be drunk with fome People, is next to the firing a Train; they break out in Flame and Thunder, blow up the House, and perish in the Ruins.

In

OEnoph. All People's Spirits are not Gun-powder: However, I grant, there are Inconveniences enough. But what would you have us do? We have fometimes Company at our own Houfes; they love to be merry with a large Draught now how can we acquir our felves handomly, unless we encourage their Fancy, which can't be done with out going too far, as you reckon it?

Encrat. I confefs, I fhould not be fond of fuch Güefts; but if I had the Misfortune