the Accounts and Morals of their Families: Such Calumnies as thefe are not the lefs injurious to Decency, because in this Country of Freedom they may be vented with Safety; neither is it any ways fit, that Characters of this exalted Rank fhould lie at the Mercy of the vulgar Herd, who judge without Diftinction, and cenfure without Feeling.

As to the other Chimæra, that Women of Quality ever repine for their Husbands Abfence, or that one single straggling Idea ever went in fearch of them, or their Amusements, their Bufinefs, or their Company, I can only wonder, where it found an Imagination to harbour it. Is any one fo wild to conceive that Numbers marry for any other Purpose than to get a Separation as faft as poffible? Some wed for a Title; fome are weary of a Mother's Leading-strings; fome fettle in the World, that they may run loofe about the Town, and indulge the Marriage Liberties: "Tis the Lawyer, not the Priest, tyes the Knot; they mortify for the prefent, to have Pleasure in Reverfion.

But the strongest Objection against this Commerce in the Eye of the World is ftill behind; and that is, Allegiance to the higher Powers: For there reigns in this Ifland a Monarch, who unfortunately could not be prevailed upon to abdicate at the Revolution, though he had always claimed and exercised a difpenfing Power; the Prince I mean is Fafbion. His Laws differ in one Refpect from those of the Medes and Perfians, for

they

they altered not; whereas bis are fhifting every Hour; but they agree in this Point, that whoever opposes them had as good be caft into the Den of Lions, and devoured out of the way; for no human Creature will give him Countenance, or be feen in his Company.

This Prince, like a wife Legislator, hath built his Syftem of Government upon the old Foundation of Rewards and Punishments. The Ladies of England enjoy from Fashion, as the rest of us do from the Common Law, certain Rights and Privileges, that are not to be forfeited, except by their own Confent. It would be needless to recite them at prefent; they are contained at large in the Grand Charter Fashion gave his Subjects; they, on their fide, engaged to fubmit their Thoughts, Words, and Actions, to his Direction, and to do him Homage as their Liege Sovereign. From this short Sketch it will be easy to point out the Confequence, if any Woman of Fashion were to commence an Acquaintance with her own Hufband: She would be excommunicated from every Affembly in Town, and her Name expunged from the Catalogue of human Beings.

Gentlemen therefore may well be excused for not obtruding Vifits, which are unconftitutional, and void in themselves; neither ought the Gamefters in particular to be taxed for Principles which they only hold in common with all Perfons of Figure and Taste.

It is further alledged against the Practice of Gaming, that the Heirs of great Families are often ruined by the Vices of their Parents, and reduced

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from

from a State of Affluence to struggle against Poverty with a Spirit broken by Disappointment.

Let us argue this Matter calmly. The Mifchiefs of a vicious Education are univerfally lamented; and, I hope, all will concur to apply the Remedy, wherever found, without any Mixture of Paffion and Prejudice. I fay then, it is one main End of the wife Institution of Gaming, to prevent or correct the Effects of a vicious Education, and to fecure, our Youth from Intemperance by the falutary Restraints of Want and Poverty. It is the Confidence of inheriting great Eftates that naturally begets Idlenefs and Debauchery; and do we cenfure those whofe unwearied Practice it is to abate this Confidence? It is to this independent Spirit we owe the existence of those Creatures that walk upright, and are called Bucks; and from this is derived that monftrous Brood of. Country Squires, whofe fole Business and Pleasure it is to kill Foxes; a Practice that cannot easily be juftified either to God or Man, because those Animals do less Mischief in a Manor, and are a far more rational Vermin than themfelves.

But if the Principles of Piay were duly attended to, the Heirs of Gaming Families would reflect on their precarious Situation, and shelter themselves in fome Liberal Profeffion: They would confider, that Industry and Application might fet things right, and make them almost as rich as their younger Brothers. Intereft would charm them to. Virtue, though they had ftopt their Ears to Reafon and Confcience: For all

Well

Well-bred Perfons are agreed to deteft Poverty more, if poffible, than Learning itself.

Still it will be urged, that the Daughters of Gamesters are unprovided for in this Schème, whom Custom, if not nature, hath barred from all Resources of Industry, except such as are beneath the Dignity of noble Birth; and therefore, in the Cafe abovementioned, they are inevitably expofed either to Poverty or Contempt.

'Tis confeffed their Education differs from ours: They cannot flourish at the Bar, or blufter in a Campaign; but they may exercife their Genius at Whift, or their Courage at the Brag Table; the Card Affemblies are ftill open to their Industry; the noblest Scene, wherein the Female Talents can be exerted: Neither is any great Fund neceffary for this, if we confider the known Prerogatives of the Sex: When they win, they have speedier Payment; when they lofe-they have longer Credit. And certain it is, whatever Pain it may give us to confefs it, the Ladies have the Powers of Gaming in greater Perfection than the Men: What Enthusiasm in their Hopes! what Judgment in their Fears! what Skill in changing. Places and veering about, when the Wind of Fortune is in their Teeth! how dextrously do they fhuffle! how critically do they cut! how do they penetrate into an Adverfary's Game, as it were with a Glance! then they calculate! Thought cannot keep pace with them: doubtless they play the Whole Game with greater Success than we can pretend to do.

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