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fuch another Expedition; for he very coolly asked him,

D'ye think me, Noble General, fuch a Sot?
Let him take Caftles who has ne'er a Groat.

Mr. Pope.

From whence we may collect, that Men in eafy Circumftances are not the fittest to go upon defperate Adventures; and that those who have charged through a Troop of Creditors, are most likely to have the fame Succefs when they face an Enemy.

What then shall we fay to a British Army, in which there are perhaps Half a Dozen Officers, all Gaming-proof, with empty Purses, and ftarved Hopes, who fear neither God nor Devil, have felt the worst that Man can do, and have laid in a Fund of Defperation fufficient to answer the Exigencies of an whole Campaign, though it were commanded by Hannibal himself? And shall we renounce fuch Advantages as these, in which the Interefts of Europe are concerned, to gratify popular Prejudice and Clamour? I take Gaming, confidered in this Light, to be the best Instrument for enabling us to fulfill our Treaties on the Continent.

Another great Advantage of Gaming is, that, like Charity, it is the conftant Reconciler of Differences, and the chief Uniter of Mankind: Here Company meet without the least Regard to Age, Condition, or Party: Fortune's Veterans mix with young Adventurers, and teach them the Path to Honour. The Courtier and the Patriot

cut

cut in together, equally complain of Grievances, and want Supplies: No Man's Principles are queftioned, if his Credit be uncontested; for Money is indifferent to Parties, and freely lifts itfelf on either Side.

To conclude; let me offer one Argument, which perhaps will weigh more with our Opponents than either Reason or Justice; and that is, the Impoffibility of fucceeding in their Attempt. This is no Time to expect Success in Projects that have been fo often baffled. What hath the Wisdom of the Nation effected by its Laws, or the Fury of the Rabble by its Clamours? The Rulers bave confpired together, and the People imagine a vain thing. Vain indeed! They had better therefore renounce their Oppofition while they can do it with a good Grace, and say at once with the Great Durandarte,

[c] Patience! and fbuffle the Cards.

[c] Vide Don Quixote.

THE

THE

Pretty Gentleman;

O R,

SOFTNESS of MANNERS

VINDICATED

From the falfe RIDICULE exhibited under the Character of

WILLIAM FRIBBLE, Efq.

First Printed in the Year 1747.

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T O

Mr. GARRICK.

SIR,

As

S in the Wantonnefs of your petulant Fancy, you have fallen upon a Sett of Gentlemen, who cannot poffibly have given you any perfonal Provocation; I have thought proper to prefix your Name to this their Defence, and call upon you thus publickly to juftify your Behaviour, if it be poffible. But furely, Sir, it must have been a fecret Admiration of their Elegant and Refined Manners, that called forth your Spleen, to turn into Ridicule thofe foft Accomplishments you defpaired to equal; and, as a Comic Writer did by the Divine Socrates, mimic and burlesque upon the Stage what you had not the Face to imitate in real Life. But your Wit was as impotent as your Malice was ftrong. Your Farce was no fooner feen, than it was laughed at; you know, Sir, it was laughed at; most prodigiously laughed at: A plain Proof, that it was judged

to be very ridiculous.

Belief me, Sir, you have fallen moft miferably fhort in your Attempt. And how should it be otherwife? You pretend to exhibit a Representation of The Pretty Gentleman, who are by no means an Adept in the Character! You! that are VOL. I. 1-

an

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