← Mr. Spectator, January 14, 1712. and have my : I Am a young woman, ⚫ divine fervice, and make conquests: but one great hin- Lucian rallies the philofophers in his time, who could not agree whether they fhould admit riches into the number of real goods; the profeffors of the feverer fects threw them quite out, while others as refolutely inferted them. I am apt to believe, that as the world grew more polite, the rigid doctrines of the first were wholly discarded; and I do not find any one fo hardy at prefent as to deny that there are very great advantages in the enjoyment of a plentiful fortune. Indeed the beft and wifeft of men, though they may poffibly despise a good part of those things which the world calls pleasures, can, I think, hardly be infenfible of that weight and dignity which a moderate fhare of wealth adds to their characters, counfels, and actions. We find it is a general complaint in profeffions and trades, that the richest members of them are chiefly encouraged, and this is falfely imputed to the ill-nature of mankind, who are ever beftowing their favours on fuch as least want them: whereas if we fairly confider their proceedings in this cafe, we fhall find them founded on undoubted reafon: fince fuppofing both equal in their natural integrity, I ought, in common prudence, to fear foul play from an indigent perfon, rather than from one whose circumstances seem to have placed him above the bare temptation of money. This reafon alfo makes the commmonwealth regard her richest subjects, as those who are most concerned for her quiet and intereft, and confequently fitteft to be intrusted with her highest employments. On the contrary, Cati line's faying to thofe men of defperate fortunes, who applied themselves to him, and of whom he afterwards compofed his army, that "they had nothing to hope for "but a civil war,' was too true not to make the im preffions he defired. I believe I need not fear but that what I have faid in praise of money, will be more than fufficient with most of my readers to excufe the fubject of my prefent paper, which I intend as an effay on "the ways to raise a man's "fortune, or the art of growing rich." The first and most infallible method towards the attaining of this end is thrift: all men are not equally qualified for getting money, but it is in the power of every one alike to practise this virtue; and I believe there are very few perfons, who, if they please to reflect on their past lives, will not find that had they faved all thofe little fums which they have spent unneceffarily, they might at present have been mafters of a competent fortune. Diligence juftly claims the next place to thrift: I find both thefe excellently well recommended to common ufe in the three following Italian proverbs. "Never do that by proxy which you can do yourself." "Never defer that until to-morrow which you can do to-day." "Never neglect small matters and expences." A third inftrument in growing rich, is method in bufinefs, which, as well as the two former, is also attainable by perfons of the meaneft capacities. The famous De Wit, one of the greatest statesmen of the age in which he lived, being asked by a friend, how he was able to dispatch that multitude of affairs in which he was engaged replied, That his whole art confifted in doing one thing at once. If, fays he, I have any neceffary difpatches to make, I think of nothing elfe until thofe are finished; if any domestic affairs require my attention, I give myself up wholly to them until they are fet in order. In short, we often fee men of dull and phlegmatic tempers, arriving to great eftates, by making a regular and orderly difpofition of their bufinefs, and that with F 5 out out it the greateft parts and most lively imaginations rather puzzle their affairs, than bring them to an happy iffue. From what has been faid, I think I may lay it down as a maxim, that every man of good common fenfe may, if he pleases, in his particular flation of life, moft certainly be rich. The reafon why we fometimes fee that men of the greatest capacities are not fo, is either because they defpife wealth in comparifon of fomething elfe; or at least are not content to be getting an eftate, unless they may do it their own way, and at the fame time enjoy all the pleasures and gratifications of life. But befides thefe ordinary forms of growing rich, it must be allowed that there is room for genius as well in this as in all other circumstances of life. Though the ways of getting money were long fince very numerous, and though fo many new ones have been found out of late years, there is certainly ftill remaining fo large a field for invention, that a man of an indifferent head might easily fit down and draw up such a plan for the conduct and fupport of his life, as was never yet once thought of. We daily fee methods put in practice by hungry and ingenious men, which demonftrate the power of invention in this particular. It is reported of Scaramouche, the first famous Italian comedian, that being at Paris and in great want, he bethought himself of conftantly plying near the door of a noted perfumer in that city, and when any one came out who had been buying fnuff, never failed to defire a taste of them when he had by this means got together a quantity made up of feveral different forts, he fold it again at a lower rate to the fame perfumer, who finding out the trick, called it Tabac de mille fleurs, or "fnuff of a thou fand flowers." The story farther tells us, that by this means he got a very comfortable fubfiftence, until making too much hafte to grow rich, he one day took fuch an unreasonable pinch out of the box of a Swifs officer, as engaged him in a quarrel, and obliged him to quit this ingenious way of life. Nor can I in this place omit doing juftice to a youth of my own country, who, though he is fcarce yet twelve twelve years old, has with great industry and application attained to the art of beating the grenadiers march on his chin. I am credibly informed that by this means he does not only maintain himself and his mother, but that he is laying up money every day, with a defign, if the war continues, to purchase a drum at least, if not a pair of colours.. I fhall conclude thefe inftances with the device of the famous Rabelais, when he was at a great distance from Paris, and without money to bear his expences thither. This ingenious author being thus fharp fet, got together a convenient quantity of brick-duft, and having difpofed of it into feveral papers, writ upon one, poifon for "Monfieur," upon a fecond, "poifon for the Dauphin,' and on a third, "poifon for the King." Having made this provifion for the royal family of France, he laid his papers fo that his landlord, who was an inquifitive man, and a good fubject, might get a fight of them. The plot fucceeded as he defired: the hoft gave immediate intelligence to the fecretary of state. The fecretary prefently fent down a fpecial meffenger, who brought up the traitor to court, and provided him at the king's expence with proper accommodations on the road. As foon as he appeared, he was known to be the celebrated Rabelais, and his powder upon examination being found very innocent, the jeft was only laughed at; for which a lefs eminent droll would have been fent to the gallies. Trade and commerce might doubtlefs be ftill varied a thoufand.v .ways, out of which would arife fuch branches as have not yet been touched. The famous Doily is ftill fresh in every one's memory, who raifed a fortune by finding out materials for fuch ftuffs as might at once be cheap and genteel. I have heard it affirmed, that had not he discovered this frugal method of gratifying our pride, we should hardly have been able to carry on the lait war. I regard trade not only as highly advantageous to the commonwealth in general, but as the most natural and likely method of making a man's fortune, having obferved, fince my being a Spectator in the world, greater eftates got about 'Change, than at Whitehall or St. James's. F. 6 I believe |