The Gentleman next in Esteem and Authority among us, is another Batchelour, who is a Member of the Inner Temple:  a Man of great Probity, Wit, and Understanding; but he has chosen his Place of Residence rather to obey the Direction of an old humoursome Father, than in pursuit of his own Inclinations.  He was plac’d there to study the Laws of the Land, and is the most learned of any of the House in those of the Stage. Aristotle and Longinus are much better understood by him than Littleton or Cooke.  The Father sends up every Post Questions relating to Marriage-Articles, Leases, and Tenures, in the Neighbourhood; all which Questions he agrees with an Attorney to answer and take care of in the Lump.  He is studying the Passions themselves, when he should be inquiring into the Debates among Men which arise from them.  He knows the Argument of each of the Orations of Demosthenes and Tully, but not one Case in the Reports of our own Courts.  No one ever took him for a Fool, but none, except his intimate Friends, know he has a great deal of Wit.  This Turn makes him at once both disinterested and agreeable:  As few of his Thoughts are drawn from Business, they are most of them fit for Conversation.  His Taste of Books is a little too just for the Age he lives in; he has read all, but Approves of very few.  His Familiarity with the Customs, Manners, Actions, and Writings of the Antients, makes him a very delicate Observer of what occurs to him in the present World.  He is an excellent Critick, and the Time of the Play is his Hour of Business; exactly at five he passes through New Inn, crosses through Russel Court; and takes a turn at Will’s till the play begins; he has his shoes rubb’d and his Perriwig powder’d at the Barber’s as you go into the Rose [6]—­It is for the Good of the Audience when he is at a Play, for the Actors have an Ambition to please him.

The Person of next Consideration is Sir ANDREW FREEPORT, a Merchant of great Eminence in the City of London:  A Person of indefatigable Industry, strong Reason, and great Experience.  His Notions of Trade are noble and generous, and (as every rich Man has usually some sly Way of Jesting, which would make no great Figure were he not a rich Man) he calls the Sea the British Common.  He is acquainted with Commerce in all its Parts, and will tell you that it is a stupid and barbarous Way to extend Dominion by Arms; for true Power is to be got by Arts and Industry.  He will often argue, that if this Part of our Trade were well cultivated, we should gain from one Nation; and if another, from another.  I have heard him prove that Diligence makes more lasting Acquisitions than Valour, and that Sloth has ruin’d more Nations than the Sword.  He abounds in several frugal Maxims, amongst which the greatest Favourite is, ‘A Penny saved is a Penny got.’  A General Trader of good Sense is pleasanter Company than a general