so good an
heart and such busy hands were wholly employed in trifles; that so much
humanity should be so little beneficial to others, and so much
industry so little advantageous to himself. The same temper of mind and
application to affairs might have recommended him to the publick esteem,
and have raised his fortune in another station of life. What good to his
country or himself might not a trader or merchant have done with such
useful tho' ordinary qualifications?

Will Wimble's is the case of many a younger brother of a great family,
who had rather see their children starve like gentlemen, than thrive in
a trade or profession that is beneath their quality. This humour fills
several parts of Europe with pride and beggary. It is the happiness of a
trading nation, like ours, that the younger sons, tho' uncapable of any
liberal art or profession, may be placed in such a way of life as may
perhaps enable them to vie with the best of their family. Accordingly,
we find several citizens that were launched into the world with narrow
fortunes, rising by an honest industry to greater estates than those of
their elder brothers. It is not improbable but Will was formerly tried
at divinity, law, or physick; and that finding his genius did not lie
that way, his parents gave him up at length to his own inventions. But
certainly, however improper he might have been for studies of a higher
nature, he was perfectly well turned for the occupations of trade
and commerce. As I think this is a point which cannot be too much
inculcated, I shall desire my reader to compare what I have here written
with what I have said in my twenty-first speculation.

THE PICTURE GALLERY.

I was this morning walking in the gallery when Sir Roger entered at the
end opposite to me, and advancing towards me, said he was glad to
meet me among his relations the De Coverleys, and hoped I liked the
conversation of so much good company, who were as silent as myself. I
knew he alluded to the pictures, and as he is a gentleman who does not a
little value himself upon his ancient descent, I expected he would give
me some account of them. We were now arrived at the upper-end of the
gallery, when the Knight faced towards one of the pictures, and as
we stood before it he entered into the matter, after his blunt way
of saying things, as they occur to his imagination, without regular
introduction, or care to preserve the appearance of chain of thought.

"It is,"