It has often been a matter of very great concern to me, and I believe must be the same to every thinking mind, to see how some people are continually hurried and busied about mere trifles, of no manner of consequence to themselves, or scarce to any body else; while all the duties of religion, – all the regard for the welfare of their most particular friends, – all love of country, and even the dearest interests of their own families, are totally neglected.

What judgment can we form of a person of this cast, but that he has a vacuum in his head ready to be fill'd up with the first toy that presents itself, and not being endow'd with a strength of reason sufficient to direct his choice, suffers himself to be engross'd by such things as he finds make most noise in the world, not such as have most relation to his own affairs, either as to fortune or reputation.

Can there be a sight more farcical than for a man who, without any petition to prefer or suit to solicit; in fine, without any call or business whatsoever, is continually cringing at the levee of a minister of state, and when the compliments are paid and the circle is dismiss'd, runs thro’ the whole round of his acquaintance, reporting where he has been and what he has seen, sagaciously remarking on every nod, wink, or smile of the great man, and finding mystery even in the tye of his wig, or the loose or strait buttoning his coat?

Another, whose affairs at home perhaps are involved in the utmost perplexities, shall pass the best part of his time among the jobbers in ‘Change-Alley, – go from coffee-house to coffee-house, – enquire of every broker he meets with the price of stocks, in which he has no share, or money to purchase any, and be more solicitous in finding out the uses to which the Sinking-Fund is appropriated than for the means of extricating himself out of his present difficulties.