A LETTER FROM A SMALL COURTIER TO A GREAT STOCK-JOBBER

SIR,

In that friendly Dispute which happen’d between us some time ago, wherein you endeavour’d to prove, that the City-Politicks out-did those of the Court, I remember there was nothing upon which you seemed to Pride your self more, than that Mystery of your Brethren in Exchange-Alley, which is usually called, Selling the Bear-Skin; whereby a very beneficial Trade was daily driven with imaginary Stocks, and many Thousands bought and sold, to great Advantage, by those who were not worth a Groat. This you challeng’d me to match, with all my Knowledge, in the lower Arts of the Court. I confess, you had then the better of the Argument, and I was forc’d to yield; which I would hardly do at present, if the Controversie were to be resumed: I could now make you acknowledge, that what you in the City call Selling the Bear-Skin, does not deserve the Name, when compar’d with the Dexterity of one of our Artists. I shall leave the Decision of this Matter to your self, after you have receiv’d the following Story, which I shall most faithfully relate.

There is a certain petty Retainer to the Court, who has no Employment at all himself, but is a Partner for Life to one that has: This Gentleman resides constantly with his Family among us, where being wholly atLeisure, he is consequently very Speculative, perpetually turning his Thoughts to improve those happyTalents thatNature hath given him. He hath maturely consider’d with himself the strange Opinions that People at distance have of Courts: Strangers are apt to think, that whoever hath an Apartment in the Royal Palace, can go through the Lodgings, as if he were at Home, and talk familiarly with every one he meets, must needs have at any time a Dozen or two of Employments in his Power. The leastWord from him to a Great Man, or, upon extraordinary Occasions, to the Q——n Her self, would certainly do the Business. This Ignorance hath often been made very good use of by dextrous Men among us. Old Courtiers will tell you Twenty Stories of Harry Killigrew, Fleet. Shepherd, and others, who would often sell Places that were never in Being, and dispose of others a good Pennyworth before they were Vacant.