Numb. 30. Saturday, June 30, 1750.

Mr. Rambler,

pHERE are sew tasks more ungratesul, than

X for persons of modesty to speak their own praises. In some cases, however, this must be done for the general good, and a generous spirit will on fuch occasions assert its merit, and vindicate itself with becoming warmth.

My circumstances, Sir, are very hard and peculiar. Could the world be brought to treat me as I deserve, it would be apublick benefit. This makes me apply to you, that my case being sairly stated in a paper so generally esteemed, I may suffer no longer from ignorant and childish prejudices.

My elder brother was a Jew. A very respectable person, but somewhat austere in his manner: highly and deservedly valued by his near relations and intimates, but utterly unfit for mixing in a larger society, or gaining a general acquaintance among mankind. In a venerable old age he retired from the world, and I in the bloom of youth came into

ir, succeeding him in all his dignities, and formed, as I might reasonably flatter myself, to be the object of universal love and esteem. Joy and gladness were born with me; cheersulness, good-humour, and benevolence always attended and endeared my insancy. That time is long past. So long, that idle imaginations are apt to sancy me wrinkled, old, and disagreeable; but, unless my looking-glass deceives me, I have not yet lost one charm, one beauty of my earliest years. However, thus sar is too certain, I am to every body just what they chuse to think me, so that to very sew I appear in my right shape; and though naturally I am the friend of human kind, to sew, very sew comparatively, am I useful or agreeable.

This is the more grievous, as it is utterly impofsible for me to avoid being in all sorts of places and companies; and I am therefore liable to meet with perpetual affronts and injuries. Though I have as natural an antipathy to cards and dice, as some people have to a cat, many and many an assembly am I forced to endure; and though rest and compofure are my peculiar joy, am worn out, and harassed to death with journies by men and women of quality, who never take one, but when I can be of the party. Some, on a contrary extreme, will never receive me but in bed, where they spend at least half of the time I have to stay with them; and others are so monstrously ill-bred as to take physick on purpofe when they have reason to""expect me. Thofe who keep upon terms of more politeness with me, are generally so cold and constrained in their behaviour, that I cannot but perceive myself an unwelcome guest $

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and even among persons deserving of esteem, ami who certainly have a value for me, it is too evident that generally whenever I come I throw a dulnels over the whole company, that I am entertained with a formal stisf civility, and that they are glad when I am fairly gone.

How bitter must this kind of reception be to one formed to inspire delight, admiration, and love! To one capable of answering and rewarding the greatest warmth and delicacy of sentiments!

I was bred up among a set of excellent people, who asfectionately loved me, and treated me with the utmost honour and respect. It would be tedious to relate the variety of my adventures, and strange vicissitudes of my fortune in many different countries. Here in England there was a time when I lived according to my heart's desire. Whenever I appeared, publick assemblies appointed for my reception were crowded with persons of quality and fashion, early drest; as for a court, to pay me their devoirs. Cheersul hofpitality every where crowned my board, and I was looked upon in every country parish as a kind of social bond between the 'squire, the parson, and the tenants. -The laborious poor every where blest my appearance: they do so still, and keep their best clothes to do me honour; though as much as I delight in the honest country folks, they do now and then throw a pot of ale at my head, and sometimes an unlucky boy will drive his cricket-ball sull in my face.

Even in these my best days there were persons who thought me :oo demure and grave. I must forsooth by all means be instructed by foreign masters, and 1

taught

taught to dance and play. This method of education was so contrary to my genius, formed for much nobler entertainments, that it did not succeed at all.

I sell next into the hands of a very difserent set. They were so excessively scandalized at the gaiety of my appearance, as not only to despoil me of the foreign fopperies, the paint and the patches that I had been tricked out with by my last misjudging tutors, but they robbed me of every innocent ornament I had from my insancy been used to gather in the fields and gardens; nay they blacked my sace, and covered me all over with a habit os mourning, and that too very coarse and awkward, I was now obliged to spend my whole lise in hearing sermons; nor permitted so much as to smile upon any occasion.

In this melancholy disguise I beeame a persect bugbear to all children, and young folks. Whereever I came there was a general hush, and immediate stop to all pleasantness of look or discourse; and not being permitted to talk with them in my own language at that time, they took such a disgust to me in thofe tedious hours of yawning, that having transmitted it to their children, I cannot now be heard, though it is long since I have recovered my natural form, and pleasing tone of voice. Would they but receive my visits kindly, and listen to what 1 could tell them—let me say it without vanity—how charming a companion should I be! to every one could I talk on the subjects most interesting and most pleasing. With the great and ambitious, 1 would discourse of honours and advancements, of distinctions to which the whole world should be witnefs, of O j unenvied

unenvied dignities and durable preserments. To the rich I would tell of inexhaustible treasures, and the sure method to attain them. I would teach them to put out their money on the best interest, and instruct: the lovers of pleasure how to secure and improve it to the highest degree. The beauty should learn of me how to preserve an everlasting bloom. To the afflicted 1 would administer comfort, and relaxation to the busy.

As 1 d ire promise myself you will attest the truth of all I have advanced, there is no doubt but many will be desirous of improving their acquaintance with me; and that I may not be thought too difficult, I will tell you, in short, how I wish to be received.

You must know I equally hate lazy idleness and hurry. I would every where be welcomed at a tolerably early hour with decent good-humour and gratitude. I mult be attended in the great halls peculiarly appropriated to me with respect; but I do not insist upon finery: propriety of appearance, and persect neatness, is all I require. I must at dinner be treated with a temperate, but cheersul social meal; both the neighbours and the poor should be the better for me. Some time I must have tete-a-tete with my kind entertainers, and the rest of my visit should be spent in pleasant walks and airings among lets of agreeable people, in such discourse as I shall naturally dictate, or in reading some sew selected out of thofe numberless books that are dedicated to me, and go by my name. A name that, alas! as the world stands at present, makes

them