298 



own, and preffes on the clafs beyond him, aping its manners, and 

 vying with it, in diflipation. The country fquire, tired of cuUivating 

 his demefne, and leading the life of unaffuming eafe and plenty, that 

 his anceftors led before him ; mortgages part of his eftate, buys a 

 feat in parliament ; like a true Sir Francis Wronghead* brings his fa- 

 mily on the pave of Dublin ; rigs himfelf out, in clumfy finery, and 

 fecond-hand airs ; haunts levees, like a ghoft ; befieges the doors of 

 fecretaries, and under-fecretaries, like a catch-pole ; and thinks himfelf 

 well rewarded, with a place of five hundred a year, dunng the con- 

 tjnuance of his parliamentary being. — Foolifli man ! he never ftops, to 

 confider, that the fum paid for his return for a borough, together, 

 with what he might have accumulated by economy, and decent fru- 

 gality, would have purchafed the fee-fimple, of an income as great, as 

 that, for which he facrifices his independence, his quiet, his charac- 

 ter, and the morals of liis family. 



It mull: be confeft, and lamented ; that, although Ireland has en- 

 creafed enormoufly in luxury, and expence of living, in equipages, houfes, 

 and furniture ; literature and the fine arts feem to have declined, among 

 us. At leaft, our rapid ftrides, in purfuit of unmeaning and criminal 

 luxury, render our deficiency in tafte, and our general ignorance, the 

 more glaring and offenfive. — Formerly, we had a refpeftable exhibition 

 of piftures — a permanent public concert — a private mufic meeting, on 

 a grand fcale — thefe innocent luxuries are no more. We had, two 

 theatres, and excellent players, now, we have one, and — it is gilt and 

 painted. 



What does the merchant or {hop-keeper ? — He commences bufinefs, 

 with, perhaps, two thoufand pounds, which, (fuch is the fcarcity of 

 money, in this country) is confidered, as a handfome capital. The 

 .whole, or mofl part, of this capital he expends, on the fine of a large 

 houfe, and on furniture. His fi:ock in trade, he obtains, on credit. 



He 



* The reader will fee, that this eflay was written, while Ireland had yet a parliament. 



