l96 hints on domeat'ic economy. -^ug' 7> 



ministration, as ftiall maintain the dignity and the conse- 

 quence of the nation in the eyes of surrounding powers, 

 so it becomes you to make yourselves dreaded, and yet 

 respected by your fellow tradesmen, not to raise their envy 

 nor their contempt by flaOiy extravagance, but to dis- 

 tinguirti yourselves by industry, probity and punctual- 

 ity. 



Of punctuality it is impofsible to say too much. You 

 must be sensible, that what you like in others, others wil 

 look for in you. 



Hunestus is a tradesman distinguifhed for this happy 

 quality. No man catls twice upon him to settle any 

 businefs which can pofsibly be done at once ; and he is 

 always more ready to pay than others are to receive. 

 His word is never given, but where he not only seriously 

 means to keep it, but also knows that, humanly speak- 

 ing, he has it in his power to keep it. Hence there are 

 few men who would not as confidently take his word as 

 his bond ; and if his character were as well known in 

 courts of justice as it is in trade, I believe his "simple 

 affirmation would be as valid as an oath, if the customs 

 of the place did not forbid it. 



Now mark the different character of Tom Tedious. 

 He never keeps his time, yet he always is allowed to ap- 

 point what time he pleases ; time and place are always 

 left to him, but the place he forgots, and the time he 

 purposel, out stays. If he had lOO guineas in his pocket, 

 which he had no occasion for, and you wanted a bill of 

 tliirtj fhillings paid, your servant must call again, aye, 

 again and again, before it is done. By this mode of pro- 

 'ceeding he has so completely disgusted all his brethren, 

 that no one wiHies to deal with bii:) , and for his word, 

 no man will take the word of ,hira who never keeps a 

 promise. 



