WAS, on a certain Morning lately, filled with most pleasing Reflexions, seeing that I was to pass away a Day or two on a Visit to a most worthy Friend of mine, Sir Ogre de Covetous, that had a fine Estate upon the River Thames. This gave me the more Satisfaction because my Friend, besides being a Man of no small Parts in the Preservation of his Rights, had made himself of no inconsiderable Repute among the surrounding humbler Inhabitants of the Locality, and even among such of the Public as chanced to pass by his Estates upon the River.
I came upon my old Friend, as genial as ever, he having been engaged in a rough Discourse with a Cottager that lived hard by his Estates, and scowling hugely.
"You are to know," said the good old Man, turning to me, "that yonder is a most ill-grained and complaining Fellow, for the only Road to his Cottage is one that passes between some Fields of mine; and he has the Effrontery not only to beg that I shall permit his Supply of Coals to pass that Way (which, indeed, would cause me no Inconvenience whatever), but is positively so perverse as to be put out at my refusing, vowing that he must needs quit his Cottage, being unable to live without Firing! As if this were any Concern of mine!" And at this the good old Man fell to fuming and to stamping his Foot; and, perceiving that such Subjects gave him no small Disquietude, I encouraged him to speak upon them at more Length; and with so great Success that he presently addressed to me the following Discourse:—
"The People about here," said he, "are, I warrant you, of a very ill Grain, and very hardly to be brought to Reason, being most mightily discontented with all I do; and you must learn that the Public are no better, being not polite enough to understand how a wise Providence has only created the Poor and the Public that they may minister to the Pleasures of Men of an Estate, particularly of an Estate upon the River; a rightful Understanding of which Fact, Sir, would surely induce a more pleasing Intercourse between myself and those around me. I myself am a Man of a most worthy Disposition, and devote my whole Thoughts to the safeguarding and furtherance of my own Interests.
"For one Instance, Sir, we now stand upon
