in the multiplicity of human habitations which are crouded together, that the wonderful immensity of London confifts *."

ECONOMY.

On the fubject of wealth, the proper use of it, and the effects of that art which is called economy, Johnson once observed, " It is wonderful to think how men of very large eftates not only spend their yearly income, but are often actually in want of money. It is clear, they have not value for what they spend. Lord Shelburne told me, that a man of high rank, who looks into his own affairs, may have all that he ought to have, all that can be of any use, or appear with any advantage, for five thousand pounds a year. Therefore a great proportion must go

* " I have often (fays Mr. Boswell) amused myself with thinking how different a place London is to different people. They, whose narrow minds are contracted to the confideration of some one particular purfuit, view it only through that medium. A politician thinks of it merely as the feat of government in its different departments; a grazier as a vast market for cattle; a mercantile man, as a place where a prodigicus deal of business is done upon 'Change; a dramatic enthufiaft, as the grand scene of theatrical entertain. ments; a man of pleasure, as an assemblage of taverns, and the great emporium for ladies of easy virtue. But the intellequal man is ftruck with it, as comprehending the whole of human life in all its variety, the contemplation of which is inexhaustible."

in

!

in waste; and indeed this is the cafe with most people, whatever their fortune is."-BOSWELL. " I have no doubt, Sir, of this; but how is it? What is waste ?"-JOHNSON. "Why, Sir, breaking bottles and a thousand other things. Wafste cannot be accurately told, though we are sensible how destructive it is. Economy on the one hand, by which a certain income is made to maintain a man genteelly, and waste on the other, by which, on the fame income, another man lives shabbily, cannot be defined, It is a very nice thing; as one man wears his coat out much fooner than another, we cannot tell how."

On the right employment of wealth he re marked thus : "A man cannot make a bad use of his money so far as regards Society, if he does not hoard it; for if he either spends it, or lends it out, Society has the benefit. It is in general better to spend money than to give it away; for industry is more promoted by spending money than by giving it away. A man who spends his money is fure he is doing good with it; he is not so sure when he gives it away, A man who spends ten thousand a year will do more good than a man who spends two thou fand, and gives away eight."

His Ofellus, in the Art of living in London,' he has been heard to relate, was an Irith

painter, painter, whom he knew at Birmingham, and who had practifed his own precepts of economy for several years in the British capital. He assured Johnson, who perhaps was then meditating to try his fortune in London, but was apprehenfive of the expence, "that thirty pounds a year was enough to enable a man to live there without being contemptible. He allowed ten pounds for clothes and linen. He faid a man might live in a garret at eighteen pence a week; few people would enquire where he lodged; and if they did, it was casy to say, Sir, I am to be found at such a place.' By spending threepence in a coffee-house, he might be for fome hours every day in very good company; he might dine for fixpence, breakfast on bread and milk for a penny, and do without fupper. On clean shirt-day he went abroad, and paid vifits." Johnson would often talk of this frugal friend, whom he recollected with esteem and kindness, and did not like to have any one smile at the recital. "This man (faid he gravely) was a very sensible man, who perfectly understood common affairs; a man of a great deal of knowledge of the world, fresh from life, not strained through books, He borrowed a horse and ten pounds at Birmingham. Finding himself master of fo much money, he fet off for West Chester, in order

to

to get to Ireland. He returned the horfe, and probably the ten pounds too, after he got home."

To Mr. Bofwell Johnson once faid, "Get as much force of mind as you can. Live within your income. Always have something faved at the end of the year. Let your imports be more than your exports, and you'll never go far wrong."

A gentleman praised the accuracy of an aecount book of a lady whom he mentioned. Johnson said, "Keeping accounts, Sir, is of no use when a man is spending his own money, and has nobody to whom he is to account. You won't eat less beef to-day, because you have written down what it cost yesterday." Another lady was mentioned who thought as he did, so that her husband could not get her to keep an account of the expences of the family, as the thought it enough that she never exceeded the fum allowed her. JOHNSON.

Sir, it is fit she should keep an account, because her husband wishes it; but I do not fee its use."-Mr. Bofwell maintained, that keeping an account had this advantage, that it fatisfied a man that his money had not been loft or stolen, which he might fometimes be apt to imagine, were there no written state of his expences; and besides that, a calculation of economy,

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nomy, so as not to exceed one's income, could not be made without a view of the different articles in figures, that one might see how to retrench in some particulars less neceffary than others. This Johnfon did not attempt to anIwer.

At another time speaking of economy he remarked, that it was hardly worth while to save anxioufly twenty pounds a year. If a man could fave to fuch a degree as to enable him tơ assume a different rank in society, then, indeed, it might answer some purpose.

" I told him (fays Mr. Bofwell) that at a gentleman's house where there was thought to be such extravagance or bad management that he was living much beyond his income, his lady had objected to the cutting of a pickled mango, and that I had taken an opportunity to ask the price of it, and found it was only two shillings; so here was a very poor faving." "Sir (faid Johnson), that is the blundering economy of a narrow understanding. It is stopping one hole in a fieve."

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Talking of a penurious gentleman of his acquaintance, Johnson said, He is narrow, not fo much from avarice, as from impotence to spend his money. He cannot find in his heart to pour out a bottle of wine; but he would not much care if it should four."