FROM THOMAS HARLEY, ESQ[1].
YOUR letter gave me a great deal of pleasure. I do not mean only the satisfaction one must always find in hearing from so good a friend, who has distinguished himself in the world, and formed a new character, which nobody is vain enough to pretend to imitate. But you must know the moment after you disappeared, I found it was to no purpose to be unconcerned, and to slight (as I really have done) all the silly stories and schemes I met with every day; the effects of self-conceit, and a frightened, hasty desire of gain. They asked me, Has not the dean left the town? Is not Dr. Swift gone into the country? Yes. And I would have gone into the country too, if I had not learned, one cannot be hurt till one turns one's back; for which reason I will go no more on their errands. But seriously you never heard such bellowing about the town of the state of the nation, especially among the sharpers, sellers of bearskins[2], and the rest of that kind: nor such crying, and squalling among the ladies; insomuch that it has at last reached the house of commons; which I am
- ↑ This gentleman was cousin to the lord treasurer.
- ↑ Stockjobbers. He who sells that, of which he is not possessed, is said proverbially to sell the bear's skin, while the bear runs in the woods. And it being common for stockjobbers to make contracts for transferring stock at a future time, though they were not possessed of the stock to be transferred, they are called sellers of bearskins.
