| Citation |
PG-P.751.056
7 Nov 1751:12 (1195)
From the London Gazette, July 4. 1751.
To the Fool.
Sir, Were it lawful or decent to be ludicrous with the
miserable state of our country, the quack remedies applied
to her diseases would prove an inexhaustable fund for
satyrical mirth. . . [18 lines]
In vain may the parson deliver sound doctrine and pure
morality from the pulpit, if his actions give the lie to his
sermons: The generality of his congregation forming their
judgements chiefly from appearances, will be too apt to
conclude he is only acting a farce, as players do for bread,
and hardly brought to believe and practice what they suspect
he himself is not inwardly perswaded of. . . [14 lines]
From whence spring these dread disorders in the common
wealth? From luxury: Here we may begin and end our
inquiry; it is all answered in one word, which comprizes the
immoderate gin-drinker, beer-guzzler, wine-bibber, punch
tippler, tea-sipper, &c. . . [3 lines] To which I may add
the constant resorters to plays, balls, opera's,
masquerades, concerts, bear-gardens, horse-races, cock-
matches, and those that deal more with the print-shops than
with the booksellers. . .
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