NUMB. XXII. Saturday, August 7, 1756.

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O People in the World are more divertingly ridiculous than those who make themselves so by an immoderate Propensity to know what News is stirring from Morning to Night, and by neglecting their own private Affairs, in order to know how the Affairs of the Nation are conducted.

Sir Politick Query, Bart. is descended from one of the most noble, though not the most wealthy Families in England. His Father Sir John diftinguished himself as a Soldier in Queen ANNE'S Wars with the greatest intrepidity but notwithstanding was obliged to fell half his hereditary Estate to purchase a Regiment. He was beloved by the Soldiers, but hated by the Officers, who treated

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treated him with fo much unpoliteness and contempt, that he resigned his Commission in a pet, and retired into the Country, where the endearments of a tender Wife, served every day to lessen his fondness for martial atchievements, and made him determine to fix in the breaft of his Son Politick an infuperable aversion to the profeffion of a Soldier. After he had used all the efforts he could think of to dissuade him from thirsting after "the Pride, Pomp and Circum"stance of glorious War," he refolved to place. him in a Merchant's Compting-house, and bound him Apprentice in the fixteenth year of his age. 'Twas then this Youth discovered an inclination to signalize himself in political debates, and to become confpicuous in a Coffee-house: - this inclination increased daily, and he was in a short. time a complete Newsmonger.

During his Apprenticeship, Politick, under pretence of going to see what Mails were arrived, stepp'd every Morning to the Coffee-house, and after having collected all the Papers he could find, took his feat in the most unfrequented part of the Room, and there perused with the highest glee, the Folio Sheets, till he had got them all by heart. Having loaded his head with this kind of Knowledge, he would

run about the Change, seize every Man he met by the Button, and cry, "what News, what News," - with all the wildness of a frantic Bedlamite. Then he would retire to his Master's House, and deafen his Ears with the Intelligence he had picked up, generally adding a prolix supplement of his own composition. He was, in short, so paffionately fond of News that he has frequently quarrelled with his best Friends, because they could not gratify his voracious appetite for Novelty.

When Politick had finished his Apprenticeship, he one Day stood thunderstruck, on reading a Paragraph which informed him of the Death of his Parents by the over-turning of a Poft-Chaife, before he had time to reflect upon his loss, he began to rave, not at the negligence of his Father's Friends and Servants, in not informing him of the Disafter, but at the Printer of the Paper, in not filling it up with matters of more confequence, and to the purpose.

Sir Politick by Merchandise found means to accumulate ten thousand pounds, but owed his fuccess rather to lucky hits, than his close application to Business. for he chose rather to prate about Politicks a whole day, than to write Let

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ters: nay, he often forgot he was a Merchant, and had any to write. In this manner did Sir Politick live, perpetually infected with the political Cacoethes, and perpetually making himself unhappy. His Friends, hoping that retirement might entirely alter his disposition, and render him more agreeably conversible, at length prevailed upon him to fell off his Stock in Trade, and withdraw to his Seat: - but Retirement did not cure the Baronet of his favourite Vice. Three Men were employed Morning and Night to bring him. the Papers, and a Poft Chariot was always ready at his Gate to convey him to Town, whenever there was the leaft probability of hearing fome important Piece of Intelligence. - He not only fettled a correspondence abroad, but even in all the Sea-port Towns of Great Britain and Ireland, in all which positive Orders were given to dispatch a Messenger to him without delay, whenever any thing worth notice was stirring.

Thus Sir Politick spent his days: watching with as much vigilance for News as a Lover does for a Smile from a scornful Mistress. - For these two years past he has pleased himself highly with the prospect of a Rupture between France and England, and was so delighted with the Declaration of War that he gave an elegant entertainment

to all his Friends, Neighbours and Tenants at which it was proclaimed again in flowing Bowls and half-pint Bumpers, amidst the ear-stunning huzzas of the jovial Company. But the Dinner was unfortunately interrupted by the arrival of a Wag, who came post to Gazette-Hall with an Express, of his own dispatching, from the Mediterranean. Sir Politick without giving himself the trouble to enquire after particulars, called for his Boots, clapp'd on his Spurs, mounted his Horse, and galloped away to London as if the Devil drove him, leaving all the Company at his House to do as they thought proper. - He alighted at Lloyd's. from which, on being told there was no Express, he haften'd to another Coffee house: from that to a third, and fo on, till he found he had been hummed, and that the News he was fo eager about wanted confirmation. He then rode back to his Friends, grumbling all the way, like an ugly old Maid, when she hears of the Marriage of a beautiful young one.

Some days ago a Friend of the Baronet's invited him to the Nuptials of an only Daughter about thirty miles from London. He accepted of the offer, and arrived at the place appointed half an hour after the new-married Couple were returned from Church. After having flightly faluted