Of all the passions which exist in the human breast, & of all the vices which infest civil society, none appear to me more despicable and dangerous than avarice. It is very usual for persons in advocating the cause of the poor and needy to inveigh with bitter invectives against the gay and the profligate. It does to be sure seem inconsistent that one man should be rolling in the utmost gaiety and pleasure, enjoying all that gold can purchase or the world produce, whilst perhaps a being of the same make and species shall be calling upon him in the name of all that is good and sacred to behold his wretchedness and to bestow some small pittance towards alleviating his miseries and supplying against hunger & nakedness.—But what I propose to consider in this little paper is, which is the most injurious to Society, the man of gaiety, pleasure, and fashion, or the avaricious man, whose sole aim it is daily to add to his coffers, whose gold is his god, and who denies himself the common necessaries of life in order to amass that wealth which is of no real utility to him or the society to which he belongs.—The striking contrast between the two characters will facilitate our disquisition of them.—

Let us first view the spendthrift as he is termed by those who now call penury by the new but irroneous name of frugality and would almost commend it as a virtue. Let us notice the man whom fortune has placed somewhat above the generality of his fellow creatures, in rank, title, and property. In the first place we find him possessed of a very large mansion whilst (it may be said) a much less one might do, & not contented with this he must have other residences in the country which probably he seldom visits.—But what of all this does he not keep a large establishment in each place, are not many employed & provided for in the capacity of servants, are not many tradespeople assisted by supplying him with the variou articles of life, and is not society in general benefitted by the diffusion of his income.