From a Gentleman who in a small Fortune experiences the Slights of his Friends; but being suddenly reputed to be rich, is oppressed with the fawning Caresses and Adulation of those who had before neglected him. Dear Sir,

I must, for once, postpone every thing I would say to you, in order to make room for an Account you little expect.

What will you say, when I tell you, that a current Report of my being immensely rich is the greatest Misfortune I at present labour under? Nor do I find it so supportable as you may be apt to imagine. The Occasion was owing to the frequent Slights I had received from the Gentlewoman with whom I lodge, and from others of my Friends, who, believing that I lived up to my scanty Fortune, as in Truth I do, (tho’ I take care to be beholden to nobody, and pay ready Money for every thing) could not treat me negligently enough. I complain’d of this to that arch Wag Tony Richards, who told me, he would change every one's Behaviour to me in a few Days. And he has done it effectually: For what does he do, but, as a kind of Secret, acquaints my Landlady, that beside my poor little Estate (which you know to be my All) he had lately discovered, that I had Twenty thousand Pounds Stock in one of our great Companies!

Such was the Force of his whimsical Delusion, that, the very next Morning, I had a clean Towel hung over my Water-bottle, tho’ I never before had more than one a Week during the Twenty Years I have lodged here.

About a Week after this, my Cousin Tom, who, for the two Years he has been in the Temple, has let me see him but three times, came, in a most complaisant manner, plainer dressed than ever I had before seen him; and begg’d, if the Length of the Evening was in any Degree burdensome, I would permit him to wait upon me with such Pieces of Wit, Humour, or Entertainment, as the Town afforded; the reading of which under my Ear, he was sure, would be a great Advantage to him; and assured me, that, for a Beginning, he had presumed to bring the last new Tragedy in his Pocket: I thank’d my young Spark.