To a young Trader generally in a Hurry in Business, advising Method as well as Diligence.

Dear Nephew,

The Affection I have always borne you, as well for your own sake, as for your late Father's and Mother’s, makes me give you the Trouble of these Lines, which I hope you will receive as kindly as I intend them.

I have lately call’d upon you several times, and have as often found you in an extraordinary Hurry; which I well know cannot be sometimes avoided; but, methinks, need not be always the Case, if your Time were disposed in regular and proper Proportions to your Business. I have frequently had Reason to believe, that more than half the Flutter which appears among Traders in general, is rather the Effect of their Indolence, than their Industry; however willing they are to have it thought otherwise; and I will give you one Instance in Confirmation of this Opinion, in a Neighbour of mine.

This Gentleman carried on for some Years a profitable Business; but indulging himself every Evening in a Tavern Society or Club, which the Promotion of Business (as is usually the Case) gave the first Pretence for,he looked upon those Engagements as the natural Consequence of the Approach of Night; and drove on his Business in the Day with Precipitation, that he might get thither with the earliest. He seldom kept very late Hours, tho’ he never came home soon. The Night being gone, and his Bottle empty’d, the Morning was always wanted to dispel the Fumes of the Wine. Whoever therefore came to him before Nine, was desired to call again; and when he rose, so many Matters waited for him, as directly threw him into a Flutter; so that from his Rising till Dinner-time, he seem’d in one continued Ferment. A long Dinner-time he always allowed himself, in order to recover the Fatigues he had undergone; and all his Table-talk was, How heavy his Business lay upon him! And what Pains he took in it! The hearty Meal, and the Time he indulged himself at Table, begot an Inappetency for any more Business for that short Afternoon; so all that could be deferr’d, was put off to the next Morning;