DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.70267#0462
414 SIR WILLIAM STAINES.
Again, at tills period of time, there are many national
and moral reasons that call for particular attention to such
a character as that of Sir William Staines, In an age
when the greater part of the upper ranks of society are
generally immersed in luxury and dissipation, notwith-
standing some royal examples of moderation and do-
mestic happiness; and while the trading interest is chiefly
bent upon accumulating wealth by the most excessive and
hazardous speculation and through desperate adventure^ in
such a period, to find ai^ eminent character nobly despising
the customary means of amassing sordid gain, and laugh-
ing at the cares and anxious pursuits of- the mercantile
muckworm, and the mercenary and unfeeling monopo-
lizer; this, it must be confessed, is an exception, some-
thing like that of Noah, to the practice of the. old
world.
In the perusal of universal history, it will appear, as if
Providence had raised up some such exalted characters as
a testimony against the torrents of venality, vice, and cor-
ruption that so often prevail in- the world, especially in
the periods of prosperity or refinement; and thus, as in the
principal character before us, some of the best (f men,
are often found in the worst of times.
But if the more polished periods of society have not
-produced many, who have thus turned their backs upon
Mammon, and refused to worship the golden image, the
preceding ages of mediocrity have been more productive
of them.—The man of Ross, described by Pope, would
not suffer in being compared with the well-known cha-
racter of Sir William Staines; or if a more familiar com-
parison should be required, that of Sir William Staines
may be found in nearer resemblance to the once famous
Sir Richard Whittington [for the particulars of his life
see our Number VI.] : but we now proceed to a sketch of
the
Again, at tills period of time, there are many national
and moral reasons that call for particular attention to such
a character as that of Sir William Staines, In an age
when the greater part of the upper ranks of society are
generally immersed in luxury and dissipation, notwith-
standing some royal examples of moderation and do-
mestic happiness; and while the trading interest is chiefly
bent upon accumulating wealth by the most excessive and
hazardous speculation and through desperate adventure^ in
such a period, to find ai^ eminent character nobly despising
the customary means of amassing sordid gain, and laugh-
ing at the cares and anxious pursuits of- the mercantile
muckworm, and the mercenary and unfeeling monopo-
lizer; this, it must be confessed, is an exception, some-
thing like that of Noah, to the practice of the. old
world.
In the perusal of universal history, it will appear, as if
Providence had raised up some such exalted characters as
a testimony against the torrents of venality, vice, and cor-
ruption that so often prevail in- the world, especially in
the periods of prosperity or refinement; and thus, as in the
principal character before us, some of the best (f men,
are often found in the worst of times.
But if the more polished periods of society have not
-produced many, who have thus turned their backs upon
Mammon, and refused to worship the golden image, the
preceding ages of mediocrity have been more productive
of them.—The man of Ross, described by Pope, would
not suffer in being compared with the well-known cha-
racter of Sir William Staines; or if a more familiar com-
parison should be required, that of Sir William Staines
may be found in nearer resemblance to the once famous
Sir Richard Whittington [for the particulars of his life
see our Number VI.] : but we now proceed to a sketch of
the