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also, of which there are a great many in the Country where she lives: As I have said, that Sir G——— was a well-bred Gentleman, and a Man of Sense, he was acceptable to every Body; kept the best Company, and was very well received in all Places; nor, however the Lady acted, did the Nobility, even of the first Rank, think it below them, both to Converse with him, and even to Visit him, which relished so ill with her Ladyship, that he could hardly refrain her little Sarcasms, even before them; reflecting on Persons of Quality keeping Company below themselves, as she call'd it, and of the antient Nobility debasing their Blood, by mingling with Mechanicks; that their Ancestors scorned to intermarry with the Commonalty, and kept the Honour of their Families entire and untainted.
She was roundly answered once, at her own Table, by a certain noble Lord of an antient Family, who told her:
Madam, says he, your Ladyship very much mistakes the Case. In former Days, the Nobility possess'd great Estates, and had powerful Dependencies; the Landed Interest was theirs, and almost all the Possession was their own; the Commons held under them either in Vassalage or Villainage, either as Vassals, Tenants, Cottagers, or Servants; and then it was indeed beneath a Man of Quality to match among the Vassals.
But then two Things are to be observed, which have happened in England since that Time.
i. The Commons have grown rich by Industry and Commerce.
2. The
