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2. The Nobility are become poor, or at least poorer, be it by Sloth and Luxury, I do not determine.
The Consequence is this, that the Nobility sell their Estates, and the Commons buy them: And so the Landed Interest is separated; and the Commons possess, I believe, ten Parts of twelve, hardly leaving the other two Parts of twelve to the better guided Nobility.
Then, Madam, of these whom we still call the Commons, great Numbers of them are of noble Families; for the Gentry bringing their Sons up to Industry and Trade, they have found the Sweets of Commerce in such a manner, that they have raised innumerable Families out of nothing; by which means it now is come to pass, that many of our best Gentry are embarked in Trade; and there are some as good Families among the Tradesmen, as most, out of that Class; we often go into the City to get Fortunes for our Sons; and many noble Families, sunk by the Folly and Luxury of their Predecessors, are restored, by marrying into the Families of those that you call Mechanicks; and, Madam, (added his Lordship) the Children of those Families, thus raised by their Merit, are not easily distinguished from some of the best Houses in the Kingdom.
Here his Lordship thought he had pleased the Lady, because she had three Sons, very fine young Gentlemen, by Sir G———. But, far from being pleased with his Discourse, she could not forbear being almost rude to his Lordship, and told him, the thought the Nobility could not Match so among the Commons, without corrupting their Blood; and that those that had done so ought to be no more e-steemed
