An enquiry whether a general practice of virtue tends to the wealth or poverty, benefit or disadvantage of a people? : In which the pleas offered by the author of The fable of bees, or private vices publick benefits, for the usefulness of vice and roguery are considered. With some thoughts concerning a toleration of publick stews.

  • Blewitt, George.
Date:
1725
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: An enquiry whether a general practice of virtue tends to the wealth or poverty, benefit or disadvantage of a people? : In which the pleas offered by the author of The fable of bees, or private vices publick benefits, for the usefulness of vice and roguery are considered. With some thoughts concerning a toleration of publick stews. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    4 fend thither to them whatever they are pleafed to or* 4 der; where I would have People guefs, rather than 4 commit to Paper my felf, what fcandalous and extra- 4 vagant Artifices thefe old Fellows fometimes ufe to 4 excite again in them thefe Inclinations which their na- 4 tural Weaknefs at that Age deprives them of, in fpite 4 of all they can do to revive them. p. 338, 339. 4 The Condition of a Courtezan is of fo little Pre- 4 judice to the Honour of thofe who only proftitute 4 themfelves to a fingle Perfon, that upon her retiring 4 or marrying, fhe may live for the future without any 4 Reproach. From the Hopes of this many a young 4 Woman gives Way to her Inclinations. -But it is 4 feldom that they do indeed retire from this Way of 4 Life. The Debauchery, and Freedom from the Re- 4 ftraint their Parents lay them under (which they greatly 4 efleem) are very ffrong Engagements, and keep them 4 clofe to that Profeffion, which we adlually fee ho- 4 noured by the Daughters of noble Families, p. 339.' He had faid before that 4 the Quality of a Courtezan 4 was fo far from being difhonoured by her Profeffion 4 in the Opinion of the People, that it rather added to 4 her Dignity, and procured her Refpedl in Proportion 4 to the Quality of her Gallants, p. 331. Again. Speaking of the grand Mafquerades at the laU ter end of the Carnaval at Venice, he fays, 4 Women of 4 Fafhion who have Gallants, find in this Seafon a thou- 4 fand Ways to deceive their Husbands and Overfeers; 4 for there is no Place where you may not introduce 4 your felf by the help of Mafques. In fo much, that. 4 the Carnaval is the true Harvefl of Love-Affairs* 4 where they gather the Fruits of all the Intrigues that 4 have been laid in a lefs favourable Seafon, where they 4 fettle new Correfpondences with Ladies the moft 4 carefully obferved, and concert Meafures for their fu® t sure Entertainment, p. 341. F f I thought