more particularly open to Men of Merit. To ſay the Truth, this was the only Houſe in the Kingdom where you was ſure to gain a Dinner by deſerving it.
Above all others, Men of Genius and Learning ſhared the principal Place in his Favour; and in theſe he had much Diſcernment: For though he had miſſed the Advantage of a learned Education, yet being bleſt with vaſt natural Abilities, he had ſo well profited by a vigorous, though late Application to Letters, and by much Converſation with Men of Eminence in this Way, that he was himſelf a very competent Judge in moſt Kinds of Literature.
It is no Wonder that in an Age when this Kind of Merit is ſo little in Faſhion, and ſo ſlenderly provided for, that Perſons[errata 1] poſſeſſed of it ſhould very eagerly flock to a Place where they were ſure of being received with great Complaiſance; indeed where they might enjoy almoſt the ſame Advantages of a liberal Fortune as if they were entitled to it in their own Right; for Mr. Allworthy was not one of thoſe generous Perſons, who are ready moſt bountifully to beſtow Meat, Drink, and Lodging on Men of Wit and Learning, for which they expect no otherReturn
