Great cities swarm with persons, whom misery renders industrious.⁠—They neither rob nor pick pockets: but they are to pickpockets, what pickpockets are to gamblers. They know everything, they do everything. They go up and down, they insinuate themselves. They are found at court, in the city, at Westminster hall, at church, at the play, at ladies toilets, in coffeehouses, at balls, operas and in academies. They are anything that you would have them be. Do you sollicit a pension, they have the minister’s ear. Have you a lawsuit, they will solicit for you. Do you love gaming, they will make a party with you; good cheer, they keep a good kitchen; women, they will introduce you to Amina or Acaris. From which of the two would you please to purchase the distemper? Take your choice, they will undertake your cure. Their chief occupation is to find the ridicules of private persons, and to make advantage of the follies of the public. From them it is, that papers are distributed in the streets, at the gates of temples, at the playhouse doors, and other public places, by which you are advertised gratis, that such an one living at the Louvre, St. John’s, the temple, or the abbey, at such a sign, dupes mankind at home from nine in the morning to noon, and abroad the rest of the day.