THERE are certain men and women in town, who decidedly are not nouns substantive, for they can do nothing by themselves; they have no will of their own, no ideas of their own, no taste of their own, no power per se, but depend entirely on some one or other to direct them; and this somebody, whether male or female, soidisant friend, adviser, prototype, tiger, or dependant, soon usurps the reins of government, and commands house, purse, conduct, and whole establishment. Such persons may be said to do every thing by proxy. But there are two classes of these proxy people: weak idiots, who are led by some artful, interested, and designing companion; and ambitious creatures, who, aware in some measure of their own insignificance, apply to a titled or a fashionable proxy, to regulate all the affairs of their house, their table, and their station in society. The first class is so imbecile, that a valet, a groom, a horse-dealer, a leg or coxcomb, can make them do what bests suits the interest of each: the monied blockhead is bound to imitate the style, fashion, dress, extravagance, and particular passion of the proxy. If he be an Exquisite, the copyist cannot put on a hat or a coat, without first studying the cut of |