The ambition
  of rank ！ How they watch ， how they toil， to gain precedence ！ What
  poor and contemptible passions are displayed in their utter nakedness ！
  We have a woman here， for example， who never ceases to entertain the
  company with accounts of her family and her estates. Any stranger would
  consider her a silly being， whose head was turned by her pretensions
  to rank and property； but she is in reality even more ridiculous ， the
  daughter of a mere magistrate's clerk from this neighbourhood. I cannot
  understand how human beings can so debase themselves.
  Every day I observe more and more the folly of judging of others by
  ourselves ； and I have so much trouble with myseif ， and my own heart
  is in such constant agitation ， that I am well content to let others
  pursue their own course ， if they only allow me the same privilege.
  What provokes me most is the unhappy extent to which distinctions
  of rank are carried. I know perfectly well how necessary are inequalities
  of condition， and I am sensible of the advantages I myself derive therefrom
  ； but I would not have these institutions prove a barrier to the small
  chance of happiness which I may enjoy on this earth.
  I have lately become acquainted with a Miss B ——， a very agreeable
  girl， who has retained her natural manners in the midst of artificial
  life. Our first conversation pleased us both equally； and， at taking
  leave ， I requested permission to visit her. She consented in so obliging
  a manner， that I waited with impatience for the arrival of the happy
  moment. She is not a native of this place ， but resides here with her
  aunt. The countenance of the old lady is not prepossessing. I paid her
  much attention， addressing the greater part of my conversation to her
  ； and， in less than half an hour， I discovered what her niece subsequently
  acknowledged to me， that her aged aunt ， having but a small fortune ，
  and a still smaller share of understanding， enjoys no satisfaction except
  in the pedigree of her ancestors， no protection save in her noble birth，
  and no enjoyment but in looking from her castle over the heads of the
  humble citizens. She was， no doubt ， handsome in her youth， and in
  her early years probably trifled away her time in rendering many a poor
  youth the sport of her caprice： in her riper years she has submitted
  to the yoke of a veteran officer， who， in return for her person and
  her small independence， has spent with her what we may designate her
  age of brass. He is dead； and she is now a widow ， and deserted. She
  spends her iron age alone ， and would not be approached， except for
  the loveliness of her niece.
  JANUARY 8 ， 1772. What beings are men， whose whole thoughts are
  occupied with form and ceremony ， who for years together devote their
  mental and physical exertions to the task of advancing themselves but
  one step， and endeavouring to occupy a higher place at the table. Not
  that such persons would otherwise want employment ： on the contrary，
  they give themselves much trouble by neglecting important business for
  such petty trifles. Last week a question of precedence arose at a sledging-party，
  and all our amusement was spoiled.
  The silly creatures cannot see that it is not place which constitutes
  real greatness， since the man who occupies the first place but seldom
  plays the principal part. How many kings are governed by their ministers
  —— how many ministers by their secretaries？ Who， in such cases， is
  really the chief？