No men are apter to speak slightly and coldly of a fellow-tradesman than his fellow-tradesmen, and to speak unjustly so too; the reasons for which cannot be good, unless it can be pleaded for upon the foundation of a just and impartial concern in the interest of the inquirer; and even then nothing must be said but what is consistent with strict justice and truth: all that is more than that, is mere slander and envy, and has nothing of the Christian in it, much less of the neighbour or friend.

It is true that friendship may be due to the inquirer, but still so much justice is due to the person inquired of, that it is very hard to speak in such cases, and not be guilty of raising dust, as they call it, upon your neighbour, and at least hurting, if not injuring him.
It is, indeed, so difficult a thing, that I scarce know what stated rule to lay down for the conduct of a tradesman in this case:--A tradesman at a distance is going to deal with another tradesman, my neighbour; and before he comes to bargain, or before he cares to trust him, he goes, weakly enough perhaps, to inquire of him, and of his circumstances, among his neighbours and fellow-tradesmen, perhaps of the same profession or employment, and who, among other things, it may be, are concerned by their interest, that this tradesman's credit should not rise too fast.

What must be done in this case?
If I am the person inquired of, what must I do?
If I would have this man sink in his reputation, or be discredited, and if it is for my interest to have him cried down in the world, it is a sore temptation to me to put in a few words to his disadvantage; and yet, if I do it in gratification of my private views or interest, or upon the foot of resentment of any kind whatever, and let it be from what occasion it will, nay, however just and reasonable the resentment is, or may be, it is utterly unjust and unlawful, and is not only unfair as a man, but unchristian, and is neither less nor more than a secret revenge, which is forbidden by the laws of God and man.
If, on the other hand, I give a good character of the man, or of his reputation, I mean, of his credit in business, in order to have the inquirer trust him, and at the same time know or believe that he is not a sound and good man (that is, as to trade, for it is his character in trade that I am speaking of), what am I doing then?
It is plain I lay a snare for the inquirer, and am at least instrumental to his loss, without having really any design to hurt him; for it is to be supposed, before he came to me to inquire, I had no view of acting any thing to his prejudice.
Again, there is no medium, for to refuse or decline giving a character of the man, is downright giving him the worst character I can--it is, in short, shooting him through the head in his trade.

A man comes to me for a character of my neighbouring tradesman; I answer him with a repulse to his inquiry thus-- _A_ .-- Good sir, do not ask me the character of my neighbours--I resolve to meddle with nobody's character; pray, do not inquire of me.
_B_ .-- Well, but, sir, you know the gentleman; you live next door to him; you can tell me, if you please, all that I desire to know, whether he is a man in credit, and fit to be trusted, or no, in the way of his business.
_A_ .-- I tell you, sir, I meddle with no man's business; I will not give characters of my neighbours--it is an ill office--a man gets no thanks for it, and perhaps deserves none.
_B_ .-- But, sir, you would be willing to be informed and advised, if it were your own case.
_A_ .-- It may be so, but I cannot oblige people to inform me.
_B_ .-- But you would entreat it as a favour, and so I come to you.
_A_ .-- But you may go to any body else.
_B_ .-- But you are a man of integrity; I can depend upon what you say; I know you will not deceive me; and, therefore, I beg of you to satisfy me.
_A_ .-- But I desire you to excuse me, for it is what I never do--I cannot do it.
_B_ .-- But, sir, I am in a great strait; I am just selling him a great parcel of goods, and I am willing to sell them too, and yet I am willing to be safe, as you would yourself, if you were in my case.
_A_ .-- I tell you, sir, I have always resolved to forbear meddling with the characters of my neighbours--it is an ill office.

Besides, I mind my own business; I do not enter into the inquiries after other people's affairs.
_B_ .-- Well, sir, I understand you, then; I know what I have to do.
_A_ .-- What do you mean by that?
_B_ .-- Nothing, sir, but what I suppose you would have me understand by it.
_A_ .-- I would have you understand what I say--namely, that I will meddle with nobody's business but my own.
_B_ .-- And I say I understand you; I know you are a good man, and a man of charity, and loth to do your neighbours any prejudice, and that you will speak the best of every man as near as you can.
_A_ .-- I tell you, I speak neither the best nor the worst--I speak nothing.
_B_ .-- Well, sir, that is to say, that as charity directs you to speak well of every man, so, when you cannot speak well, you refrain, and will say nothing; and you do very well, to be sure; you are a very kind neighbour.
_A_ .-- But that is a base construction of my words; for I tell you, I do the like by every body.
_B_ .-- Yes, sir, I believe you do, and I think you are in the right of it--am fully satisfied.
_A_ .-- You act more unjustly by me than by my neighbour; for you take my silence, or declining to give a character, to be giving an ill character.
_B_ .-- No, sir, not for an ill character.
_A_ .-- But I find you take it for a ground of suspicion.
_B_ .-- I take it, indeed, for a due caution to me, sir; but the man may be a good man for all that, only-- _A_ .-- Only what?
I understand you--only you won't trust him with your goods.
_B_ .-- But another man may, sir, for all that, so that you have been kind to your neighbours and to me too, sir--and you are very just.