Everybody's Business Is Nobody's Business

A sharply satirical tract from the early 1700s, this work turns a keen eye on the escalating wages and perceived arrogance of household servants, from footmen to maid‑wenches. Its author, a self‑styled reformer, argues that the swelling pay of domestic staff strains ordinary tradesmen, while the growing pride of the servants themselves threatens the smooth running of homes and even the woollen industry. Written in a plain, unpretentious style, the pamphlet blends humor with earnest pleas for legislative action, urging Parliament to curb excesses and to replace street “vermin” with industrious laborers.

Beyond the witty barbs, the text offers concrete proposals—such as stricter oversight of watchmen and the removal of vagrants to workhouses—reflecting genuine concerns about public order and economic fairness. Listeners will hear a vivid snapshot of a society wrestling with class tension, labor markets, and moral reform, all delivered with the brisk, conversational voice of a man determined to make his grievances heard.