Rose. Nor is Sir John’s Doctrine of Motions less seasonable or pertinent.
Blunt. Decent Mr. Smoothwell, and you cautious Mr. Roseband, when are apt Comparisons to be made or necessary, and seasonable Truths to be spoken, unless it be on such an Occasion, and at such a Time as the present?
Over. See how these Law-and-Gospel-Mongers would debar a Freeborn from the Privilege of expostulating with the Man to whom he is going to delegate his Life, Liberty and Fortune!—— Z—ds, Broadbottom, sure you are not already become so rank a Courtier, as to have retained the Vicar of your Parish, and the Steward of your Manors, to padlock the friendly Lips of your plain and upright Neighbours?
Broad. Far be it from me to endeavour preventing the Expostulations of my Friends. I have always asked the Opinion of my Constituents in all Matters of Moment, since I have been in Parliament, and hope they will admit that I have not misused the Trust committed to me.
Sir John. Sir, we believ’d you a true Englishman; at least, let me speak for myself, I did so, or I had not given you so often my Vote and Interest to represent your Country in Parliament: And I confess, that by all that appears, you have honourably discharged the Trust reposed in you. But, Sir, the good Opinion I have had of you, and even that which I entertain of you at present, are no such Securities for your future Conduct, considering the present State of Affairs, as should efface all Traces of Doubt and Jealousy out of my Mind. You are a Man, and as such, are not exempt from Selfishness, a Passion which Ministers never fail to sooth and gratify. I may believe you mean well; but can’t help dreading your suffering yourself to be sweeten’d from your good Intentions.
Broad. Sir John, your Concern for my future Conduct speaks the Sincerity of your Friendship, and I am therefore the more oblig’d to you. But methinks the known Probity and Honour of those Men we join in the Administration might lay your Doubts and Jealousies concerning my Behaviour for the Time to come.
Sir John. I have nothing to do with the private Probity and Honour of any Gentleman; but, Sir, if you expect I should think as favourably of those that have lately invited you to associate with them, as you seem to do, you are grossly mistaken. You differ in Opinion concerning those Gentlemen, whom you now seem to applaud, not only with me, but with yourself. What have those most deserving Men done of late to acquire your good Opinion? It was but just before you went up to the first Meeting of the present Session, that you heartily joined Mr. Blunt and myself, in condemning the Passiveness of all those whom you now associate with and praise. What have they done for the Public since, or ever before, that should endear them to you or any true Englishman? Was Sir R—— W——’s whole Administration obnoxious to the Majority of the Nation? was it injurious to all? did not those you now are grafted upon, concur with him in all his Measures? were they not most of them, the Creatures of his Power? were not the chief of them his Pupils, train’d up in all his Arts and Wiles? are they not of his rearing? are they not distinguishable at this very Hour by his Stamp?
Blunt. By this Scheme of Ingraftment it plainly appears, that if they don’t wear his Livery in View, they wear it under their upper Garments.
Over. So that Sir Brass, like his Employer, still has his cloven Foot in all our Affairs.
Blunt. As sure as this new-devised Ingraftment will ruin all our Affairs, unless the Projector and his Disciples will be so humble as to submit to be led by the Few they have called in to help steer the Bark in a Storm.