Sir John. I say nothing of the Aptness of your Exception among the Fair; but really, Mr. Overall, you have hit it off in regard to the other Sex. The late M—r was a Prodigy in his Way. I won’t say that I ever knew a less virtuous Minister, but I will, that I never knew one made less Pretensions to Virtue.
Broad. He courted Virtue as he did Applause.
Sir John. And was he not the Honester, for not pretending to that he resolved not to practise, and for not courting that which he knew he did not deserve? But what better Pretensions have they, who, as my Friend Mr. Overall terms it, thrust him from the Barn Door, to either Virtue or Applause? Did they not give a Sanction to all his Measures? Were not they Partners of his Guilt? And more, were they not the Partners of his Predecessor’s Guilt? Had the late Minister shewn less Contempt for them; had he wore more the Appearance of Modesty, or had more Deference for their Opinions; had he seem’d to draw with them; had he not ingross’d solely to himself the Distribution of the Court Manna: Had he, in short, shared with his Fellow Ministers the vast Emoluments arising from the Distribution of the Secret-Service Money, I fancy we should never have heard of the present unnatural Ingraftment.
Broad. Since you will have it an Ingraftment rather than a Coalition, it shall be so; but why should it be an unnatural Ingraftment?
Over. Why indeed? Don’t we see Non-pareilles and Golden Pippins daily grafted on Crabs, and yet thrive? Ha, ha!
Sir John. Yes, Mr. Overall; because they are all nourished by their common Parent, the Earth; and the Crab-Tree is a Channel only for the Nurture to pass thro’. In this Case, the Earth, from whence both Species receive Nourishment, remains pure and uninfected; the Crab has no more Influence than the Pippin. But can we suppose the Parity will hold in the other Case? The old Standards in the Administration ingross the Soil: The ingrafted Shoots shall have no more Communication with it, than their elder Brethren shall be pleased to permit.
Rose. I am sorry to see all Sir John’s Observations tinctured with Uncharitableness. Why should the old Standards, as you call those that remain of the late Ministry, infect the Soil, by which I suppose the —— is meant, any more than the ingrafted Shoots or new Comers?
Sir John. The new Comers, for aught I know, wou’d be as arrant Courtiers, as supple Fawners in time, as the old Standards themselves, had they equal Opportunity. But my Life for’t, the Ingrafted will be kept at Arms Length from the Royal Ear.
Broad. I hope not, Sir John; those we join are Men of Honour; and they assure us of going Hand in Hand with us——
Blunt. To raise the Supplies.