Sir John. Yes; and the very little which that C—ee was pleas’d to publish concerning that Arch-spoiler of his Country, proves that they ought to have proceeded further.
Over. Dear Broadbottom, let us have no C—ees at all, unless you have the Will and Power to sift Things to the Bottom: For it is but tantalizing a Nation to pretend doing them Justice, and never intend any.
Blunt. ’tis encouraging public Venality and Corruption. But C—ees are pretty Tubs, too often thrown out to amuse the People.
Sir John. What Pity ’tis to abuse the Credulity of the best natur’d People in the World!
Over. Sir John, you may praise their good Nature as much as you please; but, Gad! I say they are the veriest Oafs in Christendom. Z—ds! that a People should be so d—n’d stupid as to delegate their Power again and again; nay, a Power too over their Lives and Fortunes, to Men who had done them repeated Injuries, and of whom they had made repeated Complaints. They complain’d of the Septennial as a grievous Imposition; yet the very next Opportunity chose those very Men that had so grossly imposed upon them.
Blunt. Was it not the same in regard to the Excise-Scheme and the Convention?
Over. The H—r Troops, and the &c. &c. to the End of a Chapter as long as the Book of Homilies.
Broad. But, Gentlemen, don’t you forget to season your Account of the People’s Folly with a certain native Spice called Knavery, or in other Words, Self-interest, which, according to Sir John, is the primary fundamental Ingredient in the Composition of most Men? Did not these injur’d complaining People bring their Suffrages to Market overt, where the best Bidder was sure to have them?
Sir John. The Fact, I am afraid, is but too true: And at the same Time that it proves the Corruption of the People, it proves likewise the Necessity of an immediate Remedy. Had those scandalous Marts for the Sale of B—sh Liberty been more common; had they been annual, or even triennial, the M—rs would not find their Account in the frequent Expence; nay, they could not support it.
Blunt. Yet necessary as the immediate Application of this Specific is, you shall see it postponed to more pacific Times, and gentler Seasons.