Over. ’Sbud! you wou’dn’t have us keep Measures with Renegadoes and Promise-breakers?
Sir John. No; but I am for no Measure that exceeds legal Bounds.
Over. Z—ds Man! you don’t think I would advise the knocking such Recreants in the Head without Judge or Jury, tho’ they would merit the worst of Deaths. No; I would not touch a Hair of their Heads; but d—n me if ever that Man should have my Friendship or Vote again, who should once break public Faith with me.
Blunt. Right, my worthy ’Squire—— Oh! how solemnly have we been promis’d a Redress of all our Grievances as soon as our Idols should come into the Administration!
Rose. Idols! Mr. Mayor.——
Blunt. Ay, Doctor; such, and worse, if possible, are all those useless insignificant Men, that fawn, flatter and promise, to arrive at the Summit of their Ambition, and forget all they had promised as soon as their Turn is served.—Idols! Mr. Roseband; yes, Sir, I would call our Patriots so to their Faces, and even Mr. Broadbottom himself, whom I always lov’d and serv’d, should the Redress of our Grievances be postpon’d. Tame and gull’d as we awkward Country Putts have been; stupid as we are thought to be, we can feel, and even see when we are play’d off. Let the Legerdemain be never so dextrous, believe me, we can see through it.
Over. We don’t forget how Sir Bob used to fly thro’ the Hoops, when he was press’d hard. He wou’d shift the Pack off his own, to cast it on nobler Shoulders.——The Cheat is stale, it won’t pass now.
Blunt. It won’t indeed. We know very well what it means to have a Thing go thro’ glibly below, when it is settled before hand, that it shall be stifled in its Flight. Mr. Broadbottom, you know my Meaning; and you know too what you have often promised, if ever you should come into Play, that you would promote the use of Tacking, when nothing else would do.
Smooth. I am sorry that the Head of a considerable Corporation, should give so great Room for suspecting his Loyalty, as to wish for the postponing the Supplies in time of War.
Blunt. I am more sorry to see a Principal of any Corporation, a Sycophant, and Time-server. Mr. Smoothwell, you may or may not excuse my plain Dealing, as you please. Pray Sir, why might not the Redress go Hand in Hand with the Supply? Is a Million the less a Million for being wrapt up in the same Paper or Parchment with a Triennial, or effectual Place and Pension Bills? Might not Votes of Credit and Votes of Inquiry be very naturally blended together? Would it swell the public Debts, if a secret and special C——ee were appointed to inspect the Debts of the Nation?