Broad. But, Sir John, how shall we be affected by his Motions? I hope you don’t suppose he will be able to influence us New comers, as you call us, however he may direct his Pupils.
Sir John. I hope he won’t; but I’ll answer for it, he does not now matter whether he can or no. He has lull’d you into a Stupor, and having unperceptibly depriv’d you of your Sting, you are no longer the terrible Men you appeared to the Court some time ago.
Over. They are now become the Drones of the Hive; ha, ha!
Sir John. They are really no better. Pardon me, Mr. Broadbottom, if I think the Epithet fits all you who are brought in to countenance Measures the Nation disapproves of——
Blunt. To colour an ignominious Peace, which is thought to be on the Anvil, because the late Conduct of our Superiors renders a Peace of any kind absolutely necessary.
Over. And to be kick’d out again as soon as those dirty Ends are answered, which they were introduc’d to promote: Gad, Brother Foxhunter, I should not care to be rump’d after I had said yea and nay as directed. You see what End the late Patriot Pretenders are come to. —— Z—ns Man! fall not, like those Coxcombs, ’tween two Stools.
Sir John. There lies the Depth of the present Scheme, which is but the second Part of the late. The late Deserters, as they are justly call’d, saw not that they were digging Pits for themselves, while they were bargaining to drop their Party for Places at Court. What better, Mr Broadbottom, have you been lately doing for yourself? If you answer the Purpose of your being taken into the Ministry, supposing it disagreeable to the Nation, you are irrecoverably lost in the Opinion of all who esteem’d you before; and of consequence will be no better than a Drone all your Life long.
Broad. Pray, Sir John, why will you suppose the Purpose of the Ministry to be disagreeable to the Nation?
Sir John. Because I have known in my Time but very few, if any Ministerial Purposes that deserv’d public Approbation.
Broad. You would not have us be against the Continuance of the War, till an honourable Peace can be obtain’d?