Smooth. Nor against the Support of the War while it continues.
Rose. Nor against such a Peace, as the Success of the War may intitle us to.
Sir John. So! the Lessons are already put by Heart.
Over. Why not? you forget how apt Lawyers and Divines are to learn. Ha, ha!
Blunt. And Patriots too, when once they creep within the Palace Gates.
Broad. Mr. Blunt, I am well acquainted with the Uprightness of your Heart. You love me, and therefore fear I am to be deluded from my Duty to my Country by the Allurements of a Post. But let me intreat my Friends to suppress their Fears till the End of the Session.
Blunt. I should not wonder by the End of the present Session, or at least before the Beginning of the next, to see you and your Brethren reduced to your primitive Nakedness. Of what Use can you be, after you grant all the Court wants, and reject or throw cold Water on every Motion for the Benefit of the Nation?
Sir John. Motion for the Benefit of the Nation, said you! Who will make such a Motion? Or if made, who will support it? Neighbour Blunt, I don’t wonder that you, who never sat in Parliament, should mistake the Nature of Motions made there; but I, who represented your Borough in my younger Days, am able from my Experience to inform you, that no important Motion of public Benefit will be made this Session; or, if fortuitously made, will be seconded. The different Parties in the House, and Parties with different Views there always were and will be, are led by a few, who may be said to direct all the Operations of the Session. Among that few, there is generally some one or two who are permitted to take the Lead in all Deliberations, and from thence may be said to direct the whole. Supposing then that the Court should find means to take off not only that one, or those two or three, but all the Chiefs or Directors of an Opposition at the Beginning of a Session, how can it be expected that any Motions of Moment will be made? or, as I said before, if made will be seconded? All Motions to be made, that are of consequence, are first projected by the Leaders, and communicated and recommended at their private Meetings and Clubs. But strip the Party of such Leaders, before they have Time to make, or even resolve on a new Choice of Chiefs, and there is an End of all such necessary and usual Communications and Recommendations, and probably of the very Meetings antecedent to them. In time, a new Set of Leaders may arise, but there must be Proof of their Truth and Abilities before they can acquire the necessary Confidence; and such Proof is not produced hastily.
Over. Right, old Sportsman. It must be Truth and Time that acquire the Captains of Foxhounds the Confidence of the Pack.
Smooth. Mr. Overall, you might have spared your Comparison of Foxhounds and Members of Parliament.