7. Bull. Nic. indeed is not very nice in your punctilios of ceremony; he is clownish, as a man may say: belching and calling of names have been allowed him time out of mind, by prescription: but however, we are engaged in one common caufe, and I must look after him. L. Baboon. All matters that relate to him, and the reft of the plaintiffs in this law-fuit, I will refer to your juftice.

CHA P. XIX.

Nic. Frog's letter to John Bull; wherein he endea vours to vindicate all his conduct, with relation to John Bull and the law-fuit.

NIC

TIC. perceived now that his cully had eloped, that John intended henceforth to deal without a broker; but he was refolved to leave no stone unturned to recover his bubble: amongst other artifices he wrote a moft obliging letter, which he fent him printed in a fair character.

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DEAR FRIEND †,

WHEN I confidered the late ill ufage I have met with from you, I was reflecting what it was "that could provoke you to it; but upon a narrow infpection into my conduct, I can find nothing to reproach myfelf with, but too partial a concern for your intereft. You no fooner fet this compofition afoot, but I was ready to comply, and prevented your very wishes; and the affair might have been ended be"fore now, had it not been for the greater concerns of Efquire South, and the other poor creatures embarked "in the fame common caufe, whofe fafety touches me "to the quick. You feemed a little jealous, that I had "dealt unfairly with you in money-matters, 'till it appeared by your own accounts, that there was fomething due to me upon the balance. Having nothing to anfwer to fo plain a demonstration, you began to com46 plain, as if I had been familiar with your reputation; when it is well known, not only I, but the meanest ❝fervants

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Substance of the States letter.

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"fervants in my family, talk of you with the utmost refpect. I have always, as far as in me lies, exhorted your fervants and tenants to be dutiful; not that I any way meddle in your domestic affairs, which were very unbecoming for me to do. If fome of your fer"vants exprefs their great concern for you in a manner, "that is not fo very polite, you ought to impute it "to their extraordinary zeal, which deferves a reward, " rather than a reproof. You cannot reproach me "for want of fuccefs at the Salutation, fince I am not "mafter of the paffions and interefts of other folks. I "have beggared myself with this law fuit, undertaken "merely in complaifance to you; and if you would “ have had but a little patience, I had ftill greater things in referve, that I intended to have done for you. I hope, what I have faid will prevail with you to lay "afide your unreasonable jealousies, and that we may "have no more meetings at the Salutation, fpending 66 our time and money to no purpose. My concern for your welfare and profperity almost makes me mad. "You may be affured I will continue to be

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"Your affectionate

"Friend and servant,

NIC. FROG."

JOHN received this with a good deal of fang froid: tranfeat, quoth John, cum cæteris erroribus. He was now at his eafe; he faw he could now make a very good bargain for himself, and a very safe one for other folks. My fhirt, quoth he, is near me, but my skin is nearer : "whilft I take care of the welfare of other folks, nobody can blame me to apply a little balfam to my own "fores. It is a pretty thing, after all, for a man to do "his own bufinefs; a man has fuch a tender concern "for himself, there's nothing like it. This is fomething "better, I trow, than for John Bull to be standing in "the market, like a great dray-horfe, with Frog's paws 66 upon his head. What will you give me for this beaft? "Serviteur Nic. Frog, you may kifs my backfide, if you pleafe. Tho' John Bull has not read Ariftotle's, your Plato's, and Machiavel's, he can fee as far into a mill• ftone

"stone as another." With that John began to chuckle and laugh, till he was like to have burft his fides.

CHA P. XX..

The difcourfe that paffed between Nic. Frog and Ef quire South, which John Bull overheard.

J

OHN thought every minute a year, till he got into Ecclefdown-caftle; he repairs to the Salutation, with a defign to break the matter gently to his partners: before he entered; he overheard Nic. and the Efquire in a very pleasant conference.

Ef. South. Oh the ingratitude and injuftice of mankind that John Bull, whom I have honoured with my friendship and protection fo long, fhould flinch at laft, and pretend that he can difburfe no more money for me! that the family of the Souths, by his fneaking temper, fhould be kept out of their own!

Nic. Frog. An't like your worship, I am in amaze at it; I think the rogue frould be compelled to his duty. Efq. South. That he should prefer his fcandalous pelf, the duft and dregs of the earth, to the profperity and grandeur of my family!

Nic. Frog. Nay, he is mistaken there too; for he would quickly lick himself whole again by his vails. It is ftrange he fhould prefer Philip Baboon's cuftom to Efquire South's.

Efq. South. As you fay, that my clothier, that is to get fo much by the purchase, fhould refufe to put me in poffeffion; did you ever know any man's tradesman ferve him fo before?

Nic. Frog. No, indeed, an't please your worship, it is a very unufual proceeding; and I would not have been guilty of it for the world. If your honour had not a great stock of moderation and patience, you would not bear it fo well as you do.

Efq. South. It is most intolerable, that's certain, Nic: and I will be revenged.

Nic. Frog.

Negotiations between the emperor and the Dutch for con

tinuing the war, and getting the property of Flanders.

Nic. Frog. Methinks it is ftrange, that Philip Baboon's tenants do not all take your honour's part, confidering how good and gentle a mafter you are.

Efq. South. True, Nic. but few are fenfible of merit in this world it is a great comfort, to have so faithful a friend as thyfelf in fo critical a juncture.

Nic. Frog. If all the world should forfake you, be af fured Nic. Frog never will; let us flick to our point, and we'll manage Bull, I'll warrant ye.

Efq. South. Let me kifs thee, dear Nic. I have found one honest man among a thousand at last.

Nic. Frog. If it were poffible, your honour has it in your power to wed me ftill closer to your intereft.

Efq. South. Tell me quickly, dear Nic.

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Nic. Frog, You know I am your tenant; the difference between my leafe and an inheritance is fuch a trifle, as I am fure you will not grudge your poor friend; that will be an encouragement to go on; befides, it will make Bull as mad as the devil: you and I fhall be able to manage him then to fome purpose.

Efq. South. Say no more, it fhall be done, Nic. to thy heart's content.

JOHN all this while was liftening to this comical dialogue, and laughed heartily in his fleeve at the pride and fimplicity of the Esquire, and the fly roguery of his friend Nic. Then of a fudden, bolting into the room, he began to tell them, that he believed he had brought Lewis to reasonable terms, if they would please to hear them.

THEN they all bawled out aloud, "No compofition, "long live Efquire South and the law !" As John was going to proceed, fome roared, fome ftamped with their feet, others ftopt their ears with their fingers.

NAY, gentlemen, quoth John, if you will but ftop proceeding for a while, you fhall judge yourselves whether Lewis's propofals are reasonable t

All. Very fine indeed, stop proceeding, and so lose a

term.

7. Bull. Not fo neither, we have fomething by way of advance, he will put us in poffeffion of his manor and caftle of Ecclefdown.

Nic. Frog.

Propofals for ceffation of arms, and delivery of Dunkirk.

Nic. Frog. What dost thou talk of us, thou meanest shyfelf.

7. Bull. When Frog took poffeffion of any thing, it was always faid to be for us, and why may not John Bull be us, as well as Nic. Frog was us? I hope John Bull is no more confined to fingularity than Nic. Frog; or, take it fo, the conftant doctrine, that thou haft preached up for many years, was, that thou and I are one; and why muft we be fuppofed two in this cafe, that were al ways one before it is impoffible that thou and I can fall out, Nic. we must trust one another; I have trusted thee with a great many things, prithee truft me with this one trifle.

:

Nic. Frog. That principle is true in the main, but there is fome Speciality in this cafe, that makes it highly inconvenient for us both.

7. Bull. Thofe are your jealousies, that the common enemies fow between us; how often haft thou warned me of thofe rogues, Nic. that would make us mistrustful of one another!

Nic. Frog. This Ecclefdown castle is only a bone of contention.

7. Bull. It depends upon you to make it fo, for my part I am as peaceable as a lamb.

Nic. Frog. But do you confider the unwholesomeness of the air and foil, the expences of reparations and fervants? I would fcorn to accept of fuch a quagmire.

J. Bull. You are a great man, Nic. but in my cir cumftances, I must be even content to take it as it is. Nic. Frog. And you are really fo filly as to believe the old cheating rogue will give it you?

7. Bull. I believe nothing but matter of fact, I ftand and fall by that, I am refolved to put him to it.

Nic. Frog. And fo relinquish the hopefulleft caufe in the world, a claim that will certainly in the end make thy fortune for ever!

7. Bull. Wilt thou purchase it, Nic? thou shalt have a lumping pennyworth; nay, rather than we fhould differ, I'll give thee fomething to take it off my hands.

Nic. Frog. If thou wouldst but moderate that hafty, impatient temper of thine, thou shouldft quickly fee a better thing than all that. What shouldst thou think to find

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