Part II. cliff. Dr. Garth*, "This cafe feems to me to be plain

ly hysterical; the old woman is whimsical; it is a 66. common thing for your old women to be fo I'll pawn 66. my life, blifters, with the steel diet, will recover her.". Others fuggefted ftrong purging and letting of blood, because she was plethoric. Some went fo far as to fay the old woman was mad, and nothing would be better than a little corporal correction. Ratcliff, "Gentlemen, you "are mistaken in this cafe; it is plainly an acute dis "temper, and fhe cannot hold out three days, unless "fhe is fupported with strong cordials." I came into the room with a good deal of concern, and asked them what they thought of my mother?" In no manner of danger, "I avow to Gad, quoth Garth, the old woman is hyfte❝rical, fanciful, Sir, I avow to Gad." "I tell you,.

Sir, fays Ratcliff, the cannot live three days to an end, "unlels there is fome very effectual courfe taken with "her; flie has a malignant fever." Then fool, pup py. and blockhead, were the best words they gave. I could hardly restrain them from throwing the ink-bottlesat one another's heads. I forgot to tell you, that one: party of the phyficians defired, I would take my fifter Peg into the house to nurse her, but the old gentlewoman would not hear of that. At last one physician afked, if the Lady had ever been used to take laudanum? Her maid answered, not that she knew; but indeed there was a High German livery-man of hers, one Yan Ptíchirnfook. ert, that gave her a fort of quack powder. The phy. fician defired to fee it: "Nay, fays he, there is opium in this, I am fure."

ter.

Mrs. Bull. I hope you examined a little into this mat

7. Bull. I did indeed, and difcovered a great mystery of iniquity. The witneffes made oath, that they had heard fome of the livery-men frequently railing at their mistress. "They faid, the was a troublefome fiddle"faddle old woman, and fo ceremonious, that there was

Garth, the low church party: Ratcliff, high-church party. Yan Ptfchirnfooker, a bishop at that time, a great dealer in: politics and phyfic, The clergy.

( no

no bearing of her. They were fo plagued with bow16 ing and cringing as they went in and out of the room, that their backs acked. She ufed to fcold at one for "his dirty fhoes, at another for his greafy hair, and not

combing his head that fhe was fo paffionate and fiery "in her temper, that there was no living with her, fhe "wanted fomething to fweeten her blood : that they ne46: ver had a quiet night's reft, for getting up in the morn ing to early facraments; they wished they could find "fome way or another to keep the old woman quiet in "her bed." Such difcourfes were often overheard among the livery men, while the faid Yan Ptschirnfooker had undertook this matter. A maid made affidavit, "That she had seen the faid Yan Ptschirnfooker, one of "the livery-men, frequently making up of medicines, "and adminiftring them to all the neighbours; that the "faw him one morning make up the powder, which her "mistress took; that he had the curiofity to ask him, "whence he had the ingredieuts? They come, fays he, "from several parts of de-world; dis I have from Ge6. neva, dat from Rome, this white powder from Ain» fterdam, and the red from Edinburgh; but the chief "ingredient of all comes from Turkey." It was likewife proved, that the faid Yan Ptfchirnfooker had been frequently feen at the Rofe with Jack, who was known to bear an inveterate spite to his mistress: that he brought a certain powder to his miftrefs, which the examinant believes to be the fame, and spoke the following words: "Ma"dam, here is grand fecret van de world, my f fweeten

ing powder, it does temperate de humour, defpel the "windt, and cure de vapour, it lulleth and quieteth "the animal fpirits, procuring reft and pleasant dreams:: "it is de infallible receipt for de fcurvy, all heats in "de bloodt, and breaking out upon de fkin: it is de "true blood stancher, ftopping all fluxes of de bloodt: "if you do take dis, you will never ail any ding: it "it will cure you of all diseases :" and abundance more to this purpose, which the examinant does not remember. JOHN BULL was interrupted in his story by a porter, that brought him a letter from Nicholas Frog, which is as follows. СНАР.

CHA P. IX.

A copy of Nic. Frog's letter to John Bull*,

[John Bull reads.]

FRIEND JOHN,

W

HAT fchellum is this that makes thee jealous of thy old friend Nicholas? Haft thou for got how fome years ago he took thee out of the fpunging boufe "It is true, my friend Nic. did fo, and Ithank him; but he made me pay a fwinging reckoning.] "Thou beginneft now to repent thy bargain, that thou "waft fo fond of; and, if thou durft, would forfwear thy own hand and feal. Thou fay'st, that thou haft pur"chafed me too great an estate already; when, at the fame time, thou knoweft I have only a mortgage

it is true I have poffeffion, and the tenants own me "for master; but has not Efquire South the equity of "redemption?" [No doubt, and will redeem it very Speedily poor Nic. has only poffeffion, eleven points of the Taw!]. As for the turnpikes, I have let up, they are "for other people, not for my friend John; I have or ❝dered my fervant conftantly to attend, to let thy car"riages through without paying any thing; only I hope "thou wilt not come too beavy laden to fpoil my ways.

Certainly I have juft caufe of offence against thee, my "friend, for fuppofing it poffible that thou and I fhould 6. ever quarrel: what hound's foot is it that puts these "whims in thy head? Ten thousand last of devils haut 66 me, if I don't love thee as I love my life," [No question;. as the devil loves holy water!" Does not thy own hand "and feal oblige thee to purchafe for me, till I fay it is "enough? Are not thefe words plain? I fay it is not "enough Doft thou think thy friend Nicholas Frog made a child's bargain? Mark the words of thy con

tract, tota pecunia, with all thy money." [Very well? Ihave purchafed with my own money, my childrens, and my grand children's money, is not that enough? Well, tota pecunia let it be, for, at prefent I have none at all: he would not have me purchafe with other people's money, fure: fince tota pecunia is the bargain, I think it is plain, no more money, no more purchase] "And whatever "the world may fay, Nicholas Frog is but a poor man in "comparifon of the rich, the opulent John Bull, great "clothier of the world. I have had many loffes, fix of my best sheep were drowned, and the water has come "into my cellar, and spoiled a pipe of my best brandy: "it would be a more friendly act in thee to carry a brief "about the country to repair the loffes of thy poor "friend. Is it not evident to all the world, that I am "still hemmed in by Lewis Baboon? Is he not just upon "my borders?" And fo he will be, if I purchafe a thousand acres more, unless he get fomebody betwixt them.] "I tell thee, friend John, thou haft flatterers that per"fuade thee that thou art a man of business; do not be "lieve them if thou wouldst ftill leave thy affairs in my

hands, thou shouldft fee how handsomely I would deal "by thee. That ever thou shouldst be dazzled with the "inchanted islands and mountains of gold, that old "Lewis promises thee! 'D'fwounds! Why doft thou not "lay out thy money to purchase a place at court, of "boneft Ifrael? I tell thee, thou must not fo much as "think of a compofition." [Not think of a compofition, that's hard indeed; I cannot help thinking of it if I would.] "Thou complaineft of want of money; let thy wife and daughters burn the gold lace of their petticoats; fell thy fat cattle; retrench but a firloin "of beef and a peck-loaf in a week from thy gormandizing guts." [Retrench my beef, a dog! retrench my beef! then it is plain the rafcal has an ill defign up. on me, he would ftarze me.] "Mortgage thy manor of "Bullock's-hatch, or pawn thy crop for ten years." [A rogue! part with my country feat, my patrimony, all that I have left in the world: I'll fee him hanged first.] Why haft thou changed thy attorney? Cau any man manage thy caufe better for thee? [Very pleasant! becaufe a man has a good attorney, he must never make

an

an end of his law-fuit.] "Ah John! John! I wish thou knewest thy own mind; thou art as fickle as the wind. "I tell thee, thou hadst better let this compofition alone, or leave it to thy

Loving friend,

NIC. FROG."

CHAP. X.

Of fome extraordinary things*, that passed at the Salitation tavern, in the conference between Bull, Frog, Efquire South, and Lewis Baboon.

F

ROG had given his word, that he would meet the above-mentioned company at the Salutation to talk of this agreement. Though he durft not directly break bis appointment, he made many a fhuffling excufe; one time he pretended to be seized with the gout in his right knee; then he got a great cold, that had ftruck him deaf of one ear; afterwards two of his coach horfes fell fick, and he durft not go by water for fear of catching an ague. John would take no excufe, but hurried him away:

Come Nic. fays he, let's go, and hear at least what "this old fellow has to propofe! I hope there's no hurt

in that." "Be it fo, quoth Nic, but if I catch any "harm, woe be to you; my wife and children will curfe .66 you as long as they live." When they were come to the Salutation, John concluded all was fure then, and that he fhould be troubled no more with law affairs; he thought every body as plain and fincere as he was. "Well, neighbours, quoth he, let's now make an end

of all matters, and live peaceably together for the ❝time to come; if every body is as well inclined as I, we shall quickly come to the upfhot of our affair.'

.66

The treaty of Utrecht: the difficulty to get them to meet. When met, the Dutch would not fpeak their fentiments, nor the French deliver in their propofls. The House of Austria talked very high.

And