Lewis Baboon turned honest, and John Bull politician. Being the fourth part of Law is a bottomless-pit. Printed from a manuscript found in the cabinet of the famous Sir Humphry Polesworth: and publish'd, (as well as the three former parts and appendix) by the author of the New Atalantis:

CHAP. I.

The Sequel of the History of the Meeting at the Salutation.

WHere, I think, I left John Bull, sit|ting between Nic. Frog and Lewis Baboon, with his Arms a-kimbo, in great Concern to keep Lewis and Nic. asun|der. As watchful as he was, Nic. found the Means, now and then, to stear a Whisper, and, by a cleanly Conveyance under the Ta|ble, to slip a short Note into Lewis's hand,

which Lewis as slyly put into John's Pocket, with a Pinch or a Jog, to warn him what he was about. John had the Curiosity to retire into a Corner, to peruse these Billet deux of Nic's; wherein he found, that Nic, had used great Freedoms, both with his Interest and Reputation. One contained these words, Dear Lewis, Thou seest clearly that this Block|head can never bring his Matters to bear: Let thee and me talk to night by our selves at the Rose, and I'll give thee Satisfaction. Another was thus express'd; Friend Lewis, Has thy Sense quite forsaken thee, to make Bull such Of|fers? Hold fast, part with nothing, and I will give thee a better Bargain, I'll warrant thee.

In some of his Billets, he told Lewis

"that John Bull was under his Guardianship; that the best part of his Servants were at his Command; that he could have John gagg'd and bound whenever he pleased, by the People of his own Family."

In all these Epistles, Blockhead, Dunce, Ass, Cox|comb, were the best Epithets he gave poor John: In others he threatned,

"that He, Esquire South, and the rest of the Trades|men, would lay Lewis down upon his Back, beat out his Teeth, if he did not retire immediately, and break up the Meeting.

I fancy I need not tell my Reader, that John often chang'd Colour as he read, and that his Fingers itch'd to give Nic. a good Slap on the Chops, but he wisely moderated

his cholerick Temper:

"I sav'd this Fellow (quoth he) from the Gallows when he ran away from his last Master, because I thought he was harshly treated; but the Rogue was no fooner safe under my Protection, than he began to lie, pilfer, and steal, like the Devil: When I first set him up in a warm House, he had hardly put up his Sign, when he began to debauch my best Cu|stomers from me: Then it was his con|stant Practice to rob my Fish-ponds, not only to feed his Family, but to trade with the Fishmongers: I conniv'd at the Fellow till he began to tell me, that they were his as much as mine: In my Manour of Eastcheap, because it lay at some distance from my constant Inspection, he broke down my Fences, robb'd my Orchards, and beat my Servants. When I us'd to repri|mand him for his Tricks, he would talk saucily, lye, and brazen it out, as if he had done nothing amiss. Will nothing cure thee of thy Pranks Nic. (quoth I?) I shall be forced, some time or another, to chastise thee: The Rogue got up his Cane and threatned me, and was well thwack'd for his Pains: But I think his Behaviour at this time worst of all; after I have al|most drowned my self, to keep his Head above Water, he would leave me sticking in the Mud, trusting to his Goodness to help me out. After I have beggar'd my

self with his troublesome Law-Suit, with a Pox to him, he takes it in mighty Dud|geon because I have brought him here to end Matters amicably, and because I won't let him make me over, by Deed and Inden|ture, as his lawful Cully; which, to my certain Knowledge, he has attempted se|veral times. But, after all, canst thou ga|ther Grapes from Thorns? Nic. does not pretend to be a Gentleman, he is a Trades|man, a self-seeking Wretch, but how ca|mest thou to bear all this, John? The Rea|son is plain; Thou conferrest the Benefits, and he receives them; the first produces Love, and the last Ingratitude: Ah! Nic. Nic. thou art a damn'd Dog, that's cer|tain; thou knowest too well, that I will take care of thee, else thou would'st not use me thus: I won't give thee up, it is true; but as true as it is, thou shalt not sell me, according to thy laudable Custom.

While John was deep in this Soliloquy, Nic. broke out into the following Protesta|tion.

Gentlemen,

I believe every body here present will allow me to be a very just and disinte|rested Person. My Friend John Bull here is very angry with me, forsooth, because I won't agree to his foolish Bargains. Now I declare to all Mankind, I should be ready

to sacrifice my own Concerns to his Quiet; but the care of his Interest, and that of the honest Tradesmen that are embark'd with us, keeps me from entring into this Com|position. What shall become of those poor Creatures? The Thoughts of their impen|ding Ruin disturbs my Night's Rest, there|fore I desire they may speak for themselves. If they are willing to give up this Affair, I shan't make two words of it.

John Bull begg'd him to lay aside that immoderate Concern for him; and withal, put him in mind, that the Interest of those Tradesmen had not sat quite so heavy upon him some Years ago, on a like Occasion. Nic. answer'd little to that, but immediately pull'd out a Boatswain's Whistle; upon the first Whiff, the Tradesmen came jumping into the Room, and began to surround Lewis like so many yelping Curs about a great Boar, or, to use a modester Simile, like Duns at a great Lord's Leve the Morning he goes into the Country; one pull'd him by the Sleeve, ano|ther by the Skirt, a third hallow'd in his Ear; they began to ask him for all that had been taken from their Forefathers by Stealth, Fraud, Force, or lawful Purchase; some ask'd for Manours, others for Acres, that lay con|venient for them; that he would pull down his Fences, level his Ditches; all agreed in one common Demand, that he should be

purg'd, sweated, vomited, and starv'd, till be came to a sizeable Bulk, like that of his Neighbours; one modestly ask'd him Leave to call him Brother; Nic. Frog demanded two Things, to be his Porter and his Fishmonger, to keep the Keys of his Gates, and furnish his Kitchen; John's Sister Peg only desir'd that he would let his Servants sing Psalms a Sun|days; some descended even to the asking of old Cloaths, Shoes, and Boots, broken Bottles, Tobacco-pipes, and Ends of Candles.

Monsieur Bull (quoth Lewis) you seem to be a Man of some Breeding; for God's sake use your Interest with these Messicurs, that they wou'd speak but one at once; for if one had a hundred pair of Hands, and as many Tongues, he cannot satisfy them all at this rate. John begg'd they might proceed with some Method; then they stop'd all of a sud|den, and would not say a word. If this be your Play (quoth John) that we may not be like a Quaker's dumb Meeting, let us begin some Diversion; what d'ye think of Rouly-Pouly, or a Country-Dance? What if we should have a Match at Football! I am sure we shall never end Matters at this rate.