A fragment of the history of that illustrious personage John Bull, Esq: compiled by that celebrated historian Sir Humphry Polesworth. Lately discovered in the repairs of Grub-Hatch, the ancient seat of the family of the Polesworths; now first published from the original manuscript, by Peregrine Pinfold, ...

CONTENTS.

PART IV.

• EXORDIUM to this Period of my curi|ous, eventful and authentic history. Page 1
• CHAP. I. John Bull's age.—His pensive and excellent soliloquy.—Some prominent features of his character described. 3
• CHAP. II. Boreas and Renard set themselves in good earnest to arrange John Bull's affairs.—Short history of the East Country Clerks. Their extreme vigilence and avarice describ|ed.—Serious intention to cleanse the Compt|ing-house—which is prevented by the Nurse. 10
• CHAP. III. Birth, parentage, and education of John Bull's Nurse.—She is enraged, but dis+sembles her anger.—She determines to trip up the heels of John's best servants—and thus to gratify her revenge. 16
• ...

• CHAP. IV. The Nurse makes choice of Pam, as the instrument of her revenge.—His education and character.—He converses with Mrs. Bull.—Is disconcerted at his cool reception. Is comforted by his cousin Trim Stutter. 21
• CHAP. V. How Trim Stutter mounts the Back-stairs, and gets into the Nurse's pri|vate apartments.—The curious conversation that there ensued, a conversation well worth the attention of Statesmen and others. 29
• CHAP. VI. Extraordinary consequences of an extraordinary conversation—Pam's Plan is barnt by Mrs Bull.—Trim recommends mur|der—Mrs Bull is saved by the preposterous vanity of Pam. 43
• CHAP VII. Pam's liberal and ingenious plan of bribery and corruption.—Characters of his principal agents 48
• CHAP. VIII. Mrs Bull proves refractory, not|withstanding all the artifices of Mac-Bumbo and the Rat catcher.—An altercation takes place between her and the Nurse.—A meet|ing

• of mutual friends is held at the Old Wrestlers, which breaks up, re infecta—Alarm of Mrs Bull.—is comforted by Bo|reas and Renard.—John reasons on the state of affairs.—The Boat prick is tried without effect. 53
• CHAP. IX. Jemmy Mac-Ossian is put at the head of a gang of thieves.—He propa|gates falshoods as gross and palpable as the father that begat them.—Some curious an|necdotes of his life, character, and conversa|tion.—Mrs Rumour informs John of his Wife's death. 60

PART V.

• CHAP. I. A true narrative of Mrs Bull's tragical exit.—With the unhappy fate of her favourite sister.—Some remarks on her daughter, and a sketch of her will.—A cu|rious account of the Coroner, his inquest and verdict. 64
• ...

• CHAP. II. The Nurse falls sick of a bilious fever and most obdurate costiveness.—Is cur|ed by a glyster of Pam's prescription.—The severe duty of Mrs Jenky, the Waiting|maid.—Critical observation of the Histo|rian. 70
• CHAP. III. John goes to pay a visit to the Nurse.—Congratulates her on the dismission of her late servants.—She mentions the death of Mrs Bull, with great pleasure—praises his present servants.—advises John to look out for another Wife—proposes a Match which she thinks would fit him to a hair. 74
• CHAP. IV. John Bull is totally captivated, by the charms of the lovely and lofty Miss Pre|rogative—The marriage settlements.—John gives a grand entertainment.—The Nurse is of the party.—Pam makes the punch.—John gets half seas over, is extremely noisy, and exposes himself to his guests.—The Nurse proposes a Fox-chase to John, who readily agrees, and proposes figuring on a dray-horse. 82
• ...

• CHAP. V. The custom that prevailed of choos|ing servants for John's Wife.—Renard puts up for that honour.—Is eagerly oppos|ed by the Nurse and young Pam, the East-country Clerks, old Padagra and Pelf, but is as warmly supported by most of his old friends, and many new acquired ones—Sister Peg and John's first cousin, Paddy Shillaily, both strive to serve him, and John himself feels a sincere love and regard for him.—His character, and that of his rival Pam. 88
• CHAP. VI. Pam, and Strumbolo the Coal-Merchant, make love to the late Mrs Bull's daughter Reformia.—They are very coldly received. 93
• CHAP. VII. A short account of John Bull's first Cousin, Paddy Shillaily.—His charac|ter.—His ill-treatment by John, in his youth.—His good sense, and great care of his estate.—He takes advantage of John's long litigation, with his West-country te|nantry, to get rid of those shackles, John had unjustly imposed upon him. 101
• ...

• CHAP VIII. A brief narrative of the state of sister Peg's health, and how she stood affected on the present occasion—Mac-Bumbo tampers with he Chaplain, who conducts himself with great good sense and dignity. 106
• CHAP. IX. Pam proposes settling all matters of trade between John Bull, and Paddy Shillaily.—Pam is infected with the dis|temper in Paddy's opticks.—He opens his proposals to Paddy, and then to Mrs. Bull. John starts and bounces.—Pam opinia|tres it.—His childish and ignorant method of conducting business. 109