IT ſeems then, that not one Man can be found among the whole Pr—ry Faction, who will appear openly, and acknowledge himſelf the Author of the Anſwer to Mr. F's Remarks, or even undertake to ſupport the Facts therein alledged. From the Proofs they had repeatedly given of what, for the Sake of murdering Reputations, they could do, it was the general receiv'd Opinion, that there was nothing in their Power, which might have a Chance of contributing to that End, but what ſome of them would do. But we were it ſeems miſtaken, and it is a Piece of Juſtice due to them that we ſhould confeſs it to the Publick. Neither the great Gyant himſelf, nor even any of his Vaſſals of the Col—ge or Cor—n, are yet ſo loſt to all Senſe of Shame as publickly to avow a Performance of ſo vile and infamous a Nature. It is extraordinary, but as it is true, they ought to have Credit for ſo much unexpected Goodneſs.

BUT how has the Goliath of the Philiſtines extricated himſelf from the Challenge of little David? Alas, in a manner very unbecoming ſo great a Gyant! When neither Threats or Entreaties could prevail on a ſingle Son of Sedition to ſtand forth in his Behalf, and front the Danger, he meanly condeſcends to act the Part of a Quack-Doctor!

BEHOLD, a Jack-Pudding or Merry-Andrew is provided! — He mounts the Stage, properly accoutred in his Maſk and Fool's-Cap; jumps—dances—capers—jingles his Bells— laughs—grins—and chatters like a Monkey—when he has climb'd ſo high as to ſhow his naked Poſteriors: Sometimes we ſee him lolling out his Tongue and making game at the gaping Multitude, and ſometimes doing the like at the very worthy Doctor himſelf; who, poor Soul, being buſily employed in diſpenſing the Papers and Pacquets of poiſonous Drugs which he had got prepared for the Purpoſe, is not the leaſt ſenſible of the ridiculous Figure he makes.

WITH your Leave, Gentle Reader, we will open one of theſe Papers, examine its Contents, and analyſe the Compoſition.

WE find then, in the firſt Place, that Mr. H—s, for very ſubſtantial Reaſons, is ſuppoſed not to be the Author of his Challenge. What thoſe ſubſtantial Reaſons may be, we are, however left to gueſs till we come to the laſt Paragraph, where it is intimated, that he is not capable of writing an Advertiſement. Suppoſe this to be really the Caſe (which, by the Bye, no one the leaſt acquainted with Mr. H—s will admit) pray, is it the leſs his Challenge on that Account? Does not his publiſhing it with his Name affixed, make it as much his Challenge as if he penn'd or indited every Syllable? Is not the famous, or rather infamous, Proteſt, conſidered as the Proteſt of Mr. A—n and the other Subſcribers, tho' 'tis well known to be drawn up by the pitiful This conceited Coxcomb had the Impertinence, in ſpeaking of Mr. F—n in the Houſe, to ſay that he really "PITIED the poor Man!" Mr. D—n, reviſed, corrected and amended by the Rev. Sentiment-dreſſer-General of the Pr—ry Party? — And, after all, why is Mr. H—s to be ſuppoſed not capable of writing an Advertiſement? Surely it cannot be ſaid that any extraordinary Genius or Abilities are neceſſary for ſuch a Purpoſe, ſince we have, in the very News-paper containing Mr. H—s Challenge, an Advertiſement wrote by Meſſrs. Al—n and T—er. Theſe reſpectable Gentlemen, it ſeems, being about to leave off their Buſineſs of Boiling and Baking, have advertiſed for Sale the Pots, Pans, and other Utenſils belonging to their Trade.As it is become ſo faſhionable with the Pr—ry Faction, to eſtimate a Man's preſent Fitneſs for public Affairs, by what may have been his former Occupation, I would humbly recommend to thoſe Dablers in Politics, the learned Doctors of the C—ge, to aſcertain whether a Baker of Bread is not as likely to make a good Politician as a Baker of Sugar: And when their Hands are in, I wiſh they would likewiſe ſettle to which the Preference ought to be given in Point of "Rank"—Whether to the Man who furniſhes us with a Neceſſary of Life, or he that procures us a Luxury? The Caſe is indeed intricate, and will require a deal of Conſideration, but I truſt thoſe Sages are equal to the Taſk.

IF therefore Mr. H—s is really not capable of wording an Advertiſement, and is ambitious of acquiring that very profound Knowledge, he has now the happieſt Opportunity that could poſſibly have offered. Let him reſolve but to take Pattern by the learned Meſſrs. Al—n and Tu—er 〈…〉 and he will find that he has little more to do than to provide himſelf with a large Quantity of WITHS to tye his Words and Sentences together: The reſt will follow eaſy enough. For Example, TO BE SOLD, the Copper Boilers, Copper Coolers and Pans— with a large Number of Moulds and Drips—with every other Material ready for carrying on the Buſineſs;—together with the Still-Houſe—with the Worms and Tubs— with a large Shed, &c.

EVERY Author has his Admirers, and 'tis not improbable but there may be, among Meſſrs. Al—n and T—r's Readers, ſome who will fancy they ſee great Beauties in their Performance; nor ſhould it be wondered at, if ſome Academical Haberdaſhers of Nouns and Pronouns, ſhould undertake to convince us, that ſo much Clearneſs and claſſical Elegance of Style, never before entered into a Compoſition of ſo trivial a Nature.

We are told, among other Things offered by Way of Excuſe for the Author of the Anſwer not avowing his Performance, that the ſubſcribing political Papers has not been a common Practice either here or in the Mother Country, nor would it be a convenient One. —What the common Practice in the Mother Country may be, with regard to political Papers, I can ſay nothing of my own Knowledge, as I never was there. But I look upon the Paper in queſtion to be not ſo much a political as a perſonal Paper: Far the greateſt Part of it conſiſts of perſonal Reflections againſt Mr. F—n. Now, I am told by thoſe who have reſided in England, that it is very uncommon there to attack in Print a Perſon's private Character on account of any Difference in Sentiments about publick Affairs; and that Wilkes and Churchill are almoſt the only Dealers in that dirty Buſineſs who have appeared there for many Years. The firſt of theſe we find, has on that Account been outlawed by King, Lords, and Commons; and the ſecond held in Deteſtation by every good Man throughout the King's Dominions. Nor can I find that the Practice was ever introduced into this Country, till the very Revd. Dr. S—h made his Appearance, and we all know what great Veneration and Eſteem he has thereby acquired.—It is therefore not to be wondered at, if Perſons of their Stamp ſhould not think it convenient to be known to the Publick.

But the Cauſe of Liberty (we are told) would often be left to ſuffer, if her Advocates were obliged to expoſe their Names to the Clamor of Party or the Reſentment of Power. In ſo glorious a Cauſe as that of Liberty, no Man ought to be afraid to ſtand forth. Thoſe who have rendered it the greateſt Services have ever been ſuch as moſt openly appeared in its Behalf. But why ſhould our Author, of all Men, be afraid of the Clamor of Party, or the "Reſentment of Power," ſince, according to his own Account, five Sixths of the People of this Province who have ſeen his Anſwer have decided in its Favour, and ſince he is aſſured of having moſt of the Officers in the Executive Part of Government on his Side?—For they that hold Commiſſions muſt not dare, it ſeems, to act otherwiſe than as they are directed.

IT is ſaid, however, that almoſt all Mr. F's political Pieces have appeared without a Name, ſuch as, his Preface to Mr. G—y's Speech, his Cool Thoughts, his Narrative, his Hiſtorical Review, and many more, in which he has taken great Freedom with the Characters of others. But, to have ſhown that Mr. F—n's Conduct was ſimilar to our Author's, he ſhould have 〈◊〉 an Inſtance of that Gentleman's having publiſhed an anonymous Anſwer to ſome Piece that had been publiſhed with the Writer's Name ſubſcribed, and had therein attacked the ſaid Writer's private Character. As to the Pieces mentioned, they are very far from proving any Thing to the Point.

HIS Preface is an anonymous Anſwer to Parſon Pe—rs's, Parſon S—th's, Parſon Al—on's, and Parſon Ew—n's anonymous Preface to what was called Mr. Dic—n's Speech. Yet tho' he was greatly reflected upon in their Preface, he has but juſt named the firſt as it were, and of the ſecond all that he has ſaid, which is any Ways perſonal, is, "S—h that Poiſoner of other Men's Characters." And, when 'tis conſidered how long Mr. F—n had patiently borne with that proſtitute Writer's Attack on his Character, it is ſurpriſing he let him off ſo gently. The other two Rev. Aſſaſſins he has not ſo much as mentioned in any Thing he has yet wrote.

HIS Cool Thoughts do not contain one ſingle Thing relative to any Man's Character in the Province, but is a mere Anſwer to ſuch Objections as had been made againſt a Royal Government.

HIS Narrative—Is that too to be thrown in his Teeth! And can Pr—ry Partiſans mention the Word NARRATIVE without Confuſion! Does that contain the minuteſt Reflection on any but thoſe who have fix'd an indelible Stain on their Country, their Religion, on Humanity itſelf?—the horrid Murderers of innocent Men, Women, and Babes, who were at the very Time under their Protection! Was it not expreſsly wrote to ſpirit up the People to defend the G—r, who was inſulted and threatened, and to ſtrengthen the Powers of Government which were deſpiſed and trampled upon? Was it not highly approved of by the G—r, Mr. H—n, the At—y Gen—I, Mr. Pe—rs, and every Pr—ry Minion in the Province? Did not even the haughty Pr—r himſelf deign to praiſe it, and commend Mr. F—n's Conduct on the Occaſion to his Friends in England? Nay, did not the rancorous great Gyant for once check the Overflowing of his Gall, and vent a Grunt of Approbation? Did not his Letters from England greatly condemn the Conduct of the Rioters and their Abettors? And, after he return'd, did he not daily bellow out in the Coffee-Houſe the Neceſſity there was, for the Honour of the Province, to bring thoſe Murderers to Juſtice, till it was hinted to him that he had beſt be ſilent or he would endanger his Election? Did not the G—r in a manner throw himſelf upon Mr. F—n and his Friends for Protection; and did not they extricate him from all his Difficulties—even at the Riſque of their Lives? Did not the G—r acknowledge himſelf under great Obligations to them on this Account? But — O ſhameful! —Was there not within two Days after a Union formed with thoſe very Murderers, and their Abettors, againſt the very Perſons who had ſhown themſelves His H—r's Friends in the Time of Danger? And, laſtly, was not this very extraordinary Conduct, and the afterwards inſiſting on the beſt of the Pr—ry's Land being tax'd no higher than the worſt of the People's, the principal Cauſes of a Majority of the Freeholders, and their Repreſentatives, determining on a Change of Government? Let them deny any one of this String of Queries, if they dare. Should they be ſo hardy, another Narrative ſhall appear, that ſhall probe their Conſciences to the very Quick, even though they may be ſear'd with a hot Iron.

THERE remains then on the Liſt, only, "His Hiſtorical Review" as it is called; but as I am well aſſured from good Authority, that he did not compile that Work, and as it is little more than a mete Relation of the publick Conduct of the ſeveral Branches of our Legiſlature, there is nothing farther neceſſary to be ſaid on that Head.—And as to the "many more" of his political Pieces, which our Author has not named, he is defy'd to produce one wherein Mr. F—n begun an Attack on any Man's Reputation. If in any he has taken great Freedom with the Characters of others, it is only where he has been drove to it in his own Defence, and after he had paſs'd by ſo many villainous Aſperſions of his Character, as to induce his Calumniators to think they might continue to abuſe him with Impunity.

MR. F—n's Friends are next aſked, Why they will inſiſt upon a Practice ſo different from his own, and even make it a Condition on which alone they will make a Reply? They do not, as appears from what is already ſaid, inſiſt upon any Practice different from his own; all they aſk, and in which every honeſt Man will think them right, is▪ that his Adverſaries will act in the ſame open Manner he has done, and ſubſcribe their Names to their Performance.— Even his anonymous Pieces were ſo far from being diſown'd by him, that he always, upon being aſk'd, acknowledged he was the Author. But of all the Shoal of anonymous Prop—ry Papers which have appeared during our Conteſts, there cannot be found a Man that will own one of them; on the contrary, the greateſt Care and Pains is taken to conceal the Names of their ſeveral Writers.

FROM whence they have gathered, that Mr. F—n's Friends make it a Condition on which alone they will make a Reply, I am at a Loſs to gueſs. No Words in Mr. H—s's Advertiſement imply any thing of the kind. It is there ſaid, that if they will avow their Performance, in ſuch Caſe, there ſhall be a Reply publiſhed with the Writer's Name affixed. But ſurely this is not to be conſtrued to mean that, if they don't avow it, there will then be no Reply made, either anonymous or otherwiſe. If you really, Gentlemen, do imagine that this was the Intention of either Mr. H—s, or any other of Mr. F—n's Friends, you flatter yourſelves egregiouſly. They were determined, from the firſt, to detect and expoſe what was falſe in the Anſwer to the Remarks, but then they wanted alſo to detect and expoſe the Author of thoſe Falſities, and thereby prevent his impoſing on the Publick in future; which could not be done without he could be made to appear. For this Purpoſe, and to ſhow his Regard for an abſent Friend, Mr. H—s publiſhed his Challenge; but, to do you Juſtice, you have had the Addreſs to diſcover the Plot, and have therefore prudently declined entering the Liſts.

SINCE Matters are thus circumſtanced, and you are determined, like your Brother Savages of the Ohio, to keep to your Buſh-Fighting, we muſt engage you in the ſame Manner. A prudent Officer will always adapt his Operations to the Nature of his Enemy, and attack them in their own Way.— By this Conduct Boquet conquered; by the contrary Braddock was defeated.

AS to myſelf, I am but young and inexperienced in waging Wordy-War, this being the firſt Campaign I ever ſerved; yet have I Spirit enough to attack the great Giant himſelf in his Caſtle, notwithſtanding all his Blunderbuſſes. But ſhou'd I not ſucceed in my Attempt, there is a hardy Band of Veterans, all ſure Markſmen, and long enured to Service, who intend ſoon to charge their Rifle-barrel'd Quills, and make one general Aſſault on the Giant and all his Adherents. A Body of light Infantry, all Volunteers of undaunted Courage, have already entered into the Service, and have undertaken to ſkirmiſh with the Enemy's Flankers and advanced Guards, and occaſionally attack ſome of their Out-Poſts.

HOWEVER, ſetting aſide the "blundering Simplicity" of our Author, who ſtiles Mr. H—s a "Welſh Squire," tho' he was born in Pennſylvania, I ſhall proceed to the next Sentence, which is indeed a curious One. It is there ſaid, that Mr. H—s by calling for a Gentleman of Character to enter the Liſts with him, is made to pay himſelf the Compliment of being a Gentleman of Character, and to allow Mr. A—n to be the ſame, tho' the Author of the Remarks had aſſerted the direct contrary. On this I would juſt obſerve, that if Mr. H—s did really call Mr. A—n a Gentleman of Character, he then certainly might call himſelf ſo, without incurring the Imputation of paying himſelf a Compliment. But as he really did not make uſe of that Appellation to Mr. A—n, he ſtands totally clear of the Charge. His Words are, if Mr. A—n, OR any Gentleman of Character. Here is a very plain Diſtinction made by him, and it is evident he could not intend to compliment Mr. A—n with that Title; for, if he had, he would have ſaid, or any other Gentleman of Character, &c. — The Author of the Remarks likewiſe ſtands as clear of the Charge of having aſſerted that Mr. A—n was not a Gentleman of Character, for he has aſſerted no ſuch Thing. It muſt, however, be allowed, that he pointed out ſome Parts of Mr. A—n's Conduct which prove he has not always acted up to the Character of a Gentleman.

WE are next told, that the greateſt Part of the Charges in the Anſwer are taken from the Proteſt, which has been ſigned not only by Mr. A—n, but nine other Gentlemen of undiſputed Character, and therefore any further Signing would have been unneceſſary. This alſo is a groſs Miſrepreſentation; for ſcarce a Tenth Part of the Charges are taken from the Proteſt. A conſiderable Number of them were not even then invented. Thoſe contained in the Proteſt were fully refuted by the Remarks, not only to the Satisfaction of every Man of Candor, but even of ſome of the Proteſters themſelves. However, I ſhall leave that Matter to be properly repreſented in the Reply; and only juſt remark here, that I cannot ſee with what Propriety, Men, who have publickly aſſerted, what ſome of them knew at the Time to be abſolutely falſe, and others of them knew nothing at all about, merely to blaſt the Reputation of a Fellow Citizen who never did one of them the leaſt Injury, can be ſaid to be Gentlemen of undiſputed Character.

I have, however, ſo much Charity as to believe that ſeveral of the Proteſters are now ſo aſhamed of the ſcandalous Part they have acted, that they would refuſe to do the like again, even tho' directed by Mr. A—n, and threaten'd with the Loſs of their Commiſſions. It is but Juſtice too that I ſhould mention my having heard that one of them has declared, "He almoſt wiſhed his Hand had been cut off before he ſign'd the Proteſt, but that he was prevailed upon to do it againſt his Judgment."

AND when Mr. A—n himſelf was interrogated concerning the Reaſon of his Conduct on the Occaſion. He anſwered, that he was hurried into it, having ſcarce Time to read the Paper over; for that he received it while he was at Dinner at New Caſtle, with a Letter from Philadelphia, purporting, "That if he did not ſign it firſt none of the reſt would, and that there would likewiſe be Danger of ſome of their Country Members not joining them at a future Seſſions, unleſs they could carry down with them ſome ſpecious Reaſons to juſtify their Conduct to their Conſtituents, which Purpoſe would be beſt anſwered by publiſhing the ſaid Proteſt with their Names ſubſcribed." But, unluckily for the Gentleman's Veracity, it has ſince come out, that he did read it over ſeveral Times, ſhow'd it to Mr. C—w, and deſired his Opinion of it. Mr. C—w read it accordingly, and adviſed Mr. A—n in Words to this Effect: "By no Means put your Name to it —it is a vey fooliſh Affair —can be of no Service to our Cauſe —and if you ſign it you may depend that Mr. F—n will expoſe you in ſuch a Manner as to make you repent it as long as you live." Sign it, however, he did, and gloried in it till the Remarks appeared. When they came out, he was in a terrible Trepidation indeed. "Wha-wha-wha-What▪ (ſays he to one of his Acquaintance) can make Mr. F—n uſe me in this Manner —He-he-he ſeems angry! Bla-bla-bla-Bleſs me, I never dreamt he would have ta-ta-ta-taken it ſo ill, or I ſhould not have ſigned it —I don't know that I ever ſpo-ſpo-ſpoke a diſreſpectful Word of him in my Life —I always thought him a Ma-ma-Man of Integrity and a Ma-ma-Man of Abilities, tho' I did not like his Po-po-po-Politicks."

HOW very little diſreſpectful he has talk'd of Mr. F—n let thoſe teſtify who have had the Honour of being in his Company at any Time within the laſt ſeven Years. I can call on ſome of them who can vouch, that he has not only ſcandalouſly traduced that Gentleman's Character in England and America, but even meanly attempted to blaſt the Reputation of his Son, becauſe the Father and himſelf differed in their Political Sentiments. Though the Son has neither directly or indirectly interfered in our Diſputes ſince his Return from England, has treated all thoſe of the Pr—ry Party, who have fallen in his Way, with as much Civility as he has done thoſe of the other, yet has this venomous Slanderer continually aſperſed his Character, and even had the Villainy to accuſe him of a Tranſaction that every Man in the Government where he reſides knows to be totally FALSE. Not contented, however, with thus villifying him in private, he has had the Baſeneſs to employ thoſe Miſcreants S—th, Ew-n and D-ve, to give him a Spattering of their Hog Waſh in almoſt all their execrable Performances! — But this is not the only Inſtance which can be produced of his carrying his Malice and Reſentment to the Children of thoſe who have occaſionally diſobliged him.

THAT he who is ſo link'd with the Prop—r, and has had, with his Brother-in-law, the almoſt ſole Diſpoſition of Offices in this Province for a conſiderable Number of Years, ſhould be ſtrenuous in oppoſing a King's Government, is not to be wondered at; nor ſhould we blame him greatly, or any others poſſeſs'd of Offices under the Pro—r, for their Struggle on this Occaſion, provided they behaved decently; and did not, for the Sake of ſucceeding in their Schemes, attack the good Names of thoſe who are of a different Opinion with themſelves. This is what no Men, who deſerve good Names, can always have ſuch Command over themſelves as not to reſent; nor can it be thought to be wrong, by him who has any Feelings, if at ſome Time or other they take that Revenge which may be in their Power.

AS to Mr. F—n's POLITICS, which Mr. A—n has ſuch an Averſion to, let the Meſſages on the Minutes of Aſſembly, and his other political Writings declare. They will there be found to be ſuch as muſt do him Honour with all Lovers of Liberty and Juſtice, as long as Liberty and Juſtice are held in any Repute.

TO proceed, Mr. H—s ('tis ſaid) knew he trod on ſafe Ground, by calling on Mr. A—n particularly in this Affair, as he well knew that Mr. A—n would not chuſe to enter the Liſts with ſuch an Antagoniſt as had yet appeared. But, pray, Mr. Author, who was the Antagoniſt that Mr. H—s knew had appeared? However, as I conceive your Meaning, I ſhan't differ with you about Words. I ſhould nevertheleſs, be glad to be informed why Mr. H—s is not a proper Antagoniſt for Mr. A—n.

IS it on Account of Family?

ANNOTATION, by Scriblerus, perſonating D. J. D-ve.

Some of our wiſer and better Sort of People, ſince they have acquired Offices and Property, are very apt to talk of Family; tho' the GRAND-DAM of HONOUR to ſome of our Honourables ſold Pins in a Shed on London-Bridge, and their DAM of HONOUR was Daughter to the Apothecary in Romeo and Juliet: And tho' the GRAND-DAM of HONOUR to another of our Honourables, was a Fiſh-Woman at Billingſgate, (from whence the Love of Fiſh, Oyſters, Clams and Bawdry, have deſcended to her Poſterity) and his DAM of HONOUR was a Wapping Landlady, who afterwards roſe to be a Huckſtering Salt-ſeller in Quilſylvania, where many now alive remember to have ſeen her ſitting on a Buſhel, in the open Street, ſelling Salt.—But it muſt, however, be acknowledged, that being ambitious of mending the Breed, he choſe for a DAM to his BRATS, Marget the Daughter of a Convict Servant.

IS it on Account of Fortune?— Mr. A—n is to be ſure, by a lucky Concurrence of Circumſtances, by Pr—ry Favour in Land Purchaſes, by illicit Trade, and by — what may be mentioned another Time, poſſeſſed of a large Eſtate.—As to Mr. H—s, his Father left him a handſome Fortune, to which he has made a conſiderable Addition by his honeſt Induſtry and good Management. It is true that his Eſtate is not ſo great as Mr. A—n's, but it is nevertheleſs ſuch as puts him upon a Footing with any Man in the Province.

IS it on Account of Rank?— Mr. A—n is a Member of Aſſembly brought in by Pr—ry Intereſt for an inconſiderable diſtant County.— Mr. H—s is likewiſe a Member of Aſſembly; but brought in, for a Number of Years paſt, by a conſiderable Majority of the moſt wealthy and independent Freeholders of the moſt wealthy County in the Province, without the leaſt Sollicitation on his Part, and without Bribery, Corruption, Threats, Promiſes, or Perjury. — But is not Mr. A—n a C—f J—ce? True; but he is a Pr—ry C—f J—ce, during Pr—ry Will and Pleaſure; and holds his Office on ſuch Terms as make it much to be doubted, Whether there is more than one Man beſides in the Province who would accept the Commiſſion if it was vacant.

IS it on Account of Abilities?— Some of Mr. A—n's Friends may perhaps ſay of him, as Sancho ſaid of his Maſter Don Quixote, in Speeching and Underſtanding he knows a Point more than the Devil himſelf. It muſt be confeſſed, that when he ſhuts his Eyes, ſtrains hard, and makes the Tobacco foam at his Mouth, he does ſputter out ſome very extraordinary Sentiments indeed! But powerful as he is, even thoſe very Friends acknowledge that he was no ways a Match for Mr. H—s, in the Debates at the laſt Seſſions; on the contrary, that the latter anſwered and refuted every Thing that was advanced by the other, ſo that he could not ſucceed in any one Point he undertook to carry for the Pr—r, nor even make a ſingle Convert to his Party.— Our Author, therefore, if he had underſtood his Buſineſs, would, inſtead of depreciating, have magnify'd Mr. H—s's Abilities, that the Defeat his Patron and Employer ſuffered might appear the leſs diſgraceful.

IS it on Account of Loyalty?— Mr. H—s has ever ſince he has been in the Aſſembly, conſtantly promoted the King's Service, even when Pr—ry Power for Pr—ry Intereſt has oppoſed it: He has been generally one of the Commiſſioners appointed by G—r and Aſſembly for diſpoſing of the Money granted to the Crown: He has, in order to free us from Pr—ry Bondage openly appeared in Behalf of a Royal Government: His Majeſty's Picture has a Place in his Parlour, and as the old Song has it, He drinks the King's Health as oft as he dines. But for Mr. A—n, he has openly oppoſed a King's Government, has in Time of War ſupply'd the King's Enemies with Military Stores, told us repeatedly, That we ſhould find the King's little Finger heavier than the Pr—r's whole Loins, and told us— ſomething ſtill worſe of His Majeſty, if poſſible, for which I muſt beg the Reader's Patience till the Reply appears: Inſtead of the King's Health, Succeſs to the Minority (who oppoſe the King's Meaſures in England) is his ſtanding Toaſt; and, inſtead of the King's Picture, he has hung up the Portrait of JOHN WILKES!— the moſt vile Calumniator of Majeſty that has ever yet appeared!—a Man ſo very abandoned and profligate, that the greateſt Part of the very Minority whoſe Tool he was held him in Abhorrence!

If then Mr. A—n has no greater Advantages over Mr. H—s, in Point of Family, Fortune, Rank, Abilities, and Loyalty, than what are mentioned, I ſhould be glad to be informed, on what Account it is that Mr. A—n will not enter the Liſts with ſuch an Antagoniſt. When the true Reaſon appears, I make no doubt but that it will be found neither more or leſs than this, That he was afraid of being as ſhamefully defeated in Writing as he had been before in Speaking.

Our Author next tells us, that Mr. A—n neither was, nor could be ſuppoſed, the Author of a Performance in which ſo much is ſaid to his own Advantage, and that his Modeſty and Senſe would at leaſt have prevented this. But as his poſſeſſing thoſe two Qualities was not a Matter of publick Notoriety, the Suppoſition, if there was any ſuch, is at leaſt excuſeable: And what makes it the more ſo is, that, among the numerous People to whom he harangued by the Hour, there are but few who will not acknowledge that his own Praiſe was the Subject of a conſiderable Part of his Diſcourſe. In Truth, however, he was not, nor could not, for "very ſubſtantial Reaſons" be ſuppoſed the Author of the Anſwer to the Remarks: But as he was known to have furniſhed moſt of the Materials for the "Calumny Part," and to have ſent the Piece when publiſhed, to all his Acquaintance abroad, recommending it as a very fine Performance, containing a juſt Account of Mr. F—n's Conduct; it was but reaſonable to imagine, that he would be either weak or wicked enough to own himſelf the Author, or at leaſt undertake to juſtify the Contents. This too was the rather to be expected, as he had given us a recent Inſtance of his aſſuming to himſelf even what he had no hand in; namely, the Putting off the Stamp-Duty; as plainly appears by a Letter from Mr. Huſke, Member of Parliament, which was ſigned with his Name, and publiſhed in all the News-Papers on the Continent except thoſe of Quilſylvania; and why it was not publiſh'd there needs not to be explained. So far it ſeems was he from contributing thereto, that it was the "blundering Simplicity" of our Quilſylvanian "Squire," which made the Miniſtry more determined in that Matter than they otherwiſe would have been. Such a Man as this had needs be, as our Author ſays, not ſo deſtitute of Friends as to be under a Neceſſity of advocating his own Cauſe: For where a Cauſe requires ſuch a deal of advocating, it would be a cruel Neceſſity indeed if one ſo little capable was obliged to perform the Whole. The Herculean Labour of cleanſing the Augean Stable was not an Undertaking of half ſuch Difficulty.

WHEN theſe ſame Friends, or rather Creatures, will accompliſh their Work 'tis hard to ſay; for tho' they have been a long while induſtriouſly employed in whitewaſhing their Cauſe; yet they think it ſtill ſo very dirty, that they are aſham'd to be known to have had any hand in the Buſineſs.— It is, hovever, a little ſurpriſing that notwithſtanding they labour ſo hard for their Employer, he ſhould keep them ſo ſcanty both of Victuals and Money as to oblige them to give him ſuch ſhrewd Hints of their wanting to have a little "Eating in the Caſe" even tho' it were but a few "Pies and Cakes." But leſt he might ſuſpect they only wanted Money to lay out on Betty Nic-be-raviſhed, a celebrated Pummel-holder on the Germantown Road, they aſſure him in ſome very bad Rhime, that Indeed they "had much rather eat "Than ſpend their Money on a BET."

—And they might have added, poor Souls! if the learned Doctors of the College had no material Objection to furniſhing a good Rhime, and the pitiful Maſter D—n would promiſe not to take Offence; We "Authors had much rather eat" Than run the Riſque of being beat.

IT is diverting to hear one of theſe "poor Authors" (as they juſtly ſtile themſelves when they ſpeak of their Authorſhip) talk of the Danger of being "frighten'd out "of his WITS," and yet diſcover to his Readers that he has not even the Wit to know the Difference between leaving a Matter to Arbitration, and laying a Wager. Alas, poor Devil! even your Employer has Wit enough to know, and could have informed you, that every Man in his Wits, who has any Diſpute with the Prop—rs about Property, chuſes, tho' he may have the Law ever ſo clear of his Side, rather to leave the Matter to Arbitration, where he has "Half a Chance of a favourable Decree," than run the Riſque of a Deciſion from a Pr—ry C—f-J—ce.

BUT the true Reaſon for this Jack-Pudding's terming Mr. H—s's Propoſal a Wager, was, I imagine, that he might take that Opportunity of ſneering at and ridiculing his Maſter, as he had done before in what he ſaid about his "Modeſty and Senſe." This ſeems plain from his very Words, viz. I have heard a noiſy Fellow in a Coffee Houſe, after every other Argument failed, offer (Reaſon or not Reaſon) to lay Two to One he was right. Now I appeal to every Frequenter of the Coffee-Houſe, and even to thoſe who ſit in another Houſe, whether our illuſtrious Chief has not been more diſtinguiſh'd for that Practice than any other Perſon they know, and whether the Deſcription above quoted is not ſtrictly applicable in all its Parts to his Worſhip's Honour.

Mr. H—s's Motives for propoſing a Reference, were noble, generous, diſintereſted, and ſuch as muſt ever do him Honour, with every Man whoſe good Opinion is valuable. They were to put a Stop to any further Altercation with Regard to the Character of his abſent Friend, and to prevent the Publick from being any longer impoſed on by falſe Repreſentations. He offered for that Purpoſe to leave the Points in Diſpute to the Deciſion of Gentlemen from any of the neighbouring Provinces, as they might be ſuppoſed the moſt unbiaſſed and impartial. And, that the Publick might receive ſome Benefit in whatever manner the Affair might iſſue, he further offered to pay Ten Pounds to the Provincial Hoſpital, for every Fact mentioned in the Anſwer to the Remarks injurious to Mr. F—n's Character, which ſhould be proved to the Satisfaction of thoſe Gentlemen; provided the oppoſite Party would pay Five Pounds for every Falſhood, or groſs Miſrepreſentation their ſaid Anſwer ſhould be proved to contain. This was acting openly, like a Man of Honour engaged in a Cauſe which his Conſcience approved: He had no Inclinations to have his Friend's true Character concealed from the World: He deſired, for the Sake of the Publick, that it might undergo a ſtrict Scrutiny, and that if Mr. F—n was the wicked Man he had been repreſented, he might be recorded as ſuch. This Propoſal, however, was not accepted: But every Perſon muſt be convinced, that if the Party could have ſupported one Half of the Charges brought againſt Mr. F—n, they would not have omitted ſuch an Opportunity of deſtroying his Reputation: For every one, the leaſt converſant with our Affairs, knows that the Ruin of that Gentleman's Character is the grand Point they have in View, as they hope thereby to deſtroy the Confidence ſo long placed in him by the Publick— a Confidence that has ſo greatly contributed to baffle the repeated Attempts to render us Slaves to Pr—ry Will and Pleaſure.— If what they have alledged againſt Mr. F—n be Truths, they are Truths of Importance to this Country, eſpecially at this Criſis; and no Man, if he had really the Good of his Country at Heart, would be aſhamed or afraid to ſupport them publickly. But how ſcandalous is the Part the Pr—ry Faction have acted on the Occaſion! They even make the very Equity of the Propoſal a Reaſon for not agreeing to it; for (ſay they) that would be ſecuring Mr. H—s HALF A CHANCE of a favourable Decree!— Now can theſe Men expect to be deem'd Gentlemen, or as having the leaſt Tincture of Honour, who will engage in a Cauſe they think ſo very bad, that they cannot truſt it to impartial Perſons, becauſe there will then be half a Chance that it is not decided in their Favour? Nothing leſs, it ſeems, will ſatisfy them than does their Maſter, the Pr—r, who will not ſubmit any Cauſe of his to Judges here, unleſs he can command the Determination of a Majority.— Mr. H—s had not any Objection to refer the Matter to Perſons choſen in Quilſylvania, but he imagined that it would be deemed faireſt to leave it to thoſe who might be ſuppoſed to be entirely diſintereſted, and unbiaſſed by Party. If, however, the Proteſters are willing to leave it to Gentlemen of their own Province, mutually choſen, I dare ſay, he has not the leaſt Objection, notwithſtanding they ſay, Five Sixths of the People of this Province who have ſeen the Anſwer to the Remarks ſeem already to have decided in its Favour.

THAT Word ſeem is indeed cautiouſly choſen, but it cannot with Truth be applied to any but P—ry Minions; "five Sixths" of whom, it muſt be confeſſed do ſeem, and only ſeem, to "decide in its Favour"— becauſe they dare not do otherwiſe: But even among them there is not a ſingle Man to be found who thinks ſo favourably of it, as to ſhow himſelf openly in its Behalf. As to other Readers of the Anſwer in this Province, there is not even one in Five hundred but what are ſo far from ſeeming to approve, that they publickly expreſs their Abhorrence of it and its Authors, and think they ought, if poſſible, to be dragg'd into Light, and expoſed to publick Scorn.

THOSE Words "Five Sixths" may likewiſe ſerve well enough to amuſe the Pr—r who lives at a Diſtance, and make him believe that tho' they did not ſucceed in making a Change in the Aſſembly, (which the Party promiſed him they would, in order to enable him to carry all his Points, and ſave him from the Mortification of doing Juſtice to the People) yet that by their Writings and Influence they had brought over a great Majority of the Inhabitants to their Side. In this Manner they amuſed the G—r when he was at N-w-C—le, during the laſt Sitting of Aſſembly. Letters were daily ſent him by Mr. A—n, to let him know that Matters went on ſwimmingly in the Houſe, that the Pr—ry Party there was encreaſing apace, and that he had not the leaſt doubt but he ſhould have every Thing managed agreeable to his Wiſhes. [For who could withſtand the Force of ſo much Eloquence!] But alas, when Matters came to be put to the Vote, he found that he was not even able to carry a ſingle Point, or to make a ſingle Convert; but on the contrary, ſome of the very Members whom the Pr—ry Party had got choſen, were aſhamed to appear in ſuch a Cauſe, and therefore joined the other Side. The Figure he made when he appeared before the G—r at N-w-C—le with the diſmal News of his ill Succeſs, was even more woeful than that of the Knight of the woeful Figure himſelf.— In the ſame ridiculous Light muſt he appear to the Pr—rs; for they are not quite ſo devoid of Underſtanding (whatever he may have reaſon to think of them) as to believe it poſſible that ſo great a Majority of the Houſe would have ventured to have choſen Mr. F—n to repreſent the Province in England, after ſo much had been ſaid and done to prevent it, if they were not aſſured of its being agreable to a great Majority of their Conſtituents.

MR. H—s (proceeds our Author) tells us, or is made to tell us, that he could not obſerve a Ruffian attempting to ſtab his Friend in the Dark, without endeavouring to avert the Blow. On this I would beg Leave to remark, that tho' it may, perhaps be proper enough for the learned Owls of the College to talk of obſerving in the Dark, as they have been of late ſo much employed in Works of Darkneſs, yet as Mr. H—s does not pretend to be one of thoſe favourite Birds of Wiſdom, ſo neither does he incline to deprive them of the Honour of their own dark Obſervations. In truth he has not made uſe of ſuch an Expreſſion: All that he is ambitious of, in conveying his Sentiments, is to 〈◊〉 and ſpeak plain Engliſh, unornamented even by Hibernian Tropes and Figures; notwithſtanding what Butler alledges, That he, who is but able to expreſs No Senſe at all in ſeveral Languages, Will paſs for learneder, than he, that's known To ſpeak the ſtrongeſt Reaſon in his own. The Sentence to which the above Quotation from our Author alludes, is this: But as I am fully perſuaded of the Truth of what he [Mr. F—n] aſſerted in the Remarks, That his Reputation is dearer to him than Life, I think it would be as inconſiſtent with the Eſteem and Friendſhip I have long profeſſed for him, were I to ſee his Character ſo inſidiouſly and infamouſly attacked, without my appearing in his Behalf, as it would be for me to obſerve a Ruffian attempting to ſtab him in the Back, without my offering to avert the Blow.— "Now it may be curious to obſerve, how" our Author, by altering, tranſpoſing, and adding to the Words of the latter Part of this Sentence, without paying any Regard to their Connection with the former Part, has, as he thinks, furniſhed himſelf with an Opportunity of diſplaying an infinite deal of Wit and Humour. This indeed is no uncommon Practice with Men of heavy Intellects, who having no genuine Wit of their own, are obliged to ſtudy how to be witty. Thus have I obſerved ſome of your ſecond Rate Punſters, who not being able to ſtart a Pun off hand on Things as they occur in the Courſe of Converſation (without which the beſt is ſcarcely tolerable) do therefore labour hard to force the Diſcourſe to ſuch Subjects as may properly introduce the Puns they had previouſly prepared in their Cloſets. And thus has our Author managed: Having furniſhed himſelf with a Quantity of Stuff which he took to be good ſound Wit, and being determined to ſquirt it all at Mr. H—s's Advertiſement, he examines that carefully over in order to find ſome Spot proper for its Reception, but not being able to diſcover any, he falls immediately to work to make one; juſt as ſome Curs ſtrive hard to ſcratch a Hole in which they may diſcharge their Excrement.

SO much, by Way of Simile, in Complaiſance to our Author, who ſeems very fond of the Buſineſs of Simile-making; and 'tis no Wonder that he ſhould; for he has a moſt ſurprizing Skill in adapting them to his Subject. For Inſtance: After ſuppoſing Mr. H—s "to call out aloud to a maſk'd Ruffian (whom he had obſerved to come behind his Friend and give him a ſound Drubbing) that if the Villain would but ſhow his Face, or tell his Name, he would grind him to Powder," he tells us, that juſt ſo the renowned Don Quixote, meeting a few Merchants, cried out, Let the whole World ſtand ſtill, and if the whole World will not confeſs, affirm, and ſwear, that the Empreſs Dulcinea (who by the Bye was only a common Trollop) is the moſt beautiful Damſel in the World, I challenge you all to Battle. Now as it may poſſibly happen, that ſome of my Readers may be as ſtupid as I was upon the firſt Reading of this Paſſage, and not comprehend the leaſt Reſemblance between Don Quixote's meeting a few Merchants Face to Face, and Mr. H—s's obſerving a maſk'd Ruffian to come behind his Friend, &c. I ſhall endeavour to give them ſuch Lights into this Matter as I have, by Dint of hard Study, or otherwiſe, been able to procure. I ſuppoſe then the "few Merchants" are intended to allude to thoſe of that Profeſſion among the Proteſters, who, it muſt be acknowledged, did at firſt ſhow their Faces, and tell their Names; but, as they afterwards put on their Viſors, and acted a baſe, aſſaſſinating Part, they then became maſk'd Ruffians, reſembling the one Mr. H—s obſerved to come behind his Friend. But what Affinity there is between the DON's challenging the Merchants to Battle if they did not confeſs that Dulcinea was the moſt beautiful Damſel in the World, and Mr. H—s's threatning the maſk'd Ruffian that if he did confeſs his own Name, or ſhew his Face, he would grind him to Powder, is what I have not yet been able to diſcover; and I am apprehenſive, that if the "whole World was to ſtand ſtill" till Doom's-day in the Afternoon, the whole World would not even then comprehend a Whit more of the Matter than myſelf. — I was alſo for a long Time puzzled to find the correſpondent Part of the Simile belonging to "common Trollop," when luckily for me, a worthy Friend ſuggeſted that it muſt certainly be "ſound Drubbing;" for that our Author having ſome Time ago taken it into his Head to treat a virtuous young Woman at Frankford, as if ſhe had been really a common Trollop, ſhe ſnatch'd up a Broomſtick and gave him ſuch a terrible "ſound Drubbing," that he has not ſince been able to ſeparate the Ideas. How this may be, I can't ſay, but I think the Solution ingenious, and that it has an Air of Probability.

BUT ſhould our Author not have properly fitted the ſeveral Parts of his Simile, great Allowance ought to be made for a Man who has been ſo long obſerving in the Dark, that his very Underſtanding has become darken'd. On this Account I can readily excuſe his ſaying, That as his Quarrel with Mr. H—s's Friend was of a publick Nature, he would treat him accordingly; which, to be ſure, he has accordingly done by keeping himſelf private. The ſame Conſideration too prompts me to readily paſs over ſeveral of his Grammatical Errors without Cenſure, particularly where he tells us, that if any Perſon of Character who is known to be capable of writing an Advertiſement, will, to ſave Trouble, mention what Part of the Anſwer ſtands in need of further Proof, THEY will find the Satisfaction THEY deſire. Beſides I do not ſee any Reaſon why learned Doctors and Profeſſors in a College ſhould be compell'd to the Obſervance of Grammar Rules: It is ſufficient that they endeavour to teach them to others. Perſons who are really "capable of writing an Advertiſement" would merit our Cenſure, perhaps, were they not to write grammatically; but as our learned Doctors and Profeſſors cannot, with any Propriety, be included among thoſe, they are therefore very excuſeable.

AS I profeſs myſelf to be a mere Imitator, I ought, according to the Example of our Author, in the Paragraph before me, give you a long String of Suppoſitions founded upon falſe Repreſentations. But as I have not exhauſted a Hundredth Part of the Stock of Truths I am poſſeſſed of againſt him and his Employers, I think I may be excuſed having Recourſe to Falſities till the ſaid Stock is nearly expended. The following Suppoſitions therefore, muſt be conſidered as having Truth for their Baſis, and conſequently ſo far deviating from thoſe of our Author. Suppoſe then, that ſome "dreadful Giant or Knight" ſhould, partly from the Malice and Envy of his Heart, and partly to oblige his Superior the great HABERDASHER of Grace-Church-Street, determine to deſtroy the Champion who guarded the Golden Fruit, called Rights and Privileges, belonging to the People of Quilſylvania, which the ſaid Haberdaſher wanted to get into his Poſſeſſion. Suppoſe that the ſaid Giant ſhould for this Purpoſe take to his Aſſiſtance eight or nine of the moſt wicked and obedient of his Vaſſals and Attendants, and attack the Champion openly in the Highway, hoping that by their united Strength they ſhould totally overpower him. Suppoſe, however, that the Champion ſhould prove too hard for them all, and not only heartily belabour the Knight's Ribs, but alſo give his Vaſſals and Attendants a "ſound Drubbing." Suppoſe then, that as they were afraid to venture to attack the Champion again, and yet were determined on his Deſtruction, that the Haberdaſher might be gratified in his Deſires, they ſhould hire a Number of Bravos to aſſaſſinate him. Suppoſe that thoſe Bravos ſhould likewiſe be afraid to engage the Champion face to face, and ſhould therefore take an Opportunity of coming behind his Back, when he was ſo buſily employed as not to have it in his Power to turn upon them again, and then fire upon him from ſome Buſhes where they lay concealed. Suppoſe that a Friend of the Champion's, upon hearing the Report of their Guns, ſhould come up to his Aſſiſtance; but not being able to diſcover where the Aſſaſſins were hid, ſhould call upon them to come forth, and that he would engage them in Behalf of his Friend. Suppoſe that inſtead of accepting this Challenge, they ſhould continue in their Lurking-Places, and from thence alſo diſcharge a Volley at the Perſon who had acted ſo bravely and honourably. Muſt we not then neceſſarily ſuppoſe them to be a Set of mean-ſpirited, daſtardly Wretches, who ought not only to be expelled the Community, but driven from the Face of the Earth?—"And now (as Bayes ſays in the Rehearſal) pray, Mr. Author, what becomes of YOUR Suppoſes?"

HAVING now done with our Author, and as I am not the leaſt deſirous of ſtaying longer in his Company than is neceſſary for his Chaſtiſement, I ſhall diſmiſs him with this Advice of Sancho's, viz. Let every Man take Care how he ſpeaks or writes of honeſt People, and not ſet down at a Venture the firſt Thing that comes into his Jolterhead. —But perhaps he may look upon me as an Enemy, and not regard the Council, nor wholeſome Correction, I have beſtow'd upon him. Let me therefore recommend to his worthy Patron, if he has any Regard for his own Credit, to take his "blundering Squire" aſide, and lecture him as the renowned Don Quixote did his Squire on a ſimilar Occaſion. Tell me, ſaid the Knight, thou modern Buffoon, and ancient Blockhead! Was it thy Province to diſhonour and affront a Perſon ſo worthy of Reverence and Reſpect. For the Love of God, Sancho, ſet a Guard upon thy Tongue, and behave ſo as that the People may not diſcover by the Thread, the coarſe Country Web of which thou art woven: Conſider, Sinner as thou art, that the Maſter is reſpected in Proportion to the Diſcretion and Good-Breeding of his Servants; and this is one of the great Advantages which Noblemen have over People of inferior Rank: Doſt thou not conſider, thou Plague to thyſelf and Vexation to me! that if they perceive Thee to be a baſe bred Clown or blundering Fool, they will take me for ſome cheating Impoſtor or Knight of the Poſt: No, no, Sancho, ſhun and avoid thoſe Inconveniencies; for, he who ſets up for a Merry-Andrew, falls at the firſt Stumble into a diſgraced Buffoon: Bridle thy Tongue, therefore, conſider and ruminate well before the Words iſſue from thy Mouth.

AND now, tremendous Sir! having thus exhorted your Squire, be pleaſed to accept of a little cordial Admonition for yourſelf: Part of which ſhall be another Extract from the Hiſtory of Don Quixote, a Work I am vaſtly pleaſed to ſee quoted by your Squire, as it gives me an Opportunity (as I profeſs Imitation) of quoting it likewiſe. It is indeed a favourite Book with me, and I don't care how often in the Courſe of our Diſputes I may be referred to a Work of ſuch infinite Wit and Humour. It contains beſides a vaſt Fund of ſerious Inſtruction, and I heartily adviſe you to endeavour to deſerve the Character which Sancho has given of that renowned Knight; My Maſter (ſays he) has Nothing at all miſchevious about him; on the contrary is as dull as a Beetle, and knows not what it is to harm Man, Woman, or Child, or to harbour the leaſt Malice, but ſeeks to do good unto all Mankind: One of the Articles ſtipulated between us was that I might talk as much as I pleaſed, provided it was not Scandal againſt my Neighbour. —Perhaps, Sir, you may think there will be no great Obſtacle to your acquiring the Beetle Part of the Character, as Nature has already been ſo very aſſiſtant, and therefore conclude, that it is not worth your while to attempt it, as no Merit would reſult to you ſhould you ſucceed in a Point of ſo little Difficulty: But then you ſhould likewiſe conſider, that in attempting to deſerve the other Parts of the Character, you will then have Nature to combat with; and, conſequently, ſhould Succeſs attend your Endeavours, you will merit and obtain the Reward of a good Conſcience! —and the ſincere Applauſe of your Fellow-Citizens! Rewards (however light they may appear in your preſent Eſtimation) that would afford you more true heart-feeling Satisfaction, could you but once acquire them, than any you ever yet experienced! — or ever had any Idea of!

IT is, however, but equitable I ſhould mention, that Sancho has groſsly miſrepreſented his Maſter with regard to his Underſtanding; and indeed Squires are very apt to talk diſreſpectfully of their Knights behind their Backs, as is well known to be the Practice of the One you at preſent employ. The Don was really a Man of fine Senſe and ſtrict Honour, and, could you but imitate him in theſe Reſpects, you would find that whatever Follies and Extravagancies you might at Times commit, would only excite Laughter, or Pity, inſtead of that Ridicule and Contempt you now ſuffer.

BUT, to be "ſerious," for the "Subject will admit" of it. —Experience has, I hope, by this Time, taught you the Truth of Plautus's Obſervation, Eſt miſerorum, ut malevolentes ſint atque invideant bonis; It is a miſerable State to be malevolent and to envy good Men; Therefore endeavour for the future to expel from your Heart the Seeds of Envy and Malice, which produce you ſuch frequent Crops of Bitterneſs: —Learn, if you can, that Golden Rule, Do unto others as you would they ſhould do unto you: —Delight not in vilifying the good Name of your Neighbour:— Conſider that no Enemy is ſo deſpicable but he may if provoked do you an Injury:— Compel your calumniating Scriblers to deſiſt from further Attempts to blaſt the Reputation▪ of worthy Men merely becauſe they oppoſe your Meaſures, or becauſe they ſhow they have Spirit enough to ſtand up in Behalf of their own Characters, and thoſe of their abſent Friends, when attacked; for, you may depend that you will otherwiſe raiſe the Indignation of every honeſt Man in the Country, as no Man can ſay (if ſuch Practices are not diſcouraged) but it may be his Turn next; and you may likewiſe depend that it cannot anſwer your Purpoſe of ſilencing your Opponents, but that, on the contrary, where your Scriblers ſucceed in writing one Man down, they will at leaſt write Two up:— Remember Sancho's Proverbs, Like begets Like, and, He that plays at Bowls muſt expect to meet with Rubbers: Avoid Politicks altogether; for moſt certainly neither God nor Nature ever intended you for a Politician! No more let looſe the Bloodhounds of Pr—ry Power to hunt, run down, worry, and tear to Pieces thoſe who dare to oppoſe Oppreſſion with Firmneſs:— Oblige that Pack of whiffling Curs,

"Every Whiffler in a laced Coat, who frequents the Coffee-Houſe, ſhall talk of the Conſtitution!"