Sir _John_. Truly I wonder’d when I saw not his Name among the List of C—rs of a certain Board.
_Broad_. There are certain _Prejudices_, which, in Prudence, we were obliged to overlook when we could not surmount them.
Sir _John_. I don’t at all question but there was a _Prejudice_ to you _all_; but when you were able to conquer that which was always supposed to be conceived against you personally, Mr. _Broadbottom_, I should not wonder you could surmount all Prejudice whatever.
_Over_. Pr’ythee, _Bottom_, how came it practicable to ram one of your _uncommon Size_, down the narrow squeamish Throat of ——? again, another _Word_ would intrude on the Word Ministers.
_Blunt_. I’ll tell thee; to take away from us all our Props; to strip us of our Leaders; in short, to leave no Speaker or Man of known Merit behind—
Sir _John_. I fear that was Part of the Plan; and if so, we are undone, unless we are saved by the Virtue and Steadiness of those whom the People have confided in all along, and rais’d at last.
Sir _John_. I would not willingly suspect Men, who owe more to their Constituents, than those they have all along opposed. On a Supposition that these had purchas’d, no matter how infamously, they assum’d a Sort of Right to reimburse themselves at the Expence of the Venders. But you _Patriots_ have no such colourable Claim for disserving those who spontaneously chose you their Attornies with no private Views in the World, or any Views but such as tend to the Good of the Community in general.
_Over_. Gad, my dear _Broady_, you ought to be doubly cursed, nay doubly d—n’d, should you not earnestly and truly serve those that had gratuitously vested you with ample Power over their Persons, Lands, Goods, Chattels, Wives and Bairns.
_Blunt_. And Tythes and Dues, my laughing Vicar—Is the _Liberty_ of a free People a fit Subject for Laughter? Is not our All at Stake at this critical Juncture? Should those who have been always our reputed Friends, _join_ with those who were always deem’d our Enemies, what shall become of us? What shall we do?
_Over_. I’ll tell you; _unite_, and join against both.
Sir _John_. I should not wonder if a general _Union_ against all secret and open Enemies would be the Consequence of any signal Misconduct or Defection in those lately _ingrafted_. For after such repeated Experience as the People have had of the Power of C—— _Infection_, it may be expected they would go greater Lengths than might be agreeable to the Authors of their Despair. ’tis dangerous to push a sensible People too far.