Sir _John_. The Fact, I am afraid, is but too true: And at the same Time that it proves the Corruption of the People, it proves likewise the Necessity of an immediate Remedy. Had those scandalous Marts for the Sale of _B—sh_ Liberty been more common; had they been _annual_, or even _triennial_, the M—rs would not find their Account in the frequent Expence; nay, they could not support it.
_Blunt_. Yet necessary as the immediate Application of this Specific is, you shall see it postponed to more pacific _Times_, and gentler _Seasons_.
_Smooth_. Mr. _Blunt_, tho’ you speak thus in Derision, yet if you reflect with Seriousness, the Delay of a Remedy so extraordinary as the Repeal of the _Septennial_ is, till after the War, will not seem so unmeet to you as it appears at present.
_Blunt_. Dost think the _Repeal_ would abate the Courage of our Soldiers and Seamen, and raise that of the Enemy? Dost think it would pall the Appetites of those greedy _Germans_, that now and long have done us the Honour to receive _Subsidies_ from us? Wou’d the Queen of _Hungary_ and King of _Sardinia_ receive _English_ Money the less freely; or defend their own Territories the less carefully, if _general Content_ should be spread throughout this Island, powerful as much or more by the Union of its Inhabitants, as by their Bravery and Wealth? Would our good Allies the _Dutch_ be deafer to our Intreaties, or slower in their Motions than they have been of late, should they see the very _Fountain_ of our Corruption and Venality dry’d up by a Legislative Spunge?
_Over_. Would our A—ls and G—ls have less Sense, Experience, Courage and Honesty, if they were to go to _Market_ with their _Bank-bills_, but every _Third Year_?
_Smooth_. You forget that your favourite A—l was lately courted at many _Markets_ without the Aid of Bank-bills.
_Over_. No, Sir; I don’t forget that his Merit had endeared him to the People, and render’d him hateful to—— Mi-Mi—Mi—Ministers.—’Sflesh! I thought I could never keep down another _Word_ which would force itself in the room of Ministers.—— But enough of that. No, Mr. _Smoothwell_, I forget not that that gallant, honest Man has not been thought of in the present Change, tho’ his Valour, Experience, Probity, and good Sense, can’t be called in question.