 which Heaven hath formed for Politicians. Indeed,
Brother, you would make a fine Plenipo to negotiate with the French. They would
soon persuade you, that they take Towns out of mere defensive Principles.«
»Sister,« answered the Squire, with much Scorn, »Let your Friends at Court
answer for the Towns taken; as you are a Woman, I shall lay no Blame upon you:
For I suppose they are wiser than to trust Women with Secrets.« He accompanied
this with so sarcastical a Laugh, that Mrs. Western could bear no longer. She
had been all this Time fretted in a tender Part (for she was indeed very deeply
skilled in these Matters, and very violent in them) and therefore burst forth in
a Rage, declared her Brother to be both a Clown and a Blockhead, and that she
would stay no longer in his House.
    The Squire, tho', perhaps, he had never read Machiavel, was, however, in
many Points, a perfect Politician. He strongly held all those wise Tenets, which
are so well inculcated in that Politico-Peripatetic School of Exchange-Alley. He
knew the just Value and only Use of Money, viz. to lay it up. He was likewise
well skilled in the exact Value of Reversions, Expectations, etc. and had often
considered the Amount of his Sister's Fortune, and the Chance which he or his
Posterity had of inheriting it. This he was infinitely too wise to sacrifice to
a trifling Resentment. When he found, therefore, he had carried Matters too far,
he began to think of reconciling them; which was no very difficult Task, as the
Lady had great Affection for her Brother, and still greater for her Niece; and
tho' too susceptible of an Affront offered to her Skill in Politics, on which
she much valued herself, was a Woman of a very extraordinary good and sweet
Disposition.
    Having first, therefore, laid violent Hands on the Horses, for whose Escape
from the Stable no Place but the Window was left open; he next applied himself
to his Sister, softened and soothed her, by unsaying all he had said, and by
Assertions directly contrary to those which had incensed her. Lastly, he
summoned the Eloquence of Sophia to his Assistance, who, besides a most graceful
and winning Address, had the Advantage of being heard with great Favour and
Partiality by her Aunt.
    The Result of the whole was a kind Smile from Mrs. Western, who said,
»Brother, you are absolutely a perfect Croat; but as those have their
