 I believe, the bishop is not a
berry of our bush -« »No more he is - No more he is, ha, ha, ha! (exclaimed the
duke) there you gave me a scratch, good Mr. Bramble, ha, ha, ha! - Well, I shall
be glad to see you at Lincoln's-inn-fields - You know the way - Times are
altered. Though I have lost the power, I retain the inclination - Your very
humble servant, good Mr. Blackberry -« So saying, he shoved to another corner of
the room. »What a fine old gentleman! (cried Mr. Barton) what spirits! what a
memory! - He never forgets an old friend.« »He does me too much honour,
(observed our 'squire) to rank me among the number - Whilst I sat in parliament,
I never voted with the ministry but three times, when my conscience told me they
were in the right: however, if he still keeps levee, I will carry my nephew
thither, that he may see, and learn to avoid the scene; for, I think, an English
gentleman never appears to such disadvantage, as at the levee of a minister - Of
his grace I shall say nothing at present, but that for thirty years he was the
constant and common butt of ridicule and execration. He was generally laughed at
as an ape in politics, whose office and influence served only to render his
folly the more notorious; and the opposition cursed him, as the indefatigable
drudge of a first-mover, who was justly stiled and stigmatized as the father of
corruption: but this ridiculous ape, this venal drudge, no sooner lost the
places he was so ill qualified to fill, and unfurled the banners of faction,
than he was metamorphosed into a pattern of public virtue; the very people who
reviled him before, now extolled him to the skies, as a wise, experienced
statesman, chief pillar of the Protestant succession, and corner stone of
English liberty. I should be glad to know how Mr. Barton reconciles these
contradictions, without obliging us to resign all title to the privilege of
common sense.« »My dear sir, (answered Barton) I don't pretend to justify the
extravagations of the multitude; who, I suppose, were as wild in their former
censure, as in their present praise: but I shall be very glad to attend you on
Thursday next to his grace's levee; where, I'm afraid, we shall not be crowded
