 repeat his visit, until he had
exhibited the following proof of his caprice. Wat Wyvil, the poet, having made
some unsuccessful advances towards an intimacy with S--, at last gave him to
understand, by a third person, that he had written a poem in his praise, and a
satire against his person; that if he would admit him to his house, the first
should be immediately sent to press, but that if he persisted in declining his
friendship, he would publish the satire without delay. S-- replied, that he
looked upon Wyvil's panegyrick, as in effect, a species of infamy, and would
resent it accordingly with a good cudgel; but if he published the satire, he
might deserve his compassion, and had nothing to fear from his revenge. Wyvil
having considered the alternative, resolved to mortify S-- by printing the
panegyrick, for which he received a sound drubbing. Then he swore the peace
against the aggressor, who, in order to avoid a prosecution at law, admitted him
to his good graces. It was the singularity in S--'s conduct on this occasion,
that reconciled him to the yellow-gloved philosopher, who owned he had some
genius, and from that period cultivated his acquaintance.
    Curious to know upon what subjects the several talents of my fellow-guests
were employed, I applied to my communicative friend Dick Ivy, who gave me to
understand, that most of them were, or had been, understrappers, or journeymen,
to more creditable authors, for whom they translated, collated, and compiled, in
the business of book-making; and that all of them had, at different times,
laboured in the service of our landlord, though they had now set up for
themselves in various departments of literature. Not only their talents, but
also their nations and dialects were so various, that our conversation resembled
the confusion of tongues at Babel. We had the Irish brogue, the Scotch accent,
and foreign idiom, twanged off by the most discordant vociferation; for, as they
all spoke together, no man had any chance to be heard, unless he could bawl
louder than his fellows. It must be owned, however, there was nothing pedantic
in their discourse; they carefully avoided all learned disquisitions, and
endeavoured to be facetious; nor did their endeavours always miscarry - some
droll repartee passed, and much laughter was excited; and if any individual lost
his temper so far as to transgress the bounds of decorum, he was effectually
checked by the master of the feast, who exerted
