 is not consonant with even the least Degree of Prudence to hazard an
Alteration, where our Hopes are poorly kept in Countenance by only two or three
Exceptions out of a thousand Instances to alarm our Fears. In this Case it will
be much wiser to submit to a few Inconveniencies arising from the dispassionate
Deafness of Laws, than to remedy them by applying to the passionate open Ears of
a Tyrant.
    Nor can the Example of the Gypsies, tho' possibly they may have long been
happy under this Form of Government, be here urged; since we must remember the
very material Respect in which they differ from all other People, and to which
perhaps this their Happiness is entirely owing, namely, that they have no false
Honours among them; and that they look on Shame as the most grievous Punishment
in the World.
 

                                  Chapter XIII

                    A Dialogue between Jones and Partridge.
 
The honest Lovers of Liberty will we doubt not pardon that long Digression into
which we were led at the Close of the last Chapter, to prevent our History from
being applied to the Use of the most pernicious Doctrine, which Priestcraft had
ever the Wickedness or the Impudence to preach.
    We will now proceed with Mr. Jones, who when the Storm was over, took Leave
of his Egyptian Majesty, after many Thanks for his courteous Behaviour and kind
Entertainment, and set out for Coventry; to which Place (for it was still dark)
a Gypsy was ordered to conduct him.
    Jones having, by Reason of his Deviation, travelled eleven Miles instead of
six, and most of those through very execrable Roads, where no Expedition could
have been made, in Quest of a Midwife, did not arrive at Coventry till near
Twelve. Nor could he possibly get again into the Saddle till past Two; for
Post-Horses were now not easy to get; nor were the Hostler or Post-Boy, in half
so great a Hurry as himself, but chose rather to imitate the tranquil
Disposition of Partridge; who being denied the Nourishment of Sleep, took all
Opportunities to supply its Place with every other Kind of Nourishment, and was
never better pleased than when he arrived at an Inn, nor ever more dissatisfied
than when he was again forced to leave it.
    Jones now travelled Post; we will follow him therefore, according to our
Custom, and to the Rules of Longinus, in the same Manner. From Coventry he
arrived at Daventry, from Daventry at Stratford, and from Stratford at Dunstable
, whither he came the next Day a little after Noon, and within a few Hours after
Sophia had left it; and though he was
