and Fanny, had been regaling, according to the Custom of the
House, with the Justice's Strong Beer. These were all fallen together by the
Ears, and were cuffing each other without any Mercy. The Justice himself sallied
out, and with the Dignity of his Presence, soon put an end to the Fray. On his
return into the Parlour, he reported, »that the Occasion of the Quarrel, was no
other than a Dispute, to whom, if Adams had been convicted, the greater Share of
the Reward for apprehending him had belonged.« All the Company laughed at this,
except Adams, who taking his Pipe from his Mouth fetched a deep Groan, and said,
he was concerned to see so litigious a Temper in Men. That he remembered a Story
something like it in one of the Parishes where his Cure lay: »There was,«
continued he, »a Competition between three young Fellows, for the Place of the
Clerk, which I disposed of, to the best of my Abilities, according to Merit:
that is, I gave it to him who had the happiest Knack at setting a Psalm. The
Clerk was no sooner established in his Place, than a Contention began between
the two disappointed Candidates, concerning their Excellence, each contending,
on whom, had they two been the only Competitors, my Election would have fallen.
This Dispute frequently disturbed the Congregation, and introduced a Discord
into the Psalmody, 'till I was forced to silence them both. But alas, the
litigious Spirit could not be stifled; and being no longer able to vent itself
in singing, it now broke forth in fighting. It produced many Battles, (for they
were very near a Match;) and, I believe, would have ended fatally, had not the
Death of the Clerk given me an Opportunity to promote one of them to his Place;
which presently put an end to the Dispute, and entirely reconciled the
contending Parties.« Adams then proceeded to make some Philosophical
Observations on the Folly of growing warm in Disputes, in which neither Party is
interested. He then applied himself vigorously to smoaking; and a long Silence
ensued, which was at length broken by the Justice; who began to sing forth his
own Praises, and to value himself exceedingly on his nice Discernment in the
Cause, which had lately been before him. He was quickly interrupted by Mr.
Adams, between whom and his Worship a Dispute now arose, whether he ought not,
in strictness of Law, to have committed him, the said Adams; in which the latter