be surprised at; nor, perhaps,
will be much more surprised, that he soon after took an Occasion of clapping a
Proposal into the Colonel's Hands; holding at the same Time a Receipt very
visible in his own.
    The Colonel received both, and gave the Author a Guinea in Exchange, which
was double the Sum mentioned in the Receipt; for which the Author made a low
Bow, and very politely took his Leave, saying, »I suppose, Gentlemen, you may
have some private Business together; I heartily wish a speedy End to your
Confinement; and I congratulate you on the possessing so great, so noble, and so
generous a Friend.«
 

                                   Chapter VI

                 Which inclines rather to Satir than Panegyric.

The Colonel had the Curiosity to ask Booth the Name of the Gentleman, who, in
the vulgar Language, had struck, or taken him in for a Guinea, with so much Ease
and Dexterity. Booth answered, he did not know his Name; all that he knew of him
was, that he was the most impudent and illiterate Fellow he had ever seen; and
that, by his own Account, he was the Author of most of the wonderful Productions
of the Age. »Perhaps,« said he, »it may look uncharitable in me, to blame you
for your Generosity; but I am convinced the Fellow hath not the least Merit or
Capacity; and you have subscribed to the most horrid Trash that ever was
published.«
    »I care not a Farthing what he publishes,« cries the Colonel. »Heaven
forbid, I should be obliged to read half the Nonsense I have subscribed to.«
    »But, don't you think,« said Booth, »that by such indiscriminate
Encouragement of Authors, you do a real Mischief to the Society? By propagating
the Subscriptions of such Fellows, People are tired out, and with-hold their
Contributions to Men of real Merit; and, at the same Time, you are contributing
to fill the World, not only with Nonsense, but with all the Scurrility,
Indecency, and Profaneness with which the Age abounds; and with which all bad
Writers supply the Defect of Genius.«
    »Pugh!« cries the Colonel, »I never consider these Matters. Good or bad, it
is all one to me; but there's an Acquaintance of mine, and a Man of great Wit
too, that thinks the worst the best, as they are the surest to make him laugh.«
    »I ask Pardon, Sir,« says the Serjeant; »but I