the Nobleman, »that any Minister
could support himself in this Country upon such Principles as you recommend? Do
you think he would be able to baffle an Opposition, unless he should oblige his
Friends by conferring Places, often contrary to his own Inclinations, and his
own Opinion?«
    »Yes, really do I,« cries the Doctor. »Indeed if a Minister is resolved to
make good his Confession in the Liturgy, by leaving undone all those Things
which he ought to have done, and by doing all those Things which he ought not to
have done: Such a Minister, I grant, will be obliged to baffle Opposition, as
you are pleased to term it, by these Arts; for as Shakespeare somewhere says,
 
                 Things ill begun strengthen themselves by Ill.
 
But if, on the contrary, he will please to consider the true Interest of his
Country, and that only in great and national Points; if he will engage his
Country in neither Alliances or Quarrels, but where it is really interested; if
he will raise no Money but what is wanted; nor employ any civil or military
Officers but what are useful; and place in these Employments Men of the highest
Integrity, and of the greatest Abilities; if he will employ some few of his
Hours to advance our Trade, and some few more to regulate our domestic
Government: If he would do this, my Lord, I will answer for it he shall either
have no Opposition to baffle, or he shall baffle it by a fair Appeal to his
Conduct. Such a Minister may, in the Language of the Law, put himself on his
Country when he pleases and he shall come off with Honour and Applause.«
    »And do you really believe, Doctor,« cries the Peer, »there ever was such a
Minister, or ever will be?«
    »Why not, my Lord?« answered the Doctor. »It requires no very extraordinary
Parts, nor any extraordinary Degree of Virtue. He need practise no great
Instances of Self-denial. He shall have Power, and Honour, and Riches, and
perhaps all in a much greater Degree than he can ever acquire, by pursuing a
contrary System. He shall have more of each, and much more of Safety.«
    »Pray, Doctor,« said my Lord, »let me ask you one simple Question. Do you
really believe any Man upon Earth was ever a Rogue out of Choice?«
    »Really, my Lord,« says the Doctor, »I am ashamed to answer in the
Affirmative; and yet I am