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Pil. Chop-fallen, no doubt: but he is in business Why, I thought the knight was as firm as a rock. again.

Res. He is?

Pil. O yes, and I hear does very well. For I left him two hundred out of the six he brought with him, to begin the world with credit afresh.

Res. Very generous indeed, Mr. Pillage. Pil. O! a trifling affair, got little by it!-for the matter of that, a mere statute is not much in itself. Res. Ay! well I thought it brought pretty perquisites with it.

Pil. No, no; it is a good hot-bed indeed to raise chancery suits in.

Res. Ay, that is a produce that deserves propaga

tion.

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Res. I knew better things. I saw the mansion was daily decaying. Hush, here he comas.

Enter SIR ROBERT, followed by a cleri. Sir Rob. As we have effects in our hands, accept the bills to be sure. But how to discharge them when they are due.-So, gentlemen, I have sent fr you to beg your assistance.

Pil. Sir Robert, we shall be very happy to serve you if you will tell us bat how.

Sir Rob. Why, to deal plainly, gentlemen, affairs are come to a crisis, and without some sub stantial and speedy assistance, my credit will quickly expire.

Pil. You surprise me: I never guess'd it in dstger. Pray, Sir Robert, what brought on the disease, was it an alley fever, or a gradual decay!

Sir Rob. A complication of causes. Not but I could have weather'd them all, had the house is Hal land but stood, their failure must be followed by mine.

Pil. What, Van Swieten's?

Sir Rob. Have you heard any thing of him to-day! Pil. No doubt, I believe, of their stopping

Res. A scheme of his, to monopolize sprats and bills were offer'd at Garraway's under forty per c potatoes.

ther

As your name is not blown upon yet, suppose you

coin a couple of quires! don't you think the circulation might serve you?

Sir Rob. No, that mint is exhausted, and private paper return'd to its primitive value. My real case can be no longer conceal'd. I must stop, and should be glad of your advice how to manage the matter. Pil. There are two methods in use. The choice will depend on how your affairs stand with the world.

Sir Rob. Bitter bad, Mr. Pillage.

Pil. I guess'd as much, by your sending for us. They treat us, master Resource, like a couple of quacks, never apply but in desperate cases. Res. But in all diseases there are different degrees.

Pil. True; for instance, if you find you are pretty near on a par, with perhaps a small balance per contra, summon your creditors, lay your conditions fully before them, convince them you have a fund to answer all their demands, and crave a respite for three or four years.

Sir Rob. Just to call in my debts, and make the most of my other effects?

Res. True; as the English merchants have a good deal of milk in their blood, that is a favour rarely refused.

Sir Rob. This master Pillage, will be only deferring the evil.

Pil. That is, Sir Robert, as you manage the cards. Don't you see that the length of time, with the want or wish of ready money for trade, will dispose the bulk of your creditors to sell their debts at a loss of thirty or forty per cent ?

Sir Rob. True.

Res. No contemptible sum, when a man's dealings are large.

Sir Rob. But how shall I profit by

Res. And recover the full amount of the policy. Pil. Did you never try that?

Res. No, I don't think he has done any thing in the fire way yet; have you, Sir Robert?

Sir Rob. Never once came into my head. Pil. May be not; oh! for a fertile brain, there are many means to be used; but what d'ye say to my plan?

Sir Rob. What the summoning scheme? I am so involved, that I am afraid that project will never prevail.

Pil. Then you have nothing left but a statute. Sir Rob. But if my certificate should not be granted?

Pil. That is my proper business, Sir Robert. If we find your creditors inclined to be crusty, there will be no difficulty in creating demands to get number and value.

Sir Rob. That will swell my debts to a monstrous amount.

Res. So much the more for your honour; consider you are a knight, and your dignity demands you should fail for a capital sum.

Sir Rob. Does it?

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Pil. What hinders you from privately buying the to thank him. debts?

Sir Rob. That indeed

Res, A fine fortune sav'd out of the fire.

Pil. True. Aad now we talk of the fire, for a present supply, you may burn a warehouse or two, after it has been gutted of all its contents.

Sir Rob. But is there not some danger in concealing the portable stuff, as you call it?

Pil. Not in the least. Besides, to colour the business, you may collect a purse of light guineas, with an old batter'd family watch, and deliver them to the commissioners, on your first examination,

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very arts you have recommended so warmly. Bat there the mischief shall end. Men may suffer from my calamities, but they never shall by my crimes. [The Beskrupt.

NEWSPAPER EDITORSHIP.

MARGIN with newspapers, account-books, &c. September the 9th. Sold twelve hundred and thirty. June the 20th. Two thousand and six. Good increase for the time, considering too that the winter

Pil. In about a month or six weeks, I think, you has been pretty pacific: dabbled but little in treasons,

may be made fit to appear in the papers. Sir Rob. In the Gazette, as a bankrupt? Res. Aye, but then no time must be lost.

Pil. Not a moment, for should they smoke his design

Sir Rob. Gentlemen, I must decline your assist

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and not remarkably scurrilous, unless, indeed ma few personal cases. We must season higher to kery up the demand. Writers in Journals, like rope dancers, to engage the public attention, must ventre their necks every step that they take. The pleasure people feel, arises from the risk that we ru what's the matter? Enter DINGEY.

Dingey. Mr. Hyson has left the answer to his last letter on East India affairs.

Margin. A lazy rascal, now his letter is forgot, he comes with an answer. Besides, the subject is stale Return it again. Are all our people in waiting!

Dingey. The attorney general to the paper, answers the law cases, is not come yet.

Margin. Oh! that's Ben Bond'em the bag, prudently done, perhaps he has a writ against one of our authors-Bid them enter, and call over the

Sir Rob. From the practice of these infamous arts, as it is impossible they can be conceal'd, what suspicions, what jealousies must every man in trade enter-names. tain!

Pil. How?

Dingey. Walk in, gentlemen. Enter PEPPER,

PLAISTER, RUMOUR, TO' FIBBER, COMMA, CAUSTIC, O'Flam, and others. Dingey. Politicians, pro and con, Messieurs Pop

Sir Rob. What an injury besides, to those in my unhappy condition! The risks and losses unavoidably connected with commerce, procure the unsuc-per and Plaister. cessful trader generally the compassion, sometimes the friendly aid, of those of his order.

Res. We know that well enough.

Sir Rob. But when bankruptcy becomes a lucrative traffic, and men are found to fail with a view of making their fortunes, the unhappy and fraudulent will be confounded together, and punishment fall on his head who has a title to pity.

Pil. The man's mad.

Pepper, Plaister. Here,

Margin, Pepper and Plaister, as both the house are up, I shall adjourn your political warfare their meeting again.

Pepper. Don't you think the public would best one skirmish more before we close the campaign have a trimmer here in my hand.

Plaister. To which I have as tart a retort.
Margin. No, no; enough for the present.

Sir Rob, Perhaps I myself am a sacrifice to those Plaister the proper timing the subject, that gra

ccess to our labours. The conductor of a news-
per, like a good cook, should always serve up things
heir season: who eats oysters in June? Plays and
liament houses are winter provisions.
Pepper. Then half the satire and salt will be lost:
sides, if the great man should happen to die, or go

Dingey. As you could not find them in constant employment, they are engaged by the great, to do the articles in the Monthly Reviews.

Margin. I thought they were done by doctor Doubtful the Deist.

Dingey. Formerly; but now he deals in manuscript sermons, and writes religious essays for one of the Journals.

Margin. Then he will soon sink. I foresaw what would come of his dramming. Go on.

Dingey. Collectors of paragraphs, Roger Rumour, and Phelim O'Flam.

Margin. Pshaw! it will do as well for the great
that comes in. Political papers should bear
ping; like sermons, change but the application
text, and they will suit all persons and seasons.
Plaister. True enough; but meantime, what can
Curn to; for we shall be quite out of work?
dargin. I warrant you, if you an't idle, there's
ness enough, the press teems with fresh publica-makers of ditto.
histories, translations, voyages-

e.

pper. That take up as much time to read as to

argin. And what with letters from Paris or inundations, elopements, dismal effects of der and lightning, remarkable causes at country es, and with changing the ministry now and you will have employment enough for the vister. And so enter upon our old trade in the r?

Jer.

Rumour, Flam. Here.

Dingey. Fibber and Forge'em, composers and

Fibber, Forge'em. Here.

Margin. Well, Rumour, what have you brought for the press?

Rumour. I have been able to bring you no posi tives.

Margin. How! no positives?

Rumour. Not one. I have a probability from the court end of the town, and two good supposes out of the city.

Margin. Hand them here-[reads.] "It is probable, that if the king of Prussia should join the rgin. Aye, or for variety, as it must be tiresome Czarina, France will send a fleet into the Meditere always one side; you, Pepper, may go over to ranean, which, by giving umbrage to the maritime istration, and Plaister will join opposition. The powers, will involve Spain by its family compact. y may perhaps give fresh spirits to both. To which if Austria should refuse to accede, there per. With all my heart. A bold writer has may be a powerful diversion in Poland, made conencouragement to sharpen his pen. I have junctly by Sweden and Denmark. And if Sardinia and the day when there was no difficulty in get-Sicily abide by the treaties, the German Princes can lodging in Newgate; but now, all I can say never be neuter; Italy will become the seat of war, procure me a warrant from a Westminster and all Europe soon set in a flame."Vastly well, master Rumour, finely confused, and very alarming. Dingey, give him a shilling for this. I hope no other paper has got it?

gin. You say right, hard times, master Peppersecution is the very life and soul of our but don't despair, who knows how soon may mend? gentlemen, you may draw back.

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Rumour. Oh fie! did you ever now me guilty of such a

Margin. True, true, now let's see your supposes[Reads.] "It is supposed, if Alderman Mango should surrender his gown, he will be succeeded by Mr. Deputy Drylips; and if my Lord Mayor should con

you.

tinue ill of the gout, it is supposed the swan-hopping | law has some punishment for such insolent rascals at will cease for this season."-The last supposed is fudged in: why would you cram these upon me for a couple?

Rumour. As distinct as can be. Margin. Fye, remember our bargain. You agreed to do the court of aldermen always for sixpence. Rumour. What, if a common hall should be called? Margin. Oh! then you are to have threepence a motion, I know that very well: I am sure no gentleman can accuse me of being sneaking. Dingey, give him sixpence for his supposes. Well, Phelim Ŏ’Flam, any deaths in your district?

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Margin. Punishment! and for what! Est, afte all, what injury have you sustain'd!

Sir Thomas. Infinite. All my agents are come post out of the country, my house is crowded cousins to be present at the opening of my will, an there has been (as it is known she has a very ind jointure) no less than three proposals of mitig already made to my relict.

Margin. Let me look at the paragraph. "Red" “Last night, after eating a hearty supper, died mod denly, with his mouth full of custard, Sr Thoms Tradewell, knight, an amiable companion, an as tionate relation, and a friend to the poor."-O'T this is some blunder of yours; for, you see, here the gentleman is, and alive.

O'Flam. So he says, but the devil a one in s case would I believe but himself; because way, I was told it by Jeremy OTurlough, his own he chairman, my dear: by the same token, I treated with a pint of porter for the good news.

Sir Thomas. Vastly oblig'd to you, Mr. 07. but I have nothing to do with this wretched flaw it is you, Margin, shall answer for this

Margin. Why, Sir Thomas, it is imposse b now and then we must kill a man by mistake. in some measure to make amends, you see why i good character the paper has given you.

Sir Thomas. Character!

Margin. Aye, sir, I can tell you I have had a crown for putting in many a worse.

O'Flam. Aye, Sir Thomas, consider of that, et think what a comfort it is to live long eng you are dead, to read such a good account of per in the papers.

Sir Thomas. Ha! ha! ha! what a res rascal but I would advise you, gentlemen, take such liberties with me for the future.

O'Flam. Indeed and we won't; and I beri Mr. Margin my word, that you shan't die ag long as you live, unless, indeed, we get it from your own hand.

[The B

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