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England should have a spice of the devil in his composition。'
Barton； then turning to the duke of C＇umberland＇； proceeded；
'You know the duke； that illustrious hero； who trode rebellion
under his feet； and secured us in possession of every thing we
ought to hold dear； as English men and Christians。 Mark what an
eye； how penetrating； yet pacific！ what dignity in his mien！ what
humanity in his aspect Even malice must own； that he is one of
the greatest officers in Christendom。' 'I think he is （said Mr
Bramble） but who are these young gentlemen that stand beside
him？' 'Those！ （cried our friend） those are his royal nephews； the
princes of the blood。 Sweet
young princes！ the sacred pledges of the Protestant line； so
spirited； so sensible； so princely' 'Yes； very sensible！ very
spirited！ （said my uncle； interrupting him） but see the queen！
ha； there's the queen！ There's the queen！ let me see Let me
see Where are my glasses？ ha！ there's meaning in that eye
There's sentiment There's expression Well； Mr Barton； what
figure do you call next？' The next person he pointed out； was the
favourite yearl； who stood solitary by one of the windows
'Behold yon northern star （said he） shorn of his beams' 'What！
the Caledonian luminary； that lately blazed so bright in our
hemisphere！ methinks； at present； it glimmers through a fog； like
Saturn without his ring； bleak； and dim； and distant Ha； there's
the other great phenomenon； the grand pensionary； that
weathercock of patriotism that veers about in every point of the
political compass； and still feels the wind of popularity in his
tail。 He too； like a portentous comet； has risen again above the
court…horizon； but how long he will continue to ascend； it is not
easy to foretell； considering his great eccentricity Who are
those two satellites that attend his motions？' When Barton told
him their names； 'To their characters （said Mr Bramble） I am no
stranger。 One of them； without a drop of red blood in his veins；
has a cold intoxicating vapour in his head； and rancour enough in
his heart to inoculate and affect a whole nation。 The other is （I
hear） intended for a share in the ad＇ministratio＇n； and the
pensionary vouches for his being duly qualified The only
instance I ever heard of his sagacity； was his deserting his
former patron； when he found him declining in power； and in
disgrace with the people。 Without principle； talent； or
intelligence； he is ungracious as a hog； greedy as a vulture； and
thievish as a jackdaw； but； it must be owned； he is no hypocrite。
He pretends to no virtue； and takes no pains to disguise his
character His ministry will be attended with one advantage； no
man will be disappointed by his breach of promise； as no mortal
ever trusted to his word。 I wonder how lord first discovered
this happy genius； and for what purpose lord has now adopted
him： but one would think； that as amber has a power to attract
dirt； and straws； and chaff； a minister is endued with the same
kind of faculty； to lick up every knave and blockhead in his
way' His eulogium was interrupted by the arrival of the old duke
of N； who； squeezing into the circle with a busy face of
importance； thrust his head into every countenance； as if he had
been in search of somebody； to whom he wanted to impart something
of great consequence My uncle； who had been formerly known to
him； bowed as he passed； and the duke seeing himself saluted so
respectfully by a well…dressed person； was not slow in returning
the courtesy He even came up； and； taking him cordially by the
hand； 'My dear friend； Mr A （said he） I am rejoiced to see you
How long have you been come from abroad？ How did you leave our
good friends the Dutch？ The king of Prussia don't think of
another war； ah？ He's a great king！ a great conqueror！ a very
great conqueror！ Your Alexanders and Hannibals were nothing； at
all to him； sir Corporals！ drummers！ dross！ mere trash Damned
trash； heh？' His grace being by this time out of breath； my
uncle took the opportunity to tell him he had not been out of
England； that his name was Bramble； and that he had the honour to
sit in the last parliament but one of the late king； as
representative for the borough of Dymkymraig。 'Odso！ （cried the
duke） I remember you perfectly well； my dear Mr Bramble You was
always a good and loyal subject a stanch friend to
administration I made your brother an Irish bishop' 'Pardon me；
my lord （said the squire） I once had a brother； but he was a
captain in the army' 'Ha！ （said his grace） he was so He was；
indeed！ But who was the Bishop then！ Bishop Blackberry Sure it
was bishop Blackberry。 Perhaps some relation of yours' 'Very
likely； my lord （replied my uncle）； the Blackberry is the fruit
of the Bramble But； I believe； the bishop is not a berry of our
bush' 'No more he is No more he is； ha； ha； ha！ （exclaimed the
duke） there you gave me a scratch； good Mr Bramble； ha； ha； ha！
Well； I shall be glad to see you at Lincoln's inn…fields You
know the way Times are altered。 Though I have lost the power； I
retain the inclination Your very humble servant； good Mr
Blackberry' So saying； he shoved to another corner of the room。
'What a fine old gentleman！ （cried Mr Barton） what spirits！ what
a memory！ He never forgets an old friend。' 'He does me too much
honour （observed our squire） to rank me among the number Whilst
I sat in parliament； I never voted with the ministry but three
times； when my conscience told me they were in the right：
however； if he still keeps levee； I will carry my nephew thither；
that he may see； and learn to avoid the scene； for； I think； an
English gentleman never appears to such disadvantage； as at the
levee of a minister Of his grace I shall say nothing at present；
but that for thirty years he was the constant and common butt of
ridicule and execration。 He was generally laughed at as an ape in
politics； whose office and influence served only to render his
folly the more notorious； and the opposition cursed him； as the
indefatigable drudge of a first…mover； who was justly stiled and
stigmatized as the father of corruption： but this ridiculous ape；
this venal drudge； no sooner lost the places he was so ill
qualified to fill； and unfurled the banners of faction； than he
was metamorphosed into a pattern of public virtue； the very
people who reviled him before； now extolled him to the skies； as
a wise； experienced statesman； chief pillar of the Protestant
succession； and corner stone of English liberty。 I should be glad
to know how Mr Barton reconciles these contradictions； without
obliging us to resign all title to the privilege of common
sense。' 'My dear sir （answered Barton） I don't pretend to justify
the extravagations of the multitude； who； I suppose； were as wild
in their former censure； as in the present praise： but I shall be
very glad to attend you on Thursday next to his grace's levee；
where； I'm afraid； we shall not be crowded with company； for； you
know； there's a wide difference between his present office of
president of the council； and his former post of first lord
commissioner of the treasury。'
This communicative friend having announced all the remarkable
characters of both sexes； that appeared at court； we resolved to
adjourn； and retired。 At the foot of the stair…case； there was a
crowd of lacqueys and chairmen； and in the midst of them stood
Humphry Clinker； exalted upon a stool； with his hat in one hand；
and a paper in the other； in the act of holding forth to the
people Before we could inquire into the meaning of this
exhibition； he perceived his master； thrust the paper into his
pocket； descended from his elevation； bolted through the crowd；
and brought up the carriage to the gate。
My uncle said nothing till we were seated； when； after having
looked at me earnestly for some time； he burst out a…laughing；
and asked if I knew upon what subject Clinker was holding forth
to the mob 'If （said he） the fellow is turned mountebank； I must
turn him out of my service； otherwise he'll make Merry Andrews of
us all' I observed； that； in all probability； he had studied
medicine under his master； who was a farrier。
At dinner； the squire asked him； if he had ever practised physic？
'Yes； and please your honour （said he） among brute beasts； but I
never meddle with rational creatures。' 'I know not whether you
rank in that class the audience you was haranguing in the court
at St。 James's； but I should be glad to know what kind of powders
you was distributing； and whether you had a good sale' 'Sale；
sir！ （cried Clinker） I hope I shall never be base enough to sell
for gold and silver； what freely comes of God's grace。 I
distributed nothing； an like your honour； but a word of advice to
my fellows in servitude and sin。' 'Advice！ concerning what？'
'Concerning profane swearing； an please your honour； so horrid
and shocking； that it made my hair stand on end。' 'Nay； if thou
can'st cure them Of that disease； I shall think thee a wonderful
doctor indeed' 'Why not cure them； my good master？ the hearts of
those poor people are not so stubborn as your honour seems to
think Make them first sensible that you have noth