years been poffeffed of a very great landed eftate, well conditioned, wooded, watered, with coal, falt, tin, copper, iron, &c. all within themselves; that it has been the misfortune of that family to be the property of their stewards, tradefmen, and inferior fervants, which has brought great incumberances upon them; at the fame time, their not abating of their expenfive way of living, has forced them to mortgage their best manors. It is credibly reported, that the butchers and bakers bill of a Lord Strutt that lived two hundred years ago, are not yet paid.

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When Philip Baboon came firft to the poffeffion of the Lord Strutt's estate, his * tradesmen, as is usual on fuch occafions, waited upon him to wish him joy, and bespeak his cuftom: the two chief were, † John Bull the clothier, and † Nic. Frog the linen-draper: they told him that the Bulls and Frogs had ferved the Lord Strutts with drapery ware for many years; that they were honest and fair dealers'; that their bills had never been questioned; that the Lord Strutts lived generously, and never used to dirty their fingers with pen, ink, and counters; that his Lordfhip might depend upon their honefty, that they would ufe him as kindly as they had done his predeceffors. The young Lord feemed to take all in good part, and difmiffed them with a deal of feeming content, affuring them he did not intend to change any of the honourable maxims of his predeceffors.

CHAP. II.

How Bull and Frog grew jealous that the Lord Strutt intended to give all his custom to his grandfather Lewis Baboon.

IT

T happened unfortunately for the peace of our neighbourhood, that this young Lord had an old cunning rogue, or (as the Scots call it) a false loan, of a grandfather, that one might justly call a jack of all trades; fometimes you would see him behind his * counter felling broad cloth, fometimes measuring linen; next day he would be dealing in mercery ware; high heads, ribbons, gloves, fans and lace, he understood to a nicety; Charles Mather could not bubble a young beau better with a toy; nay, he would defcend even to the felling of tape, garters, and shoe-buckles: when fhop was fhut up, he would go about the neighbourhood, and earn half a crown by teaching the young men and maids to dance. By thefe methods he had acquired immenfe riches, which he used to fquander + away at back-fword, quarter-staff, and cudgel-play, in which he took great pleasure, and challenged all the country. You will fay it is no wonder if Bull and Frog fhould be jealous of this fellow. "It is not impoffible (fays Frog to "Bull) but this old rogue will take the management "of the young Lord's business into his hands; befides "the rafcal has good ware, and will ferve him as cheap as any body. In that cafe, I leave you to

judge what must become of us and our families; we "must starve, or turn journeymen to old Lewis Ba"boon; therefore, neighbour, I hold it advisable, "that we write to young Lord Strutt, to know the "bottom of this matter."

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*The character and trade of the French nation. † The King's disposition to war.

CHAP.

CHAP. III.

A copy of Bull and Frog's letter to Lord Strutt.

My LORD,

Suppofe your Lordship knows, that the Bulls and the Frogs have ferved the Lord Strutts with all "forts of drapery ware, time out of mind: and where"as we are jealous, not without reason, that your "Lordfhip intends henceforth to buy of your grandfire

old Lervis Baboon; this is to inform your Lordship, "that this proceeding does not fuit with the circum"ftances of our families, who have lived and made a "good figure in the world by the generofity of the "Lord Strutts. Therefore we think fit to acquaint your "Lordship, that you must find fufficient fecurity to us, "our heirs and affigns, that you will not employ Lewis ❝s Baboon; or else we will take our remedy at law, clap an action upon you of 20, 000/. for old debts, feize and diftrain your goods and chattles, which, confi"dering your Lordship's circumftances, will plunge 46 you into difficulties, from which it will not be eafy "to extricate yourfelf; therefore we hope, when your "Lordship has better confidered on it, you will comply with the defire of,

Your loving friends,

JOHN BULL.

NIC. EROG.

Some of Bull's friends advised him to take gentler methods with the young Lord; but John naturally loved rough play. It is impoffible to exprefs the furprize of the Lord Strutt upon the receipt of this letter; he was not flush-in ready, either to go to law,

or clear old debts, neither could he find good bail: He offered to bring matters to a friendly accommodation; and promised upon his word of honour, that he would not change his drapers; but all to no purpose, for Bull and Frog faw clearly, that old Lewis would have the cheating of him.

CHAP. IV.

How Bull and Frog went to law with Lord Strutt about the premises, and were joined by the reft of the tradesmen.

LL endeavours of accommodation between Lord Strutt and his drapers proved vain; jealoufies increased, and indeed it was rumoured abroad, that Lord Strutt had bespoke his new liveries of old Lewis Baboon. This coming to Mrs. Bull's ears, when John Bull came home, he found all his family in an uproar. Mrs. Bull, you must know, was very apt to be cholerick. "You fot (fays fhe) you loiter about ale"houses and taverns, fpend your time at billiards, nine-pins, or puppet-fhews, or flaunt about the streets "in your new gilt chariot, never minding me nor your numerous family. Don't you hear how Lord "Strutt has bespoke his liveries at Lewis Baboon's fhop? don't you fee how that old fox fteals away your customers, and turns you out of your business every day, and you fit like an idle drone with your "hands in your pockets? fie upon't, up man, rouse thyfelf; I'll fell to my fhift before I'll be fo ufed "by that knave." You must think Mrs. Bull had been pretty well tuned up by Frog, who chimed in with her learned harangue. No further delay now, but to council learned in the law they go, who unanimoufly affured

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* The fentiments and addreffes of the Ptime.

-t at that

affured them both of the justice and infallible fuccefs of their law-fuit.

I told you before, that old Lewis Baboon was a fort of a jack of all trades, which made the reft of the tradefmen jealous, as well as Bull and Frog; they hearing of the quarrel, were glad of an opportunity of joining against old Lewis Baboon, provided that Bull and Frog would bear the charges of the fuit; even lying Ned, the chimney fweeper of Savoy, and Tom the Portugal duftman, put in their claims, and the cause was put into the hands of Humphrey Hocus the attorney.

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A declaration was drawn up, to fhew "That Bull "and Frog had undoubted right by prescription to be drapers to the Lord Strutts; that there were feveral "old contracts to that purpofe; that Lewis Baboon "had taken up the trade of clothier and draper, with"out ferving his time, or purchafing his freedom; "that he fold goods that were not marketable, with" out the ftamp; that he himself was more fit for a "bully than a tradefman, and went about through "all the country fairs, challenging people to fight prizes, wrestling and cudgel-play, and abundance more to this purpose."

CHAP. V.

The true characters of John Bull, Nic. Frog, and Hocus. *

OR the better understanding the following hifto

FOR

ry, the reader ought to know, that Bull, in the main, was an honeft plain dealing fellow, cholerick, bold, and of a very unconftant temper; he dreaded not old Lewis either at back-fword, fingle faulchion, or cudgel-play; but then he was very apt to quarrel with

Characters of the Eh and D-- and the GD. of M.