nothing else in it but an infolent tranfport, arising only from the diftinction of fortune.

It is therefore high time that I call in fuch coaches as are in their embellishments improper for the character of their owners. But if I find that I am not obeyed herein, and that I cannot pull down thofe equipages already erected, I fhall take upon me to prevent the growth of this evil for the future, by inquiring into the pretentions of the perfons who fhall hereafter attempt to make publick enteries with ornaments and decorations of their own appointment. If a man, who believed he had the handfomeft leg in this kingdom, fhould take a fancy to adorn fo deferving a limb with a blue garter, he would justly be punished for offending against the most noble order; and, I think, the general prostitution of equipage and retinue is as destructive to all diftinction, as the impertinence of one man, if permitted, would certainly be to that illuftrious fraternity.

MR. BICKERSTAFF

CHAPTER X.

HEN I came home last night, my fervant delivered me the following letter:

"SIR,

"October, 24.

"I have orders from Sir Harry Quickfet of Staffordshire, Bart., to acquaint you, that his honour Sir Harry himself, Sir Giles Wheelbarrow, Kt., Thomas Rentfree, Efq., juftice of the quorum, Andrew Windmill, Efq., and Mr. Nicholas Doubt, of the Inner Temple, Sir Harry's grandfon, will wait upon you at the hour of nine, to-morrow morning, being Tuesday, the 25th of October, upon bufinefs which Sir Harry will impart to you by word of mouth. I thought it proper to acquaint you before hand, fo many perfons of quality came, that you might not be furprised therewith. Which concludes, though by many years abfence fince I faw you at Stafford, unknown,

"Sir,

"Your most humble Servant,
"JOHN THRIFTY."

I received this meffage with lefs furprise than I believe Mr. Thrifty imagined, for I knew the good company too well to feel any palpitations at their approach; but I was in a very great concern how I fhould adjust the ceremonial, and demean

myself to all these great men, who perhaps had not feen anything above themselves for these twenty years last past. I am fure that's the cafe of Sir Harry. Befides which, I was fenfible that there was a great point in adjusting my behaviour to the fimple 'fquire, fo as to give him fatisfaction, and not difoblige the justice of the quorum.

The hour of nine was come this morning, and I had no fooner fet chairs (by the steward's letter) and fixed my tea-equipage, but I heard a knock at my door, which was opened but no one entered; after which followed a long filence, which was broke at last, by "Sir, I beg your pardon, I think I know better;" and another voice, "Nay, good Sir Giles." I looked out from my window, and faw the good company all with their hats off and arms spread, offering the door to each other. After many offers, they entered with much folemnity, in the order Mr. Thrifty was fo kind as to name them to me. But they are now got to my chamber-door, and I faw my old friend Sir Harry enter. I met him with all the refpect due to fo reverend a vegetable, for you are to know that is my sense of a person who remains idle in the fame place for half a century. I got him with great fuccefs into his chair by the fire, without throwing down any of my cups. The knight-batchelor told me he had a great refpect for my whole family, and would, with my leave, place himself next to Sir Harry, at whose right hand he had fat at every quarter feffions this thirty years, unless he was fick. The steward in the rear whispered the young templar, that's true to my knowledge. I had the misfortune, as they stood cheek by jole, to defire the 'fquire to fit down before the justice of the quorum, to the no fmall fatisfaction of the former and refentment of the latter : but I faw my error too late, and got them as foon as I could into their feats. "Well," faid I, "gentlemen, after I have told you how glad I am of this great honour, I am to defire you to drink a dish of tea. They anfwered one and all, "That they never drank tea in a morning." "Not in a morning!" faid I, staring round me. Upon which the pert jackanapes, Nicholas Doubt, tipped me the wink, and put out his tongue at his grandfather. Here followed a profound filence, when the

steward in his boots and whip propofed, "That we should adjourn to fome public house, where everybody might call for what they pleased, and enter upon the business. We all stood up in an inftant, and Sir Harry filed off from the left, very discreetly, countermarching behind the chairs towards the door; after him, Sir Giles in the fame manner. The fimple 'fquire made a fudden ftart to follow, but the justice of the quorum whipped between upon the stand of the stairs. A maid going up with coals made us halt, and put us into fuch confufion that we stood all in a heap, without any visible poffibility of recovering our order, for the young jackanapes feemed to make a jest of this matter, and had fo contrived by preffing amongst us, under pretence of making way, that his grandfather was got into the middle, and he knew nobody was of quality to ftir a step till Sir Harry moved first. We were fixed in this perplexity for fome time, till we heard a very loud noife in the street, and Sir Harry afking what it was, I, to make them move, faid it was fire. Upon this, all ran down as fast as they could, without order or ceremony till we got into the street, where we drew up in a very good order and filed off down Sheer Lane, the impertinent templar driving us before him as in a string, and pointing to his acquaintance who paffed by.

I must confefs I love to use people according to their own fenfe of good breeding, and therefore whipped in between the justice and the 'fquire. He could not properly take this ill; but I overheard him whisper the steward, "That he thought it hard, that a common conjurer fhould take place of him, though an elder 'fquire." In this order we march down Sheer Lane, at the upper end of which I lodge. When we came to Temple Bar, Sir Harry and Sir Giles got over, but a run of the coaches kept the rest of us on this fide of the street; however, we all at last landed, and drew up in order before Ben Tooke's shop, who favoured our rallying with great humanity ; from whence we proceeded again, till we came to Dick's coffee-house, where I defigned to carry them. Here we were at our old difficulty, and took up the street upon the fame ceremony. We proceeded through the entry, and were fo

neceffarily kept in order by the fituation, that we were now got into the coffee-house itself, where, as foon as we arrived, we repeated our civilities to each other, after which, we marched up to the high table, which has an afcent to it inclosed in the middle of the room. The whole houfe was alarmed at this entry, made up of perfons of fo much state and rufticity. Sir Harry called for a mug of ale and Dyer's Letter. The boy brought the ale in an inftant, but faid they did not take in the Letter. "No," fays Sir Harry, "Then take back your mug; we are like indeed to have good liquor at this houfe." Here the templar tipped me a fecond wink, and if I had not looked very grave upon him, I found he was difpofed to be very familiar with me. In fhort, I obferved after a long paufe, that the gentlemen did not care to enter upon bufinefs till after their morning draught, for which reafon I called for a bottle of mum, and finding that had no effect upon them, I ordered a second and a third, after which Sir Harry reached over to me, and told me in a low voice, "That the place was too public for business, but he would call upon me again to-morrow morning at my own lodgings, and bring fome more friends with him,