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A Humble Attempt at Scurrility - 10

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BUT how has the Goliath of the Philistines extricated himself from the Challenge of little David? Alas, in a manner very unbecoming so great a Gyant! When neither Threats or Entreaties could prevail on a single Son of Sedition to stand forth in his Behalf, and front the Danger, he meanly condescends to act the Part of a Quack-Doctor!

BEHOLD, a Jack-Pudding or Merry-Andrew is provided! — He mounts the Stage, properly accoutred in his Mask and Fool's-Cap; jumps—dances—capers—jingles his Bells— laughs—grins—and chatters like a Monkey—when he has climb'd so high as to show his naked Posteriors: Sometimes we see him lolling out his Tongue and making game at the gaping Multitude, and sometimes doing the like at the very worthy Doctor himself; who, poor Soul, being busily employed in dispensing the Papers and Pacquets of poisonous Drugs which he had got prepared for the Purpose, is not the least sensible of the ridiculous Figure he makes.

WITH your Leave, Gentle Reader, we will open one of these Papers, examine its Contents, and analyse the Composition.

WE find then, in the first Place, that “Mr. H—s, for very substantial Reasons, is supposed not to be the Author of his Challenge.” What those substantial Reasons may be, we are, however left to guess till we come to the last Paragraph, where it is intimated, that he is not “capable of writing an Advertisement.” Suppose this to be really the Case (which, by the Bye, no one the least acquainted with Mr. H—s will admit) pray, is it the less his Challenge on that Account? Does not his publishing it with his Name affixed, make it as much his Challenge as if he penn'd or indited every Syllable? Is not the famous, or rather infamous, Protest, considered as the Protest of Mr. A—n and the other Subscribers, tho' 'tis well known to be drawn up by the pitiful* Mr. D—n, revised, corrected and amended by the Rev. Sentiment-dresser-General of the

*. This conceited Coxcomb had the Impertinence, in speaking of Mr. F—n in the House, to say that he really "PITIED the poor Man!"

Contents of this annotation:

  1. A Humble Attempt at Scurrility - 10