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Digital Paxton: Digital Collection, Critical Edition, and Teaching Platform

A Humble Attempt at Scurrility - 28

THOSE Words “Five Sixths” may likewise serve well enough to amuse the Pr—r who lives at a Distance, and make him believe that tho’ they did not succeed in making a Change in the Assembly, (which the Party promised him they would, in order to enable him to carry all his Points, and save him from the Mortification of doing Justice to the People) yet that by their Writings and Influence they had brought over a great Majority of the Inhabitants to their Side. In this Manner they amused the G—r when he was at N-w-C—le, during the last Sitting of Assembly. Letters were daily sent him by Mr. A—n, to let him know that Matters went on swimmingly in the House, that the Pr—ry Party there was encreasing apace, and that he had not the least doubt but he should have every Thing managed agreeable to his Wishes. [For who could withstand the Force of so much Eloquence!] But alas, when Matters came to be put to the Vote, he found that he was not even able to carry a single Point, or to make a single Convert; but on the contrary, some of the very Members whom the Pr—ry Party had got chosen, were ashamed to appear in such a Cause, and therefore joined the other Side. The Figure he made when he appeared before the G—r at N-w-C—le with the dismal News of his ill Success, was even more woeful than that of the Knight of the woeful Figure himself.— In the same ridiculous Light must he appear to the Pr—rs; for they are not quite so devoid of Understanding (whatever he may have reason to think of them) as to believe it possible that so great a Majority of the House would have ventured to have chosen Mr. F—n to represent the Province in England, after so much had been said and done to prevent it, if they were not assured of its being agreable to a great Majority of their Constituents.

MR. H—s (proceeds our Author) tells us, or is made to tell us, that he could not observe a Ruffian attempting to stab his Friend in the Dark, without endeavouring to avert the Blow.” On this I would beg Leave to remark, that tho’ it may, perhaps be proper enough for the learned

Contents of this annotation:

In reply to an attack on Benjamin Franklin by John Hughes. Attributed to Isaac Hunt in the Dictionary of American biography. Ascribed to the press of Anthony Armbruster by Evans. "Prologue to the coffee-house politician, or The justice caught in his own trap."--p. vii-viii. "Thirteen descriptions of the great A. drawn from the life by that celebrated master D---d J--s D-ve, poet laureat to the Pr---ry Party."--p. 38-42. Signatures: [A]? B-E? F_ (F2 verso blank). "Errata."--p. [43].