_Blunt_. And pray, good Mr. _Smoothwell_, what is there of indecent or unseemly in the Idea conceived at the mention of those two harmless Words, _Sound_ and _Bottom_? _Over_. Wou’d a reverend Divine wish to be put in Mind of the Days of his Youth? Ha, ha!—— Mr. _Blunt_, had you been bred at _Oxford_, as the Doctor was, you wou’d have known that all are not _Sound_ that grace _Magdalen_ Walks on a Summer’s Evening. Ha, ha! Sir _John_. Mr. _Roseband_, you must not mind the Fox-hunter; you know his Way; he treats his Friends as freely as he wishes they would treat him. _Rose_. I believe so, Sir _John_, and therefore am in full Charity with Mr. _Overall_. But I can’t so readily digest my Neighbour _Blunt_’s coupling the _English_ Vicar with the _Romish_ Jesuit. _Blunt_. In their Politics only; as for Religion, I leave that to the great Searcher of Hearts. _Over_. Ah, dear _Blunt_! how many modern Hearts will bear a Search? _Blunt_. Ask Mr. _Broadbottom_; he was last at Court. _Broad_. I was so, Mr. _Blunt_, but you know I am but a late Comer there. _Blunt_. Perhaps it had been as well for yourself and your Country, if you had not come there at all.—— You’ll excuse my Bluntness, Mr. _Broadbottom_, you know I speak freely to those I wish well. _Broad_. I know your Worth, and thank you for your Freedom. _Blunt_. I hope you do, because I mean to continue and deserve your Friendship, if you continue your Country’s Friend at Court.——To be plain with you, Mr. _Broadbottom_, I am not altogether reconciled to the critical _Time_ and _Manner_ of your going to Court. ’tis an infectious Air, against which _Abstinence_ alone is the Specific. _Over_. ’Sflesh! _Blunt_, you don’t expect your late worthy Member, who so often cram’d your Brother Aldermen and yourself with Ham and Chicken, would keep Lent at Court? _Blunt_. Let him but abstain from entering into any Covenants, and he may swill as much as he will of his Majesty’s Old-Hock. _Broad_. Covenants! What Covenants do you suppose, should be expected from me? _Blunt_. The direct contrary of those you entered into with our Corporation at your last Election.——Perhaps, you forget them.——Shall I refresh your Memory? _Broad_. You need not. I am come down to make you fresh Assurances of serving my Country to the utmost of my Power. _Blunt_. I know you are come down to be re-elected; and that this Company have been invited here to-day, to receive your Excuses for your late Acceptance of an Employment.— _Smooth_. Mr. _Blunt_, your Corporation could not expect that their Representative would never accept of a Place under the Crown; therefore what Excuses has the Gentleman to make? _Blunt_. More, I fear, than you can make for him with all your Quirks of Law. If he accepted of a Post without any Salvo, and forgets that he has a Post whenever he is to vote in Parliament, I will then say that he needs not make Excuses for going to Court.