Sir _John_. Ay, Mr. _Blunt_, provided my worthy Neighbour, _Broadbottom_, turns not a mere _Courtier_, by going to Court, he shall have all our Consents to stay at Court and rise there. _Blunt_. A Man may rise in the Army and Navy, and meritoriously; but what dirty Work must a Man trudge thro’ to rise at Court? _Over_. Why should a Man be obliged to do more servile Work at Court than in the Church, where we see the Learned and Pious rise, and are translated every Day?——I expect my good Friend here, Mr. _Roseband_, to rise to a Deanery soon, now his Patron has taken a Stride to Court. Sir _John_. And shou’d Mr. _Broadbottom_ rise at Court, as I doubt not he will if he continues there longer than the present Session of Parliament; why might not my reverend Neighbour here, rise from the Deanery to a Mitre? _Broad_. Sir _John_, you have been always my Friend; so have you Mr. _Blunt_. Gentlemen, you are all of you my Friends, and as such—have a Right to examine my late Conduct. I have accepted of a Place, ’tis true, without consulting you; but hope in so doing, not to have forfeited the good Opinion which I flatter myself you always entertain’d of me. Sir _John_. Since we are, and you think us your Friends, ’tis fit we should deal with you like Friends. To be plain with you, Mr. _Broadbottom_, we here in the Country, who wish well to our King and the Nation, think ourselves justify’d in conceiving a Jealousy of the Nature, Time and Manner of the late or rather the present Change in the Ministry. I will explain myself.—— ’tis not so properly a _Change_ of, as an _Ingraftment_ upon the Ministry. Supposing the few of your Party that are brought _in_, were to continue as honest and sincere, as those _Deserters_, who made room for them, were disingenuous and self-interested; what can you do against Numbers? What Success can poor _England_ expect from the Endeavours of so few? _Broad_. But, Sir _John_, you forget that the Opposition grew. Sir _John_. No, Sir, I don’t forget that Opposition founded on virtuous Principles will always grow. But what _Opposition_ can you expect to grow in a Court? You late Comers there are but the Tail of the Administration. Can you direct the Head and Body? Must it not move as they direct, or be lopt off? What will Opposition in Council avail, where the Majority will be so great against you? And as for Opposition in P——t, there will be none, there can be none. The late _Deserters_, who are now flung out, should they grumble and oppose, no Creature living will adhere to them that has a Drachm of either Sense or Virtue. And by the present Scheme, you who were late Leaders of Opposition, are taken off, and consequently all Opposition ceases. I wish I may be mistaken; but, methinks, I see a Scheme, and the artfullest and deepest that ever was laid in this Nation, now put in Execution. _Over_. How, Sir _John_! a Scheme deeper than the _Excise_?