But, whatever were _Slyboots’s_ intentions, he could make no hand of _Roger_, who drank with him, laughed with him, shook hands and parted for the country, where he took to his old way of living, and said nothing of the matter; for tho’ _Roger_ has often prevented things being done that would bear hard on the farmers, yet he never vapoured, or bounced, or took on him, which was so much the worse for him; for the less he said of himself, the more others talked, and agreed, one and all, that he was the only man to serve them on _occasion_, as well in the _county at large_, as _in the parish_. It happened the _headborough_, who had been chosen many years successively to that place, died, and every body’s eyes were on _Roger_ to succeed him. The _east_ and _west-ridings_ would hear of nobody else, ’till _Roger_ honestly told them, there was a farmer in the _north-riding_ who could serve them better than he, at that time, and would do all he could to have him into the place; and he was chosen without opposition, but in a little time died too. Then _Roger_ had no excuse, and took the office briskly upon himself, tho’ his improvements at the farm must stop, and he knew he should have but little pocket-money out of the place, after buying new cloaths, and treating the constables every quarter-session. _SLYBOOTS_ was now gone out of the county, and the next who came into the commission had a different character, and told them positively, at the meeting of the session, _he wanted nothing_, and only desired they would take care of themselves. No body ever doubted his word; but, however, _Roger_ thought there was no hurt in _keeping a good luck out_, and well he did so; for some people had taken in their heads, that the county was harrassed by quarter-sessions, and it would be a great easement to have _no more_, but agree _then_ what _rates_ should be paid every year, and let the people stay at home, and mind their plowing and sowing. This contrivance was ingenious enough, and many of the justices were for it; but the de—l a bitt could they answer some objections. Suppose, says one, the _County Treasurer_ should squander the money, who will call him to account? If the constables don’t do their duty, who will _fine_ them? If the _army moroded_, _built sconces_, _kicked the neighbours_, _ruined the game_, where should they be tyed? To all which questions, and a thousand more, there was but this answer: That the _county governors_ would always be honest men; that the county treasurer would scorn to pocket their money; the constables should be the best sort of people in the world; and the soldiers as quiet as so many lambs. Almost half the justices closed with these _reasons_; but _Roger_ and his friends thought it possible, that once in an age there might be a _crook-finger’d treasurer_, a _knavish constable_, or a _swaggering captain_, and of the two, were rather of opinion the experiment ought not to be made, and so outvoted the justices who were for it.