the liverymen, while the said Van Ptschirnsooker had undertook
this matter. A maid made affidavit "That she had seen the said Van
Ptschirnsooker, one of the liverymen, frequently making up of medicines
and administering them to all the neighbours; that she saw him one
morning make up the powder which her mistress took; that she had the
curiosity to ask him whence he had the ingredients. 'They come,' says
he, 'from several parts of de world. Dis I have from Geneva, dat from
Rome, this white powder from Amsterdam, and the red from Edinburgh, but
the chief ingredient of all comes from Turkey." It was likewise proved
that the said Van Ptschirnsooker had been frequently seen at the "Rose"
with Jack, who was known to bear an inveterate spite to his mistress.
That he brought a certain powder to his mistress which the examinant
believes to be the same, and spoke the following words:--"Madam, here
is grand secret van de world, my sweetening powder; it does temperate
de humour, dispel the windt, and cure de vapour; it lulleth and quieteth
the animal spirits, procuring rest and pleasant dreams. It is de
infallible receipt for de scurvy, all heats in de bloodt, and breaking
out upon de skin. It is de true bloodstancher, stopping all fluxes of de
blood. If you do take dis, you will never ail anyding; it will cure
you of all diseases." And abundance more to this purpose, which the
examinant does not remember.

* The clergy.

John Bull was interrupted in his story by a porter, that brought him a
letter from Nicholas Frog, which is as follows.

CHAPTER IX.

A Copy* of Nic. Frog's Letter to John Bull.

[John Bull reads.]

FRIEND JOHN,--What schellum is it that makes thee jealous of thy old
friend Nicholas? Hast thou forgot how some years ago he took thee out
of the sponging-house?** ['Tis true, my friend Nic. did so, and I thank
him; but he made me pay a swinging reckoning.] Thou beginnest now to
repent thy bargain that thou wast so fond of; and, if thou durst, would
forswear thy own hand and seal. Thou sayest that thou hast purchased me
too great an estate already, when, at the same time, thou knowest I have
only a mortgage. 'Tis true I have possession, and the tenants own me for
master; but has not Esquire South the equity of redemption? [No doubt,
and will redeem it very speedily; poor Nic. has only possession--eleven
points of the law.] As for the turnpikes*** I have set up, they are
for other people, not for my frie