, "That one should not consult with a woman
touching her of whom she is jealous; nor with a merchant concerning
exchange; nor with a buyer, of selling; nor with an unmerciful man, of
kindness, etc." I could have added one thing more: nor with an attorney
about compounding a lawsuit. The ejectment of Lord Strutt will never do.
The evidence is crimp: the witnesses swear backwards and forwards, and
contradict themselves; and his tenants stick by him. One tells me that
I must carry on my suit, because Lewis is poor; another, because he is
still too rich: whom shall I believe? I am sure of one thing, that a
penny in the purse is the best friend John can have at last, and who can
say that this will be the last suit I shall be engaged in? Besides,
if this ejectment were practicable is it reasonable that, when Esquire
South is losing his money to sharpers and pickpockets, going about the
country with fiddlers and buffoons, and squandering his income with
hawks and dogs, I should lay out the fruits of my honest industry in a
lawsuit for him, only upon the hopes of being his clothier? And when
the cause is over I shall not have the benefit of my project for want of
money to go to market. Look ye, gentlemen, John Bull is but a plain man,
but John Bull knows when he is ill used. I know the infirmity of our
family: we are apt to play the boon-companion and throw away our money
in our cups. But it was an unfair thing in you, gentlemen, to take
advantage of my weakness, to keep a parcel of roaring bullies about me
day and night, with huzzas and hunting horns, and ringing the changes on
butcher's cleavers; never let me cool, and make me set my hand to papers
when I could hardly hold my pen. There will come a day of reckoning for
all that proceeding. In the meantime, gentlemen, I beg you will let me
into my affairs a little, and that you would not grudge me the small
remainder of a very great estate.

CHAPTER XVII. Esquire South's Message and Letter to Mrs. Bull.*

* Complaints of the deficiencies of the House of Austria,
Prince Eugene's journey and message.

The arguments used by Hocus and the rest of the guardians had hitherto
proved insufficient. John and his wife could not be persuaded to bear
the expense of Esquire South's lawsuit. They thought it reasonable
that, since he was to have the honour and advantage, he should bear the
greatest share of the charges, and retrench what he lost to sharpers and
spent upon coun