heir Chairs, with full Intent of
Heart, as it was thought, to return the Reproof Valiant thereupon.--But
the President, fearing it would end in a general Engagement, he
instantly call'd out, To Order;--and gave Notice, That if there was any
Member in the Club, who had not yet spoke, and yet did desire to speak
upon the main Subject of the Debate,--that he should immediately be
heard.

This was a happy Invitation for a stammering Member, who, it seems, had
but a weak Voice at the best; and having often attempted to speak in the
Debate, but to no Purpose, had sat down in utter Despair of an
Opportunity.

This Member, you must know, had got a sad Crush upon his Hip, in the
late Election, which gave him intolerable Anguish;--so that, in short,
he could think of nothing else:--For which Cause, and others, he was
strongly of Opinion, That the whole Romance was a just Gird at the late
York Election; and I think, says he, that the Promise of the Breeches
broke, may well and truly signify Somebody's else Promise, which was
broke, and occasion'd to much Disturbance amongst us.

Thus every Man turn'd the Story to what was swimming uppermost in his
own Brain;--so that, before all was over, there were full as many
Satyres spun out of it,--and as great a Variety of Personages, Opinions,
Transactions, and Truths, found to lay hid under the dark Veil of its
Allegory, as ever were discovered in the thrice-renowned History of the
Acts of Gargantua and Pantagruel.

At the Close of all, and just before the Club was going to break up,--
Mr. President rose from his Chair, and begg'd Leave to make the two
following Motions, which were instantly agreed to, without any Division.

First Gentlemen, says he, as Trim's Character in the Romance, of a
shuffling intriguing Fellow,--whoever it was drawn for, is, in Truth, as
like the French King as it can stare,--I move, That the Romance be
forthwith printed:--For, continues he, if we can but once turn the Laugh
against him, and make him asham'd of what he has done, it may be a great
Means, with the Blessing of God upon our Fleets and Armies, to save the
Liberties of Europe.

In the second Place, I move, That Mr. Attorney, our worthy Member, be
desired to take Minutes, upon the Spot, of every Conjecture which has
been made upon the Romance, by the several Members who have spoke;
which, I think, says he, will answer two good Ends:

1st, It will establish the Political Knowledge of our Club for e