By that victory he hoped to establish his reputation
and interest with the minister, who, through the recommendation of
his noble friend, countenanced his cause, and would have been very
well pleased to see one of his great enemies suffer such a disgraceful
overthrow, which would have, moreover, in a great measure, shaken
his credit with his faction.
Our hero, intoxicated with the ideas of pride and ambition, put
all his talents to the test, in the execution of this project. He
spared no expense in treating the electors; but, finding himself
rivalled in this respect by his competitor, who was powerfully
supported, he had recourse to those qualifications in which he
thought himself superior. He made balls for the ladies, visited
the matrons of the corporation, adapted himself to their various
humours with surprising facility, drank with those who loved a
cherishing cup in private, made love to the amorous, prayed with
the religious, gossiped with those who delighted in scandal, and
with great sagacity contrived agreeable presents to them all.
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