Such unmannerly mirth did not fail to mortify the philosopher,
who, after some pause, during which indignation and disdain were
painted in his countenance, reprehended our young gentleman for
his unphilosophical behaviour, and undertook to prove, that the
subject of his inquiry was of infinite consequence to the progress
and increase of natural knowledge. But he found no quarter from
the vengeful engineer, who now retorted his ironical compliments,
with great emphasis, upon this hotbed for the generation of vermin,
and advised him to lay the whole process before the Royal Society,
which would, doubtless, present him with a medal, and give him a
place among their memoirs, as a distinguished promoter of the useful
arts. "If," said he, "you had employed your studies in finding
out some effectual method to destroy those insects which prejudice
and annoy mankind, in all probability you must have been contented
with the contemplation of the good you had done; but this curious
expedient for multiplying maggots will surely entitle you to an
honourable rank in the list of learned philosophers.
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