Had he
known the young gentleman's talents for declamation were so acute,
perhaps he would never have given him cause to complain, but
employed him in the vindication of his own measures; nay, he might
still have treated him like some other authors whom he had brought
over from the opposition, had not the keenness of this first assault
incensed him to a desire of revenge. He, therefore, no sooner made
this discovery, than he conveyed his directions to his dependent,
the receiver-general, who was possessed of Pickle's notes. Next
day, while our author stood within a circle of his acquaintance, at
a certain coffee-house, holding forth with great eloquence upon the
diseases of the state, he was accosted by a bailiff, who, entering
the room with five or six followers, told him aloud that he had
a writ against him for twelve hundred pounds, at the suit of Mr.
Ravage Gleanum.
The whole company were astonished at this address, which did not fail
to discompose the defendant himself, who, as it were instinctively,
in the midst of his confusion, saluted the officer across the head
with his cane; in consequence of which application, he was surrounded
and disarmed in an instant by the gang, who carried him off to the
next tavern in the most opprobrious manner.
Pages:
1296
1297
1298
1299
1300
1301
1302
1303
1304
1305
1306
1307
1308
1309
1310
1311
1312
1313
1314
1315
1316
1317
1318
1319
1320