Part 9 (1/2)

Pas.

The whole City of Westminster; By whom, Sir, amongst many others, You are Presented as a Nusance.

Gentlemen, I have a Pet.i.tion here, in my hand, against him and several others, that will raise the utmost Indignation in every hones Breast-- Which, with leave of the Audience, I will read. Is it Your Pleasure that I shou'd read it.

Omn.

Ay, ay, read it, read it.

To his most Equitable & Satyrical Wors.h.i.+p, Seignior Pasquin. Censor of Great Britain.

The humble Pet.i.tion of Lord Love-Play, in Behalf of Himself and many others.

Sheweth.

”That your Pet.i.tioners were, by Descent, the lawful Inheritors of very great Fortunes; But, by the Arts and Combinations of the Noted Hunt-Bubble, and the Knot-- And, by what is commonly called Playing all the Game, Your Pet.i.tioners have been stript of their large Possessions to the utter Ruin of themselves and their distressed Families.

”That your Pet.i.tioners, who once made the most Splendid Appearance at New Market, Whites, Georges, Bath, Tunbridge, and all Public Places, are now in the most deplorable Condition.

”From these Premises, Your Pet.i.tionors humbly pray that Your Equitable Wors.h.i.+p will take their distress'd State into Consideration, and Decree such Redress as to Your Satyrical Wors.h.i.+p shall seem meet--

”And your bubbled Pet.i.tioners shall ever pray.”

Com.

Mr. Pasquin, your bringing such Men to Iustice, is a Public good, and deserves Public Thanks. They are Charactors that all Men destest, and that all Men wish to See punish'd.

Pas.

Sir you don't know half the Villany of these Men. Play, in its most Honourable Commerce, is a pernicious Vice, but as Luxury, Fas.h.i.+on and Avarice, have improved it all over Europe, It is now become an avow'd System of Fraud and Ruin. The virtuous and Honourable, who Scorn Advantage, are a constant Prey to the vicious and dishonourable, who never Play without one. nor does the Vice Stop here: For the Sharper having Stript his Bubble of his Estate, he next Corrupts his Mind, by making him a Decoy-Duck, in Order to retrieve his Fortune as he lost It.

And, from an indegent Virtuous Bubble, the n.o.ble Youth becomes an Affluent vicious Sharper.

Com.

The Observation, is but too true; And it is Pity the _Ligislature_ do not contrive some Speedy Method to put an Effectual Stop to such impious Practices.

Pas.

Thus, instead of Virtue, Honour and n.o.ble Sentiments being Sown in the Minds of Youth they are tainted with Fraud and Treachery; and those, who should be the Support and Ornament of their Country, are the Confederates of Men, who would be a disgrace to the worst of Countries, in its worst of Times.

Omn.

Bravo, bravo, Pasquin, go on, go on [#they Applaud him#]

Smart.

Does he not speak very well Hydra! I think he would make a good Figure at the Robin Hood Society.

Count.

Sr, You grow licentious and Attack the whole Body of n.o.bility. and what you have uttered is a Libell.

Pas.

Sr. it is You that Libel by your Application my Charge is not against any particular Person, Degree, Rank, or Set of Men, but against known Profess'd Sharpers; Who, under the Mask of Honour, Amus.e.m.e.nt and Friends.h.i.+p, dayly Commit Crimes that deserve the Hangman's lash rather than the Satyrist's.

Mar.

Gentlemen, this Invective is most unjust, and as I am Council on the Side of Count Hunt-bubble and Company, I hope you will indulge me a moment, while I explain what the Law of Parna.s.sus is in these Cases.

Omn.

Hear him, hear him, go on, go on.