and certain methods of growing rich, but they would not be perfuaded to use them, I would have had the fame compliment paid me, which you were pleased to pay me fome time ago, that 'I was taking the privilege of a traveller.'

I fhall not trouble the reader with faying how far I was convinced by this reafoning, only it made me refolve to be entirely filent, as to any further particulars I fhould learn concerning the corporation of Servants, how ftrange and unaccountable foever they might be. fore, brought this unavoidable clofe, we proceed with the history.

Having, theredigreffion to a

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CHA P.. VIL

Great partiality in the trial of Servants, and uncertainty in the characters given of them.

furprised, that the corporation, with the powers given them, did not, for their own credit, look better into the qualifications of Servants. Since it was in their power to license them or not, it may be fuppofed they would take effectual care, that no infufficient perfon fhould be admitted. But it is to be observed, that fo foon as the method of fixing Servants, upon the nomination of Lords or great men, came to be again in use, the trial of their fufficiency turned to a mere farce. There might be fome degree of integrity found in one court; but, in fuch a case, the candidate had nothing to do but apply to another, where he would find, perhaps, a fet of rafcally fellows who were ashamed of nothing. To what a degree of boldnefs they ventured to proceed, may be feen from the following account of what literally happened.

A certain court was going upon the examination of a young man, who defired to have a certificate that he was fully accomplished as a Servant, and particularly well fkilled in the cultiva

tion of land. A grave and antient member asked him, Pray, fir, what is the best way of plowing hard ftiff land? Anf. By running a wheel-barrow over it. The examinator was highly offended with the abfurdity of the anfwer, and fhewed plainly in his countenance a mixture of furprize. and indignation. But another member of court, being of a meek and gentle temper, and a great enemy to severity, thought proper to interpofe. He fays to his brother, my dear fir, the young man is modeft and bafhful, which in itself is a moft amiable difpofition, tho' it hinders him from anfwering fo diftinctly, as were to be wished. Then, turning to the candidate, he says, I dare fay, fir, you know well enough that a wheelbarrow cannot plow land, because it will not enter into the foil, nor open it fufficiently. Muft not hard ftiff land be broken and pulverifed, in order to make it fruitful? Anf. Yes, fir.

Then the first resumed his examination. Now, pray fir, Can you tell me how deep land ought to be plowed when it is well done? He, tho' quite ignorant of the fubject, being naturally a man of inettle and acutenefs, imagined, from what he had heard, that the deeper the better, and iminediately answered, fix yards. On this his examinator fell into a violent paffion, and faid, How have you the impudence, fir, to ask us to instal you as a plowman, when you know nothing of the matter? Was there ever fuch a thing heard or feen, fince the beginning of the world, as

plowing

plowing land fix yards deep? Or what concep tion could you have, in your own mind, of the poffibility of the thing? You ought to have a fentence paffed against you, wholly incapacitating you for any place in this country.

The noble and generous fpirit of the candidate was roused by this fevere treatment, fo, he replied; Pray fir, do you imagine that, in this im proved age, the fervants of the established corporation are brought up to a thorough knowledge of the feveral branches of business, for which the falaries are appointed? For my own particular, you ought not to be furprized that I could not tell you how land fhould be plowed, for I never faw a plough in my life. How, when, where and by whom were you educated then? fays the other in amaze. Anf. I ferved an apprenticeship in a toy fhop. Very well, fays the examinator, bleffed, precious, happy, improved times! I have no more to add, I give up the examination to any body that pleafes..

When this difcontented zealot had dropt the difcourfe, fome other moderate men asked him a few polite and fashionable queftions, fuch as, what is the genteeleft lining for a red coat? In what manner fhould you prefent a glass of wine to a lord, and how to a farmer? Whether is hunting or fifhing the pleasanteft diverfion? Whether fhould the Servants or the children of a family have the best lodging, diet. &c.? After a few minutes had been spent in this manner, it

was carried by a great majority that he had an fwered extremely well, and was, in every refpect, a most accomplished Servant.

D

It was ufual for the Servants to carry certifi cates with them, from the inferior courts of the corporation, wherever they went; but if any man had trufted to thefe certificates, he would have found himself miferably mistaken. They had taken up a principle, that a man might atteft any thing to be true, which he did not know to be falfe. On this principle, for a proper confideration, a vagrant fellow, of whom they knew little or nothing, would eafily obtain a certificate, declaring him to be a compleat Servant for every branch of business, and in particular, an admirable cook, gardiner, or whatever else he himself defired to be fpecified, If, upon trial, he was found totally deficient in any of the branches mentioned, and complaint was made to the court who certified for him, they thought they were fully excufed if they could fay that, upon their honour, they knew nothing about hin, and were wholly ignorant whether he was a good Servant or a bad. On all fuch occafions they used to launch out in praise of charity, and alledge, that every man had a right to another's good word, as far as it would go, unless he had forfeited it by fome particular and known mifdemeanor.

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