and would not agree to it. They were, therefore, obliged to proceed cautiously and gradually. In fome few inftances, they made it appear, that one Servant might be introduced in two different families, and enjoy both the falaries. As to the work, they might be fometimes in the one, and fometimes in the other; or, if one of them was a family of fmall confequence, they might do well enough without any Servant at all. They begged, in the most abject manner, of the governor of the province, that a small number of falaries might. be appointed, without any office annexed to them, by way of gratuities, for the encouragement of good Servants. This was done; and there followed a terrible competition for obtaining them, which produced a moft malignant hatred between those who were fuccefsful and thofe who were not.

The reader may perhaps imagine, that the hope of meriting these falaries would excite them to vie with one another, in doing the bufinefs of the. families where they ferved. It was quit the contrary. They tried every method of advancement but that only; or, if any did try it in that way, they were fure to be disappointed. Some of them ufed the old way of flattery, which had always a very great effect. Some became political tools, fpies, and informers to the prevailing party at court. Some were not ashamed to become pimps and pandars to great men, and even fometimes to attend them in their nocturnal expeditions.

Some

!

Some endeavoured to make themfelves remarka-
ble for feats and atchievements quite out of the
way of their own bufinefs. One of them for ex-
ample, would make a windmill, of curious ftruc-
ture, and put it upon the top of the houfe where
He lived. The confequence of this was, that paf-
fengers going that way, after ftanding ftill and
admiringurita little, would ask any perfon they
faw near, who had done it. The answer imme
diately followed,
fervant who lives
here, is a moft ingenious fellow, as ever was
feen. Thus was his fame fpread abroad, and
fometimes came to the ears of the people above.

The

I cannot help particularly mentioning one who was the most fuccefsful of all that had gone be fore him, who was alive when my informer left the country, and probably may be alive at this very time. The method he fell upon, was tel ling wonderful ftories of the heroic actions of that people's predeceffors, a fubject of which they were enthufiaftically fond. He had acquired a very great knack of ftory-telling, and could def cribe things fo to the life, both by word and gef ture, that every body was delighted to hear him, He immediately gave over all work in the family to which he belonged; and when they civilly put him in mind of his, neglect, he told them. they might go about their bufinefs, for they were a pack of feditious fcoundrels, altogether below his notice. He was a fellow of uncommon abikity; and no less remarkable for enterprife and refolution

refolution. He carried on his fchemes; procured for himself one falary after another; and did not fail to laugh at the fimplicity of those who bestowed them, faying among his intimate companions, He bleffed God that mankind were fo •eafily deceived, by the formal countenance of a • Servant.

#2

The fupernumerary falaries, however, were fe few, that they were foon exhaufted, and did ittle elfe, indeed, than excite a hungering and thrifting after more. To remedy this, they fell upon a method of gratifying the vanity of those whofe pockets they could not fill. A title was invented, which, (like the honorary rewards of the ancients in this part of the world) they faid, would ferve to diftinguish illuftrious merit, and raife a happy emulation. The title The title, was, Master of Service; and the directors of the schools or places of exercife were appointed to bestow it, according to the fkill and proficiency, of the candidates. Immediately applications came in from all quarters, and it was dealt about very li berally, and, if poffible, even more abfurdly than the falaries had been before. There was hardly an inftance of its being beftowed for real knowledge or useful induftry: but for fome whimsical qualification of a different knıd. If a * Bsifler 01 man had invented a new dance or fong, or collec ted a whole barrel of falted butterflies in one fummer, or made a gold chain for binding a flea to a post, he was inftantly created a Mafter of Service.. CHAP

Of the fentiments of the people concerning the Servants and their manner of treating them,

TH

HE reader may probably be, wondering in himfelf, how the people behaved in these circumstances, and what became of their affairs. He may be ready to think, that their patience must be by this time nearly exhaufted, and fome terrible revolution at hand. The truth is, the patience of many of them had been at an end for many years; but, being divided among themfelves, their influence was not fufficient to produce a general change. It is impoffible to mention all the effects which the conduct of the Servants had upon the people; but it will be worth while to take particular notice of two claffes of men, and their behaviour upon the fubject.

One fet of people rofe among them, whofe fentiments and conduct were as fingular and extraordinary, as any thing recorded in this book. They were men who made high pretenfions to reafon and penetration, and gave themselves much to abstract reflections upon the nature of things. They were of opinion, that all the wisdom of the nation centered in themfelves; and that all the reft were downright fools or madmen. However, entering upon their fpeculations with fuch

an

an overweening conceit of themselves, their boaf-> ted reafon firft led them into many mistakes, and at laft fairly turned their heads.

It was their cuftom to search into history, and particularly into the hiftory of the Servants. There they found, that, in every age, there had been a great deal of knavery among the Servants. All the inftances of this fort they used to collect, publifh, and compare with the conduct of the Servants in their own times; which they expofed with the greatest feverity. At laft, by long dwelling upon this fubject, they came to be of opinion, that there ought to be no fuch thing in nature as a Servant; that they never had done any thing but harm; and that the world would be much better without them. Sometimes fober-minded people attempted to fet them to rights, and alledged, that, tho' the dithonest had always been too numerous as well as noify, yet ftill there were fome of great worth and usefulnefs; nay, that lociety, in the nature of things, could not fubfift without perfons in lower ftations, to ferve and accommodate thofe in higher. This was fo far from having an effect upon them, that they became always more pofitive upon contradiction, and scarce ever failed to advance opinions still more wild and romantic than before. Inftead of yielding that Servants were neceffary in fociety, they affirmed, that it was not only defirable, but extremely poffible, to have a whole