Mr Buckskin now rose; and, being a rough spoken man, with all his good sense, with great indignation, said Button was a pitiful sneaking fellow. He said he would sign no address upon such an occasion, even if it was real. That no wife should wheedle him out of his common

sense. He could live by his business, he said, and he did not care for the smile or the frown of any minister, either of the state or of the gospel. He said that he differed in opinion from all the speakers, but most from the squire, who had spoken contradictory nonsense with the appearance of being very wise. He agreed with Touch-hole in the consequences that would follow on arming the people, but he differed from him in the conclusion he drew; for he thought he had given the very best reasons why the people should not be armed. As to the address, he had heard no reason whatever why it should be sent. He said that he had always been of the mind, that America had behaved with ingratitude, insolence, and disrespect to the mother country. That France, Spain, and Holland had truckled like treacherous, knavish, lying scoundrels; and that Ireland had acted ungenerously (not to say worse) in taking the hour of distress to demand more than the portion of her mother's

goods. That Scotland had alone remained dutiful, attached, and loyal, though she had been ill used; and yet he hoped she would remain steady to the constitutional rights of the state. He said that America and Ireland, by their resistance, had, or would have, an independent free trade, and, having no taxes, in time would undersell Britain in every article of commerce.

With regard to ministers, he was of opinion, that Lord North was an honest indolent minister, and, had he met with support and unanimity, might have been more successful. He was of opinion, that much of the distress of Britain was owing to the very men it was now proposed to thank. But thanks, says he, for what, Mr Preses? Let them do something worthy of thanks. Did not the House of Commons, in compliance with a fit of popular frenzy, vote thanks to Admiral Keppel for a victory he had never gained? Do not the nation now laugh at the vote, and do not the House of Commons also now laugh at themselves for having passed it? One man alone had the good sense and firmness to oppose it. Honest John Strut! here's his health. Sir, if you will have an address, on the change of men and measures, draw out a new one; for the first minister of state, a very good man, I believe, has undergone a considerable change since this ad

dress was written. Sir, I will sign no address on a change of men till I know them better; for I'll shake no man by the hand, and call him friend, till I know of what stuff he is made.

Here Collop the butcher, and Peter Pipestaple the tobacconist, and a multitude of others, called out Bravo! Bravo!-A vote! a vote !— Address! or no address !Mr Bark, Mr Barm, and their friends, seeing the complexion of the House, retired. Button was heard to whisper in going out, address. When the door was shut, Mouldewarp's nose was seen through the keyhole. Tom Touch-hole, however, remained vociferating Give me the commission for the muskets, and blast me with gunpowder, if I care, whether they are used against the old or the new ministry."

66

The question was now put, when it carried unanimously, No address.

Touch-hole begged leave to be non liquet. Thus have I given an account of the debates in the free and easy club, and am, &c.

BOB SQUINTUM.

July 6. 1782.

E. C.

* Accounts of the Marquis of Rockingham's death had ac tually arrived when the promoters of the Loyal Address were met for signing it.

[The proneness which people have for cheap bargains is often made the occasion of great impositions. The difference of price is in general only attended to, and other circumstan ces left out of view. Itinerant auctioneers and advertisers of cheap wares are thus often resorted to, and the fair trader, who gives credit, deserted and shunned. The following ridicule upon quackery in various lines of business, appeared in the Edinburgh Gazette.]

TO THE PUBLIC.

A PERSON of real character (abhorring deception), having observed the avidity with which every species of goods is bought by the good people of Scotland, provided they have the seller's assertion that they are cheaper than the best, has laid himself out to supply them more honourably than they have hitherto been by many advertising Quacks. He begs leave to inform the public, that there will soon be opened

AN UNIVERSAL WAREHOUSE

FOR ALL SORTS OF GOODS,

Which will be sold much below the Manufacturers' Prices, and Discount allowed for ready Money.

Among a variety of articles, too tedious to mention, the following may be depended on;

and such Fashionable Articles as may occasionally appear will always be early added.

I. Best superfine cloths of all kinds. A single yard will be sold much cheaper than the most considerable merchant can purchase it at the manufacturing towns in England, though buying 50,000 yards together, and paying ready money.

The seller being a person of character, presumes his word will not be doubted; and, as all comparisons are odious, he hopes none will be so ill-bred as to make comparisons between his goods and those of other dealers.

N. B. Some veritable nine-times-dyed blue flannel, for sore throats, gout, and rheumatism. Water-proof cloths, which prevent external wetting, and promote perspiration.

II. China ware of every species, from the true nankeen to the veritable Prestonpans, as cheap as Staffordshire ware or brown pottery.

N. B. Some nice eyes may perhaps perceive, that many of the tea cups and basons are not exact circles, but rather inclined to the elliptical or oval form; and that the dishes and tureens have not the ring of sound me