droll fellow。 Above all； there was Charley； the publican； a jolly； fat； honest lad； a great favourite with the women； who； if he had not been rather too fond of ale and chuck…farthing； would have been the best fellow in the neighbourhood。
〃My boys；〃 said Charley； 〃this is exceedingly well for Madam North；not that I would speak uncivilly of her； she put up my picture in her best room； bless her for it！ But； I say； this is very well for her； and for Lord Caesar； and Squire Don； and Colonel Von；but what affair is it of yours or mine？ It is not to be wondered at； that gentlemen should wish to keep poor people out of their own。 But it is strange indeed that they should expect the poor themselves to combine against their own interests。 If the folks at St Dennis's should attack us we have the law and our cudgels to protect us。 But why； in the name of wonder； are we to attack them？ When old Sir Charles； who was Lord of the Manor formerly； and the parson； who was presented by him to the living； tried to bully the vestry； did not we knock their heads together； and go to meeting to hear Jeremiah Ringletub preach？ And did the Squire Don； or the great Sir Lewis； that lived at that time； or the Germains； say a word against us for it？ Mind your own business； my lads： law is not to be had for nothing； and we； you may be sure； shall have to pay the whole bill。〃
Nevertheless the people of St George's were resolved on law。 They cried out most lustily； 〃Squire Guelf for ever！ Sweet William for ever！ No steel traps！〃 Squire Guelf took all the rascally footmen who had worn old Sir Lewis's livery into his service。 They were fed in the kitchen on the very best of everything； though they had no settlement。 Many people； and the paupers in particular； grumbled at these proceedings。 The steward； however； devised a way to keep them quiet。
There had lived in this parish for many years an old gentleman； named Sir Habeas Corpus。 He was said by some to be of Saxon； by some of Norman； extraction。 Some maintain that he was not born till after the time of Sir Charles； to whom we have before alluded。 Others are of opinion that he was a legitimate son of old Lady Magna Charta； although he was long concealed and kept out of his birthright。 Certain it is that he was a very benevolent person。 Whenever any poor fellow was taken up on grounds which he thought insufficient； he used to attend on his behalf and bail him； and thus he had become so popular； that to take direct measures against him was out of the question。
The steward； accordingly； brought a dozen physicians to examine Sir Habeas。 After consultation； they reported that he was in a very bad way； and ought not； on any account； to be allowed to stir out for several months。 Fortified with this authority； the parish officers put him to bed； closed his windows； and barred his doors。 They paid him every attention； and from time to time issued bulletins of his health。 The steward never spoke of him without declaring that he was the best gentleman in the world； but excellent care was taken that he should never stir out of doors。
When this obstacle was removed； the Squire and the steward kept the parish in excellent order； flogged this man； sent that man to the stocks； and pushed forward the law…suit with a noble disregard of expense。 They were； however； wanting either in skill or in fortune。 And everything went against them after their antagonists had begun to employ Solicitor Nap。
Who does not know the name of Solicitor Nap？ At what alehouse is not his behaviour discussed？ In what print…shop is not his picture seen？ Yet how little truth has been said about him！ Some people hold that he used to give laudanum by pints to his six clerks for his amusement。 Others； whose number has very much increased since he was killed by the gaol distemper； conceive that he was the very model of honour and good…nature。 I shall try to tell the truth about him。
He was assuredly an excellent solicitor。 In his way he never was surpassed。 As soon as the parish began to employ him； their cause took a turn。 In a very little time they were successful； and Nap became rich。 He now set up for a gentleman； took possession of the old manor…house； got into the commission of the peace； and affected to be on a par with the best of the county。 He governed the vestries as absolutely as the old family had done。 Yet； to give him his due； he managed things with far more discretion than either Sir Lewis or the rioters who had pulled the Lords of the Manor down。 He kept his servants in tolerable order。 He removed the steel traps from the highways and the corners of the streets。 He still left a few indeed in the more exposed parts of his premises； and set up a board announcing that traps and spring guns were set in his grounds。 He brought the poor parson back to the parish； and； though he did not enable him to keep a fine house and a coach as formerly； he settled him in a snug little cottage； and allowed him a pleasant pad…nag。 He whitewashed the church again； and put the stocks； which had been much wanted of late； into good repair。
With the neighbouring gentry； however； he was no favourite。 He was crafty and litigious。 He cared nothing for right； if he could raise a point of law against them。 He pounded their cattle； broke their hedges； and seduced their tenants from them。 He almost ruined Lord Caesar with actions； in every one of which he was successful。 Von Blunderbussen went to law with him for an alleged trespass； but was cast； and almost ruined by the costs of suit。 He next took a fancy to the seat of Squire Don； who was； to say the truth； little better than an idiot。 He asked the poor dupe to dinner； and then threatened to have him tossed in a blanket unless he would make over his estates to him。 The poor Squire signed and sealed a deed by which the property was assigned to Joe； a brother of Nap's； in trust for and to the use of Nap himself。 The tenants； however； stood out。 They maintained that the estate was entailed； and refused to pay rents to the new landlord； and in this refusal they were stoutly supported by the people in St George's。
About the same time Nap took it into his head to match with quality； and nothing would serve him but one of the Miss Germains。 Lord Caesar swore like a trooper； but there was no help for it。 Nap had twice put executions in his principal residence； and had refused to discharge the latter of the two till he had extorted a bond from his Lordship which compelled him to comply。
THE END OF THE FIRST PART。
。。。
A CONVERSATION BETWEEN MR ABRAHAM COWLEY AND MR JOHN MILTON； TOUCHING THE GREAT CIVIL WAR。
SET DOWN BY A GENTLEMAN OF THE MIDDLE TEMPLE。
（August 1824。）
〃Referre sermones Deorum et Magna modis tenuare parvis。〃Horace。
I have thought it good to set down in writing a memorable debate； wherein I was a listener； and two men of pregnant parts and great reputation discoursers； hoping that my friends will not be displeased to have a record both of the strange times through which I have lived； and of the famous men with whom I have conversed。 It chanced in the warm and beautiful spring of the year 1665； a little before the saddest summer that ever London saw； that I went to the Bowling Green at Piccadilly； whither； at that time； the best gentry made continual resorts。 There I met Mr Cowley； who had lately left Barnelms。 There was then a house preparing for him at Chertsey； and till it should be finished； he had come up for a short time to London； that he might urge a suit to his Grace of Buckingham touching certain lands of her Majesty's； whereof he requested a lease。 I had the honour to be familiarly acquainted with that worthy gentleman and most excellent poet； whose death hath been deplored with as general a consent of all Powers that delight in the woods； or in verse； or in love； as was of old that of Daphnis or of Callus。
After some talk； which it is not material to set down at large； concerning his suit and his vexations at the court； where indeed his honesty did him more harm than his parts could do him good； I entreated him to dine with me at my lodging in the Temple； which he most courteously promised。 And； that so eminent a guest might not lack a better entertainment than cooks or vintners can provide； I sent to the house of Mr John Milton； in the Artillery Walk； to beg that he would also be my guest。 For； though he had been secretary； first to the Council of State； and； after that； to the Protector； and Mr Cowley had held the same post under the Lord St Albans in his banishment； I hoped； notwithstanding that they would think themselves rather united by their common art than divided by their different factions。 And so indeed it proved。 For； while we sat at table； they talked freely of many men and things； as well ancient as modern； with much civility。 Nay； Mr Milton； who seldom tasted wine； both because of his singular temperance and because of his gout； did more than once pledge Mr Cowley； who was indeed no hermit in diet。 At last； being heated； Mr Milton begged that I would open the windows。 〃Nay；〃 said I； 〃if you desire fresh air and coolness； what should hinder us； as the evening is fair； from sailing for an hou