Upon my going into a Coffee-house yesterday, and lending an ear to the next Table, which was encompassed with a Circle of inferior Politicians, one of them, after having read over the News very attentively, broke out into the following Remarks.  I am afraid, says he, this unhappy Rupture between the Footmen at Utrecht will retard the Peace of Christendom.  I wish the Pope may not be at the Bottom of it.  His Holiness has a very good hand at fomenting a Division, as the poor Suisse Cantons have lately experienced to their Cost.  If Mo[u]nsieur [4] What-d’ye-call-him’s Domesticks will not come to an Accommodation, I do not know how the Quarrel can be ended, but by a Religious War.

Why truly, says a Wiseacre that sat by him, were I as the King of France, I would scorn to take part with the Footmen of either side:  Here’s all the Business of Europe stands still, because Mo[u]nsieur Mesnager’s Man has had his Head broke.  If Count Rectrum had given them a Pot of Ale after it, all would have been well, without any of this Bustle; but they say he’s a warm Man, and does not care to be made Mouths at.

Upon this, one, that had held his Tongue hitherto, [began [5]] to exert himself; declaring, that he was very well pleased the Plenipotentiaries of our Christian Princes took this matter into their serious Consideration; for that Lacqueys were never so saucy and pragmatical, as they are now-a-days, and that he should be glad to see them taken down in the Treaty of Peace, if it might be done without prejudice to [the] Publick Affairs.

One who sat at the other End of the Table, and seemed to be in the Interests of the French King, told them, that they did not take the matter right, for that his most Christian Majesty did not resent this matter because it was an Injury done to Monsieur Mesnager’s Footmen; for, says he, what are Monsieur Mesnager’s Footmen to him? but because it was done to his Subjects.  Now, says he, let me tell you, it would look very odd for a Subject of France to have a bloody Nose, and his Sovereign not to take Notice of it.  He is obliged in Honour to defend his People against Hostilities; and if the Dutch will be so insolent to a Crowned Head, as, in any wise, to cuff or kick those who are under His Protection, I think he is in the right to call them to an Account for it.

This Distinction set the Controversy upon a new Foot, and seemed to be very well approved by most that heard it, till a little warm Fellow, who declared himself a Friend to the House of Austria, fell most unmercifully upon his Gallick Majesty, as encouraging his Subjects to make Mouths at their Betters, and afterwards screening them from the Punishment that was due to their Insolence.  To which he added that the French Nation was so addicted to Grimace, that if there was not a Stop put to it at the General