“Things being in this Situation, no doubt, you’ll think my Establishment well fix’d; but I am not without my Fears and my Dangers, and there is no judging of the Power of one in my Station, by the Flattery that is paid him, for Flatterers take things frequently by outward Appearances; and notwithstanding my arbitrary manner of treating some Persons, my Safety is depending upon the Breath of others, and I am obliged to pay a more servile Court to some behind the Curtain, than is paid to me without.

“Those upon whom my Fate and Fortune depend, are the Squabbaws of the Court (the Reader is to understand, that this is a Name for certain Females, who are maintain’d for the Emperor’s Luxury and Pleasure, and always sojourn at Court) and it is to their Avarice that I owe my Grandeur, as well as its Continuance so long.  There was a Time, when I foolishly mistook my own Interest so far, as by my Conduct to give some Offence to these Squabbaws for which I suffered a severe Disgrace:  I then endeavour’d to shelter my self among those who are stiled the Patriots, but they would neither receive me into their Counsels, nor put the least Trust in me.  I had then Leisure to reflect on the Folly of this Conduct, and had Time to compute how much I was a Loser, by putting on the Mask of the Patriot and, I confess, it had such an Effect upon me, and gave me such an Aversion to Patriotism, that I could never prevail upon myself to do any thing for the publick Good ever since.

“I then immediately apply’d all my Thoughts towards making my Peace, and there fell out a Chain of lucky Incidents, which happily brought it about.  One of these was the Death of several great Personages, who were too mighty for me at that time in Rank and Dignity, and whose Parts eclipsed mine in the Opinion of the Publick, tho’ I always thought otherwise.

“Their Deaths were so sudden, that the Emperor was puzzled whom to chuse in their Places, (it being necessary they should soon be fill’d up) and he had but a very small Acquaintance among his People; so that he was under a kind of Necessity of throwing his Affairs into my Hands, I having the Reputation of being pretty well practised in certain Branches of his Revenues.

“I had Reason to suspect, that this new Preferment was not intended as a Favour, and that I was to continue no longer in this Station, than till some other Person more agreeable could be fix’d upon; but in order to improve the Opportunity, I apply’d my self strenuously to the Avarice of the Squabbaws, and gave with Prodigality; for I bore in Mind my former Miscarriages.  This had all its Effect; they had never met with a Person so fit for their Purpose, and by these Arguments they began to be convinc’d, that if another should be preferr’d to my Place, they would be no