“Since this good Understanding betwixt us, Matters have been so managed, that no Person has had Access to the Emperor, but thro’ my Recommendation; so that my Enemies cannot fill his Ears with Complaints of my Administration; and whenever I observe any Person attempting to lay the State of Affairs before his Imperial Majesty, the Squabbaws, by my Instructions, are to insinuate into the royal Ear some Jealousies and Fears of that Person, that the Emperor may forbid his Admittance; so that he only sees with my Eyes, and hears by my Report.

“As this in a great Measure has render’d me safe against the Attempts of my Enemies, yet I can’t deny but that it has encreas’d their Number, and furnish’d them with Matter to clamour against me; and these Clamours have possess’d the Publick with a kind of an Aversion to my Conduct, tho’ they have not reach’d the Throne.

“But as it is not possible, but that the Officers of State belonging to a great Emperor, of which there must be many in Number, must sometimes have Opportunities of talking with him, I have taken Care to prevent any Danger from thence, by chusing for those Posts Birds of the weakest Capacities, altogether ignorant of the Affairs of the Empire; for one in a high Station, who makes the publick Interest subservient to his own, will never be safe, unless he takes Care, that no Creature who acts with him, shall have any Sense except himself.  I am not the first who have laid this down as a Maxim; some of my Predecessors began to practise it, as a necessary Piece of Self-Defence.  ’Tis true I have carried it a little further than they, and with greater Reason, because I have not forgot in how bad a Light I stood when Fowls of Parts sway’d the publick Counsels, with what Sagacity they saw thro’ all my private Views and Designs, and with what Facility they brought about my Disgrace; and therefore, when I have discover’d in any of those concern’d with me in Business, a fine Discernment, and a Genius for great Affairs, I have from that Minute look’d upon such as dangerous, and for that Reason either procured their Disgrace, or under the Pretence of doing them Honour, prevail’d upon the Emperor to confer upon them the Government of some distant Province, where they are removed too far from the Imperial Counsels, to be able to do me any Harm.

“But to come nearer to my present Purpose; my Design of placing you at Court, is to serve as a Spy for me upon the Squabbaws; for my Enemies, who have tried in vain all other Means to overturn me, may perhaps at last attempt it that Way; and the Avarice of these Squabbaws, which has hitherto been my Support, may one Time or other (if I am not very vigilant) prove my Ruine.  For if my Enemies should bribe them, to be privately introduced to confer with the Emperor, there is an End of my Reign; for I am not insensible, that