his Imperial Majesty has no Personal Affection for me, and it is his own Ease and Indolence that hinders him from looking out for some other Servant to supply my Place; for Alterations cannot be made without some little Trouble.

“Be therefore vigilant for my Interest, as you value your own:  Be always quick in your Intelligence, watch every Step and Motion of the Squabbaws, and acquaint me with every thing that passes in their most secret Transactions.  Let me know who are their Advisers, their Favourites, their Companions; but above all, be quick in informing me, if any Person should be admitted to confer with the Emperor; and if possible, hear what is the Subject of their Discourse.  Your grotesque Form may recommend you to the Squabbaws; for Animals sometimes become Favourites amongst us, only for the Oddness of their Figure.  They will say or do any thing before you, because they will never imagine you capable of making any Remarks; for the Cacklogallinians have such a Notion, that no Creatures are endued with Reason like themselves.

“But it will be necessary to instruct you in the Manner of making your Address, when you enter the Court.  You must remember then to pay your Compliments to the Squabbaws, before you do to the Emperor; and of these the Vultuaquilians claim the Precedence to those of our own Nation, particularly the bulkiest.  It is the Praftice here to do so, for the Emperor, as to what regards himself, is no great Lover of Ceremony.  The Form of addressing these Squabbaws has something in it very singular; but the servile Manners of the Cacklogallinians to those in any Power has made it necessary to be comply’d with, and is the Cause that they now expect it.  You must make a low Obeisance to the Ground, at which time they will turn their Backsides upon you, and spreading all the Feathers of their Tails, give you an Opportunity of saluting them behind.  You will see the Cacklogallinians of Figure and Rank pressing in, endeavouring who shall be first in kissing the Posteriors of these Squabbaws; and those upon whom they are graciously pleased to turn their Backsides, and spread their Tails, return highly satisfied, as if some extraordinary Honour had been conferr’d upon them; nay, I my self am obliged to do it in as obsequious a Manner as any other, every time I approach them.”

When he had spoke these Words, a Servant came in to give him Notice, that the Coach was ready.  He ordered me to put on my Mantle, and attend him:  I did so, and he was pleased to do me the Honour to carry me with him in his Coach.  In the Way, he discoursed me upon several Subjects.  Among other things, it came into his Head to enquire of me, whether, in the Parts of the World from whence I came, there were any such things as Poets.  I gave him to understand, that we had several who had been famous in my own Country.  He desired to know what kind