The Peacock, who pretends to be the High-Priest of all Nations, and exacts on that Account Tributes from them, and calls himself the Disposer of Kingdoms, had his Tributes stopp’d by the Magpyes, about the same time; and complaining of this Injury, he invited Bigoteasy to declare War against Gripeallyominte, King of the Magpyes, which, on account of former Friendship, he absolutely refused.  This so enraged the good High Priest, that he raised a Rebellion against him; he was dethron’d, taken Prisoner by his Subjects, and died in Confinement, and his Kingdom given by the Peacock, and the unanimous Consent of the People, to the greatest Prince that History ever mention’d, either for Wisdom or Bravery.

These Wars lasted Sixty and Seven Years, and the Cacklogallinians bore the greatest Share of the Expence; which had so far indebted them, that every Brain was at Work to project Methods for raising Money to pay the Interest.

These Schemes, which were every Day presented to the Minister, grew so numerous, that, had he applied himself to nothing else but their Examination, it would have taken up a great Part of his Time:  And, indeed, I must own, that my Friend, the first Minister, gave himself but very little Trouble in things of this Nature, for all his Schemes, and all his Thoughts center’d in himself; and when I have gone to carry him Intelligence in a Morning, and all the great Fowl that came to pay their Levee, have been answer’d, that he was busy in his Closet upon Affairs of Importance to the State, and saw no Company, I have found him (for there were Orders for admitting me) either writing Directions concerning his Ostriches, or his Country Sports, or his Buildings, or examining his private Accounts; and tho’ I often thought but meanly of my own Species, yet I began to think, from the Conduct of this great Minister, that a Cock was a far more selfish, and more worthless Animal than Man; insomuch, that I have so despised them ever since, as to think them good for nothing but the Spit.

The Schemes which he put in Practice were all the Invention of others, tho’ he assum’d the Credit of them; and I will be bold to say, that, before my Time, amongst Numbers that were offer’d to him, he generally chose the worst.

I was therefore order’d, after I had been two Years at Court, to take this Business upon me, with the Title of Castleairiano, or Project Examiner, and a Salary of Thirty Thousand Spasma’s.  The first Project offer’d me, was the laying a Tax on Cloath, and all manner of Stuffs.  This I rejected, because it being the chief Manufacture of the Country, it would, by raising the Price abroad, be a Hindrance to the Commerce of the Nation, and give the Cormorants who made it, tho’ nothing so fine as the Cacklogallinians, an Opportunity, by under-selling them, to become the chief Merchants in this Branch of Trade.  But it would be tedious to mention the many Offers, with my Reasons for accepting or rejecting them, which I once a Week gave a List of to the Minister, who was often so good as to approve my Judgment.