the estate, to whom any
deviation from the line of succession is always invidious.

"Yours," &c.

"SIR, "Sheer Lane, _June 24._

"You have by the fine a plain right, in which none else of your
family can be your competitor; for which reason, by all means
demand vassalage upon that title. The contrary advice can be given
for no other purpose in nature but to betray you, and favour other
pretenders, by making you place a right which is in you only, upon
a level with a right which you have in common with others. I am,

"Sir,
"Your most faithful
"Servant till death,
"I. B."

There is nothing so dangerous or so pleasing, as compliments made to us
by our enemies: and my correspondent tells me, that though he knows
several of those who give him this counsel were at first against passing
the fine in favour of him; yet is he so touched with their homage to
him, that he can hardly believe they have a mind to set it aside, in
order to introduce the heirs-general into his estate.

These are great evils; but since there is no proceeding with success in
this world, without complying with the arts of it, I shall use the same
method as my correspondent's tenants did with him, in relation to one
whom I never had a kindness for; but shall, notwithstanding, presume to
give him my advice.

"_Isaac Bickerstaff, Esq., of Great Britain, to Lewis XIV. of
France._

"SIR,

"Your Majesty will pardon me while I take the liberty to acquaint
you, that some passages written from your side of the water do very
much obstruct your interests. We take it very unkindly that the
prints of Paris are so very partial in favour of one set of men
among us, and treat the others as irreconcilable to your interests.
Your writers are very large in recounting anything which relates to
the figure and power of one party, but are dumb when they should
represent the actions of the other. This is a trifling circumstance
many here are apt to lay some stress upon; therefore I thought fit
to offer it to your consideration before you despatch the next
courier.