Now, only think of the craftiness of the ne'er-da-weel;
it was with some difficulty that I could get him to understand, that
second was just as good as number two; for Andrew Pringle, my son, would
not interfere, but lay back in the coach, and was like to split his sides
at my confabulating with the hackney man. At long and length we got to
the house, and were admitted to Mr. Argent, who was sitting by himself in
his library reading, with a plate of oranges, and two decanters with wine
before him. I explained to him, as well as I could, my surprise and
anxiety at seeing his card, at which he smiled, and said, it was merely a
sort of practice that had come into fashion of late years, and that,
although we had been at his counting-house in the morning, he considered
it requisite that he should call on his return from the city. I made the
best excuse I could for the mistake; and the servant having placed
glasses on the table, we were invited to take wine. But I was grieved to
think that so respectable a man should have had the bottles before him by
himself, the more especially as he said his wife and daughters had gone
to a party, and that he did not much like such sort of things. But for
all that, we found him a wonderful conversible man; and Andrew Pringle,
my son, having read all the new books put out at Edinburgh, could speak
with him on any subject. In the course of conversation they touched upon
politick economy, and Andrew Pringle, my son, in speaking about cash in
the Bank of England, told him what I had said concerning the alterations
of the Royal Exchange steeple, with which Mr. Argent seemed greatly
pleased, and jocosely proposed as a toast,--"May the country never suffer
more from the alterations in the Exchange, than the taking down of the
steeple." But as Mrs. Pringle is wanting to send a bit line under the
same frank to her cousin, Miss Mally Glencairn, I must draw to a
conclusion, assuring you, that I am, dear sir, your sincere friend and
pastor,

ZACHARIAH PRINGLE.

The impression which this letter made on the auditors of Mr. Micklewham
was highly favourable to the Doctor--all bore testimony to his
benevolence and piety; and Mrs. Glibbans expressed, in very loquacious
terms, her satisfaction at the neglect to which prelacy was consigned.
The only person who seemed to be affected by other than the most sedate
feelings on the occasion was the R