"Since you wish to be esteemed and honoured," continued Socrates, " undoubtedly your view is to be useful to the public?"

"Certainly."

"Tell me then, I beseech you, in the name of the gods! What is the first service you propose to render to the State?"

As Glauco appeared at a loss and meditating what to answer; "I presume," continued Socrates, "that it is to enrich it, that is, to augment its revenues." "My very idea!"

"You are, undoubtedly, very well versed, then, in the revenues of the state, and know exactly to what they amount; you have not failed to make them your peculiar study, in order that, if one fund should happen to fail by any unforeseen accident, you might be able to supply the deficiency by another?"

"I confess," replied Glauco, "that such a consideration never entered into my head."

"At least, then," said Socrates, "you can tell me to what the expenses of the republic amount; for you must know the importance of retrenching such as are superfluous?"

"I must own," answered Glauco," that I am as little informed on this head as on the other."

"You must, therefore," said Socrates, "put off your intention of enriching the state to a future time; for it is impossible that you should bring it about, whilst you are unacquainted with its revenues and expenses."—

"But," cried Glauco, "there are still other methods which you have not touched upon: a state may be enriched by the ruin of its enemies."

has.

“You are in the right," said Socrates; "but that depends upon its being the strongest, otherwise it will incur the danger of losing what it For which reason, he, who talks of engaging in a war, ought to know the strength on both sides, in order that if he finds his own party strongest, he may boldly advise the war, and, if weakest, dissuade the people from undertaking it. Now;-are you acquainted with the forces of our republic, and those of our enemies by sea and land? Have you a list of them in writing?- Pray show it to me."

"I have it not at present," Glauco.

replied

"I see, then," said Socrates, "that we shall not presently enter into a war, if you should be charged with the government; for you have abundance of enquiries to make, and much labour to go through, before you can resolve upon it."

Socrates afterwards ran through several other articles, equally important, with which Glauco was no less unacquainted; until he had brought him to confess how ridiculous those persons were who have the rashness to assume the reins of government, without any other preparation for the service of the public, than that of a high conceit of themselves, and an immoderate avarice and ambition of obtaining the first places and dignities, and of enjoying the salaries annexed to them; "Have a care, my dear Glauco," concluded the sage, "lest a too ardent longing for honours should draw you into pursuits which may overwhelm you with shame and disgrace, by setting your incapacity and slender abilities in the strongest point of light.

Admirable Socrates! would to heaven, thou hadst lived in those days to have catechized and

schooled our modern Glauco's. Would to heaven, thou hadst lived in those days!' did I say? No-it is better for our fame, perhaps, that it is as it is; for the Athenians now bear the odium of having put thee to death; and we should not like to have it handed down to posterity, that thou wert strangled, or even exhibited to public scorn, by any innuendo-making Attorney-General of the present enlightened day.

Let us now return to our own Glauco's, whose course through the Treasury was as apparent as that of a swarm of locusts across a country; with only this difference, that the latter devour every thing green, and the former whatever is yellow or gold colour.

We shall give the Reader a just account of the talents of nine of the principal of these statebotchers, whence he will see that the whole of them would not make one good man. We do not include Greenfield, of whom we shall premise that he sided with Vortex, and entertained nearly similar principles; -quod ei satis honoris est. He is credited for honour, intrepidity, firmness, good sense and its embellishment,-wit, and for a just love of fame. — After

the death of Vortex, he formed the best household, that the stubbornness of the times would allow, and assumed the reins. After the death of Brush, he kept the whip in his hand, to prevent the danger with which the state-coach was threatened, by having such unruly cattle yoked to it, at the expense of meeting with the fall of Phaeton :-they soon ran away with him ;

"Thus, in the lists, four fiery steeds appear,
And spring with fury thro' the vast career;
Forcing along th' unwilling charioteer.

In vain he pulls; they scour the dusty plain,
They know no check, nor bear the curbing rein."

Now for the State-Botchers!

}

I. Master MINIKIN, the Petty premier. A * Figuranté; a Will o'th' whisp;

* He made a plaything of politics; but a serious matter of a pas seul; for he entered upon the former without any kind of preparation; but he put himself under a ballet-master to learn the latter. Freeland, nor any other manor, ever had such a capering steward; - politics or pigeon's wing; contract or cotillion; budget or bow; revenue or rigadoon; —all was the same to him!!