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Page 17
"Their Deaths were so sudden, that the Emperor was puzzled whom to
chuse in their Places, (it being necessary they should soon be
fill'd up) and he had but a very small Acquaintance among his
People; so that he was under a kind of Necessity of throwing his
Affairs into my Hands, I having the Reputation of being pretty well
practised in certain Branches of his Revenues.
"I had Reason to suspect, that this new Preferment was not intended
as a Favour, and that I was to continue no longer in this Station,
than till some other Person more agreeable could be fix'd upon; but
in order to improve the Opportunity, I apply'd my self strenuously
to the Avarice of the _Squabbaws_, and gave with Prodigality; for I
bore in Mind my former Miscarriages. This had all its Effect; they
had never met with a Person so fit for their Purpose, and by these
Arguments they began to be convinc'd, that if another should be
preferr'd to my Place, they would be no Gainers by the Change.
"Since this good Understanding betwixt us, Matters have been so
managed, that no Person has had Access to the Emperor, but thro' my
Recommendation; so that my Enemies cannot fill his Ears with
Complaints of my Administration; and whenever I observe any Person
attempting to lay the State of Affairs before his Imperial Majesty,
the _Squabbaws_, by my Instructions, are to insinuate into the royal
Ear some Jealousies and Fears of that Person, that the Emperor may
forbid his Admittance; so that he only sees with my Eyes, and hears
by my Report.
"As this in a great Measure has render'd me safe against the Attempts
of my Enemies, yet I can't deny but that it has encreas'd their
Number, and furnish'd them with Matter to clamour against me; and
these Clamours have possess'd the Publick with a kind of an Aversion
to my Conduct, tho' they have not reach'd the Throne.
"But as it is not possible, but that the Officers of State belonging
to a great Emperor, of which there must be many in Number, must
sometimes have Opportunities of talking with him, I have taken Care
to prevent any Danger from thence, by chusing for those Posts Birds
of the weakest Capacities, altogether ignorant of the Affairs of the
Empire; for one in a high Station, who makes the publick Interest
subservient to his own, will never be safe, unless he takes Care,
that no Creature who acts with him, shall have any Sense except
himself. I am not the first who have laid this down as a Maxim; some
of my Predecessors began to practise it, as a necessary Piece of
Self-Defence. 'Tis true I have carried it a little further than
they, and with greater Reason, because I have not forgot in how bad
a Light I stood when _Fowls_ of Parts sway'd the publick Counsels,
with what Sagacity they saw thro' all my private Views and Designs,
and with what Facility they brought about my Disgrace; and
therefore, when I have discover'd in any of those concern'd with me
in Business, a fine Discernment, and a Genius for great Affairs, I
have from that Minute look'd upon such as dangerous, and for that
Reason either procured their Disgrace, or under the Pretence of
doing them Honour, prevail'd upon the Emperor to confer upon them
the Government of some distant Province, where they are removed too
far from the Imperial Counsels, to be able to do me any
Harm.
"But to come nearer to my present Purpose; my Design of placing you
at Court, is to serve as a Spy for me upon the _Squabbaws_; for my
Enemies, who have tried in vain all other Means to overturn me, may
perhaps at last attempt it that Way; and the Avarice of these
_Squabbaws_, which has hitherto been my Support, may one Time or
other (if I am not very vigilant) prove my Ruine. For if my Enemies
should bribe them, to be privately introduced to confer with the
Emperor, there is an End of my Reign; for I am not insensible, that
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.
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