CHAPTER IV. How Bull and Frog went to law with Lord Strutt about
the premises, and were joined by the rest of the tradesmen.

All endeavours of accommodation between Lord Strutt and his drapers
proved vain. Jealousies increased, and, indeed, it was rumoured
abroad that Lord Strutt had bespoke his new liveries of old Lewis
Baboon. This coming to Mrs. Bull's ears, when John Bull came home,
he found all his family in an uproar. Mrs. Bull, you must know, was
very apt to be choleric. "You sot," says she, "you loiter about
alehouses and taverns, spend your time at billiards, ninepins, or
puppet-shows, or flaunt about the streets in your new gilt chariot,
never minding me nor your numerous family. Don't you hear how Lord
Strutt has bespoke his liveries at Lewis Baboon's shop? Don't you
see how that old fox steals away your customers, and turns you out
of your business every day, and you sit like an idle drone, with
your hands in your pockets? Fie upon it. Up man, rouse thyself;
I'll sell to my shift before I'll be so used by that knave."* You
must think Mrs. Bull had been pretty well tuned up by Frog, who
chimed in with her learned harangue. No further delay now, but to
counsel learned in the law they go, who unanimously assured them
both of justice and infallible success of their lawsuit.

* The sentiments and addresses of the Parliament at that time.

I told you before that old Lewis Baboon was a sort of a
Jack-of-all-trades, which made the rest of the tradesmen jealous, as
well as Bull and Frog; they hearing of the quarrel, were glad of an
opportunity of joining against old Lewis Baboon, provided that Bull