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( 18 ) Account he gave of one among the many famous Men who were then at Court.

I desir'd to know In what manner I was to approach his Majesty; and was told, that since I was a Foreigner, the most proper Method wou'd be to walk upon my Hands with my Heels upwards, that the King might have the better Opinion of my Abilities; and was assur'd, that the Novelty of the Thing wou'd be very acceptable. I lik'd the Proposal, and was two Days in learning to walk in that manner; during which Time I pretended not to be throughly recover'd, and fed only upon learned Books in their Language prepar'd as before. I voided nothing by way of Excrement all the while I liv'd upon Books, but a few false Concords, which cou'd not subsist within me, on account of a Meal I had made upon Criticisms.

When the Time came that I was to appear before his Majesty, I was conduced by Tckbrff to the Palace to wait 'till I was call'd for. While I was attending the King's Levee, I could not but make many Observations upon the strange Behaviour of the Courtiers, whose different Passions and Interests I cou'd easily discern. I saw a Fox and a Calf accosting each other with great Civility, tho' I am certain that they were inveterate Enemies: But their manner of Salutation, which seem'd a little extraordinary, may perhaps be worth the Reader's notice. They bow'd most courteously to each other at first sight, which continued 'till they had the Happiness to shake Hands; I expected that a Kiss wou'd ensue, but it seems the Gentlemen were better bred; for, upon shaking Hands, each apply'd his Nose to the Posteriors of the other; where, after they had regal'd their Sense of Smelling for a few Moments, they began to express their Hatred for one another in the most obliging Terms. Tckbrff, as learned as he was, and to whom I am much indebted, cou'd not give me a natural Reason for this manner of Compliment, which was peculiar to Men of high Rank; for the common