A Bankrupt

Is made by breaking, as a Bird is hatched by breaking the shell, for he gains more by giving over his Trade, than ever he did by dealing in it. He drives a Trade, as Oliver Cromwel did a Coach, till it broke in Pieces. He is very tender and careful in preserving his Credit, and keeps it as methodically as a Race-nag is dieted, that in the End he may run away with it: for he observes a punctual Curiosity in performing his Word, until he has improved his Credit as far as it can go; and then he has catched the Fish, and throws away the Net ; as a Butcher, when he has fed his Beast as fat as it can grow, cuts the Throat of it. When he has brought his Design to Perfection, and disposed of all his Materials, he lays his Train, like a Powder Traytor, and gets out of the way, while he blows up all those that trusted him. After the Blow is given there is no Manner of Intelligence to be had of him for some Months, until the Rage and Fury is somewhat digested, and all Hopes vanished of ever recovering any Thing of Body, or Goods, for Revenge, or Restitution; and then Propositions of Treaty and Accommodation appear, like the sign of the Hand and Pen out of the Clouds, with Conditions more unreasonable than Thieves are wont to demand for Restitution of stolen Goods. He shoots like a Fowler at a whole Flock of Geese at once, and stalks with his Horse to come as near as possibly he can without being perceived by any one, or giving the least suspicion of his Design, until it is too late to prevent it; and then he flies from them, as they should have done before from him. His Way is so commonly used in the City, that he robs in a Road, like a Highwayman, and yet they will never arrive at Wit enough to avoid it ; for it is done upon surprise ; and as Thieves are commonly better mounted than those they rob, he very easily makes his Escape, and flies beyond Persuit of Huon-cries, and there is no Possibility of overtaking him.