ich by the distresses of his
fellow-creatures. In answer to our hero's remonstrances, he observed,
that he did not look upon himself as obliged to pay the least regard to
the character of his predecessor, who had used him with great barbarity
and injustice, not only in excluding him from his countenance and
assistance, but also in prejudicing his inheritance as much as lay in
his power; so that it could not be reasonably expected that he would
pay ten thousand pounds of his debt, for which he had received no
value. Peregrine, in spite of his chagrin, could not help owning within
himself, that there was a good deal of reason in this refusal. After
having given loose to his indignation in the most violent invectives
against the defunct, he took his leave of the complaisant heir, and had
immediate recourse to the advice of counsel, who assured him that he had
an excellent plea, and was accordingly retained in the cause.

All these measures were taken in the first vigour of his exertion,
during which his spirits were so fluttered with the diversity of
passions produced by his mischance, that he mistook for equanimity that
which was no other than intoxication; and two whole days elapsed before
he attained a due sense of his misfortune. Then, indeed, he underwent a
woeful self-examination; every circumstance of the inquiry added fresh
pangs to his reflection; and the result of the whole was a discovery,
that his fortune was totally consumed, and himself reduced to a state
of the most deplorable dependence. This suggestion alone might, in the
anguish of his despondency, have driven him to some desperate course,
had it not been in some measure qualified by the confidence of his
lawyers, and the assurance of the minister, which, slender as the world
hath generally found them, were the only bulwarks between misery and
him.

The mind is naturally pliable, and, provided it has the least hope to
lean upon, adapts itself wonderfully to the emergencies of fortune,
especially when the imagination is gay and luxuriant. This was the case
with our adventurer; instead of indulging the melancholy ideas which
his loss inspired, he had recourse to the flattering delusions of hope,
soothing himself with unsubstantial plans of future greatness, and
endeavouring to cover what was past with the veil of oblivion. After
some hesitation, he resolved to make Crabtree acquainted with his
misfortune, that once for all he might pass the ordeal of his s