ition, and while they revolved schemes for the reformation of the
state, drank with such devotion to the accomplishment of their
plans, that, before parting, the cares of their patriotism were quite
overwhelmed.

Peregrine, though he could not approve of their doctrine, resolved to
attach himself for some time to their company, because he perceived
ample subject for his ridicule in the characters of these wrong-headed
enthusiasts. It was a constant practice with them, in their midnight
consistories, to swallow such plentiful draughts of inspiration, that
their mysteries commonly ended like those of the Bacchanalian orgia; and
they were seldom capable of maintaining that solemnity of decorum which,
by the nature of their functions, most of them were obliged to profess.
Now, as Peregrine's satirical disposition was never more gratified than
when he had an opportunity of exposing grave characters in ridiculous
attitudes, he laid a mischievous snare for his new confederates, which
took effect in this manner:--In one of their nocturnal deliberations,
he promoted such a spirit of good fellowship by the agreeable sallies
of his wit, which were purposely leveled against their political
adversaries, that by ten o'clock they were all ready to join in the most
extravagant proposal that could be made. They broke their glasses in
consequence of his suggestion, drank healths out of their shoes, caps,
and the bottoms of the candlesticks that stood before them, sometimes
standing with one foot on a chair, and the knee bent on the edge of
the table; and when they could no longer stand in that posture, setting
their bare posteriors on the cold floor. They huzzaed, hallooed, danced,
and sang, and, in short, were elevated to such a pitch of intoxication,
that when Peregrine proposed that they should burn their periwigs, the
hint was immediately approved, and they executed the frolic as one man.
Their shoes and caps underwent the same fate by the same instigation,
and in this trim he led them forth into the street, where they resolved
to compel everybody they should find to subscribe to their political
creed, and pronounce the Shibboleth of their party. In the achievement
of this enterprise, they met with more opposition than they expected;
they were encountered with arguments which they could not well
withstand; the noses of some, and eyes of others, in a very little
time bore the marks of obstinate disputation. Their conductor having at
l