Parliament of Great
Britain should, in their great wisdoms, and their prudence, and their
penetration, give countenance and encouragement, look you, to the works
of darkness and the empire of Pelzepup--ofer and apove the evidence of
holy writ, and those writers who have been quoted by that aggurate and
learned shentleman, we are informed, by profane history, of the pribbles
and pranks of the old serpent, in the bortents and oragles of antiquity,
as you will find in that most excellent historian Bolypius, and Titus
Lifius; ay, and moreofer, in the Commentaries of Julius Caesar himself,
who, as the ole world knows, was a most famous, and a most faliant, and
a most wise, and a most prudent, and a most fortunate chieftain, and a
most renowned orator; ay, and a most elegant writer to boot."

Peregrine did not think proper to enter the lists of dispute with three
such obstinate antagonists, but contented himself with saying that he
believed it would be no difficult matter to impugn the arguments
they had advanced; though he did not find himself at all disposed to
undertake the task, which must of course break in upon the evening's
entertainment. He therefore invited the Italian to supper, and asked
the same favour of his accuser, who seemed to have something curious and
characteristic in his manner and disposition, resolving to make himself
an eye-witness of those surprising feats which had given offence to
the choleric Briton. This scrupulous gentleman thanked our hero for
his courtesy, but declined communicating with the stranger until his
character should be further explained; upon which his inviter, after
some conversation with the charlatan, assured him that he would himself
undertake for the innocence of his art; and then he was prevailed upon
to favour them with his company.

In the course of the conversation, Peregrine learned that the Welshman
was a surgeon of Canterbury, who had been called in to a consultation at
Dover; and, understanding that his name was Morgan, took the liberty
of asking if he was not the person so respectfully mentioned in the
"Adventures of Roderick Random." Mr. Morgan assumed a look of gravity
and importance at this interrogation, and, screwing up his mouth,
answered, "Mr. Rantum, my good sir, I believe, upon my conscience and
salfation, is my very goot frient and well-wisher; and he and I have
been companions and messmates and fellow-sufferers, look you; but
nevertheless, for all that, per