thing but the grossest prejudice could
dispute its existence.

CHAPTER XL.

Acquires a distinct Idea of the French Government--Quarrels with a
Mousquetaire, whom he afterwards fights and vanquishes, after having
punished him for interfering in his amorous Recreations.

Among many other instances of the same nature, I believe it will not be
amiss to exhibit a few specimens of their administration, which happened
during his abode at Paris; that those who have not the opportunity
of observing for themselves, or are in danger of being influenced by
misrepresentation, may compare their own condition with that of their
neighbours, and do justice to the constitution under which they live.

A lady of distinguished character having been lampooned by some obscure
scribbler, who could not be discovered, the ministry, in consequence
of her complaint, ordered no fewer than five-and-twenty abbes to be
apprehended and sent to the Bastille, on the maxim of Herod, when he
commanded the innocents to be murdered, hoping that the principal object
of his cruelty would not escape in the general calamity; and the
friends of those unhappy prisoners durst not even complain of the unjust
persecution, but shrugged up their shoulders, and in silence deplored
their misfortune, uncertain whether or not they should ever set eyes on
them again.

About the same time a gentleman of family, who had been oppressed by a
certain powerful duke that lived in the neighbourhood, found means to
be introduced to the king, who, receiving his petition very graciously,
asked in what regiment he served; and when the memorialist answered
that he had not the honour of being in the service, returned the paper
unopened, and refused to hear one circumstance of his complaint; so
that, far from being redressed, he remained more than ever exposed to
the tyranny of his oppressors; nay, so notorious is the discouragement
of all those who presume to live independent of court favour and
connections that one of the gentlemen, whose friendship Peregrine
cultivated, frankly owned he was in possession of a most romantic place
in one of the provinces, and deeply enamoured of a country life; and
yet he durst not reside upon his own estate, lest, by slackening in his
attendance upon the great, who honoured him with their protection, he
should fall a prey to some rapacious intendant.

As for the common people, they are so much inured to the scourge and
insolence of powe