wer this
question, Pallet broke forth into an exclamation of "By the Lord! that
is certainly fact, egad! that was a home-thrust, doctor." When Mr.
Jolter, chastising this shallow intruder with a contemptuous look,
affirmed that, though supreme power furnished a good prince with the
means of exerting his virtues, it would not support a tyrant in the
exercise of cruelty and oppression; because in all nations the genius
of the people must be consulted by their governors, and the burthen
proportioned to the shoulders on which it is laid. "Else, what follows?"
said the physician. "The consequence is plain," replied the governor,
"insurrection, revolt, and his own destruction; for it is not to
be supposed that the subjects of any nation would be so abject and
pusillanimous as to neglect the means which heaven hath put in their
power for their own preservation."--"Gadzooks, you're in the right, sir!"
cried Pallet; "that, I grant you, must be confessed: doctor, I'm afraid
we have got into the wrong box." This son of Paean, however, far from
being of his friend's opinion, observed, with an air of triumph, that
he would not only demonstrate the sophistry of the gentleman's last
allegation by argument and facts, but even confute him with his own
words. Jolter's eyes kindling at this presumptuous declaration, he told
his antagonist, while his lip quivered with resentment, that if his
arguments were no better than his breeding, he was sure he would make
very few converts to his opinion; and the doctor, with all the insolence
of triumph, advised him to beware of disputes for the future, until he
should have made himself more master of his subject.

Peregrine both wished and hoped to see the disputants proceed to
arguments of more weight and conviction; and the painter, dreading the
same issue, interposed with the usual exclamation of "For God's sake,
gentlemen;" when the governor rose from table in great dudgeon, and left
the room, muttering some ejaculation, of which the word coxcomb only
could be distinctly heard. The physician, being thus left master of the
field of battle, was complimented on his victory by Peregrine, and so
elevated by his success, that he declaimed a full hour on the
absurdity of Jolter's proposition, and the beauty of the democratic
administration; canvassed the whole scheme of Plato's republic, with
many quotations from that ideal author, touching the to kalon: from
thence he made a transition to the moral se