his poor enslaved people if we bestir
ourselves in demanding or imploring the release of our unhappy
countrymen; as we may thereby prevent the commission of a flagrant
crime, which would fill up the vengeance of Heaven against the
perpetrators, and perhaps be the means of restoring the whole nation to
the unspeakable fruition of freedom. For my own part, I should rejoice
to see the blood of my father spilt in such a glorious cause, provided
such a victim would furnish me with the opportunity of dissolving the
chains of slavery, and vindicating that liberty which is the birthright
of man. Then would my name be immortalised among the patriot heroes of
antiquity, and my memory, like that of Harmodius and Aristogiton, be
honoured by statues erected at the public expense."

This rhapsody, which was delivered with great emphasis and agitation,
gave so much offence to Jolter, that, without saying one word, he
retired in great wrath to his own chamber; and the republican returned
to his lodging, in full hope of his prognostic being verified in the
death and destruction of Peregrine and the painter, which must give rise
to some renowned revolution, wherein he himself would act a principal
part. But the governor whose imagination was not quite so warm and
prolific, went directly to the ambassador, whom he informed of his
pupil's situation, and besought to interpose with the French ministry,
that he and the other British subject might obtain their liberty.

His excellency asked, if Jolter could guess at the cause of his
imprisonment, that he might be the better prepared to vindicate or
excuse his conduct: but neither he nor Pipes could give the smallest
hint of intelligence on that subject; though he furnished himself from
Tom's own mouth with a circumstantial account of the manner in which
his master had been arrested, as well as of his own behaviour, and the
disaster he had received on that occasion. His lordship never doubted
that Pickle had brought this calamity upon himself by some unlucky
prank he had played at the masquerade; when he understood that the young
gentleman had drunk freely in the afternoon, and been so whimsical as to
go thither with a man in woman's apparel; and he that same day waited on
the French minister, in full confidence of obtaining his discharge; but
met with more difficulty than he expected, the court of France being
extremely punctilious in everything that concerns a prince of the blood:
the ambass