hown." Peregrine, unwilling to mortify any person who had done
his endeavour to please him, observed, that what he had seen was very
curious and entertaining; but that no private collection in Europe was
equal to that of Sir Hans Sloane, which, exclusive of presents, had cost
an hundred thousand pounds. The two conductors were confounded at this
asseveration, which, being communicated to the cheesemonger, he shook
his head with a significant grin; and, though he did not choose to
express his incredulity in words, gave our hero to understand, that
he did not much depend upon his veracity. From the house of this
Dutch naturalist, they were draggled all round the city by the painful
civility of their attendants, who did not quit them till the evening was
well advanced, and then not till after they had promised to be with
them before ten o'clock next day, in order to conduct them to a country
house, situated in a pleasant village on the other side of the river.

Pickle was already so much fatigued with their hospitality, that, for
the first time of his life, he suffered a dejection of spirits; and
resolved, at any rate, to avoid the threatened persecution of to-morrow.
With this view, he ordered his servants to pack up some clothes and
linen in a portmanteau; and in the morning embarked, with his governor,
in the treckskuyt, for the Hague, whither he pretended to be called by
some urgent occasion, leaving his fellow-travellers to make his apology
to their friends, and assuring them, that he would not proceed for
Amsterdam without their society. He arrived at the Hague in the
forenoon, and dined at an ordinary frequented by officers and people of
fashion; where being informed that the princess would see company in the
evening, he dressed himself in a rich suit of the Parisian cut, and went
to court, without any introduction. A person of his appearance could not
fail to attract the notice of such a small circle. The prince himself,
understanding he was an Englishman and a stranger, went up to him
without ceremony, and, having welcomed him to the place, conversed with
him for some minutes on the common topics of discourse.

CHAPTER LXV.

They proceed to the Hague; from whence they depart for Amsterdam, where
they see a Dutch Tragedy--Visit the Music-house, in which Peregrine
quarrels with the Captain of a Man-of-War--They pass through Haerlem, in
their way to Leyden--Return to Rotterdam, where the Company separates,