he, "be signals
of distress. Some poor souls in danger of foundering--let us bear up
a-head, and see if we can give them any assistance." The landlady begged
him, for Christ's sake, not to think of going out, for it was a spirit
that would lead him astray into fens and rivers, and certainly do him a
mischief. Crowe seemed to be staggered by this remonstrance, which his
nephew reinforced, observing, that it might be a stratagem of rogues to
decoy them into the fields, that they might rob them under the cloud of
night. Thus exhorted, he resumed his seat, and Mr. Ferret began to make
very severe strictures upon the folly and fear of those who believed and
trembled at the visitation of spirits, ghosts, and goblins. He said he
would engage with twelve pennyworth of phosphorus to frighten a whole
parish out of their senses; then he expatiated on the pusillanimity of
the nation in general, ridiculed the militia, censured the government,
and dropped some hints about a change of hands, which the captain could
not, and the doctor would not, comprehend.

Tom Clarke, from the freedom of his discourse, concluded he was a
ministerial spy, and communicated his opinion to his uncle in a whisper,
while this misanthrope continued to pour forth his invectives with a
fluency peculiar to himself. The truth is, Mr. Ferret had been a party
writer, not from principle, but employment, and had felt the rod of
power, in order to avoid a second exertion of which, he now found it
convenient to skulk about in the country, for he had received intimation
of a warrant from the secretary of state, who wanted to be better
acquainted with his person. Notwithstanding the ticklish nature of his
situation, it was become so habitual to him to think and speak in a
certain manner, that even before strangers whose principles and
connexions he could not possibly know, he hardly ever opened his mouth,
without uttering some direct or implied sarcasm against the government.

He had already proceeded a considerable way in demonstrating, that the
nation was bankrupt and beggared, and that those who stood at the helm
were steering full into the gulf of inevitable destruction, when his
lecture was suddenly suspended by a violent knocking at the door, which
threatened the whole house with inevitable demolition. Captain Crowe,
believing they should be instantly boarded, unsheathed his hanger, and
stood in a posture of defence. Mr. Fillet armed himself with the po