ing else. So from island to island the _Percy
Edward_ cruised, looking more disreputable every day, until, as the
months went by, she began to resemble, in her tattered gear and dejected
appearance, her fatuous passengers. At last, after being chivvied about
considerably by the white and native inhabitants of the various islands
touched at, the forlorn expedition reached Fiji. Here fifty of the
idealists elected to remain and work for their living under a government
which represented the base and brutal institution of Monarchy. But the
remaining fifty-eight stuck to the _Percy Edward_ and her decayed salt
junk, and stinking water, and their beautiful ideals; till at last the
ship was caught in a hurricane, badly battered about, lost her foremast,
and only escaped foundering by resting her keel on the bottom of
Noumea Harbour. Then the visionaries began to collect their senses,
and denounced the _Percy Edward_ and the principles of the 'United
Brotherhood' as hollow frauds, and elected to go ashore and get a good
square meal.

The affair recalls the story of the ill-starred colony of 'Nouvelle
France,' which was given the tacit support of the French Government,
the blessing of the Church, and the hard-earned savings of the wretched
dupes of French, Italian and Spanish peasantry who believed in it--until
it collapsed, and many of them died cursing it and themselves on the
fever-stricken shores of New Ireland.

Early in 1879 an enticing prospectus appeared, signed 'Ch. du Breil,
Director and Founder of the Free Colony of Port Breton in Oceania.' In
this precious document the marvellous fertility, the beautiful scenery,
and the healthy climate of the island of New Ireland (Tombara) were
described at length, while the native inhabitants came in for much
unqualified praise as simple children of nature, who were looking
forward with rapture to the advent of the colonists, and to the prospect
of becoming citizens of the Free Colony, and being recognised as
Frenchmen, and helping the settlers cultivate the vine, etc., and being
admitted into the fold of Christianity.

Perhaps Du Breil believed in his impossible scheme--many people said so,
when, some years afterwards, he was sentenced to two years' imprisonment
and a fine of thirty thousand francs for his share in it. But if he
did not, the French peasantry did, and money came pouring in. Ignorant
people sold their little all and gathered together at Marseilles and
other port