a Christian, faithful man,
I would not pass another such a night
Though 'twere to buy a world of happy days,
So full of dismal terror was the time.'"

"Bravo!" cried Max, applauding furiously, "I like to see that; it's what
I call coming out strong under discouraging circumstances. Here are we,
six forlorn castaways, on a desert island, somewhere, (no one knows
where), in the Pacific Ocean; and, instead of moping, and sulking, and
bemoaning our hard fate, we wake up of a fine morning, quite bright and
cheerful, and one of the six, (or seven, more correctly speaking), goes
to work spouting Shakespeare, carrying us back to old times, and making
us feel, (as Morton would say), like `happy schoolboys again.'"

"What's all this?" cried Arthur, coming forward with a puzzled air,
"what is Max making a speech about? has he taken the stump as a
candidate for the presidency of the island?"

"He needn't do that," said Browne, "we're not going to have any
presidents, or other republican trumpery here; I have formally taken
possession of the island in the name of Victoria; and it is therefore a
colony of Great Britain; I shall apply, at the first convenient
opportunity, for letters patent, making me colonial governor."

"Tory, monarchist!" cried Max, "recant at once, or you sha'n't taste a
mouthful of my breakfast."

"Do you think I'll sell my loyalty for a mess of pottage! No, I'm for a
well-regulated monarchy: hurrah for Victoria!"

"Down with the Britisher!" cried Johnny, entering into the spirit of the
scene, and tugging at Browne's coat-tails; "make him hurrah for the
stars and stripes, or else don't give him any of our oysters!"

"You're surely not going back to the principles of the dark ages--you
won't attack the right of private judgement, and persecute for opinion's
sake."

"The right of private judgment, indeed!" answered Max, with great
contempt. "I hold that no person can have a right, on any pretence
whatever, to entertain erroneous opinions on important subjects,
affecting the welfare of mankind. If a man does entertain such
opinions, it is the duty of those who know better to convince him of the
error by the most effectual arguments at their command. It is,
therefore, my duty to open your eyes to the blessings of liberal
institutions. I have here, (pointing towards the incipient breakfast),
the most powerful means to assist and quicken your perception of the
truth. Shall I not use those means?"