aware of the source from which they originated to awaken any
fears, and instead of daunting his energy they only increased it, and
brought to his aid the valuable services of the Hon. James L. Petigru, a
gentleman of whom it is said, (notwithstanding his eminence at the
bar,) that had it not been for his purity of character, his opinions
in opposition to the State would have long since consigned him to a
traitor's exile. The truth was-and much against Mr. Petigru's popularity
in his own State-that he was a man of sound logic, practical judgment,
and legal discrimination. Thus endowed with the requisite qualities of
a good statesman, and pursuing a true course to create a conservative
influence in the State, he failed to become popular beyond his legal
sphere. Had he espoused that most popular of all doctrines in South
Carolina-nullification and secession-and carried abstraction to
distraction, James L. Petigru would have added another "Roman name" to
that which has already passed from South Carolina's field of action.

The consul did his duty, but effected nothing; and such was the
opposition manifested by the officials who were interested in the spoils
of law, and politicians who could not see any thing important beyond
secession, that there was no prospect of it. And, as the last resort,
he appealed to the Judiciary through the "habeas corpus," the result of
which we shall show in a subsequent chapter.

CHAPTER XVII. LITTLE GEORGE, THE CAPTAIN, AND MR. GRIMSHAW.

THE consul had returned to his office rather discomfited at not being
able to relieve Manuel, yet satisfied that he had placed matters in
their proper light before the public. The Captain reported and left his
manifest at the custom-house, after entering his protest and making the
necessary arrangements for survey, &c. &c. And Colonel S--became so well
satisfied of the affectation of law protectors, and that his services
in behalf of humanity were like straws contending against a foaming
current, that, acknowledging his regrets to the Captain, he preferred to
make up in attention what he could not do for Manuel through the law.

Little George paid his respects to the Janson between ten and eleven
o'clock, duly dressed. "Mr. Mate, where's your skipper?" he inquired,
with an air of consequence that put an extra pucker on his little
twisting mouth.

"Gone to jail, or to see Doctor Jones, I expect, not giving ye an ill
answer," replied the old mate,