the New
Jerusalem?" exclaimed Lord Upperton.

Dinner over, the ladies passed into the parlor while the gentlemen
smoked their pipes and finished their wine.

"I suppose, my lord," said Mr. Adams, "you have not been here
sufficiently long to form an opinion in regard to the Colonies."

"Everything is so new and strange," Lord Upperton replied, "I hardly
know what to make of it. I had an idea that I should find your people
quite rude and uncultivated. I understand you haven't any theatre or
anything of that sort; but, really, your ladies charm me by their
conversation. Mrs. Adams informs me she has studied Latin and Greek."

"I am happy to say my wife can read Cicero and Homer in the
originals," Mr. Adams replied.

"You astonish me," his lordship exclaimed.

"We are somewhat primitive, but the Colonies in time will make amends
for whatever they maybe lacking now," Mr. Adams responded, sipping his
wine. "The people who came to this Western world did so mainly for
conscience sake, and the time will come when this country will be the
seat of empire. Society here is established on enduring foundations.
One hundred years hence the chances are the people in the Colonies
will outnumber those of England. We are loyal to the king, but we are
a liberty-loving people and jealous of our rights. In time we shall be
so strong that the united force of Europe will not be able to subdue
us."[48]

[Footnote 48: The paragraph is in substance the prophecy of John
Adams, written to Nathan Webb, a school-teacher in Worcester, in
1755.]

"You have a great extent of country, but as a people you are widely
scattered. You have only a little fringe of settlements along the
seacoast. It will be an easy matter to divide you. England is rich,
and has a great navy; she controls the sea. Her armies have been
victors on many fields; she has wrested Canada from France," said his
lordship.

"With the aid of the Colonies," interrupted Mr. Adams.

"Perhaps we had better give politics the go-by and join the ladies,"
said his lordship, rising and moving towards the parlor.

Pompey brought in the tea-urn, cups and saucers, sugar and cream.

"Shall I pass you a cup, Miss Newville?" Lord Upperton asked.

"Thank you, my lord, but I do not drink tea."

"Ha, ha! Miss Newville, so you have joined the other conspirators to
outwit Lord North!"

"No, your lordship, I have not joined them, but I must say I admire
their resolution in giving up a luxur