glorious services which contributed so largely to
its liberty. And I might never have comprehended that the American
Revolution was brought on and fought by a headstrong king, backed by
unscrupulous followers who held wealth above patriotism. It is often
difficult to lay finger upon the causes which change the drift of a
man's opinions, and so I never wholly knew why John Paul abandoned his
deep-rooted purpose to obtain advancement in London by grace of the
accomplishments he had laboured so hard to attain. But I believe the
beginning was at the meeting at Windsor with the slim and cynical
gentleman who had treated him to something between patronage and
contempt. Then my experience with Mr. Manners had so embedded itself
in his mind that he could never speak of it but with impatience and
disgust. And, lastly, the bailiff's hotel contained many born gentlemen
who had been left here to rot out the rest of their dreary lives by
friends who were still in power and opulence. More than once when I
climbed to our garret I found the captain seated on the three-legged
chair, with his head between his hands, sunk in reflection.

"You were right, Richard," said he; "your great world is a hard world
for those in the shadow of it. I see now that it must not be entered
from below, but from the cabin window. A man may climb around it, lad,
and when he is above may scourge it."

"And you will scourge it, captain!" I had no doubt of his ability one
day to do it.

"Ay, and snap my fingers at it. 'Tis a pretty organization, this
society, which kicks the man who falls to the dogs. None of your fine
gentlemen for me!"

And he would descend to talk politics with our fellow-guests. We should
have been unhappy indeed had it not been for this pastime. It seems
to me strange that these debtors took such a keen interest in outside
affairs, even tho' it was a time of great agitation. We read with
eagerness the cast-off newspapers of the first-floor gentlemen. One poor
devil who had waddled (failed) in Change Alley had collected under his
mattress the letters of Junius, then selling the Public Advertiser as
few publications had ever sold before. John Paul devoured these attacks
upon his Majesty and his ministry in a single afternoon, and ere long
he had on the tip of his tongue the name and value of every man in
Parliament and out of it. He learned, almost by heart, the history of
the astonishing fight made by Mr. Wilkes for the liberties of En