 who
contributed not a little to the improvement of his knowledge and taste; for,
prejudice apart, it must be owned that France abounds with men of consummate
honour, profound sagacity, and the most liberal education. From the conversation
of such, he obtained a distinct idea of their government and constitution; and
though he could not help admiring the excellent order and oeconomy of their
police, the result of all his inquiries was self-congratulation on his title to
the privileges of a British subject. Indeed this invaluable birthright was
rendered conspicuous by such flagrant occurrences, which fell every day almost
under his observation, that nothing but the grossest prejudice could dispute its
existence.
 

                                  Chapter XLIV

Acquires a distinct Idea of the French Government; quarrels with a Mousquetaire,
whom he afterwards fights and vanquishes, after having punished him for
interfering in his amorous Recreations
 
Among many other instances of the same nature, I believe it will not be amiss to
exhibit a few specimens of their administration, which happened during his abode
at Paris, that those who have not the opportunity of observing for themselves,
or are in danger of being influenced by misrepresentation, may compare their own
condition with that of their neighbours, and do justice to the constitution
under which they live.
    A lady of distinguished character having been lampooned by some obscure
scribler, who could not be discovered, the ministry, in consequence of her
complaint, ordered no fewer than five and twenty abbés to be apprehended and
sent to the Bastile, on the maxim of Herod, when he commanded the innocents to
be murdered, hoping that the principal object of his cruelty would not escape in
the general calamity; and the friends of those unhappy prisoners durst not even
complain of the unjust persecution, but shrugged up their shoulders, and in
silence deplored their misfortune, uncertain whether or not they should ever set
eyes on them again.
    About the same time, a gentleman of family, who had been oppressed by a
certain powerful duke that lived in the neighbourhood, found means to be
introduced to the king, who receiving his petition very graciously, asked in
what regiment he served; and when the memorialist answered, that he had not the
honour of being in the service, returned the paper unopened, and refused to hear
one circumstance of his complaint; so that, far from being redressed, he
remained more than ever exposed to the tyranny of his oppressors: nay, so
notorious is the discouragement of all those who presume to live independent of
court-favour and connexions, that one of the gentlemen, whose friendship
Peregrine cultivated, frankly owned he was in possession of a most romantic
