 of his father, and consequently insurmountable by all
the efforts of human care. But the commodore rejoiced over the ruggedness of his
nature, and was particularly pleased when upon inquiry he found that Perry had
beaten all the boys in the school; a circumstance from which he prognosticated
every thing that was fair and fortunate in his future fate; observing, that at
his age he himself was just such another. The boy, who was now turned of six,
having profited so little under the birch of his unsparing governor, Mrs. Pickle
was counselled to send him to a boarding-school not far from London, which was
kept by a certain person very eminent for his successful method of education.
This advice she the more readily embraced, because at that time she found
herself pretty far gone with another child, that she hoped would console her for
the disappointment she had met with in the unpromising talents of Perry, or at
any rate divide her concern, so as to enable her to endure the absence of
either.
 

                                  Chapter XII

Peregrine is sent to a Boarding-School, becomes Remarkable for his Genius and
Ambition
 
The commodore understanding her determination, to which her husband did not
venture to make the least objection, interested himself so much in behalf of his
favourite, as to fit him out at his own charge, and accompany him in person to
the place of his destination; where he defrayed the expence of his entrance, and
left him to the particular care and inspection of the usher, who having been
recommended to him as a person of parts and integrity, received per advance a
handsome consideration for the task he undertook.
    Nothing could be better judged than this piece of liberality; the assistant
was actually a man of learning, probity, and good sense; and though obliged by
the scandalous administration of fortune to act in the character of an inferior
teacher, had by his sole capacity and application, brought the school to that
degree of reputation which it never could have obtained from the talents of his
superior. He had established an oeconomy, which though regular, was not at all
severe, by enacting a body of laws suited to the age and comprehension of every
individual; and each transgressor was fairly tried by his peers, and punished
according to the verdict of the jury. No boy was scourged for want of
apprehension, but a spirit of emulation was raised by well-timed praise and
artful comparison, and maintained by a distribution of small prizes, which were
adjudged to those who signalized themselves either by their industry, sobriety
or genius. This tutor, whose name was Jennings, began with Perry
