 him and all danger; the nature of his
plan being such, as would infallibly treble the sum in a very few months.
    In a little time after this transaction, writs being issued out for electing
a new parliament, our adventurer, by the advice of his patron, went into the
country, in order to canvass for a borough, and lined his pockets with a
competent share of bank-notes for the occasion. But, in this project, he
unfortunately happened to interfere with the interest of a great family in the
opposition, who, for a long series of years, had made members for that place;
and were now so much offended at the intrusion of our young gentleman, that they
threatened to spend ten thousand pounds in frustrating his design. This menace
was no other than an incitement to Peregrine, who confided so much in his own
influence and address, that he verily believed he should be able to baffle his
grace, even in his own territories, and by that victory establish his reputation
and interest with the minister, who, through the recommendation of his noble
friend, countenanced his cause, and would have been very well pleased to see one
of his greatest enemies suffer such a disgraceful overthrow, which would have,
moreover, in a great measure shaken his credit with his faction.
    Our hero, intoxicated with the ideas of pride and ambition, put all his
talents to the test, in the execution of this project. He spared no expence in
treating the electors; but finding himself rivalled, in this respect, by his
competitor, who was powerfully supported, he had recourse to those
qualifications in which he thought himself superior. He made balls for the
ladies, visited the matrons of the corporation, adapted himself to their various
humours with surprising facility, drank with those who loved a cherishing cup in
private, made love to the amorous, prayed with the religious, gossiped with
those who delighted in scandal, and with great sagacity contrived agreeable
presents to them all. This was the most effectual method of engaging such
electors as were under the influence of their wives; and as for the rest, he
assailed them in their own way, setting whole hogsheads of beer and wine
abroach, for the benefit of all comers; and into those sordid hearts that liquor
would not open, he found means to convey himself by the help of a golden key.
    While he thus exerted himself, his antagonist was not idle; his age and
infirmities would not permit him to enter personally into their parties; but his
steward and adherents bestirred themselves with great industry and perseverance;
and the
