 attempted to draw upon the bailiffs, who
disarmed him in a twinkling; and this effort served only to heighten his
disgrace, which was witnessed by a thousand people, most of whom laughed very
heartily, at the adventure of a lord's being arrested.
    Such a public transaction could not long escape the knowledge of his father,
who (that very day) had the satisfaction to hear that his son was in a
spunging-house. In consequence of this information, he sent his steward to learn
the particulars of the arrest, and was equally offended, surprized, and
concerned, when he understood the nature of the debt, which he imagined his son
had already discharged. Unwilling to pay such a considerable sum for a
spendthrift, whom he had but too much indulged, and who in less than one week
might involve himself in such another difficulty, the old gentleman wrote a
letter to Peregrine, representing what a hardship it would be upon him to
forfeit such sums by the indiscretion of a son, whose engagements he was not
bound to fulfil, and desiring some mitigation in his demand, as it was not a
debt contracted for value received, but incurred without subjecting him to the
least damage or inconvenience.
    Our adventurer no sooner received this letter, than he went in person to
wait upon the author, to whom he, in a candid manner, related the particular
circumstances of the match, together with the ingratitude and audacity of his
son, which he owned had stimulated him to such measures as he, otherwise, would
have scorned to take. The nobleman acknowledged, that the revenge was hardly
adequate to the provocation, and condemned the conduct of his son with such
justice and integrity, as disarmed Peregrine of his resentment, and disposed him
to give an undoubted proof of his own disinterestedness, which he immediately
exhibited, by producing the note, and tearing it to pieces, after having assured
his lordship, that the writ should be withdrawn, and the prisoner discharged
before night.
    The earl, who perfectly well understood the value of money, and was no
stranger to the characters of mankind, stood amazed at this sacrifice which
Pickle protested was offered by his esteem for his lordship; and after having
complimented him upon his generosity, in a very uncommon strain of encomium,
begg'd the favour of his acquaintance, and insisted upon his dining with him
next day. The youth, proud of having met with such an opportunity to distinguish
himself, in less than an hour performed every article of his promise; and in the
morning was visited by the debtor, who came, by the
