with the king, been communicated to several of the inferior gardeners.  Without any impeachment of Israel’s fealty to his country, it must still be narrated, that from this his familiar audience with George the Third, he went away with very favorable views of that monarch.  Israel now thought that it could not be the warm heart of the king, but the cold heads of his lords in council, that persuaded him so tyrannically to persecute America.  Yet hitherto the precise contrary of this had been Israel’s opinion, agreeably to the popular prejudice throughout New England.

Thus we see what strange and powerful magic resides in a crown, and how subtly that cheap and easy magnanimity, which in private belongs to most kings, may operate on good-natured and unfortunate souls.  Indeed, had it not been for the peculiar disinterested fidelity of our adventurer’s patriotism, he would have soon sported the red coat; and perhaps under the immediate patronage of his royal friend, been advanced in time to no mean rank in the army of Britain.  Nor in that case would we have had to follow him, as at last we shall, through long, long years of obscure and penurious wandering.

Continuing in the service of the king’s gardeners at Kew, until a season came when the work of the garden required a less number of laborers, Israel, with several others, was discharged; and the day after, engaged himself for a few months to a farmer in the neighborhood where he had been last employed.  But hardly a week had gone by, when the old story of his being a rebel, or a runaway prisoner, or a Yankee, or a spy, began to be revived with added malignity.  Like bloodhounds, the soldiers were once more on the track.  The houses where he harbored were many times searched; but thanks to the fidelity of a few earnest well-wishers, and to his own unsleeping vigilance and activity, the hunted fox still continued to elude apprehension.  To such extremities of harassment, however, did this incessant pursuit subject him, that in a fit of despair he was about to surrender himself, and submit to his fate, when Providence seasonably interposed in his favor.

CHAPTER VI.

Israel makes the acquaintance of certain secret friends of America, one of them being the famous author of the “Diversions of Purley,” These despatch him on A sly errand across the channel.

At this period, though made the victims indeed of British oppression, yet the colonies were not totally without friends in Britain.  It was but natural that when Parliament itself held patriotic and gifted men, who not only recommended conciliatory measures, but likewise denounced the war as monstrous; it was but natural that throughout the nation at large there should be many private individuals cherishing similar sentiments, and some who made no scruple clandestinely to act upon them.