“Might as well lay that kind a’ financerin aside, Colonel.  What’s the use of living in a free country, where every man has a right to make a penny when he can, and talk so?  Now, ’pears to me t’aint no use a’ mincing the matter; we might a’ leaked ye in for as many thousands as hundreds.  Seein’ how ye was a good customer, we saved ye on a small shot.  Better put the niggers out:  ownin’ such a lot, ye won’t feel it!  Give us three prime chaps; none a’ yer old sawbones what ye puts up at auction when ther’ worked down to nothin’.”

M’Carstrow’s powers of reasoning are quite limited; and, finding himself in one of those strange situations southern gentlemen so often get into, and which not unfrequently prove as perplexing as the workings of the peculiar institution itself, he seeks relief by giving an order for three prime fellows.  They will be delivered up, at the plantation, on the following day, when the merchandise will be duly made over, as per invoice.  Everything is according to style and honour; the gentlemen pledge their faith to be gentlemen, to leave no dishonourable loop-hole for creeping out.  And now, having settled the little matter, they make M’Carstrow the very best of bows, desire to be remembered to his woman, bid him good morning, and leave.  They will claim their property-three prime men-by the justice of a “free-born democracy.”

M’Carstrow watches them from the house, moralising over his folly.  They have gone!  He turns from the sight, ascends the stairs, and repairs to meet his Franconia.

CHAPTER XXII.

The vicissitudes of A preacher.

We left Harry, the faithful servant, whose ministerial functions had been employed in elevating the souls of Marston’s property, being separated from his wife and sold to Mr. M’Fadden.  M’Fadden is a gentleman—­we do not impugn the name, in a southern sense—­of that class—­very large class—­who, finding the laws of their own country too oppressive for their liberal thoughts, seek a republican’s home in ours.  It is to such men, unhappily, the vices of slavery are open.  They grasp them, apply them to purposes most mercenary, most vile.  The most hardened of foreigners-that essence of degraded outcasts,—­may, under the privileges of slavery, turn human misery into the means of making money.  He has no true affiliations with the people of the south, nor can he feel aught beyond a selfish interest in the prosperity of the State; but he can be active in the work of evil.  With the foreigner—­we speak from observation—­affecting love of liberty at home, it would seem, only makes him the greater tyrant when slavery gives him power to execute its inhuman trusts.  Mr. Lawrence M’Fadden is one of this description of persons; he will make a fortune in the South, and live a gentleman in the North—­ perhaps, at home on his own native Isle.  Education he has none; moral principle