4. CHAP. IV.
CAPTAIN FARRAGO leaving this
place, proceeded on his way; and at
the distance of a mile or two, met a man
with a bridle in his hand; who had lost
a horse, and had been at a conjurer's to
make enquiry, and recover his property.
It struck the mind of the Captain to go
to this conjuring person, and make a demand
of him, what was the cause that the
multitude were so disposed to elevate the
low to the highest station. He had rode
but about a mile, when the habitation of
the conjurer, by the direction and description
of the man who had lost the horse had
given, began to be in view. Coming up
to the door, and enquiring if that was not
where conjurer Kolt lived, they were answered
Yes. Accordingly alighting, and
entering the domicile, all those things took
place which usually happen, or are described
in cases of this nature, viz. there
was the conjurer's assistant, who gave the
Captain to understand that master had
withdrawn a little, but would be in shortly.
In the mean time, the assistant endeavoured
to draw from him some account of
the occasion of his journey; which the
other readily communicated; and the conjurer,
who was listening through a crack
in the partition, overheard. Finding it
was not a horse or a cow, or a piece of
linen that was lost, but an abstract question
of political philosophy which was to be put,
he came from his lurking place, and entered,
as if not knowing that any person
had been waiting for him.
After mutual salutations, the Captain
gave him to understand the object which
he had in view by calling on him.
Said the conjurer, This lies not at all in
my way. If it had been a dozen of spoons,
or a stolen watch, that you had to look
for, I could very readily, by the assistance
of my art, have assisted you in the recovery;
but as to this matter of men's imaginations
and attachments in political affairs,
I have no more understanding than
another man.
It is very strange, said the Captain, that
you who can tell by what means a thing is
stolen, and the place where it is deposited,
though at a thousand miles distance, should
know so little of what is going on in the
breast of man, as not to be able to develope
his secret thoughts, and the motives
of his actions.
It is not of our business, said the other;
but should we undertake it, I do not see
that it would be very difficult to explain
all that puzzles you at present. There is
no need of a conjurer to tell why it is that
the common people are more disposed to
trust one of their own class, than those
who may affect to be superior. Besides,
there is a certain pride in man, which leads
him to elevate the low, and pull down the
high. There is a kind of creating power
exerted in making a senator of an unqualified
person; which when the author has
done, he exults over the work, and, like
the Creator himself when he made the
world, sees that “it is very good.” Moreover,
there is in every government a patrician
class, against whom the spirit of the
multitude naturally militates: And hence
a perpetual war; the aristocrats endeavouring
to detrude the people, and the
people contending to obtrude themselves.
And it is right it should be so; for by this
fermentation, the spirit of democracy is
kept alive.
The Captain, thanking him for his information,
asked him what was to pay;
at the same time pulling out half a crown
from a green silk purse which he had in
his breeches pocket. The conjurer gave
him to understand, that as the solution of
these difficulties was not within his province,
he took nothing for it. The Captain
expressing his sense of his disinterested
service, bade him adieu.
