'All the difference between them is, that the one, rendered desperate by passion, poverty, or injustice, endeavours by _wrong_ means to do himself _right_, and through this terrible and pitiable mistake destroys the life or the property of a fellow being--The others, wantonly and in cold blood, cut down millions of their species, ravage whole towns and cities, and carry devastation through a country.' 'What _odd notions_! Dear, Mr Pemberton, did you ever hear a lady talk so strangely?' Thus called upon, Mr Pemberton thought it incumbent upon him to interfere--'_Courtney_, I think, Madam, your name is! The daughter of an old friend of mine, if I am not mistaken, and who, I remember, was, when a very young lady, a great admirer of _Roman virtues_.' 'Not of _Roman virtues_, I believe, Sir; they had in them too much of the destructive spirit which Mrs Melmoth thinks so admirable.' 'Indeed, I said nothing about _Roman virtues_, nor do I trouble myself with such subjects--I merely admired the soldiers because they are so brave and so polite; besides, the military dress is so elegant and becoming--Dear, Mr Pemberton, how charmingly you must look in your regimentals!' Mr Pemberton, bowing in return to the compliment, made an animated eulogium on the taste and beauty of the speaker. 'Pray, Sir,' resumed she, addressing herself to Mr Harley, whose inattention seemed to pique her, and whose notice she was determined to attract, 'are you of Miss Courtney's opinion--do you think it right to call soldiers _murderers_?' 'Upon my word, Madam,' with an air of irony, 'you must excuse me from entering into such _nice distinctions_--when _ladies_ differ, who shall presume to decide?' Mr Melmoth interposed, by wishing, 'that they had some thousands more of these _murderers_ in the West Indies, to keep the slaves in subordination, who, since absurd notions of liberty had been put into their heads, were grown very troublesome and refractory, and, in a short time, he supposed, would become as insolent as the English servants.' 'Would you believe it, Mrs Denbeigh,' said the Planter's lady, addressing the sister of her husband, 'Mr Melmoth and I have been in England but a month, and have been obliged three times to change our whole suit of servants?' 'This is a land of freedom, my dear sister; servants, here, will not submit to be treated like the slaves of Jamaica.' 'Well, I am sure it is very provoking to have one's will disputed by such low, ignorant, creatures. How should they know what is right? It is enough for them to obey the orders of their superiors.' 'But suppose,' replied Mrs Denbeigh, 'they should happen to think their superiors unreasonable!' '_Think!_ sister,' said the lordly Mr Melmoth, with an exulting laugh, 'what have _servants_, or _women_, to do with _thinking_?'