“And, as I believe, Bright took home with him from the captain letters to the Secretary of the Admiralty (a personal friend of his) explaining the whole matter and recommending Bright for promotion. At any rate, he was promoted, and we never heard anything more from the captain of the slaver.”
“Ah, those were times, sir,” said Sir William Leathbridge. “Happily for the world they have long since passed away.”
“There are a few white slaves in this country, I believe,” said the captain, carelessly.
“That may be; but they are not slaves in the sense we allude to. Many men are slaves to habit; indeed, most of us are, but that is very different to being bought and sold like beasts of burthen.”
“Perhaps I have not duly considered the question,” returned the captain.
“I do not say that for a moment; on the contrary, no man has had better opportunities than yourself to thoroughly understand the subject, and I take it we are not likely to disagree on its general bearings.”
“I hope not, I am sure,” said Captain Crasher. “But the evil has passed away, and none of us here, I expect, would wish a return of the old times. Our American cousins have endorsed the opinion expressed by the people of this country, and it redounds to their credit that they have followed the excellent example set by the ‘Britishers,’ as they term them.”
A desultory conversation followed, in which many of the company took part, and soon after this it was announced by the hostess that the concert was about to commence.
Many of the guests had by this time betaken themselves to the apartment where the musical performances were to be given, and the remaining portion of the company rose from their seats and sauntered into the concert-room. They dispersed themselves in groups on the chairs and couches placed around for their reception.
A young lady was conducted to the piano by Signor Marouski, who was, in addition to being one of the chief performers, also master of the ceremonies, or musical director.