citizens of the present day experience from the shop-keepers in the provincial towns of Germany: every body treats them politely, except when they come to receive money: some would know nothing of their old debts, or said they had all been settled at the time of their bankruptcy, and it was the fault of the creditor if he had not accepted payment. Others did not remember Melchior of Bremen, they opened their infallible books, and found nothing posted under that name. Some brought forth a large charge against Frank’s father; and, before the expiration of three days, he was safely shut up in prison to answer for them, and was not to be released till he had paid the last farthing.
These were not pleasant prospects for a young man, who confiding in the honesty of the people of Antwerp, had placed his hopes on them as the patrons of his fortune, and who now saw at once the fair bubble vanish into nothing. He felt in his narrow lodging all the torments of a soul in purgatory. He saw his vessel wrecked in the very harbour, where he deemed himself safe from the storms; every
