"
Mrs. Grizzle, who every morning interrogated her brother with
regard to the subject of his night's conversation with his friends,
soon received the unwelcome news of the commodore's aversion to
matrimony; and justly imputing the greatest part of his disgust to
the satirical insinuations of Mr. Hatchway, resolved to level this
obstruction to her success, and actually found means to interest
him in her scheme. She had indeed, on some occasions, a particular
knack at making converts, being probably not unacquainted with
that grand system of persuasion which is adopted by the greatest
personages of the age, and fraught with maxims much more effectual
than all the eloquence of Tully or Demosthenes, even when supported
by the demonstrations of truth; besides, Mr. Hatchway's fidelity
to his new ally was confirmed by his foreseeing, in his captain's
marriage, an infinite fund of gratification for his own cynical
disposition. Thus, therefore, converted and properly cautioned,
he for the future suppressed all the virulence of his wit against
the matrimonial state; and as he knew not how to open his mouth in
the positive praise of any person whatever, took all opportunities
of excepting Mrs.
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