"Friend Peters probably alludes to his experience in the great
republic of Guilford," said Jones, archly.

"There and elsewhere," rejoined the former; "though I have seen quite
enough of republicanism _there_, for my purpose. One year, the party
outvoting their opponents, and coming into power, upsets every thing
done by their predecessors. The next year the upsetters themselves get
upset; and all the measures they had established are reversed for
others no better; and so they go on from year to year, forever
quarrelling and forever changing."

"And yet, Peters," resumed Jones, banteringly, "I doubt whether _you_
have been much the loser by their quarrels."

"How so, Mr. Jones?" asked Haviland, who noticed that Peters had
answered only by a significant smile.

"Why, you know, Squire Haviland," replied Jones, "that I have been on
to attend several of the last sessions of your court, as the agent of
Secretary Fanning, [Footnote: Edward Fanning, secretary to Governor
Tryon, New York, before the revolution, obtained, by an act of
favoritism from his master, a grant of the township of Stratton,
which, in 1780, Fanning having been appointed a colonel of a regiment
of tories, was confiscated, and re-granted, by the legislature of
Vermont, to William Williams and others. Kent, afterwards Londonderry,
which had been granted to James Rogers, who has been introduced, and
who became a tory officer, was also, in like manner, confiscated and
re-granted.] to see to his landed interests in this quarter. Well,
friend Peters, here, who has gone considerably into land speculations