what the scheming Admiral had neither will nor power to do; and after giving much thought to what he ought to try he changed his method of proceeding with his son. It occurred to him that the best way to withdraw a young man from sombre thought and inferior company would be to send him to the gay capital of France. His son had not yet seen the world:-he proposed to him to set out immediately for Paris. Some of his college friends were going into France to study, and it was soon arranged that he should join them. Some of these young men were of the highest rank, and every door in France would open to their knock. At Paris, where they stayed a few weeks only, Penn was presented to Louis Quatorze, and became a welcome guest at court. There he made the acquaintance of Robert Spencer, son of the first Earl of Sunderland, and Lady Dorothy Sydney-sister of the famous Algernon Sydney. France was very gay, and in a few weeks William Penn forgot the gravity of his life. Returning late one night from a party, he was accosted in the dark street by a man who shouted to him in angry tones to draw and defend himself. At the same moment a sword gleamed past his eyes. The fellow would not listen to reason. Penn, he said, had treated him with contempt. He had bowed his head and taken off his hat in salutation:-his courtesy had been slighted, and he would have satisfaction made to his wounded pride. In vain the young Englishman protested he had not seen him,-that he could have no motive for offering such an insult to a stranger. The more

he showed the absurdity of the quarrel, the more enraged his assailant grew; he would say no more— the only answer which he deigned was a pass with his rapier. Penn's blood was now stirred; and whipping his sword from its scabbard, he stood to the attack. There was but little light; yet several persons were attracted by the clash of steel; and a number of roysterers gathered round to see fair play. A few passes proved that Penn was the more expert swordsman; and a dexterous movement threw the French gallant's blade into the air. He might have run the man through, and those who gathered round the combatants expected him to do So. Penn picked up the fallen sword, and gave it back with his politest bow.

On hearing how his son was living at Paris, Admiral Penn felt glad that he was far away from Puritans like John Owen and Quakers like Thomas Loe. He thought of a career in life for him, and spoke to Ormonde on the subject. Ormonde said the lad would make a soldier, and the Admiral fixed his mind on the career of arms. But William was too young for life in camp, and he had much as yet to learn from books. He must be sent to school. His father, therefore, made arrangements with Professor Amyrault of Saumur, on the river Loire, to board and teach him, and in sunny Anjou Penn the Younger spent the two years which he should have passed in Oxford, reading the classics and the fathers, pondering over theological mysteries, and mastering the poetry, the language, and the history of France.

D

At nineteen years of age he left Saumur and passed through Switzerland into Italy. Spencer was a companion of his travels, and in some part of his journey he fell in with Spencer's uncle, Algernon Sydney, then in exile, and became at once his pupil and his friend.

In the summer days of 1664, while William Penn was not yet twenty years of age, he was recalled to London by his father, who was no less eager to see him back on private than on public grounds.

Uncle George, who had been teasing Charles for justice several years, died before his case was heard in council, leaving to his younger brother all his claims on Spain. Poor George had trudged from park to lodge, waylaying Charles and James, and forcing them to hear his plaints, until the King, who knew that he had suffered grievous wrongs, proposed to send him to Madrid as envoy to the court of Philip the Fourth. If George were in Madrid, as envoy from his sovereign, justice might be done to him; but the appointment was hardly made before the sufferer died; when all his claims against the Spanish Crown devolved on Admiral Penn-a vast addition to his cares and a perpetual drain upon his purse. The sum originally seized at San Lucar was twelve thousand pounds in English money. Twenty-one years had passed, and as the price of money in the south of Spain was ten or twelve per cent, the claim had grown from twelve to forty thousand pounds. If Penn demanded less he would be moderate. This affair required attention which

the Admiral could not give. Sir William was in fact at sea.

So soon as Charles the Second was restored the Dutch revived their ancient dream of naval supremacy, and their pretensions had at length outwearied the patience of Whitehall. War was declared. James, Duke of York, Lord Admiral of England, divided his fleet into three squadrons, one of which he gave to Prince Rupert, a second to Lord Sandwich, and the third he kept in hand. Not one of these commanders had ever directed a great naval fight; not one was qualified, by experience and ability, to contend against veterans like De Ruyter and De Witt. Sandwich was a soldier, Rupert a freebooter, and James, though he had distinguished himself under Turenne, was yet a stranger to the quarterdeck. It was not safe to trifle with such seamen as the Dutch. James wanted the best captains, the best sailors in the kingdom, and in spite of Sandwich's jealousy and Rupert's rage, the royal Duke consulted Admiral Penn. Sir William Penn advised him to employ in his service the old and dauntless captains of the Commonwealth. 'Take no notice of their religion, and I will answer for their courage,' said Penn. The Duke of York had strength enough to resist the royalist clamour when this advice was known; and many of Blake's old captains were appointed to commands by James. That all the benefit of Penn's skill and courage might be given to his country Penn was named Great Captain Commander, and ordered to take his station on the Duke's flag

ship, to direct the most important movements of the fleet.

While he was thus employed at sea, Sir William thought it well to have his son at home; in part to watch the family affairs in Cork, in part to save him from arrest in France. The French were leaning towards alliance with the Dutch, and if the treaty, then in secret preparation, should be signed, a hostage like the Admiral's eldest son was very likely to be seized. As fast as post could carry him Penn returned from Italy through Savoy, and arrived about the middle of August, 1664, at the Navy Gardens, to the great delight of Peg and Lady Penn.

The boy was nearly twenty years of age; but what a change from the moody, silent lad who went from home two years ago! He had a fine outside; a little over-fine, some critics said. 'A most modish person,' little Mr. Pepys exclaimed; 'grown a fine gentleman.' He wore French pantaloons; he carried his rapier in the French mode; he doffed his hat on going into a room. His French was perfect, and he spoke like one who had seen the Alps and the Italian cities. 'Something of learning he has got,' wrote Pepys, but a great deal, if not too much of the vanity of the French garb, and affected manner of gait and speech.' In person he had grown into a graceful, strong, and handsome man. His face was mild and almost womanly in its beauty; his eye was soft and full; his brow was open and ample; his features, well defined, approached the ideal; and the lines about his mouth were sweet,