{"id":"01KG8AKGYXH8NC0PS9AGKV7SGA","cid":"bafkreieqxbhdgwoxurlgjgxdog4ggncnrv333bbghyzumv2e2v4qq2gu4u","type":"chunk","properties":{"end_line":1454,"extracted_at":"2026-01-30T20:48:05.590Z","extracted_by":"structure-extraction-lambda","label":"Chunk 1","source_file":"01KG89J1DKC9HHJRKY25JZBEXW","start_line":1383,"text":"CHAPTER VI.\r\nISRAEL MAKES THE ACQUAINTANCE OF CERTAIN SECRET FRIENDS OF AMERICA, ONE\r\nOF THEM BEING THE FAMOUS AUTHOR OF THE “DIVERSIONS OF PURLEY,” THESE\r\nDESPATCH HIM ON A SLY ERRAND ACROSS THE CHANNEL.\r\n\r\n\r\nAt this period, though made the victims indeed of British oppression,\r\nyet the colonies were not totally without friends in Britain. It was\r\nbut natural that when Parliament itself held patriotic and gifted men,\r\nwho not only recommended conciliatory measures, but likewise denounced\r\nthe war as monstrous; it was but natural that throughout the nation at\r\nlarge there should be many private individuals cherishing similar\r\nsentiments, and some who made no scruple clandestinely to act upon\r\nthem.\r\n\r\nLate one night while hiding in a farmer’s granary, Israel saw a man\r\nwith a lantern approaching. He was about to flee, when the man hailed\r\nhim in a well-known voice, bidding him have no fear. It was the farmer\r\nhimself. He carried a message to Israel from a gentleman of Brentford,\r\nto the effect, that the refugee was earnestly requested to repair on\r\nthe following evening to that gentleman’s mansion.\r\n\r\nAt first, Israel was disposed to surmise that either the farmer was\r\nplaying him false, or else his honest credulity had been imposed upon\r\nby evil-minded persons. At any rate, he regarded the message as a\r\ndecoy, and for half an hour refused to credit its sincerity. But at\r\nlength he was induced to think a little better of it. The gentleman\r\ngiving the invitation was one Squire Woodcock, of Brentford, whose\r\nloyalty to the king had been under suspicion; so at least the farmer\r\naverred. This latter information was not without its effect.\r\n\r\nAt nightfall on the following day, being disguised in strange clothes\r\nby the farmer, Israel stole from his retreat, and after a few hours’\r\nwalk, arrived before the ancient brick house of the Squire; who opening\r\nthe door in person, and learning who it was that stood there, at once\r\nassured Israel in the most solemn manner, that no foul play was\r\nintended. So the wanderer suffered himself to enter, and be conducted\r\nto a private chamber in the rear of the mansion, where were seated two\r\nother gentlemen, attired, in the manner of that age, in long laced\r\ncoats, with small-clothes, and shoes with silver buckles.\r\n\r\n“I am John Woodcock,” said the host, “and these gentlemen are Horne\r\nTooke and James Bridges. All three of us are friends to America. We\r\nhave heard of you for some weeks past, and inferring from your conduct,\r\nthat you must be a Yankee of the true blue stamp, we have resolved to\r\nemploy you in a way which you cannot but gladly approve; for surely,\r\nthough an exile, you are still willing to serve your country; if not as\r\na sailor or soldier, yet as a traveller?”\r\n\r\n“Tell me how I may do it?” demanded Israel, not completely at ease.\r\n\r\n“At that in good time,” smiled the Squire. “The point is now—do you\r\nrepose confidence in my statements?”\r\n\r\nIsrael glanced inquiringly upon the Squire; then upon his companions;\r\nand meeting the expressive, enthusiastic, candid countenance of Horne\r\nTooke—then in the first honest ardor of his political career—turned to\r\nthe Squire, and said, “Sir, I believe what you have said. Tell me now\r\nwhat I am to do.”\r\n\r\n“Oh, there is just nothing to be done to-night,” said the Squire; “nor\r\nfor some days to come perhaps, but we wanted to have you prepared.”\r\n\r\nAnd hereupon he hinted to his guest rather vaguely of his general\r\nintention; and that over, begged him to entertain them with some\r\naccount of his adventures since he first took up arms for his country.\r\nTo this Israel had no objections in the world, since all men love to\r\ntell the tale of hardships endured in a righteous cause. But ere\r\nbeginning his story, the Squire refreshed him with some cold beef, laid\r\nin a snowy napkin, and a glass of Perry, and thrice during the\r\nnarration of the adventures, pressed him with additional draughts.\r\n\r","title":"Chunk 1"},"relationships":[{"peer":"01KG8AJHFMFJW3QNPRWK5HSTKQ","peer_type":"chapter","predicate":"in"},{"peer":"01KG89J1DKC9HHJRKY25JZBEXW","peer_type":"file","predicate":"extractedFrom"},{"peer":"01KG89HMDZKNY753EZE1CJ8HZW","peer_type":"collection","predicate":"collection"},{"peer":"01KG8AKGYX6P4X4Y6T7752H8QR","peer_type":"chunk","predicate":"next"}],"ver":2,"created_at":"2026-01-30T20:48:07.133Z","ts":"2026-01-30T20:48:13.969Z","edited_by":{"method":"manual","user_id":"01KFF0H3YRP9ZSM033AM0QJ47H"}}