ten o'clock
With this view he introduced him into a club of politicians , who received him with great demonstrations of regard , accommodated themselves more than he could have expected to his jovial disposition , and while they revolved schemes for the reformation of the state , drank with such devotion to the accomplishment of their plans , that , before parting , the cares of their patriotism were quite overwhelmed . Peregrine , though he could not approve of their doctrine , resolved to attach himself for some time to their company , because he perceived ample subject for his ridicule in the characters of these wrong-headed enthusiasts . It was a constant practice with them , in their midnight consistories , to swallow such plentiful draughts of inspiration , that their mysteries commonly ended like those of the Bacchanalian orgia ; and they were seldom capable of maintaining that solemnity of decorum which , by the nature of their functions , most of them were obliged to profess . Now , as Peregrine 's satirical disposition was never more gratified than when he had an opportunity of exposing grave characters in ridiculous attitudes , he laid a mischievous snare for his new confederates , which took effect in this manner : -- In one of their nocturnal deliberations , he promoted such a spirit of good fellowship by the agreeable sallies of his wit , which were purposely leveled against their political adversaries , that by ten o'clock they were all ready to join in the most extravagant proposal that could be made . They broke their glasses in consequence of his suggestion , drank healths out of their shoes , caps , and the bottoms of the candlesticks that stood before them , sometimes standing with one foot on a chair , and the knee bent on the edge of the table ; and when they could no longer stand in that posture , setting their bare posteriors on the cold floor . They huzzaed , hallooed , danced , and sang , and , in short , were elevated to such a pitch of intoxication , that when Peregrine proposed that they should burn their periwigs , the hint was immediately approved , and they executed the frolic as one man . Their shoes and caps underwent the same fate by the same instigation , and in this trim he led them forth into the street , where they resolved to compel everybody they should find to subscribe to their political creed , and pronounce the Shibboleth of their party .