is the worst of
it; for being rather corpulent and very tight, the general being down,
could not get up again, but lay there writing and doing such things with
his boots, as there is no other instance of in military history.

Of course there was an immediate rush to his assistance; and the general
was promptly raised. But his uniform was so fearfully and wonderfully
made, that he came up stiff and without a bend in him like a dead Clown,
and had no command whatever of himself until he was put quite flat upon
the soles of his feet, when he became animated as by a miracle, and
moving edgewise that he might go in a narrower compass and be in less
danger of fraying the gold lace on his epaulettes by brushing them
against anything, advanced with a smiling visage to salute the lady of
the house.

To be sure, it would have been impossible for the family to testify
purer delight and joy than at this unlooked-for appearance of General
Fladdock! The general was as warmly received as if New York had been in
a state of siege and no other general was to be got for love or money.
He shook hands with the Norrises three times all round, and then
reviewed them from a little distance as a brave commander might, with
his ample cloak drawn forward over the right shoulder and thrown back
upon the left side to reveal his manly breast.

'And do I then,' cried the general, 'once again behold the choicest
spirits of my country!'

'Yes,' said Mr Norris the father. 'Here we are, general.'

Then all the Norrises pressed round the general, inquiring how and where
he had been since the date of his letter, and how he had enjoyed himself
in foreign parts, and particularly and above all, to what extent he had
become acquainted with the great dukes, lords, viscounts, marquesses,
duchesses, knights, and baronets, in whom the people of those benighted
countries had delight.

'Well, then, don't ask me,' said the general, holding up his hand. 'I
was among 'em all the time, and have got public journals in my trunk
with my name printed'--he lowered his voice and was very impressive
here--'among the fashionable news. But, oh, the conventionalities of
that a-mazing Europe!'

'Ah!' cried Mr Norris the father, giving his head a melancholy shake,
and looking towards Martin as though he would say, 'I can't deny it,
sir. I would if I could.'

'The limited diffusion of a moral sense in that country!' exclaimed the
general. 'The absence of a moral dignity in