y looked with grave disdain upon the unnecessary
confusion, made at this moment by British cabinet cooks, whom it was
gravely intimated, had lessoned of Mr. Pierce's French cook, Monsieur
Souley. Mr. Smooth, about this time, resolved to leave the donkey
diplomatists, and drive his own ugly brutes home.

CHAPTER XVI.

SMOOTH DINES WITH CITIZEN PEABODY.

"Smooth being a great man, as well as Mr. Pierce's minister in
general--and citizen Peabody being no less great in diplomacy, which
he illustrated in the most substantial manner--it became necessary to
make a demonstration: to this end did friend George delegate his
hospitality in an invitation to dine with him at Blackwall. George was
large and loose of figure, possessed a broad, honest face, bright with
kindness, candor, and firmness: added to which a well-developed nose;
a soft, yet watchful eye a mouth indicating gentleness; and a broad,
benevolent chin, finished the make-up of the external man--if we
except a neat pair of brown whiskers, and a head of dark youthful
hair. Citizen George loved dearly his country, and was altogether a
man who meant well, nor ever forgot those of his countrymen who
reflected honor on their country when abroad. He had no genius for
politics, had never aspired to the class _par excellence_; no, he
espoused none of their dogmas; he let littler minds revel in such
luxuries. The means by which little demagogues find themselves great
politicians could reflect no fame to George: he served his country
with less noise and more effect. If he was quiet and unassuming; if he
loved his country to a fault, that fault was his own, not his
country's. How much more to be praised is he who seeks when in foreign
lands to sustain the simple but grand spirit of our institutions! For
sustaining the simplicity of our institutions is friend George most to
be praised. The object of his labor was the establishment of a simple
but real and effective diplomacy, from which international benefits of
great worth might result. A few here and there had doubted the quality
of his diplomacy; but no one bold enough to question his abilities as
a diplomatist had yet been found. It is not what we are supposed to
do, but what we really do, that ought to entitle us to respect. And
had not citizen George done more to promote a kindly feeling between
the too boastful peoples of England and America than all our well-paid
ministers, their court luxuries, and costly reti