ccompaniment of music, merry
laughs, and flashes of well-worn wit: the only discord discoverable,
or which could offend delicate ears, being that one or two English
Gentlemen, of very polished manners, obstinately refused to be
contented with the long list of wines provided by the generous host,
and must needs display their cultivated taste by ordering bottles of a
name scarce known, assuring the polite landlord that they themselves
would pay the shot _did Citizen Peabody fail to stand it_. Mr. Smooth
had not the least objection to this delicate proceeding inasmuch as it
illustrated a principle, and contrasted strangely with those much
cultivated manners facetious gentlemen who so often waste ink in
discoursing upon the vulgarities of Americans would have us fashion
from. Wishing, however, these gentlemen may display better manners
next time, we must beg the reader's pardon for thus digressing and
proceed.

"The meats having laid a very decided foundation upon which to build a
tabernacle of joviality, and the nectar adding its exhilarating power
in erecting a substratum for the fine work of the festival, it became
necessary to top off with spicy speeches, which might indeed be
compared to a compound of salt and cream very liberally mixed. From
among his guests and great folks Citizen Peabody now rose, somewhat
nervous, and with becoming dignity delivered himself of a very piquant
speech, the bone and marrow of which was that Americans from home
being moved by those sentiments the appearance of things new and
strange naturally produce, the sequence was that they looked with an
interest divided between reverence and curiosity to see their
Minister; such a gratification he was only too happy in being the
medium of affording. Nor, when he relieved that worthy representative
of a tax his purse could ill bear, did he consider it less than a very
agreeable duty. In reply to Citizen Peabody's toast, 'Peace and
continued friendship between the peoples of England and the United
States,' the guests filled a bumper, and with three hearty cheers let
the liquid run down so smoothly. Sir Arthur Coddlecomb's name being
coupled with the toast, and that compound of self-importance and bad
grammar esteeming himself a great speaker, rose, and relieved himself
of what is commonly called a very neat and appropriate speech. To
Smooth his mind seemed on a wandering expedition; notwithstanding, he
took occasion to refer to that approaching cur