, the company rose as the general made
his last flourish and wiped the sweat from his brow, and all adjourned
in the very happiest phase of good humor. Smooth being somewhat
modest, and always bashful when in the presence of ladies, did not
make his speech until they had left. It may be well to say that
Mr. Smooth's speech was gracefully responded to by Citizen Peabody,
who expressed himself delighted, and had no doubt but that in the care
of Mr. Smooth, General Pierce would make an unexceptional President.
After this, gentlemen feeling very jolly, we all adjourned to the
gorgeously furnished hall up stairs, where we joined the ladies,
partook of most delicious coffee, enjoyed many happy salutations and
cordial greetings. The Lord Mayor and Flum having embraced in style
truly Roman, and pledged themselves over a cup of coffee, never to
lose sight of their own greatness, nor to forget the beneficence of
that all-wise Providence that had called them into being to struggle
with the great events of the age, the company dispersed homeward,
delighted to the very heart. If there was one who did not feel a glow
of satisfaction, admonishing him, as he wended his way homeward, to
lend his influence for the maintenance of that mutual good feeling
which should exist between Englishmen and Americans--between nations
so kindred in spirit, and whose interests radiated from a common
centre, he must have belonged to a class Smooth would not deign to
designate. Citizen George would that England and America shook hands,
remained friends, and left the gunpowder and big-word business
entirely to newspapers and small politicians of the Pierce stamp.

CHAPTER XVII.

SMOOTH LOOKS IN UPON THE MIXED COMMISSION.

"Mr. President Pierce, who was by his friends supposed to be a comical
and very small miniature of General Jackson's political school, and
whose cabinet was of the Bunkum stripe, intimated to Minister Smooth,
in one of the interviews he had with him, which were numerous and very
confidential, that in his tour over Europe it might prove profitable
to the country in general were he to keep a sharp eye on the movements
of a very respectable firm which did business under the name and in
the style of Soule, Saunders, and Co.--funny functionaries, who were
now cutting figure No. 1, and expecting him (the man Pierce) to cut
the smaller figure No. 2. No one personally acquainted with the merits
of the aforesaid gentlemen would be surp