"Again, our grave conventionists said they had heard it whispered that
Minister Smooth (generally called Solomon Smooth, Esq.), being special
Minister of Mr. General Pierce to nowhere in particular, had secret
instructions to arrange matters for the holding of an extraordinary
convention at Ostend; which said convention, being principally
composed of very respectable foreign gentlemen, would especially take
into consideration the Cuba question, as also the deciding the point
as to whether the Spanish spirit of the people of that island would
detract from the national purity of Americanism. In the event of Cuba
forming an integral part of the federal compact, a grave question
would here be involved. Assuring them they were not wrong in their
conjectures, Smooth was invited to sit down, in a very honorary
position, where, having examined certain papers pertaining to previous
proceedings, and passed an undivided approval upon them, he remained
in all his dignity, listening with great legal seriousness to the very
important case then being argued by General F----, whose eloquence was
of the 'rip-roarer' style, and whose tragical flourishes were as
terrific as dangerous to the limbs all persons in proximity. Smooth's
seat was at the left of the Umpire, that functionary's right being
flanked by a gentleman lean of figure and studious of countenance,
said to be the American Commissioner, a worthy person of great legal
abilities. A little below Smooth sat the compact figure of a man in a
genteel garb; an air of amiability sat on his countenance, which ever
and anon seemed playful; indeed, the very soul of geniality darted
from a pair of large blue eyes that gave great softness to an oval
face, nicely outlined in its parts. In a word, he was what might be
called a very promising limb of the modernly honorable law profession;
nor would our opinion of him have been less exalted had he refrained
from the very innocent sport of amusing himself with blowing peas
through a quill, which he did in all the playfulness of youth, his
head being level with the surface of the table the while. We had never
supposed him the British Commissioner but for the assurance of those
in possession of stronger proof than we had been permitted to see. A
little below him, and with seeming indifference to the arguments of
which General F---- was relieving his mind, sat a sharp-featured man,
whose lithe figure, clear complexion, quick gray eyes, finely arched