, previously,
been exhibited in New York and the principal cities of America, where his
miniature palace, furniture and equipage excited considerable curiosity.
When he embarked from New York for England, he was escorted to the packet
by not less than 10,000 persons.

On 1 April, he appeared, by command, before Her Majesty at Buckingham
Palace, when the Queen presented him, _with her own hand_, with "a superb
souvenir, of the most exquisite handicraft, manufactured of mother of
pearl, and mounted with gold and precious stones. On one side are the
crown and Royal initials, V.R., and, on the reverse, bouquets of flowers
in enamel and rubies. In addition to this splendid gift, Her Majesty
subsequently presented the General with a beautiful gold pencil case,
with the initials of Tom Thumb, and his coat of arms, engraved on the
emerald surmounting the case."

[Picture: Tom Thumb. Ill. Lon. News, 24 Feb., 1844, p. 124]

Anent this, _Punch_ is exceedingly satirical: "Her Majesty has again
commanded 'the performances of _Tom Thumb_, the Yankee Dwarf.' This,
indeed, was to have been expected. We have only to reflect upon the
countless acts of patronage towards the Arts and Sciences--had only to
remember a few of the numerous personal condescensions of the Queen
towards men of letters, artists and philosophers--to be assured that even
TOM THUMB would be welcomed with that graceful cordiality which has,
heretofore, made Buckingham Palace and Windsor Castle the homes of Poetry
and Science. _De minimis curat Regina_! Continental monarchs stop short
in their Royal favours at full-grown authors and artists; but the
enthusiasm of Her Majesty QUEEN VICTORIA, not content with showering all
sorts of favours and rewards upon the literary and artistic spirits of
her own country and age, lavishes, with prodigal hand, most delicate
honours upon an American TOM THUMB, whose astounding genius it is, to
measure, in his boots, five-and-twenty inches! To this, how small is
VICTOR HUGO at the Tuileries; to this, how mean and petty Gothe at the
Court of Saxe-Weimar!

* * * * *

"TOM THUMB being--according to the biography published by his showman,
BARNUM--the son of a Yankee carpenter, we should much like to know the
General's arms. Did Her Majesty, before the 'performance,' send to learn
them, that they might be duly engraved? or were they, as MATHEW'S French
Shoemaker made his little boot, struc